The First Call 02-02-2023

FIRST THOUGHT

Of the 125 respondents to The First Call poll question, "Was it right for Rory McIlroy to give Patrick Reed the cold-shouldered brush-off following their tee incident on the driving range at the Dubai Desert Classic?" 60% responded "Yes." Another 29% responded "Does anyone really care?" and 11% responded "No."

> Question of the week: A number of players who have yet to win a major championship are showing signs of taking the next step — Max Homa has two wins already this PGA Tour season, Tony Finau has three wins since July, Tom Kim has two wins since August. Will a player win his first major in 2023? If so, who do you believe that player will be?

Send replies on this question or other topics to shall@buffalogroupe.com. For your response to be published, you must include first and last name, along with city and state of residence. Read last week's responses.

READ, WATCH, LISTEN

> Pebble Beach makes 8th hole safer after Jordan Spieth's daring shot
[Paolo Uggetti | ESPN | Read]

> All three rounds of 2023 Augusta National Women's Amateur to be broadcast
[Cameron Jourdan | Golfweek | Read]

> Michelob Ultra, Netflix strike Super Bowl team-up to promote ‘Full Swing’ golf documentary
[Brian Steinberg | Variety | Read]

> The only rivalry in golf is about tours, not players
[Doug Ferguson | Associated Press | Read]

THE INDUSTRY

Teesnap: Launches beta testing of enhanced payment mobility solution

Golf technology company's new payment equipment and software enhances security and speed to improve payment processes

NBC Sports Next, BookSeats.com: Offer golf travel opportunities

GolfPass integrates BookSeats.com technology for one-stop shopping for airline flights, hotels and tee times at more than 11,000 golf courses worldwide

Exact Sciences, PGA Tour Champions: Extend partnership through 2027

Exact Sciences is now presenting sponsor of the Cologuard Classic at the Omni Tucson National Resort, Feb. 27-March 5 and that features a $2.2 million purse

GCSAA: Envu to send 10 members to 2023 GCSAA Conference and Trade Show

Members of Envu's Superintendent Grant Program, which assists course superintendents with professional development, were chosen for their leadership skills and inclusivity

GCSAA: Travis Campbell awarded the inaugural Larry Powell Scholarship

Campbell, a GCSAA member and student at Rutgers Center for Turfgrass Science in New Brunswick, New Jersey, will use scholarship to help with spring semester living costs, tuition

Troon: Affiliated facilities named 2023 Platinum Award winners by AGM

Association of Golf Merchandisers recognized 28 Troon-affiliated golf shops internationally and named two facilities as Best of the Best

Fujikura: Dubai Desert Classic champion uses Ventus in victory

Three-time champion used Ventus as the shaft in his woods and driver; company claims it was the No. 1 driver and wood shaft at the Farmers Insurance Open

Golftec: Names Hannah Gregg and Fredrik Lindblom as brand ambassadors

Gregg will share her experiences and insights with the next generation of golfers, while Lindblom will help players improve their swings

Wilson: Adds 2 more players to its professional golf advisory staff

Willie Mack III and Alex Knappe become the latest professionals to join Wilson’s global golf roster; Mack joins the PGA Tour roster, while Knappe joins the DP World Tour roster

AquaFuse: To exhibit its high-density polyethylene irrigation products at the GCSAA Conference and Trade Show, Feb. 6-9, in Orlando, Florida.

International Series Oman: Four-time major champion Brooks Koepka commits to this year's Asian Tour tournament, Feb. 9-12, at Al Mouj Golf in Muscat, Oman. Koepka will be making his debut in the event.

2K: Releases Pebble Beach Golf Links for its PGA Tour 2K23 video game. The course is free for download and players can take part in the eSeries event at Pebble Beach in the official PGA Tour 2K Society Feb. 2-5.

Drive Shack Inc.: Qualifies for and begins trading on the OTCQX Best Market. OTC Markets Group Inc. is an operator of financial markets for 12,000 U.S. and global securities. Drive Shack will trade under the symbols DSHK, DSHKP, DSHKN and DSHKO.

PGA of America: Selects Dancing Rabbit Golf Club at Pearl River Resort in Philadelphia, Mississippi, to host the 2023 PGA University Championship, Nov. 13-15. The 36-hole championship will feature 90 players on 18 teams from PGA Golf Management University Programs across the country.

International Network of Golf: Announces that its ING Spring Forum for May 30-June 2 at the Valley Forge Casino Resort in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. The event is open to anyone in the golf industry or media, though attendance will be limited to approximately 40 people, including six sponsoring companies. Registration fee is $150; sponsorship fee is $695.

> More Industry News

#QOTD

"It took me 17 years to get 3,000 hits in baseball. It took one afternoon on the golf course."

— Hank Aaron

ICYMI

Omni PGA Frisco already shining bright in the Lone Star State

PGA of America's new home outside of Dallas features just about everything, but it's the 36 holes of golf that will open later this spring that is garnering major attention

TUNING IN

PGA Tour: AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
Site: Pebble Beach Golf Links, Spyglass Hill Golf Course; Monterey Peninsula Country Club (Shore Course)
Television [ET]: Today-Friday, 3-6 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday, 1-3 p.m. (Golf Channel), 3-7 p.m. (CBS); Sunday, 1-3 p.m. (Golf Channel), 3-6:30 p.m. (CBS).
Leaderboard | GCSAA Fact Sheet

DP World Tour: Ras Al Khaimah Championship
Site: Al Hamra Golf Club, Ras al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates.
Television [ET]: Today-Friday, 3:30-8:30 a.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, 3:30-8 a.m. (Golf Channel).
Leaderboard

TFC PODCAST NETWORK

GOLF INNERVIEW WITH ANN LIGUORI
Realizing the Azores' understated beauty
Pilar Melo Antunes, Azores Golf sales and marketing director, joins host Ann Liguori to tell the story of the nine-strand Portuguese archipelago — and why it's ideal for golf
[Listen | More 'Golf Innerview with Ann Liguori' episodes]

THE 19TH HOLE WITH MICHAEL WILLIAMS
65,000 and counting: Club Champion has a club for everyone
Casandra Bausch, Club Champion's director of marketing, joins host Michael Williams to discuss the company's explosive growth and the array of available club combinations it offers
[Listen | More 'The 19th Hole with Michael Williams' episodes]

BEHIND THE GOLF BRAND
Power Tee is changing how golfers practice
CEO Martin Wyeth joins host Paul Liberatore to tell of his journey to create an automatic teeing system for indoors, driving ranges and country clubs — and, perhaps, golf's future
[Listen | More 'Behind the Golf Brand' episodes]

CALENDAR

FEBRUARY
3-5: Philadelphia Golf and Travel Show, Philadelphia, Pa. | Info
6-9: GCSAA Conference and Trade Show, Orlando, Fla. | Info
6-9: Golf Industry Show, Orlando, Fla. | Info

> View complete calendar

To submit events for the calendar, please include the event name, date, location and informational link to info@firstcallgolf.com.