The First Call 02-08-2023

FIRST THOUGHT

Golf playable hours appear to be on quite the roller coaster ride. According to Pellucid Corp., playable hours in January raced upward 34% vs. the same month 2022. That figure came after a horrid December when golf playable hours were down 30% to same-month 2021.

> Questions of the week: How aware are you of the course architecture at the courses you play, and which golf architecture podcasts, websites or social media sites do you follow?

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

READ, WATCH, LISTEN

> Tiger Woods to design golf course at Marcella Club in Park City, Utah
[Cameron Jourdan | Golfweek | Read]

> CBS golf set at 16th hole at WM Phoenix Open to be replicated at four other PGA Tour events in 2023
[Todd Kelly | Golfweek | Read]

> After outcry, St. Andrews reverses course on Swilcan Bridge’s new look
[Nick Piastowski | Golf. com | Read]

> LIV Golf League lawyers say 2022 revenue was 'virtually zero'
[Mark Schlabach | ESPN | Read]

> Creating a fairway to the golf industry for everyone through PGA WORKS
[Hayden Lewis | PGA.com | Read]

There is more to PGA Tour setups than meets the eye

A backstage tour of the Arnold Palmer Invitational's Bay Hill Club & Lodge offers a rare insight into setting up a course

THE INDUSTRY

Teesnap: Expands Quarterly Business Review access to all clients

Meeting between course leadership and Teesnap Client Success representative helps ensure both parties are aligned on expectations and responsibilities

PXG: Enters the golf ball market with PXG Xtreme Golf Balls

New line delivers distance and green-grabbing control, and features a three-piece construction and 338 dimple pattern to help deliver aerodynamic characteristics

Tour Edge: Unveils Exotics 723 Metals

New series features two separate drivers, fairway and hybrid designs designated as Extreme and Competition to fit all swing types; metals will be available worldwide on March 1

Stewart Golf: Launches new brand logo

British manufacturer's rebranding campaign features a new logo signifying its future driven by technology and innovation with a mission to change how golf is played

SwingU: To sponsor the Under Armour Junior Tour thru 2025

Golf technology and media company announces that it will also become the circuit’s exclusive golf GPS rangefinder, strokes gained data and game-improvement app

Landscapes Golf Management: Extends partnership with Wyoming club

Multiyear extension allows company to continue operating The Golf Club at Devils Tower in Hulett, Wyoming; under its leadership since 2013, the club's revenues have tripled

Dundonald Links: Garners 2 accolades at Scottish Golf Tourism Awards

New luxury resort collected first-place prizes for Best Clubhouse and Best Sustainability Project and has received acclaim for its Highland-inspired aesthetic

College Golf Experience, Southern California PGA: Renew partnership

Agreement creates experiences that connect college coaches with juniors (ages 10-18) and parents

The Galleri Classic: Fan favorites commit to play at Mission Hills CC

John Daly, Mark O’Meara, Corey Pavin and John Cook commit to play in the inaugural tournament, March 22-26 in Rancho Mirage, California

#QOTD

"Time will not slow down when something unpleasant lies ahead."

— Harry Potter

ICYMI

Design Notes: Gil Hanse digs dirt at Omni La Costa

Mike Young tweaks a Tennessee Tillinghast; Carrick and McBroom add a new nine at Nova Scotia's Fox Harb'r; Wannamoisett drops a video; and what in the name of Old Tom Morris?

TUNING IN

PGA Tour: WM Phoenix Open
Site: TPC Scottsdale, Scottsdale, Arizona.
Television [ET]: Thursday-Friday, 3-7 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday, 1-3 p.m. (Golf Channel), 3-6:30 p.m. (CBS); Sunday, 1-3 p.m. (Golf Channel), 3-6 p.m. (CBS).

DP World Tour: Singapore Classic
Site: Laguna National Golf Resort, Singapore.
Television [ET]: Thursday-Friday, 12:30-5:30 a.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, midnight to 4:30 a.m. (Golf Channel).

PGA Tour Champions: Trophy Hassan II
Site: Royal Golf Dar Es Salam, Rabat, Morocco.
Television [ET]: Thursday-Saturday, 8-11 a.m. (Golf Channel).

TFC PODCAST NETWORK

THE MODGOLF PODCAST
McMahon mother-daughter duo push limits of golf's glass ceiling
Lesley and Clare McMahon join host Colin Weston for a conversation about being women in the golf industry and their wide-ranging experiences
[Listen | More 'The ModGolf Podcast' episodes]

GOLF INNERVIEW WITH ANN LIGUORI
How to take care of your vision for golf
Sports optometrist Dr. Graham Erickson joins host Ann Liguori with suggestions on how to protect your eyes and improve your vision
[Listen | More 'Golf Innerview with Ann Liguori' episodes]

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]

CALENDAR

FEBRUARY
8-9: GCSAA Conference and Trade 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.