The First Call 02-10-2023

FIRST THOUGHT

On the eve of Super Bowl LVII, would you believe that golf is more popular than football? At least in one respect. Betting.com recently analyzed the Smithsonian Institution's archives list of more than 39,000 statues — of which 650 were listed in the "Sport and Play" category. Golf was the fourth-most commemorated sport at 6.12%. Baseball led the list at 10.43%, followed by track and field at 10.20% and fishing at 9.75%. Football? It was fifth at 5.90%.

> 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

> Bryson DeChambeau visits Ping while Cobra-Puma sounds off on dysfunctional relationship: 'He thinks there is a magic bullet'
[Adam Schupak | Golfweek | Read]

> USGA adds four exemptions for U.S. Open, LIV golfers eligible to qualify
[Joel Beall | Golf Digest | Read]

> PGA Tour payouts soar as Saudi-backed LIV Golf rains down riches
[Alan Blinder | New York Times | Read ($)]

Painting a course? By the numbers it makes financial sense

The sight of dormant brown grass is disconcerting to a segment of golfers, so more golf courses are trending toward painting their course instead of overseeding and the decision is financially prudent

Back Nine Greens: Transforming artificial grass into works of art

USGA study helps determine proper tee based off 7-iron distance; Halo Advantage device makes picking up flag pin easy on the back; and more from the GCSAA Convention and Trade Show

THE INDUSTRY

ECWPGT: Stuart McKinnon takes over as owner, president

McKinnon, CEO and founder of MetaTech Capital Partners, will move the East Coast Women’s Pro Golf Tour's headquarters from Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, to Miami

OnCore Golf: Eric Wood joins as an investor and ambassador

Former Buffalo Bills player joins other NFL players, including Josh Allen (Buffalo Bills, QB) and Ezekiel Elliott (Dallas Cowboys, RB)

Golf to Paradise – First Tee Champions Challenge: 16th edition set for Feb. 13-15

Ten First Tee participants representing five First Tee chapters will compete in a three-day tournament in Naples, Florida, in conjunction with the PGA Tour Champions' Chubb Classic

GCSAA: The Toro Company gives $50,000 to support Rounds 4 Research

Contribution will go toward a shortage in turfgrass research; Toro, a longtime partner of the GCSAA Foundation, has helped raise more than $2 million for turfgrass research

GCSAA: Partners with The Warrior Alliance

Initiative will address the golf industry's labor shortage while serving veterans; program will target service members, veterans and others seeking jobs within golf

#QOTD

"Friday sees more smiles than any other day of the workweek."

— Kate Summers

ICYMI

Bunker Wizard rake taking smooth sand to new level

The work of female superintendents at 2022 U.S. Women's Open to be told in YouTube series; Border Collies may be your golf course's next best friend; and more from the 2023 GCSAA Conference and Trade Show

ROUNDS AND WEATHER

> Rounds played finished this past week up 12% vs. 2022, driven primarily by significantly warmer conditions in the Great Plains region, as well as drier conditions in the Northeast and Central Valley regions.

Texas markets, which had experienced freezing conditions and ice storms at the end of January, have seen more than a 30-degree improvement in temperature over this past week with highs reaching the 60s. The Philadelphia, New York and Dallas markets all finished with double-digit growths in rounds vs. last year due to similar weather improvements. California continues to lag behind last year as heavy rains continue to affect most of Northern and Central California. Rounds finished down 15% vs. 2022.

> Pacing over the next seven days is down 2% vs. last year as heavy rains are projected over the next few days for the Mid-Atlantic and Central Valley regions.

> Weekday golfers as a percentage of total golf business finished under 60% for the second consecutive week.

TUNING IN

PGA Tour: WM Phoenix Open
Site: TPC Scottsdale, Scottsdale, Arizona.
Television [ET]: Today, 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).
Leaderboard | GCSAA Fact Sheet

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

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

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
10-12: West Michigan Golf Show, Grand Rapids, Mich. | Info
13-14: Nor Cal Golf Reps Show, Vacaville, Cal. | Info
17-19: Cleveland Golf and Travel Show, Cleveland, Ohio | Info
17-19: Colorado Golf Expo, Denver, Colo. | Info
17-19: Columbus Golf Collectibles Trade Show, Dublin, Ohio | Info
17-19: Toledo Golf Show, Toledo, Ohio | Info
19-21: Carolinas PGA Super Show, Greensboro, N.C. | Info
24-26: Chicago Golf Show, Rosemont, Ill. | Info
24-26: Kansas City Golf Show, Overland Park, Kansas | Info
24-28: CMAA World Conference and Club Business Expo, 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.