The First Call 02-17-2023

FIRST THOUGHT

Editor's note: In observance of Presidents Day on Monday, February 20, The First Call will not publish. We will resume publishing on Tuesday, February 21.

Jon Rahm and Max Homa. Max Homa and Jon Rahm. When play was suspended on Thursday evening at the Genesis Invitational, the duo once again found themselves at the top of a leaderboard. Homa was in the clubhouse with a 7-under 64 along with Keith Mitchell, while Rahm was a shot back. Yes, it's just a partial opening round that will be completed this morning, but Rahm and Homa are the only multiple winners this season on the PGA Tour.

> Question of the week: How often do you play as a single and join a group or do you and your playing partners accept a solo player?

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

> Jane Lloyd, who founded Duke women's golf program, dies at 91
[Cameron Jourdan | Golfweek | Read]

> High Pointe Golf Club’s $24 million revival speeding along in Northern Michigan
[Mike Dojc | Forbes | Read]

> LIV Golf’s honeymoon period may be hurtling towards a tangled conclusion
[Ewan Murray | The Guardian | Read]

Design Notes: Tiger Woods, TGR Design to create mammoth Marcella

MarcellaClub-TigerWoods-GolfCourse-Map-ParkCity-Utah-900.jpg

Hills-Forrest-Smith completes master plan for Indiana’s Foster Park Muni; Bobby Weed shrinks North Carolina’s Waynesville Inn & Golf Club

TFC PODCAST NETWORK

BEHIND THE GOLF BRAND
How 'The Par Train Podcast' is growing followers by unlocking golf's mental game
Co-founder Evan Singer shares with host Paul Liberatore the wild ride of becoming the No. 1 golf mental game podcast with over 900,000 downloads
[Listen | More 'Behind the Golf Brand' episodes]

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]

#QOTD

"We don’t see things as they are; we see them as we are."

— Anais Nin

ICYMI

Chervo prepares for the world stage

Italian-based apparel company to use being a licensed 2023 Ryder Cup merchandiser as a way to break into the American consciousness

ROUNDS AND WEATHER

> Rounds played finished this past week flat vs. 2022, driven primarily by colder temperatures in California and Mountain Pacific regions that were offset by warmer, drier weather in the Northeast region.

The Northeast region continues to be a major driver in rounds growth vs. last year as rounds finished up over 300% vs. last year.

New York and Philadelphia markets were the top two markets in rounds vs. last year due to the weather improvements in the region. California rounds declined by 13% vs. last year as heavy rains from last week brought a cold front throughout the state with temperatures in the low 50s — or 10 degrees lower on average vs. 2022. Phoenix and Oregon saw the largest declines in the Mountain Pacific region due to colder temperatures vs. 2022.

> Pacing over the next seven days is up 2% vs. last year as driven by significantly warmer temperatures projected in the Northeast and Central Valley regions.

> Weekday golfers as a percentage of total golf business finished over 60% for the first time in three weeks.

TUNING IN

PGA Tour: Genesis Invitational
Site: Riviera Country Club, Los Angeles, California.
Television [ET]: Today, 4-8 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 p.m. (CBS).
Leaderboard | GCSAA Fact Sheet

PGA Tour Champions: Chubb Classic
Site: Tiburon Golf Club (Black), Naples, Florida.
Television [ET]: Today, noon to 3 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, 3-5:30 p.m. (Golf Channel).
Leaderboard | GCSAA Fact Sheet

DP World Tour: Thailand Classic
Site: Amata Spring Country Club, Chonburi, Thailand.
Television [ET]: Today-Saturday, 11:30 p.m. to 4 a.m. (Golf Channel).
Leaderboard

Asian Tour: International Series Qatar
Site: Doha Golf Club, Doha, Qatar.
Television [ET]: Today, 5-9 a.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday, 4-8 a.m. (Golf Channel); Sunday, 4-7 a.m. (Golf Channel).
Leaderboard

CALENDAR

FEBRUARY
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.