The First Call 03-14-2022

FIRST THOUGHT

A good course maintenance staff is not unlike a good referee in football or basketball — you don't give them much thought until they aren't doing their job properly. Golf facilities are facing turbulent times. In addition to supply-chain issues and rising maintenance costs indirectly related to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, they also face staffing issues. According to a 2022 Golf Facility Market Trend Watch report conducted by the ASGCA and Sports and Leisure Research Group, 73 percent of public facilities had at least one open maintenance position in 2021. Such stresses eventually begin to take a toll, so if something appears amiss at your local muni, show some patience.

Editor's Note: We have launched The First Call | Weekend Edition for free on Substack. The weekender is a recap of the industry's happenings, along with a few other twists. And, like The First Call, it's emailed directly to your inbox. So check it out here.

> Question of the Week: Would you rather watch a tournament where the winning score is around even par, between 5- and 15-under par or a shootout over 20 under?
Send replies on this question or other topics to shall@morningread.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.

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READ, WATCH, LISTEN

> Long excluded, female golfers are now key driver of game’s growth
[Michael Croley | Bloomberg | Read]

> Bill Hensley, one of the best promoters of golf in the state of North Carolina, has died at the age of 96
[John Dell | Winston-Salem Journal | Read]

> ‘Foreign threat’: How the PGA Tour weathered a Saudi Arabian incursion
[Andrew Beaton, Joshua Robinson and Rory Jones | Wall Street Journal | Read]

> Nelly Korda at home recovering from blood clot in her arm
[Brentley Romine | GolfChannel.com | Read]

> Tepetonka: A new club (and model) will bring private destination golf to Minnesota
[Erik Matuszewski | Forbes | Read]

The Players' Gold Man strikes a pose, but is it iconic enough?

PGA Tour’s flagship event features a gold-tinted golfer silhouette logo that is sleek and classy, but in terms of prestige it’s not quite iconic — yet

Is The Players considered a major?

The First Call readers weigh in on whether the Players Championship is on the level as the grand slam — or just a notch below

FACT OF THE DAY

DID YOU KNOW?

In a recent survey, 59% of golfers with an average score less than 80 had participated in fitness/strength training to improve and develop their game. That compares to 39% of those with an average score between 80 and 89 and 31% of those with an average score 90 and over.

Source: Longitudes Group

THE INDUSTRY

Announced: By Drive Shack Inc., that it will open Puttery venues in New York City’s Meatpacking District and in Kansas City's Country Club Plaza. In New York City, the Meatpacking District borders Chelsea to the north and the West Village to the south. The largest Puttery yet, the 26,600-square-foot venue will span multiple levels featuring uniquely themed courses, a rooftop lounge area and several bars throughout. In Kansas City, the 23,600-square-foot venue will occupy the lower levels of the Jack Henry building and sit adjacent to the Kansas City Chiefs Fitness Center, and, the New York City venue, feature themed nine-hole courses as well as numerous bars and lounge areas.

#QOTD

"Success is walking from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm."

— Winston Churchill

CALENDAR

JULY
26-27: Multi-Course and Resort Operators Retreat, Charleston, S.C.

JANUARY 2023
24-27: PGA Show, Orlando, Fla. | Info

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

LAST CALL

Printable NCAA bracket: The complete 2022 March Madness field https://t.co/YSHCFVi8lZ pic.twitter.com/ipKhPat0so
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) March 13, 2022