The First Call 03-24-2023

FIRST THOUGHT

Do seeds really matter at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play? At first glance, perhaps not really. Through the first two rounds of group play, the higher seeds are only seven wins over .500 at 33-26-5. Broken down further, though, seeds Nos. 1-16 are 21-10-1, while the remaining three groups of 16 are all under .500. Nos. 17-32 are 12-16-4, Nos. 33-48 are 14-15-3, and Nos. 49-64 are 12-18-2.

IN THIS ISSUE

> Bandon Dunes unveils details of new par-3 course | Read
> TFC Inbox: Readers' thoughts on golf ball rollback |
Read
> The latest industry news | Read

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

What are your thoughts on the USGA's and R&A's proposed rollback on golf balls for elite competitions?

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.

Design Notes: Bandon Dunes unveils details of new par-3 course

Ross, Crace and Quitno collaborate on Texas’ Starcke Park; bunker reno starts at Ayla, Jordan’s first all-grass golf course

INDUSTRY NEWS

Arcis Golf: Clubs voted among 2023 Caggy Awards' Best in Region

Arrowhead Golf Club in Littleton and The Club at Pradera and The Pinery Country Club in Parker are honored by readers and editors of Colorado AvidGolfer magazine

Audubon International: Adds Signature Sanctuary Platinum level

Level offers all-encompassing certification for a property; single title includes multiple certifications and gives qualifying properties options to meet sustainability goals

The Club at Olde Cypress: Community Charity Day tourney raises $50K

$50,270 was raised for Topaz Assistance Dogs, which helps empower individuals with disabilities by providing safety and independence through partnership with skilled assistance dogs

OnCore Golf: Kentucky State wins with Vero X1, X2 golf balls

Men's team won the Derrall Foreman Invitational at Cleveland Country Club in Cleveland, Mississippi; team shot a three-day total of 868 while playing the perimeter-weighted golf balls

Swing Control: Introduces two performance-ready skort styles, White Roses and Pleated Cloud. The White Roses features bold, oversized florals on performance-ready stretch fabric and has an easy slip-on waistband, functional side pockets and discreet hidden undershorts. The Pleated Cloud is performance oriented, cut from Cloud fabric and features a slip-on elastic waistband and hidden undershorts with functional-yet-discreet side pockets.

READ, WATCH, LISTEN

> After a massive renovation, Oak Hill will look different for competitors at the 2023 PGA Championship
[Sal Maiorana | Rochester Democrat and Chronicle | Read]

> Plans for new 1,742-acre golf bonanza coming near Augusta National includes two courses, spa and an on-site gunsmith(?)
[Greg Gottfried | Golf Digest | Read]

> Neighbors of abandoned Wake Forest golf course want to know what chemicals are in the soil
[Lisa Sorg | The Pulse | Read]

#QOTD

"Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm."

— Winston Churchill

ICYMI

TFC Inbox: Is rolling back the golf ball good or bad for the game?

While some readers of The First Call say leave well enough alone, others believe changes to the ball — and even course setup and equipment — would bring strategy back

ROUNDS AND WEATHER

> Rounds played last week finished down 21% vs. 2022 as much of the nation was impacted by major storms.

Winter Storm Sage dumped as much as 40 inches of snow across the Northeast, leading to a total rounds decline of 38% vs. last year. The Central Valley, Mid-Atlantic and Great Plains regions experienced significant declines in temperatures, from between 10 to 15 degrees cooler than last year, which resulted in a combined decline of 34% in total rounds vs. last year across these regions.

> Pacing over the next seven days is projected to be up 4% vs. last year as warmer temperatures are projected across the nation.

The Mid-Atlantic region is pacing the furthest ahead of last year at +38% in total rounds as temperatures are projected to be 15 to 20 degrees higher than 2022. The Northeast is the only region pacing behind last year, down 7% as heavy rain and snow is projected for much of the week.

> Weekday golfers as a percent of total golfers finished above 60% for the first time in three weeks as heavy snow, rain and colder temperatures affected much of the nation over the weekend.

TFC PODCAST NETWORK

DRIVER$
Building the perfect golf app
Golf Genius CEO Mike Zisman reflects on golfer experience apps and technology with co-hosts Jon Last and David Klein
[Listen | More 'Driver$' episodes]

GOLF INNERVIEW WITH ANN LIGUORI
John Simpson tells of IMG's early days, emerging stars
Before becoming founder and CEO of On Course Foundation, Simpson managed the emerging careers of Hall of Famers such as Bernhard Langer, Nick Price and Nick Faldo. He joins host Ann Liguori to share his stories
[Listen | More 'Golf Innerview with Ann Liguori' episodes]

BEHIND THE GOLF BRAND
How Sweet Rollz is changing the putter grip market
Co-founder Lance Garvin joins host Paul Liberatore to discuss his company's dedication to putting performance through its putter grips
[Listen | More 'Behind the Golf Brand' episodes]

TUNING IN

International Federation of PGA Tours: World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play
Site: Austin Country Club, Austin, Texas.
Television [ET]: Today, 2-8 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday, 10 a.m. to noon (Golf Channel), noon-6 p.m. (NBC); Sunday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Golf Channel), 3-7 p.m. (NBC).
Leaderboard | GCSAA Fact Sheet

PGA Tour: Corales Puntacana Championship
Site: Puntacana Resort and Club (Corales). Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
Television (ET): Today, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, 2-5 p.m. (Golf Channel).
Leaderboard | GCSAA Fact Sheet

LPGA Tour: LPGA Drive On Championship
Site: Superstition Mountain Golf Club, Gold Canyon, Arizona.
Television (ET): Today, 9-11 p.m. (Golf Channel-tape delay); Saturday-Sunday, 7-9 p.m. (Golf Channel).
Leaderboard | GCSAA Fact Sheet

PGA Tour Champions: The Galleri Classic
Site: Mission Hills Country Club, Rancho Mirage, California.
Television (ET): Today, 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. (Golf Channel-tape delay); Saturday-Sunday, 5-7 p.m. (Golf Channel).
Leaderboard | GCSAA Fact Sheet

CALENDAR

JULY
25-27: GCBAA Summer Meeting, Lake Geneva, Wisc. | Info

> View complete calendar

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