The First Call 04-01-2022

FIRST THOUGHT

According to the National Golf Foundation, a record 3.2 million Americans played golf on a course for the first time in 2021. This came after 2020 when 3 million others played for the first time. The 6.2 million combined total for 2020-21 is the best two-year period since 2017-18 and far exceeds the 4.8 million total for 1999-2000, which is considered the Tiger Woods effect.

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> Question of the Week: Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters are chock-full of memories and traditions. What are your favorites?
Send replies on this question or other topics to shall@morningread.com or respond on Substack. 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

> Mission Hills bowing out with final major in the desert
[John Nicholson | Associated Press | Read]

> Learning to play Augusta National well enough to win the Masters is an acquired taste
[Bob Harig | Morning Read | Read]

> Six-time Masters champion Jack Nicklaus is done playing the Par 3 Contest
[Steve DiMeglio | Golfweek | Read]

Why there is nothing quite like the Masters to its patrons

The First Call readers express their sentiments about the traditions and memories of Augusta National and the year's first major championship

FACT OF THE DAY

DID YOU KNOW?

Pre-pandemic, both avid golfer and female golfer populations were on a slow decline, losing 0.5% and 4%, respectively, of participants year-over-year from 2018 to 2019.

Source: Longitudes Group

THE INDUSTRY

Pinehurst No. 2 leads way in 2022 N.C. Golf Panel rankings

Southern Pines GC cracks top 100 after Kyle Franz renovation

Arcis Golf, Els For Autism continue partnership

Round Up 4 Els for Autism initiative begins nationwide in April

Global Golf Post donates green fees for S.F. City Championship

Magazine continues support of amateur championship that originated in 1917 and is nation's oldest municipal tournament

Silverado Resort and Spa to host NCAA women’s golf event

Napa, California, club to host The Silverado Showdown, April 4-6; event co-hosted by the University of Colorado and University of Oregon women’s golf programs

Riviera CC names Jim Richerson as GM

Richerson will conclude his PGA of America presidency in November; comes to Riviera from Troon

Intersport announces return of John Shippen National Golf Invitational

Invitational invites the nation’s top black women and men amateur and professional golfers to compete for five exemptions on the LPGA and PGA Tour

Majors Challenge readies for Masters pool play

Company touts ease of use, golf-specific platform

Malcolm DeMille handcrafts Rapiscan Systems Classic Anthony Topazi Trophy

Company has created a one-of-a-kind trophy for the PGA Tour Champions event since 2018

New energy boosts Westmoreland CC member experience

General manager Ryan Prosowski, director of golf Zack Turek, course superintendent Spencer Hennen and executive chef Jonathan White infusing Export, Pennsylvania, club

Volcano GC reopens for play

Hawai’i Island’s first and oldest golf course reopens after being closed for nearly two years

ICYMI

Whiskers adds color to a mostly monochromatic shoelaces market

Whiskers Laces Mornign Read Covers copy 3.jpg

Co-founder Kyle Groth joins 'Behind the Golf Brand' podcast to discuss what differentiates his brand's shoelaces from his competitors and the move into the golf market

RELATED
> Deconstructing the ordinary: The birth of Whiskers

LISTEN

#QOTD

"Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering."

— Yoda, 'The Phantom Menace'

ROUNDS AND WEATHER

> Cooler temperatures and increased precipitation impacted play nationwide over the past week. Rounds played finished down 26% overall vs. last year.

> Temperatures were behind prior year by ~7 degrees over the past seven days, impacting play in markets such as the Northeast and Great Plains, which are approaching seasonal opens.

> Florida and the Mountain Pacific finished as the top two regions for the week. Rounds finished up in the regions versus prior year by +2% and +3%, respectively, for the week.

> Strong performance is expected to continue from the Mountain Pacific, which is on pace to finish up by +15% for rounds played over the next week.

TUNING IN

LPGA Tour: Chevron Championship
Site: Mission Hills Country Club (Dinah Shore), Rancho Mirage, Calif. | GCSAA Fact Sheet
Television: Today-Friday, noon to 4 p.m., 7-9 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, 5-9 p.m. (Golf Channel).

PGA Tour: Valero Texas Open
Site: TPC San Antonio (Oaks), San Antonio | GCSAA Fact Sheet
Television: Today-Friday, 4-7 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday, 1-3:30 p.m. (Golf Channel), 3:30-6 p.m. (NBC); Sunday, 1-2 p.m. (Golf Channel), 2-6 p.m. (NBC).

PGA Tour Champions: Rapiscan Systems Classic
Site: Grand Bear Golf Club, Biloxi, Mississippi | GCSAA Fact Sheet
Television: Friday, 10 p.m. to midnight (Golf Channel-tape delay); Saturday, 3:30-5 p.m. (Golf Channel); Sunday, 2-5 p.m. (Golf Channel).

CALENDAR

APRIL
12-13: SportTechie State of the Industry, New York, N.Y. | Info

JUNE
7: Women's Golf Day | Info
22-23: LPGA Leadership Academy, Saginaw, Mich. | Info

JULY
13-14: LPGA Leadership Academy, Liberty Corner, N.J. | Info
19-20: LPGA Leadership Academy, Gainesville, Va. | Info
26-27: Multi-Course and Resort Operators Retreat, Charleston, S.C.

AUGUST
1-2: LPGA Leadership Academy, Newcastle, Wash. | Info

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

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