The First Call 04-22-2022

FIRST THOUGHT

Is Jake Baxter more in the line of Happy Gilmore and Ty Webb or perhaps more like Rannulph Junuh? "Birdies," a comedic movie filmed around Wilmington, North Carolina, on a shoestring budget, follows a David versus Goliath plot line — think 'Dodgeball." Baxter, a former collegiate golfer seeking a return to glory, is hired as the professional at Twin Pines, a withering country club looking to stay afloat. His job is to pull together a rag-tag team to square off against the upper crust from nearby Magnolia Pointe, which is looking to hammer the final nail into Twin Pines' fate. The film is currently streaming online with hopes of latching onto a streaming service.

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> Question of the Week: What is your favorite piece of golf memorabilia? Tell us the story behind it and share a photo if you have one.
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

> Living the dream: Short in stature but long in tenacity, Joakim Bjorkman is tirelessly pursuing a career in professional golf
[Ryan French | Fire Pit Collective | Read]

> Rising cyber threats demand cybersecurity measures for golf clubs
[Joseph Saracino | Golf Inc. | Read]

> ‘Gimme Shelter’: Should L.A.'s golf courses become affordable housing?
[Liam Dillon | Los Angeles Times | Read]

FACT OF THE DAY

DID YOU KNOW?

The five states with the largest percent increase in total golfers from 2020 to 2021 were Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Ohio and Indiana. These states all had total golfer populations — avid and casual — that increased over 4% during that time period.

Source: Longitudes Group

THE INDUSTRY

2022 Arizona Summer Troon Card now on sale

Card, valid from May 4 through Sept. 30, is good for 23 Troon-managed and brand-affiliated facilities in Arizona; portion of proceeds from card sales help to feed less fortunate

TPT expands Red Range hybrid shaft range

New 20 Series and 21 Series hybrid shafts added, allowing golfers to play a matching set of TPT Red Range driver, fairway wood and hybrid shafts in each of the company’s 14 shaft models

ECWPGT to open inaugural season in Sebring, Florida

East Coast Women’s Pro Golf Tour to launch season May 11-13 at Sun n’ Lake GC

Announced: By Tripp Davis and Associates, that its redesign work at Houston’s BraeBurn Country Club is now complete and the club is planning a celebratory reopening this weekend. Davis and his team kept the same basic routing of the original course — designed by John Bredemus in 1931 — but rebuilt and reshaped all the greens, rebuilt and shifted tee locations, and rebuilt bunkers in a more classic style. NorthBridge Bermudagrass was also installed.

#QOTD

"Ability is what you’re capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it."

— Lou Holtz

ICYMI

Does quality have to be expensive?

Sam Uisprapassorn, founder and CEO of Cut Golf, joins the 'Behind the Golf Brand' podcast to talk about creating a quality golf ball at an inexpensive price point

LISTEN

ROUNDS AND WEATHER

> For the third successive week it was another seven days of heavy precipitation across the country and, as a result, rounds played finished down -15% vs. last year.

> Increased precipitation, starting over the weekend, showered the country and impacted play in all regions. The Central Valley and California regions, specifically, were up by over 500% for precipitation vs. 2021.

> Florida, again, finished as the only region positive for rounds played vs. 2021 this past week, mostly due to decreased rainfall and cooler temperatures.

> Positive performance is expected from the Central Valley and Mid-Atlantic regions, with both areas on pace to finish up by over 40% vs. 2021 for rounds played the next five days.

TUNING IN

PGA Tour: Zurich Classic of New Orleans
Site: TPC Louisiana, Avondale, Louisiana | GCSSA Fact Sheet
Television: Today, 3:30-6:30 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, 1-3 p.m. (Golf Channel), 3-6 p.m. (CBS).

LPGA Tour: Dio Implant LA Open
Site: Wilshire Country Club, Los Angeles | GCSAA Fact Sheet
Television: Today, 6:30-9:30 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, 7-9:30 p.m. (Golf Channel).

European Tour: ISPS Handa Championship
Site: Infinitum Resort (Lakes), Tarragona, Spain.
Television: Today, 8 a.m. to noon (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Golf Channel).

PGA Tour Champions: ClubCorp Classic
Site: Las Colinas Country Club, Irving, Texas | GCSAA Fact Sheet
Television: Today, noon to 3 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, 3-7 p.m. (Golf Channel).

CALENDAR

MAY
10-11: National Golf Day | 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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