The First Call 05-06-2022

FIRST THOUGHT

According to Sports and Leisure Research Group's recent Back to Normal Barometer, 93 percent of 598 Americans who were surveyed April 10-15 and active in sports and leisure activities have resumed pre-pandemic leisure activities or will do so without hesitation or concern. It's the highest total of the 32 such surveys SLRG has conducted. It has also seen a 10-point drop to around 35% who indicated that they will wear masks in venues including hotel lobbies, concerts, movies and sporting events.

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> Question of the Week: Two-part question: Who will win next week's PGA Championship and what will be the biggest storyline?
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

> A Southern Hills preview featuring Gil Hanse
[The Fried Egg Golf Podcast | Listen]

> The multitudes within Phil Mickelson
[Alan Shipnuck | Fire Pit Collective | Read]

> Joe Buck will lead an alternative broadcast for the PGA Championship on ESPN
[John Schwarb | Morning Read | Read]

Coore & Crenshaw: The cornerstones of success

As they approach the 40th anniversary of their partnership, the esteemed course designers reflect on their humble beginning and the philosophy that has paid dividends over the years

Snapshot: Solid Q1 bolsters Acushnet's optimism for 2022

Revenues are up 8% heading into the peak golf season, giving executives reason to believe consumer spending will continue — even if rounds played dip

FACT OF THE DAY

DID YOU KNOW

The top 10 metropolitan areas in the United States account for 25% of the total number of golfers and 28% of all golf spending in America.

Source: Longitudes Group

THE INDUSTRY

PGTAA touts new golf products

Professional Golf Teachers Association of America provides a sampling of offerings, including a pair of putter training aids

KemperSports holds annual Leadership Conference

Company recognizes 2021 achievements, top performers from across the country

Naperville CC to host 104th Western Junior Championship

Naperville, Illinois, club will host the nation's oldest junior golf championship, June 20-23

Announced: By Manor House Golf Club, the purchase of 50 golf carts from Club Car. Each will include full Visage GPS touch screens, and the club will install solar panels on its cart house to help charge the lithium battery carts.

Announced: By the Asian Tour, free entry for fans to its International Series England event at Slaley Hall Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort, June 2-5 in Hexham, England. Attendees just need to register here. The inaugural event features a $2 million purse and also serves as a qualifier for the following week's LIV Golf Invitational at Centurion Club, June 9-11.

Announced: By the LPGA Tour, that beginning in 2022, players must compete as professionals in Q-Series, the final stage of qualifying for the LPGA Tour. If an amateur player advances to or is exempt into Q-Series, she must turn professional to compete for the opportunity to earn her tour membership. Also, all players who qualify for Q-Series through Stage II of Q School receive Epson Tour status. Amateur players can continue to compete as an amateur, which is permitted on the Epson Tour, or may elect to turn professional and compete for an opportunity to advance directly to the LPGA Tour.

#QOTD

"Fridays are the hardest in some ways: you’re so close to freedom."

— Lauren Oliver

Rounds and Weather

> This week's rounds played finished down 11% vs. 2021 — a decline of 13% vs. last week — due to a 38% increase in precipitation, concentrated mostly in Florida, vs. last week.

> As a result of heavy rainfall in Florida (+277% vs. last year) and colder temperatures across the country (5 degrees colder vs. last year), it was an overall low-demand week for golf.

> Central Valley finished as the top performing region vs. 2021 this past week, largely due to decreased precipitation in the region.

> Over the coming five days, increased rounds played are expected from the Florida and Mountain Pacific regions. Both areas are on pace to finish up vs. same five-day period 2021 by over 10%.

TUNING IN

PGA Tour: Wells Fargo Championship
Site: TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm, Potomac, Maryland | GCSAA Fact Sheet
Television: Today, 2-6 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, 1-3 p.m. (Golf Channel), 3-6 p.m. (CBS).

European Tour: Betfred British Masters
Site: The Belfry, Sutton Coldfield, England.
Television: Today, 8 a.m. to noon (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Golf Channel).

PGA Tour Champions: Mitsubishi Electric Classic
Site: TPC Sugarloaf, Duluth, Georgia | GCSAA Fact Sheet
Television: Today, noon to 2 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, 3-6 p.m. (Golf Channel).

CALENDAR

MAY
6: Me Inc. Resume and Personal Brand Building Workshop | Noon, ET | Virtual
10-11: National Golf Day | 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. | Info

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

JANUARY 2023
23-25: Golf Business Conference, Orlando, Fla.
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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