The First Call 05-20-2022

FIRST THOUGHT

Kinona's second Women in Golf Equality Index reports that 60 percent of 1,044 U.S. adults surveyed believe that golf dress codes are outdated — compared to 56% in 2021. Also, Kinona, a female-led apparel company, reports that more respondents recognize gender discrimination in the sport, increasing from 54% to 58% in 2022 vs. 2021 survey. And, 50% of the respondents said they would watch more women’s golf if there was more buzz and publicity, including nearly 70% of women who have played golf within the past three years.

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> Question of the Week: Southern Hills Country Club is hosting its fifth PGA Championship this week. How would you rate the Perry Maxwell-designed Tulsa, Oklahoma, club compared with other championships sites?
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

> Rory McIlroy sprints out of gate with 65 at PGA, showing confidence of old
[Gary Van Sickle | SI / Morning Read | Read]

> UPS dumps Lee Westwood on heels of LIV Golf waiver request
[Alex Miceli | SI / Morning Read | Read]

> Donald Trump speaks out on Phil Mickelson, Jack Nicklaus, Saudi Arabia and the PGA that got away
[Michael Bamberger | Fire Pit Collective | Read]

> ‘Be a man enough to stand up’: Major champ questions Phil Mickelson’s silence
[Nick Piastowski | Golf.com | Read]

THE INDUSTRY

RBC joins Women’s Golf Day as global partner

RBC becomes lead sponsor for WGD RBC Toronto event on June 7; registration now open for event at Scarboro GCC

Golf Datatech releases April Total Equipment Sales report

Golf ball and club sales drop vs. 2021; supply constraints, back orders factor in negatively

Introduced: By Galvin Green, a limited-edition Pink Collection, which features a choice of four polo shirt options, two sweaters, a lightweight short-sleeve windproof jacket and a pair of shorts that can complement each selected garment.

Announced: By Pasatiempo Golf Club, plans to restore the greens complexes and bunkers to resemble Alister MacKenzie’s original design, and intent, of the golf course that opened in 1929. The Santa Cruz, California, club is scheduled to begin the restoration in April 2023 and be completed in December 2024. The restoration will be led by golf course architect Jim Urbina, superintendent Justin Mandon and golf course contractor Earth Sculptures.

Introduced: By Titleist, its third generation Tour Soft golf ball, along with a reformulated Tour Speed ball. The Tour Soft features a new aerodynamic design for longer distance and a larger corer for a more responsive feel, while the Tour Speed has reconfigured core for high speeds and a high flex casing layer that promotes long-game spin. Both balls are available beginning today; the Tour Soft retails for $35 per dozen and the Tour Speed is $40 per dozen.

#QOTD

"Golf is a compromise between what your ego wants you to do, what experience tells you to do, and what your nerves let you do."

— Bruce Crampton

ICYMI

An algorithm levels the playing field

Course architect Richard Mandell's Tee Shot Distance Equity factors swing speed, not handicap, in equalizing the game for all levels of play

ROUNDS AND WEATHER

> As temperatures are warming up across the country, there is an increasing demand for golf. Rounds played finished last week down 3% vs. same week 2021, but was an improvement of 6% vs. last week.

> As a result of increased precipitation in the North to Mid-East regions (+71% vs. 2021), rounds played in the region were greatly impacted.

> This week, the Central Valley and Great Plains regions finished as the top performing regions vs. 2021, due to significantly warmer weather in both regions (+12 degrees vs. last year).

> Positive performance is expected from the Great Plains region as its on pace to finish up vs. 2021 by over 10% for rounds played the next five days.

TUNING IN

PGA of America: PGA Championship
Site: Southern Hills Country Club, Tulsa, Oklahoma | GCSAA Fact Sheet
Television: Today, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. (ESPN+), 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. (ESPN); Saturday-Sunday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (ESPN), 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. (CBS).

CALENDAR

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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