Wednesday May 24, 2023
FIRST THOUGHT

Putting a bow on the PGA Championship, can we talk about Viktor Hovland for a minute? Between Brooks Koepka winning his third PGA Championship and fifth major overall, and 46-year-old PGA Professional teaching pro Michael Block emerging as a fan and media favorite by tying for 15th, Hovland's performance was somewhat overshadowed. The 25-year-old Norwegian recorded a career-best finish (T2) in a major in his 14th major start and recorded his third career top-10 in a major and third in as many starts (T2/2023 PGA Championship, T7/2023 Masters, T4/2022 Open Championship). He's the only player to finish in the top 10 in the last three majors and has also held a lead/co-lead in the last three majors.

IN THIS ISSUE

> Women in the golf industry trending in right direction | Read
> PGA Professional Spotlight: Ryan Mahoney | Read

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

What does winning a third PGA Championship — and fifth major overall — do for Brooks Koepka's reputation?

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.

INDUSTRY NEWS
Enhancements will allow superintendents to customize the facility BMP to fit their own facility
Read More
Nick Sherburne, Ian Fraser, Jason MacNiven and Paul Jenner, founders of the industry's top fitting brands, come together to talk fitting, equipment and all things golf
Read More
CBS Sports announcer will collaborate with Tepetonka’s design firm, OCM Golf, on the creation of The Prox for the new, 228-acre, private golf destination located west Minneapolis, Minnesota 
Read More
Schaupeter will oversee projects for the golf course construction and renovation company, manage renovation projects, and collaborate with architects and clients
Read More
A donation of $10 from every Swing Trainer sold on GolfForever.com between Armed Forces Day and Labor Day will be made to Folds of Honor and the Veteran Golfers Association
Read More
Troon Golf will manage golf operations, agronomy, food and beverage, retail and sales, and marketing for the 18-hole golf course and restaurant under development in Baytown, Texas
Read More
Winner of the award recognizing the most outstanding male NCAA D1 college golfer to be announced May 30; past winners include Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Justin Thomas
Read More
Director of instruction at Hamilton Farm Golf Club in Gladstone, New Jersey, to use platform for advanced statistical reporting on his members and students
Read More
Field for June 9-11 tournament in Galloway, New Jersey, to include past champions, major champions and former World No. 1 players vying for share of $1.75 million purse
Read More

PGA Tour: Joie Chitwood, former Arnold Palmer Invitational tournament director and longtime motorsports executive, has been named executive director of the 2026 Presidents Cup, which will be contested at Medinah Country Club outside of Chicago.

Toptracer: Launches Toptracer Coach, a web-enabled platform that allows PGA Professionals to create assignments, access data from Toptracer Range sessions, and optimize their coaching sessions by providing objective instruction to their students.

Malcolm DeMille: Grayson Murray won the AdventHealth Championship and received a Malcolm DeMille-handcrafted trophy that celebrates the AdventHealth butterfly logo, stands over 10-inches tall, is crafted in nickel plate and features a swirling detail that raises up to the AdventHealth logo.

Volcano Golf Course, Volcano Winery: Collaboration between the Kilauea, Hawaii, companies has created Tee and Taste, an exclusive package pairing golf play with a tasting of the finest local wines. The package includes five holes of walking play at Volcano Golf Course and a certificate for a tasting of six wines and two estate teas at Volcano Winery. Packages start at $25 per person.

PGA Tour: Golf Channel and Peacock will broadcast eight hours of live weekend coverage at the Final Stage of 2023 PGA Tour Q-School, scheduled for Dec. 14-17 at the Dye’s Valley Course at TPC Sawgrass and Sawgrass Country Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Also, Korn Ferry, the umbrella sponsor of the Korn Ferry Tour since June 2019, will be the presenting sponsor for PGA Tour Q-School.

ClubUp: Announces new agreements with St Andrews Links in Scotland, Barnbougle in Tasmania, Australia, and Vattanac Golf Resort in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. ClubUp's technology offers a more efficient way to schedule and communicate with caddies working at a partner club property, In addition to the caddie technology, ClubUp is now working with clubs to improve outside service operations by providing GPS technology, pace-of-play tools and a staff-scheduling platform.

LPGA: Launches a line of affordable golf clubs, accessories and shoes for female beginners and juniors. Women’s 13-piece and eight-piece club sets and seven-piece and five-piece junior girls club sets are now available for purchase in more than 1,200 Walmart stores and online at Walmart.com. All club sets include an LPGA-branded golf bag. Women’s club sets start at $199, and junior club sets start at $98. LPGA-branded apparel items and spikeless golf shoes are also now available.

READ, WATCH, LISTEN

> Masters showed golf can get along, even in Ryder Cup
[Doug Ferguson | Associated Press | Read]

> PGA of America remains noncommittal on golf ball rollback
[Bob Harig | Sports Illustrated | Read]

#QOTD
"Humor comes from self-confidence."
— Rita Mae Brown
ICYMI
Women in the golf industry are trending in right direction
Fore Hire’s Women Who Want to Work in Golf event kicks off important step in empowering more women
PGA PROFESSIONAL SPOTLIGHT

RYAN MAHONEY
Teaching Professional, Troon North Golf Club

The First Call: What is your favorite instructional tip to share with a golfer?
Ryan Mahoney: Have my students work on their grip. It's the most important pre-swing fundamental.

TFC: When you look at your career, in what area(s) do you believe you have evolved for the better?
RM: My communication skills and customer service. My ability to go above and beyond what is asked of me on a daily basis.

READ MORE >

TUNING IN

PGA Tour: Charles Schwab Challenge
Site: Colonial Country Club, Fort Worth, Texas.
Television [ET]: Thursday-Friday, 4-7 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, 1-3 p.m. (Golf Channel), 3-6 p.m. (CBS).
GCSAA Fact Sheet

PGA of Amercia, PGA Tour Champions: Senior PGA Championship
Site: Fields Ranch East, Frisco, Texas.
Television [ET]: Thursday-Friday, 1-4 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday, 1:30-4:30 p.m. (NBC); Sunday, 3-4 p.m. (Golf Channel), 4-6 p.m. (NBC).
GCSAA Fact Sheet

LPGA TOUR: Bank of Hope LPGA Match Play
Site: Shadow Creek Golf Club, North Las Vegas, Nevada.
Television [ET]: Today, 1:30-4:30 p.m. (Golf Channel); Thursday-Friday, 7-10 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday, 5:30-8:30 p.m. (Golf Channel); Sunday, 6:30-9:30 p.m. (Golf Channel).
Leaderboard | GCSAA Fact Sheet

LIV Golf League: LIV Golf DC
Site: Trump National Washington D.C., Sterling, Virginia.
Television [ET]: Saturday-Sunday, 1-6 p.m. (The CW).

DP World Tour: KLM Open
Site: Bernardus Golf, Cromvoirt, The Netherlands.
Television [ET][: Thursday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, 7:30 a.m. to noon (Golf Channel).

TFC PODCAST NETWORK

THE COMPETITIVE EDGE
Former college coach launches Fore Hire to continue supporting women golfers post-graduation
Host Kelly Okun interviews founder and CEO Courtney Trimble about her learnings as a golfer and how her experience can now help others
[Listen | More 'The Competitive Edge' episodes]

GOLF INNERVIEW WITH ANN LIGUORI
Alex Beach becoming a PGA Championship regular
PGA Assistant Professional joins host Ann Liguori to talk about his five-year qualifying streak and the obstacles he has faced along the way
[Listen | More 'Golf Innerview with Ann Liguori' episodes]

THE COMPETITIVE EDGE
Co-founders share how their sports background helped launch LoopGolf
Host Kelly Okun debuts the new podcast with guests Thomas Reinholm and Matt Rum
[Listen | More 'The Competitive Edge' episodes]

MAKE GOLF YOUR CAREER

> Assistant Golf Professional
Pro Kids Golf Academy
San Diego, California | Info

> Assistant Golf Professional
The Links At Terranea
Rancho Palos Verdes, California | Info

> Head Golf Professional
The Cliffs at Walnut Cove
Arden, North Carolina | Info

> View a complete listing of jobs

Make Golf Your Career is a golf industry DE&I initiative launched by Make Golf Your Thing that allows job seekers to search, find and apply for opportunities throughout the industry in one place.

CALENDAR

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

AUGUST
19-22: African American Golf Expo and Forum, Louisville, Ky. | Info

> View complete calendar

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