Jack Nicklaus' influence in golf runs deep, as evidenced this week. In addition to hosting one of the PGA Tour's premier non-major events, this week's Memorial Tournament, Nicklaus' name is attached to one of the collegiate game's top honors, the Jack Nicklaus Award. The honor recognizes the national collegiate player of the year in Division I, II, III, NAIA, and NJCAA as selected by the Golf Coaches Association of America and those players will receive their respective award from Nicklaus on Sunday. And, one day, they may just receive a handshake from the Golden Bear for winning his event. Patrick Cantlay, Tiger Woods and Jon Rahm are three past Jack Nicklaus Award winners to later win the Memorial Tournament.

IN THIS ISSUE

> Jim Nantz to assist on Tepetonka Club's short course design | Read
> PGA Professional Spotlight: Danny Ackerman | Read

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

June 9 will mark the anniversary of the first LIV Golf Invitational Series event. Since then, more players have jumped from the PGA Tour, two (Cameron Smith and Brooks Koepka) have won half of the four majors played, and the league still does not receive world ranking points. How have your opinions of LIV Golf changed, if at all?

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.

DANNY ACKERMAN
General Manager, Oglebay Golf

The First Call: What is your favorite instructional tip to share with a golfer?
Danny Ackerman: Always like sticking to the basics — grip, posture and plane.

TFC: What is the best advice you have received on your career path?
DA: Run your business as if you were reaching into your own wallet to either add staff or make a purchase. If you follow that logic you'll run a successful golf business. Don Padgett, past president of the PGA, told me that 28 years ago and I've never forgotten.

READ MORE >

Nippon Shaft: Reports that its N.S.Pro Modus3 Hybrid Tour shaft was played by the DP World Tour's KLM Open champion's utility iron.

Astros Golf Foundation, PGA Tour: Announce that Texas Children’s, the largest pediatric and women’s health system in the nation headquartered in Houston, will serve as title sponsor of the PGA Tour’s Houston Open in a new five-year agreement beginning in 2024 and running through 2028. The Texas Children’s Houston Open will return to the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup schedule in spring of 2024.

Cisco, United States Golf Association: Announced a multiyear extension of their partnership, which began in 2018. Through the new term, the two organizations will leverage Cisco’s solutions, innovation and expertise to strengthen the USGA’s technological infrastructure at its championships. New for 2023, USGA ShotCast will debut, giving fans the ability to follow the action from both the U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open with 3D hole imagery and real-time radar data. Available via both the USGA’s mobile app and website, USGA ShotCast will also archive every televised golf shot and make them available to view in near real-time — a first for the U.S. Women’s Open and women’s golf. 

> Golf instruction: Is the one-hour lesson model becoming obsolete?
[Averee Dovsek | Golfweek | Read]

> Sports betting's rise is a cash cow. Are states doing enough to curb gambling addiction?
[Chris Bumbaca | USA Today | Read]

> Vivek Ramaswamy fires consultants who worked simultaneously for LIV golf
[Caitlin Oprysko / Hailey Fuchs | Politico | Read]

> Donald Trump’s Turnberry golf course blacklisted by Open Championship organizers
[Tom Morgan / James Corrigan / Jamie Johnson | The Telegraph | Read]

BEHIND THE GOLF BRAND
How On Point Golf has grown so rapidly
Founder Briston Peterson joins host Paul Liberatore to discuss his company's wild ride as a manufacturer of three-dimensional ball markers
[Listen | More 'Behind the Golf Brand' episodes]

DRIVER$
How the USGA is managing equipment innovation
Co-hosts Jon Last and David Klein provide an inside look at the USGA’s equipment standards department
[Listen | More 'Driver$' episodes]

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]

PGA Tour: Memorial Tournament
Site: Muirfield Village Golf Club, Dublin, Ohio.
Television [ET]: Thursday-Friday, 2-6 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, 12:30-2:30 p.m. (Golf Channel), 2:30-6 p.m. (CBS).
Leaderboard | GCSAA Fact Sheet

LPGA Tour: Mizuho Americas Open
Site: Liberty National, Jersey City, New Jersey.
Television [ET]: Thursday-Friday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday, 5-8 p.m. (Golf Channel); Sunday, 5-7:30 p.m. (Golf Channel).
Leaderboard | GCSAA Fact Sheet

DP World Tour: Porsche European Open
Site: Green Eagle Golf Club, Hamburg, Germany.
Television [ET]: Thursday-Friday, 7-11 a.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, 7-11:30 a.m. (Golf Channel).
Leaderboard

PGA Tour Champions: Principal Charity Classic
Site: Wakonda Club, Des Moines, Iowa.
Television [ET]: Friday, 7-9 p.m. (Golf Channel-Tape Delay); Saturday-Sunday, 2:30-5 p.m. (Golf Channel).
GCSAA Fact Sheet

> Assistant Golf Professional
Palmetto Hall Plantation
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina | Info

> Academy Coach
Operation 36 Golf Academy
Raleigh, North Carolina | Info

> Board and Past President Administrative Assistant
PGA of America
Frisco, Texas | 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.

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.