The First Call 06-23-2023

FIRST THOUGHT

If you're going to win for the first time on the PGA Tour, the Travelers Championship is as good a tournament as any — and may be one of the easier to win based off history. Since the tournament originated in 1960, 17 players have made the Travelers their first PGA Tour title. The last was Ken Duke in 2013.

IN THIS ISSUE

> Design Notes: Colorado’s Glenmoor reopens after Love Golf Design TLC | Read
> 'The Competitive Edge' podcast: Luke Davis, founder of Lie + Loft | Listen
> PGA Professional Spotlight: Paul Milholland | Read

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

What were your takeaways from the U.S. Open, won by Wyndham Clark at Los Angeles Country Club?

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 responses to last week's question.

Design Notes: Colorado’s Glenmoor reopens after Love Golf Design TLC

Andy Staples to renovate Arizona’s Mesa Country Club; Jeff Lynch brings a natural connection to Ireland’s Portmarnock Links

INDUSTRY NEWS

TMRW Sports: Adds senior staff in build up toward TGL launch

Hires Jarrett Dube, CMO; Jeff Neubarth, VP, media production; and Ashley Chalk, VP, global partnerships, as company continues expansion across digital media, technology and HR

Shangri-La Resort: The Anchor named Best New Attraction in Oklahoma

Monkey Island, Oklahoma, destination was honored by the Oklahoma Travel Industry Association

CRMC Championship: NHL's Matt Boldy accepts exemption

Minnesota Wild star to compete in PGA Tour Canada event hosted at Cragun’s Resort in Brainerd, Minnesota

KemperSports: Selected to manage Cedar Point Club

Private club in Suffolk, Virginia, features 18-hole, 9-hole and Par-3 courses, along with a new family aquatics center

READ, WATCH, LISTEN

> Bitten by the golf bug late in life, Bob Halloran is ready to spread its joy
[Jim McCabe | Power Fades | Read]

> Irish connection helped Leona Maguire to second LPGA victory
[Justin Lemminn | PGATour.com | Read]

> KPMG Women's PGA Championship purse jumps again, passing another milestone
[Beth Ann Nichols | Golfweek | Read]

> Ron Jaworski Golf acquires Back Creek Golf Club
[Jack Crittenden | Golf Inc. | Read]

#QOTD

"Whoever is out of patience is out of possession of their soul."

— Francis Bacon

TFC PODCAST NETWORK

THE COMPETITIVE EDGE
Lie + Loft combining golf, art and the outdoors
Founder Luke Davis joins host Kelly Okun to talk about where he gets his inspiration and accomplishments along his golf journey
[Listen | More 'The Competitive Edge' episodes]

GOLF INNERVIEW WITH ANN LIGUORI
Breaking down the PGA Tour-PIF merger
SI.com's Bob Harig joins host Ann Liguori to examine the various questions that arose from the surprising announcement
[Listen | More 'Golf Innerview with Ann Liguori' episodes]

GOLF INNERVIEW WITH ANN LIGUORI
Michelle Wie West on role of host for LPGA's Mizuho Americas Open
Former U.S. Women's Open champion joins host Ann Liguori to talk about serving as host for the new Mizuho Americas Open, life after her playing career and the need for more progress on Tour
[Listen | More 'Golf Innerview with Ann Liguori' episodes]

PGA PROFESSIONAL SPOTLIGHT

PAUL MILHOLLAND
General Manager / Director of Golf, Currie Golf Courses

The First Call: What advice do you have for someone considering a career in golf?
Paul Milholland: Love the game, listen to and be willing to communicate and talk with guests. Understand the golf business. Understand customer service. Learn agronomy. Play and teach the game. I guess I could go on and on ...

TFC: What is one challenge you currently see in the industry? Thoughts on how to address it?
PM: Staffing, inflation. Just try to find people who fit the image and passion that can help you and your club / course achieve the goals. Look for ways to minimize without customers noticing.

READ MORE >

> PGA Professional Spotlight archive

ROUNDS AND WEATHER

> Rounds played finished up 5% vs. 2022, driven mostly by an increase in transacting courses and drier weekdays.

The Great Plains region finished up 14% in rounds vs. last year due to drier and cooler weather on six days out of the week. Temperatures were in the high 70s instead of the mid 80s like last year. The North also finished up 12% in rounds vs. last year, boosted by a 7% increase in transacting courses.

> Pacing over the next seven days is currently up 11% vs. last year as all six of the eight regions are projected to finish ahead of last year.

The Great Plains is pacing the furthest ahead of last year at 27% over the next seven days. The area is seeing transacting courses on par to prior year alongside mostly dry weather.

> Weekday golfers as a percent of total golfers saw an uptick vs. prior week as most of this week's precipitation landed on the weekend.

TUNING IN

PGA Tour: Travelers Championship
Site: TPC River Highlands, Cromwell, Connecticut.
Television [ET]: Today, 3-6 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, 1-3 p.m. (Golf Channel), 3-6 p.m. (CBS).
Leaderboard | GCSAA Fact Sheet

LPGA Tour: KPMG Women's PGA Championship
Site: Baltusrol Golf Club (Lower), Springfield, New Jersey.
Television [ET]: Today, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Golf Channel), 5-7 p.m. (Peacock); Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Peacock), 3-6 p.m. (NBC); Sunday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Peacock), 2-6 p.m. (NBC).
Leaderboard | GCSAA Fact Sheet

DP World Tour: BMW International Open
Site: Golfclub Muchen Eichenried, Munich, Germany.
Television [ET]: Today, 6:30-10 a.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, 7:30 a.m. to noon (Golf Channel).
Leaderboard

PGA Tour Champions: Dick's Sporting Goods Open
Site: En-Joie Golf Club, New York.
Television [ET]: Today, 7-9 p.m. (Golf Channel-tape delay); Saturday-Sunday, 3-6 p.m. (Golf Channel).
Leaderboard | GCSAA Fact Sheet

MAKE GOLF YOUR CAREER

> Golf Course Maintenance / Groundskeeper
Waldorf Astoria Orlando
Orlando, Florida | Info

> Assistant Coach, Women's Golf (Temporary)
Princeton University
Princeton, New Jersey | Info

> Clubhouse Manager
Androscoggin Valley Country Club
Gorham, New Hampshire | 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.