The First Call 06-30-23

FIRST THOUGHT

Scratch players average 259 yards off the tee with 51% of fairways found, while 20 handicaps average 46 fewer yards and hit 10% fewer fairways. That’s data from Arccos Golf after tracking 11.5 million rounds worldwide. Scratch golfers make 2.2 birdies per round—1.5 times more than 10 handicaps. Making double or worse? 20 handicaps average 6.6 a round.

IN THIS ISSUE

> Q&A: Jamie Ledford | President, Golf Pride | Read
> PGA Professional Spotlight: Brendan Locke | Read

Editor's note: In observance of Independence Day on July 4, The First Call will not publish Monday-Tuesday, July 3 and 4. The First Call will resume publishing on Wednesday, July 5. We hope you have a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend.

Q&A: Jamie Ledford | President, Golf Pride

Under Ledford's leadership, the grip brand has opened a Global Innovation Center in Pinehurst, North Carolina. Ledford discusses the GIC's impact, lessons learned and the benefits of being located in America's golf epicenter

INDUSTRY NEWS

Ann Liguori: Receives Gracie Award in Manhattan

Awards are presented by the Alliance for Women in Media to honor programming created for women, by women, about women

On Course Foundation: Second annual fundraising campaign on July 4

Campaign helps wounded, injured and sick veterans use golf for physical and mental recoveries

Golfzon: Launches Golfzon M, real swing mobile game

Realistic free-to-play golf game featuring 17 real-world courses and environmental factors, such as wind speed, is available in Google and Apple app stores

Dundonald Links: Golf package combines new resort and Scottish courses

“Ultimate Ayrshire Golf Package" starts at £3,000 and includes luxury accommodations, a whiskey tasting, transportation and 18-hole rounds on historic/world Top 100 courses.

Briarwood CC: Named Best Golf Course by AZCentral

AZCentral’s annual Best of the Desert Awards recognize the best the community has to offer

Southern Trace CC: Completes phase one of clubhouse renovation

First phase included upgrades to the club’s fitness facility, installation of a new Trackman simulator room and a new childcare facility

Hurricane Junior Golf Tour: Mizuno to sponsor National Championships

Champions will receive a new set of Mizuno clubs, personal club fitting session & customized bag; Collaboration will elevate the junior golf experience & nurture future golfers

NBC Sports Next: New episodes of instruction series moving channels

Hosted by Martin Hall and Blair O’Neal, new episodes of "School of Golf" will be available July 3 to stream on-demand, exclusively on GolfPass

Magnit Championship: Aug. 17-20 at Metedeconk National GC in NJ

Korn Ferry Tour event in Jackson Township features field of 156 players, competing for a share of a $1 million purse; Tickets on sale now

Nicklaus Companies, Hyperscapes GC: Create members-only Metaverse

Virtual-only course will combine traditional course designs and state-of-the-art technologies; membership will be available through the purchase of Hyperscapes membership tokens

Soleta GC: Announces plans for Nick Price Design golf course

Private residential club community will include resort style amenities, family focused activities, a David Leadbetter practice/performance facility and luxury residences

Stewart Golf: Opens U.S. customer care center in Houston

New location will answer all customer-care inquiries, servicing and repairs; new shipping center in NV will reduce wait times for more than 90% of U.S. customers

READ, WATCH, LISTEN

> 789th-ranked player is tied for lead at Rocket Mortgage Classic
[Adam Schupak | Golfweek | Read]

> How a surge of smash-and-grab robberies is upending golf retail
[Mike Stachura | Golf Digest| Read]

> Rod Pampling leads the Senior Open at punishing SentryWorld
[Associated Press | Read]

#QOTD

"Kindness begins with the understanding that we all struggle."

— Charles Glassman

ICYMI

PGA Professional Spotlight: Brendan Locke

Franchise owner, Golftec

TUNING IN

PGA Tour: Rocket Mortgage Classic
Site: Detroit GC
Television (ET): Today, 3-6 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, 1-3 p.m. (Golf Channel), 3-6 p.m. (CBS).
GCSAA Fact Sheet

USGA: U.S. Senior Open
Site: SentryWorld GC in Stevens Point, Wis.
Television (ET): Today, noon to 3 p.m., 6-8 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday, 1-2 p.m. (Peacock), 2-6 p.m. (NBC); Sunday, noon to 2 p.m. (Peacock), 2-5 p.m. (NBC).
GCSAA Fact Sheet

LIV: Valderrama
Site: Valderrama GC in Sotogrande, Spain.
Television (ET): Today, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (The CW App); Saturday-Sunday, 1-6 p.m. (The CW Network-tape delay).

Rounds and Weather

> Rounds played finished down up -3% vs 2022 driven by heavy rain on the East coast.

Mid Atlantic finished down -17% in rounds vs last year driven by the region seeing three times the precipitation, affecting major markets. California continues to experience drier weather and cooler temperatures, offsetting some of the East Coast miss by finishing up +6%.

> Pacing over the next 7 days is currently up +19% vs last year with all eight regions projected to finish ahead.

Florida is pacing the furthest ahead of last year at +40% over the next 7 days as elevated demand for rounds resulted in golfers booking the rounds much earlier than prior year.

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

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]

MAKE GOLF YOUR CAREER

> Project Line Manager, Apparel
Under Armour
Baltimore, Maryland | Info

> Account Executive/Market Sales Manager, Wisconsin
NBC Sports Next
New York, New York | Info

> Career Consultant, Northern Texas Section
PGA of America
Remote / 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.

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.