The First Call 08-18-2026

FIRST THOUGHT

WHERE DOES YOUR GAME STAND?

➡️ How are golfers performing around the globe? A massive new report from The R&A and USGA breaks down player behavior using data from 150 million rounds logged by over 6.5 million golfers across 57 national associations.

WORLD HANDICAP SYSTEM: KEY FINDINGS FROM 2025

Average male handicap: 16.9
Average female handicap: 29.0
72.8% of rounds were general play (non-competitive)
83.4% were 18-hole rounds
96.9% of players produced no exceptional scores (seven or more strokes under handicap).

POLL OF THE WEEK

PONDERING THE POSTSEASON
Does the PGA Tour need a postseason playoff?
>> Vote

Last week: Heading into the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup Playoffs, who is your choice for Player of the Year?| Results

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

DETERMING FACTORS
What criteria would you use to determine the PGA Tour's Player of the Year?
>> Respond

Last week: How do you envision professional golf looking in five to 10 years? | Read

RECENT DROPS

🎧 | ▶️ CONTENT CLUBHOUSE
Hally Leadbetter | Andrew Wantuck: (Un)Serious business
Guests: Hally Leadbetter and Andrew Wantuck, co-founders of Better Co. and consultants on Netflix's "The Hawk."
Listen | Watch | Archives

🎧 GOLF INNERVIEW WITH ANN LIGUORI
Jason Birnbaum: An instructor's POV on an emerging PGA Tour star
Guest: Jason Birnbaum, director of instruction, Manhattan Woods Golf Academy in West Nyack, New York.
Listen | Archives

ARCHIVES: 🎧 Podcasts | ▶️ Videos

GOLF INDUSTRY NEWS

Indoor Golf Academy University: Request for Curriculum Speakers

IGAU is building a speaker and instructor roster to deliver core curriculum to indoor golf facility owners, operators, and staff.

Island Resort & Casino: The Island Resort Intercollegiate at Sage Run tees off Labor Day weekend

Top collegiate men’s golf programs are coming to the Upper Peninsula.

Marriott Golf: Celebrate the Fifth Season at The St. Regis Bermuda Resort

An exclusive invitation to experience Bermuda through a new lens of luxury, relaxation, and championship golf.

Liberty National Foundation: Supports City Harvest at Celebrity Chefs & Friends event

The event raised money for City Harvest’s work rescuing and redistributing free, nutritious food to communities throughout New York City’s five boroughs.

Perfect Golf Event: Partners with Golfballs.com to enhance golf tournament experience

Together, the companies will help golf tournament organizers create exceptional participant experiences while supporting fundraising and corporate events across the country.

Babygrande Golf: Will livestream ANNIKA Intercollegiate Presented by 3M

Babygrande Golf will air Rounds 2 and 3 on Sept. 8-9.

Reef Capital Partners: Montrose’s Cornerstone Club announces expansion, golf course renovations

Four-season mountain community unveils enhanced golf experience, new wellness offerings, overnight accommodations and exclusive Telluride ski access.

READ, WATCH, LISTEN

Correction: Yesterday, we ran an outdated headline for Jeeno Thitikul's victory at the Standard Portland Classic (her 10th title on the LPGA). Read story from Golfweek's Beth Ann Nichols >>>

➡️ LIV vendors say they’re unpaid as league seeks to stay afloat
Dave Rumsey | Front Office Sports | Read

➡️ PGA Tour takes swing at comedy in new 'Alter Ego' unscripted series
Brian Steinberg | Variety | Read

➡️ LIV Golf finally makes predictable announcement about the bleak end to its 2026 season
Andy Nesbitt | Sports Illustrated | Read

ICYMI

Readers skeptical about two-tiered PGA Tour, future of pro golf

They foresee the tiered cash-driven tour structure will make week-to-week tournaments less appealing. And what happens to LIV?

TFC GOLF JOB BOARD

THIS WEEK'S FEATURED LISTINGS

▪️Golf Coach
Five Iron Golf
Detroit, Michigan | Info

▪️Director of Golf
Troon / Fairmont Grand Del Mar
San Diego, California | Info

▪️Studio Golf Fitting Specialist / Instructor
PGA TOUR Superstore
Cherry Hill, New Jersey | Info

▪️ The First Call Job Board
▪️ Buffalo Groupe Job Openings

GOLF IN MOTION MONTHLY

Buffalo Research's new Golf in Motion Monthly tracks year-over-year visitation trends across traditional golf facilities, off-course retail, golf entertainment venues and sporting goods retailers using anonymized movement data from approximately 30 million mobile devices.

Each monthly report is designed to provide the golf industry with a consistent, data-driven benchmark to help operators, brands, investors and industry leaders identify trends, and make more informed business decisions.

The report is free. Upon signing up, you will receive the updated monthly reports straight to your inbox.
>> Sign Up

CALENDAR

SEPTEMBER
29 – October 1: Golf Inc. Strategies Summit, Hilton Head, South Carolina | Info

COMPLETE CALENDAR >

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