The First Call 08-26-2022

FIRST THOUGHT

Of the respondents to The First Call's social media question, "Does the PGA Tour need to revamp the FedEx Cup playoffs to make it easier for fans to follow?" 77.5% answered "Yes."

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> Question of the Week: What changes, if any, would you make to the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup playoffs?

Send replies on this question or other topics to shall@morningread.com. For your response to be published, you must include first and last name, along with city and state of residence. Read last week's responses.

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READ, WATCH, LISTEN

> Changes to the PGA Tour are here. We'll have to wait and see if they're enough
[Michael Rosenberg | Sports Illustrated / Morning Read | Read]

> Fire Drill 040: Unintended consequences
[Fire Pit Collective | Listen]

> Shattered: Stories from the University of the Southwest golf program's tragic van accident
[Jeff Pearlman | Golf Digest | Read]

> Tiger Woods announces new event in Florida, the PopStroke Tour Championship presented by TaylorMade
[Adam Woodard | Golfweek | Read]

The granddaddy of member-guests

Each May, Desert Mountain’s three-week stretch of tournaments in Scottsdale, Arizona, is not just a test of golfers' skill, but the staff's logistical acumen

THE INDUSTRY

Golf Datatech: Strong numbers for July rounds played

Overall, U.S. rounds were up 2.5% for July 2022 and down 4% YTD when compared to July 2021

Polo Tennis and Fitness Club receives 2022 USTA Outstanding Facility Award

Austin, Texas, club is one of 33 winners in the United State Tennis Association's annual program, which recognizes excellence in the construction and/or renovation of tennis facilities

Rain or Shine Golf names Christian Baker as COO

Baker adds experience to the Charlotte, North Carolina-based company that is looking to build on its record-setting years of sales and growth

Announced: By Casa de Campo Resort and Villas, fall stay-and-play packages that include golf on the Pete Dye-designed Teeth of the Dog course in La Romana, Dominican Republic. The Unlimited Golf package starts at $1,259 (per room, per night) and includes golf on two other Dye-designed courses — Dye Fore and The Links.

Signed: By BSA Pharma Inc., LPGA player Azahara (Aza) Munoz to be be company's new spokesperson for Tirosint-SOL solution, a liquid hypothyroidism treatment. Munoz suffers from Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, an autoimmune condition that attacks a person’s thyroid gland and produces symptoms of hypothyroidism. Munoz will appear as a spokesperson at in-person events and on social media to promote the brand while wearing the Tirosint-SOL logo on her golf attire.

#QOTD

"The measure of intelligence is the ability to change."

— Albert Einstein

ICYMI

TMRW Sports unveils Monday night golf league for 2024

Newly formed company by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy announces a tech-infused golf format to be played partially virtual in an enclosed stadium setting and in front of live fans

ROUNDS AND WEATHER

> Rounds played finished up 11% vs. last year, driven mainly by the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, as both regions received heavy rainfall last year from Tropical Storm Fred.

> Significant increases in precipitation in the northern parts of the country (+74% vs. 2021) resulted in a diminished demand for golf over the weekend and early into the week.

> A level off of weekday golf has begun as schools in the south have started their fall semesters and it is a trend expected to continue as the remainder of the country returns to school.

> Positive performance is expected from the Central Valley and Mid-Atlantic regions over the next five days. Both areas are on pace to finish up by over 15% vs. 2021.

TUNING IN

PGA Tour: Tour Championship
Site: East Lake Golf Club, Atlanta, Georgia | GCSAA Fact Sheet
Television: Today, 1-6 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday, 1-2:30 p.m. (Golf Channel), 2:30-7 p.m. (NBC); Sunday, noon-1:30 p.m. (Golf Channel), 1:30-6 p.m. (NBC).

LPGA Tour: CP Women's Canadian Open
Site: Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club, Ottawa, Ontario | GCSAA Fact Sheet
Television: Today, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday, 2:30-5:30 p.m. (Golf Channel); Sunday, 1-3 p.m. (CBS).

Korn Ferry Tour: Nationwide Children's Hospital Open
Site: Ohio State University Golf Club (Scarlet), Columbus, Ohio | GCSAA Fact Sheet
Television: Today, 9-11 p.m. (Golf Channel-Tape Delay); Saturday, 5:30-7:30 p.m. (Golf Channel-Tape Delay); Sunday, 1:30-4 p.m. (Golf Channel).

European Tour: Omega European Masters
Site: Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club, Crans Montana, Switzerland.
Television: Today, 7:30-9:30 a.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, 7-11:30 a.m. (Golf Channel).

PGA Tour Champions: The Ally Challenge
Site: Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club, Grand Blanc, Michigan.
Television: Today, 7-9 p.m. (Golf Channel-tape delay); Saturday, 8:30-10:30 p.m. (Golf Channel-tape delay); Sunday, 4-6 p.m. (Golf Channel).

CALENDAR

OCTOBER
11-13: Golf Inc. Strategies Summit, Kiawah Island, S.C. | Info

NOVEMBER
6-9: International Association of Golf Administrators, Point Clear, Ala. | Info

JANUARY
23-25: Golf Business Conference, Orlando, Fla.
24-27: PGA Show, Orlando, Fla. | Info

FEBRUARY
6-9: GCSAA Conference and Trade Show, Orlando, Fla. | Info

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

THE LAST CALL

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