The First Call 08-27-2025

FIRST THOUGHT

Of the 882 respondents to The First Call | Extra poll question "U.S. Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley will announce his six captain's selections on Wednesday, Aug. 27. Should he be one of them?", two-thirds chose "No" — 66%-34%.

POLL

> Previous: Should U.S. Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley choose himself with one of his six captain's picks? | Results

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

What were the best moments of the 2025 PGA Tour season?

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 the city and state of residence.

> Last week's question: With the U.S. Ryder Cup team's six automatic qualifiers determined, who should round out captain Keegan Bradley's 12-player squad? | Read

Excellence rests in the details

Golf director Rodrigo Ulrich is not content with Terras da Comporta becoming a top Portugal resort destination. He wants it to be one of Europe's finest — and preferably the best.

GOLF INDUSTRY NEWS

Cleveland Golf: Introduces CBZ wedges with Z-Alloy

The proprietary Z-Alloy material is being featured in a cavity back design for the first time

GCSAA: Give thanks to course superintendents on Sept. 9

Organization is giving golfers an opportunity to leave a personalized message ahead of international "Thank A Golf Course Superintendent Day"

LPGA Tour: Names Fortinet as title partner of Founders Cup

The 2026 Fortinet Founders Cup will be played at Sharon Heights Golf and Country Club in Menlo Park, California

Golfzon Social: To open 1st Chicagoland location in September

The Oak Brook, Illinois, location will feature Golfzon's TwoVision NX golf simulators, along with a chef-driven menu and bar for a complete social experience

Curley-Wagner Golf Design: Completes major bunker renovation

The Plantation Club, located in Indio, California, received upgrades to the bunkers of its Fred Couples-designed course

Shot Scope: Conducts amateur Ryder Cup

Company uses on-course data from European and American amateur golfers to determine which team fares better in 12 statistical categories

Ryder Cup: Names Dan Mulheran as general chair for 2029 Matches

Mulheran will lead the Ryder Cup executive committee, working closely with the PGA of America to oversee all volunteer and operational efforts in preparation for the 47th Ryder Cup at Hazeltine National Golf Club

Landscapes Unlimited: Appoints Ty Arndt to leadership position

Arndt becomes senior program manager of the company's project development group

Epson Tour: Yana Wilson secures LPGA Tour status for 2026

Wilson won the Dream First Bank Charity Classic to mathematically lock in a top-15 spot in Race for the Card standings

Cutalong at Tributer Resort: Holds grand opening of golf clubhouse

The clubhouse is the first building to open at the resort, located on the shores of Lake Anna in Mineral, Virginia

PGA of America: Announces 2025-26 PGA LEAD class

Fifteen PGA of America Golf Professionals have been selected for leadership development program

USGA: Selects 2025 USA World Amateur teams

Men’s and women’s teams will compete at Tanah Merah Country Club's Tampines Course in Singapore, Oct. 1-4 (women) and 8-11 (men)

Jackson T. Stephens Cup: Announces individual invitations for 5th tournament

Collegiate event offered special invitations to 12 players from Historically Black Colleges and Universities and United States Service Academies to compete in the Sept. 15–17 event in Lake Bluff, Illinois

Bridgestone HBCU Invitational: Announces field for 3rd annual event

Celebrity Culture Cup to return for second consecutive year as part of tournament week, Sept. 1-4 at TPC Sugarloaf in Duluth, Georgia

ASGCA: Design Boot Camp set for March 2026

Golf course architects to offer instruction and unique experiences for design aficionados during Pinehurst, North Carolina, retreat

Five Iron Golf: Completes 5th acquisition

Company takes over Golf the Green in the Chicago, Illinois, neighborhood of Bucktown, making it the fourth Chicagoland location

READ, WATCH, LISTEN

> 6 national open winners to become exempt into Masters, Open Championship in 2026
[Adam Schupack | Golfweek | Read]

> The PGA Tour has an obvious void. This bold move would fill it
[Michael Bamberger | Golf.com | Read]

> Inside the debt-heavy sand trap of Trump’s U.K. golf course finances
[Lily Mae Lazarus | Fortune | Read]

> Under Ultimate Pressure: U.S. Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley is poised to define his career
[Joel Beall | Golf Digest | Read]

> Keegan Bradley makes the right decision only if the Americans win the Ryder Cup
[Doug Ferguson | Associated Press | Read]

#QOTD

"It is a good rule in life never to apologize. The right sort of people do not want apologies, and the wrong sort take a mean advantage of them."

— P.G. Wodehouse

TFC PODCAST / VIDEO NETWORK

RECENT DROPS

🎧 CONTENT CLUBHOUSE
Michael Rodriquez: You may know him as 'Homie Golf'
Guest: Michael Rodriguez (Homie Golf), content creator.
Listen | Archives

▶️ NATIONAL GOLF COURSE OWNERS ASSOCIATION
Golf Business Live: Evan Roosevelt
Guest: Evan Roosevelt, co-founder, Old Tom Capital.
Watch | Archives

🎧 DRIVER$: INSIDE THE GOLF INDUSTRY
Connecting the dots
Guest: Fraser Marriott, head of golf, Lightspeed.
Listen | Archives

ARCHIVES: 🎧 Podcasts | ▶️ Videos

TFC GOLF JOB BOARD

THIS WEEK'S FEATURED LISTINGS

> Club Master Fitter
PXG
Miami, Florida | Info

> Golf Coach
Urban Golf Performance
Austin, Texas | Info

> Sales Director
PGA Tour
Miami, Florida | Info

> The First Call Job Board
> Buffalo Groupe Job Openings

TFC EVENTS

The Friars Golf Club: Young Pro Championship & Pro-Am

January 16-19, 2026 | Orlando, Florida

CALENDAR

OCTOBER
6-7: Golf Business Network Instructing Summit, Palm Desert, California | Info
14-15: Golf Business TechCon 2025, Frisco, Texas | Info

> View complete calendar

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