The First Call 09-16-2022

FIRST THOUGHT

Of the 187 respondents to The First Call's social media question, "Would you like to see a biennial Ryder Cup-style competition between PGA Tour/DP World Tour players and LIV Golf players?" 71.1% answered "No."

> Question of the Week: An international match competition — Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup — comes down to the final hole, which active golfer, including LIV Golf members, do you want playing for the win?

Send replies on this question or other topics to shall@buffalogroupe.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.

READ, WATCH, LISTEN

> What will the PGA Tour's fall events look like in 2024? No one seems to know
[Adam Schupak | Golfweek | Read]

> Golf course design masterclass: Tom Doak’s emphasis on adventure
[Josh Sens | Golf.com | Read]

> LIV Golf prides itself on 54-hole events, to ridicule from some. But is that fair?
[Bob Harig | Sports Illustrated / Morning Read | Read]

> LIV, The Saudis and Performance54
[John Barba | MyGolfSpy.com | Read]

Design Notes: Jim Lipe renovates home course, Southern Trace CC

Andy Staples masterplans Arizona’s venerable Phoenix Country Club; Kris Spence refurbishes Donald Ross’ Sara Bay in Florida; David Williams plots the future for Spain’s Salobre Golf Resort

THE INDUSTRY

Talamore Golf Resort debuts Toptracer Range

Toptracer Range at the Southern Pines, North Carolina, club will feature 10 hitting bays with high-speed cameras, TV monitors, technology, games and casual seating

Finkbine GC brings new culinary concept to Iowa City

Course opens Bump’s BBQ, Burgers, and Beer in Finkbine’s 19,000 square-foot Nagle Family Clubhouse just 2 miles west of downtown

Dunlop Sports Americas returning to 2023 PGA Show

The company will debut its new global brand structure for the first time on the Orlando, Florida, showroom, Jan. 24-27

PGTAA announces 'End of Summer' offer through Sept. 30

Program helps participants become a certified class 'A' PGTAA Master Teaching Professional

Payne Stewart Kids Golf Foundation, SknVue partner with TravelPledge

Online fundraising auction being held Sept. 17-21 through a partnership with TravelPledge

Vitis Energy joins PXG Women’s Match Play Championship

Women-owned energy company becomes a founding partner, boosting the tournament's purse by 10% to a minimum of $55,000; winner will receive $15,000

Appointed: By Harbour Ridge Yacht and Country Club, John O’Leary as the new executive chef for the Palm City, Florida, club. O'Leary will direct the club’s four dining facilities, including a fine dining restaurant, poolside cafe, casual dining room and outdoor riverside bistro, along with additional dining services and catered events.

Announced: By LIV Golf, support for the Kids Golf Foundation of Illinois, which provides outreach programs to assist children throughout the state. The announcement came in advance of this week's LIV Golf Invitational Chicago at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Illinois. Sergio Garcia, Charles Howell III, Henrik Stenson and reporter Troy Mullins hosted a clinic for individuals with special needs on Tuesday.

Announced: By RSM US and the PGA Tour, the start of the fifth RSM Birdies Fore Love charitable giving platform through an on-course competition over the fall portion of the 2022-2023 regular season. The top three finishers in total birdies or better earn $300,000, $150,000 and $50,000, respectively, for charities of their choice. In addition, the player who records the most birdies or better in each fall event earns $50,000 for a charity of his choice.

#QOTD

"Happiness is not the absence of problems, it’s the ability to deal with them."

— Steve Maraboli

ROUNDS AND WEATHER

> Rounds played for the week finished below 2021 for the first time since mid-June at -3%. This decrease was largely driven by increased rainfall across the country (+38% vs. 2021).

The Mid-Atlantic, Florida and the Northeast regions had the greatest increase in rainfall versus prior year. Also, Florida finished below prior year in rounds played for the first time since mid-June.

> Mountain Pacific and Great Plains regions were the only two regions to finish positive versus 2021 this past week, as precipitation and temperatures remained mostly flat to last year.

> Days in advance for rounds booked are still slightly below last year at -7%, but the appetite for golf remains. The trend continues significantly above pre-pandemic levels (+248% vs. 2019).

> Pacing is currently positive for the next five days with all regions expected to perform better than 2021 except for California. Central Valley and Florida are on pace to be the strongest performers this week at over +20% vs. last year.

TUNING IN

PGA Tour: Fortinet Championship
Site: Silverado Resort and Spa (North), Napa, California.
Television: Today-Sunday, 6-9 p.m. (Golf Channel).
Leaderboard | GCSAA Fact Sheet

LIV Golf: LIV Golf Invitational Chicago
Site: Rich Harvest Farms, Sugar Grove, Illinois.
Television: LIVGolf.com.
Leaderboard

LPGA Tour: AmazingCre Portland Classic
Site: Columbia Edgewater Country Club, Portland, Oregon.
Television: Today-Sunday, 3-6 p.m. (Golf Channel).
Leaderboard | GCSAA Fact Sheet

DP World Tour: DS Automobiles Italian Open
Site: Marco Simone Golf Club, Rome.
Television: Today, 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, 7:30 a.m. to noon (Golf Channel).
Leaderboard

PGA Tour Champions: Sanford International
Site: Minnehaha Country Club, Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Television: Today-Sunday, 9:30-11:30 p.m. (Golf Channel-tape delay).
Leaderboard | GCSAA Fact Sheet

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
10-12: West Michigan Golf Show, Grand Rapids, Mich. | Info

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

THE LAST CALL

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Golfer's Journal (@golfersjournal)