The First Call 09-17-2025

FIRST THOUGHT

Of the 428 respondents to The First Call | Extra poll question "From captain's picks to making the Sunday singles lineup, in theory, how many points is a Ryder Cup captain worth?", 36% believe between "0.5 and 1.5 points," followed by 22% for "2 points" and "2.5 and up," respectively. Twenty percent believe a captain is worth zero points.

POLL

> Which team will win the 2025 Ryder Cup? | Vote
> Previous: Which are you more likely to watch on Sundays in the fall? | Results

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

What have been your favorite Ryder Cup moments?

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.

> What will be the keys to winning the 2025 Ryder Cup? | Read

GOLF INDUSTRY NEWS

Noteefy | Heritage Golf Group: Introduces AI-powered golf course assistant

The partnership seeks to elevate the member and guest experience at Heritage Golf Group clubs

College Golf Experience: Acquires The Universal Golf Rankings

Rankings platform helps how coaches, juniors and families evaluate golf performance

GCSAA: Brian Martorana senior director, marketing and communications

Accomplished marketing professional will provide strategic direction for key areas

GCSAA: Names Grassroots Ambassador Leadership Award winners

Casey Anderson and Jeremy Lewis are honored for advocacy efforts, advancement of association priority issues and congressional outreach

Audubon International: Announces 9th BioBlitz winners

Month-long event identifies 1,300 species thriving on golf courses

Sqairz | Centerline Athletics: Announce footwear, apparel partnership

The two brands will collaborate to bring racquet sports athletes a fully integrated approach to court performance

PGA Jr. League | PGA Tour Superstore: Launching 13 simulator leagues

Indoor leagues are poised to offer unique and fun opportunities for juniors to learn and play the game

SuperStroke: Releases 2025 Ryder Cup putter grips

The licensed grips are available in exclusive Team USA and Europe designs in the brand's most popular models

PGA of America: Streamsong to host 2027 PGA Professional Championship

The Bowling Green, Florida, resort's Red and Blue courses will be used for the 312-player competition

USGA: The Golf Club of Tennessee to host pair of championships

The Kingston Springs, Tennessee, course will host the 2029 U.S. Mid-Amateur and 20234 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur

The Club at Eaglebrooke: Course grand reopening is Oct. 1

The semi-private facility in Lakeland, Florida, has been closed to play since April, undergoing a $1 million-plus, multi-phase renovation

Sea Pines Resort: Introduces the ‘Lighthouse Golf Package’

The package for golf groups of 16 or more features four nights of lodging on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, and golf on three acclaimed courses, including Harbour Town Golf Links

Nemacolin: No. 15 on Golf Digest’s America’s 75 Best Golf Resorts list

A group of 1,500 Golf Digest panelists voted the luxe 36-hole Farmington, Pennsylvania, mountain golf destination to the publication's list

TGR Foundation | Liberty National Foundation: Announce scholarship

The two Foundations are partnering to establish an endowment for its Earl Woods Scholar Program to support students from under-resourced communities in New York and New Jersey

Skyview Golf Tournament: 65th edition returns Sept. 22-23

America’s oldest Black golf tournament will closely align with the one-year milestone of Hurricane Helene in Asheville, North Carolina

New Jersey Golf Foundation: Nineteenth NJGF Golf Classic, held Aug. 18 at Baltusrol Golf Club, raised a record-setting $325,000 to support golf programming for youth, military veterans and individuals with special needs.

EXPANDED NOTES >

RACQUET INDUSTRY NEWS

Sqairz | Centerline Athletics: Announce footwear, apparel partnership

The two brands will collaborate to bring racquet sports athletes a fully integrated approach to court performance

READ, WATCH, LISTEN

> Kapalua won’t host PGA Tour’s season opener as it copes with drought and Hawaii water dispute
[Doug Ferguson | Associated Press | Read]

> The Masters makes bold broadcast move by adding a new U.S. TV partner
[Joel Beall | Golf Digest | Read]

> Keegan Bradley’s unlikely Bethpage return? 1 road tells his Ryder Cup story
[Dylan Dethier | Golf.com | Read]

#QOTD

"If you can't convince them, confuse them."

— Harry S. Truman

ICYMI

Using SEO keywords to take organic social media strategy to next level

9914169079--ClubWorks--The-First-Call--LiftOff-1200x600-SEO.jpg

Understand why SEO keywords are a little-known secret weapon on Instagram, Tiktok and Facebook — and how to put them to action for your brand.

TFC PODCAST / VIDEO NETWORK

RECENT DROPS

🎧 CONTENT CLUBHOUSE
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Guest: Blair Wheeler, content creator.
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🎧 DRIVER$: Inside the Golf Industry
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ARCHIVES: 🎧 Podcasts | ▶️ Videos

TFC GOLF JOB BOARD

THIS WEEK'S FEATURED LISTINGS

> Studio Director, Original Production
PGA Tour
Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida | Info

> Certified Personal Coach
Golftec
Salt Lake City, Utah | Info

> First Assistant Golf Course Superintendent
Omni PGA Frisco (West Course)
Frisco, Texas | 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

NOVEMBER
18-20: Golf Business Canada Conference and Trade Show, Niagra Falls, Ontario | Info

JANUARY
20-23: PGA Show, Orlando, Florida | Info

COMPLETE CALENDAR >

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