The First Call 09-28-2021

FIRST THOUGHT

The Ryder Cup put the bow on 2021's major golf events, and, according to a Sports Business Journal piece, weekend golf television ratings for both CBS and NBC have been meh. Network officials, though, are unfazed. “You can overanalyze the ratings about an event being down a little bit or up a little bit,” CBS Sports Chairman Sean McManus said. “I don’t really microanalyze the ratings, even on a year-to-year basis, as we do the overall trends which are very positive.”

Follow The First Call

Subscribe | Twitter | LinkedIn

READ, WATCH, LISTEN

> Golf’s growth in popularity is much bigger than a pandemic story
[Ian Thomas | CNBC | Read]

> Bryson DeChambeau's long drive competition debut previewed
[Brian Hurlburt | Morning Read | Read]

> Mastering the business of golf course agronomics
[Jennifer Howard | N.C. State University | Read]

> Google, NBCUniversal deadlocked over YouTube TV rates
[Owen Poindexter | Front Office Sports | Read]

The difference is in the details

Greenside Golf CEO Sam Gleason joins 'Behind the Golf Brand' to discuss why attention to consumer wants is helping his carry bag and push cart products move in a crowded marketplace

Listen

Fact of the Day

DID YOU KNOW?

Of all private golf clubs with a swimming pool, 35% are located in the Southeast. This is not surprising given that the region's climate offers comfortable swimming days for a majority of the year. The Midwest is second with 21% of all courses with a pool, followed by the Northeast (18%), the West (15%) and Southwest (11%).

Source: Longitudes Group Green Grass database

INDUSTRY NEWS

The Club at Olde Cypress to reopen golf course, clubhouse in November

New turf throughout Naples' first P.B. Dye design headlines remastered course, along with an updated clubhouse

Rocket Mortgage extends title sponsorship of Rocket Mortgage Classic

With extension through 2027, PGA Tour event within the Detroit city limits to continue supporting community initiatives

Abu Dhabi GC to unveil newly enhanced Falcon Clubhouse

UAE’s National Course will showcase the upgraded clubhouse at the 2021 Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific in November

David Impastato to host V1 Sports Coaching Workshop and Certification

Event scheduled for Oct. 18-19 to showcase cutting-edge golf instruction technology; Participating PGA pros to earn 6 MSR credits, while LPGA pros to earn 4 CU credits

Tour Edge part of 3 top-5 finishes at Pure Insurance Championship

Bernhard Langer plays Tour Edge en route to runner-up finish on PGA Tour Champions; Since 2018, more than 130 different players have played Tour Edge clubs on the 3 PGA Tours

L.A.B. Golf launching DF 2.1 Pink to support cancer foundation

Throughout Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, L.A.B. Golf will offer its DF 2.1 putter in a pink finish, donating $100 of each putter sold to the Oregon Cancer Foundation

Marissa Kulig Crow receives LPGA Teacher of the Year honor

Teaching professional at Lyman Orchards GC in Middlefield, Conn., and creator of 'Golf Fore Women' clinic series is selected as LPGA’s 2021 National Teacher of the Year

Annual Ann Liguori Foundation Charity Golf Classic held at Maidstone Club

Held in East Hampton, N.Y., event benefits nonprofits in the field of cancer research and care, including the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation and East End Hospice

ShopRite LPGA Classic, Oct. 1-3, to feature 7 of the world’s top 10,

Eight of the past 10 champions returning to Seaview in Galloway, N.J.; Golf Channel to make U.S. television history with all-female broadcast team

Malcolm DeMille designs Pure Insurance Championship trophies

K.J. Choi becomes the first South Korean to ever win on the PGA Tour Champions, wins an original piece of art that features Arnold Palmer passing the game on to the next generation

True Linkswear, Foray Golf release limited edition shoe

Collaborative effort results in the Queen of Clubs Knit II that is available for fall golf season

Accepted: By the Professional Caddies Association, nominations for the Caddie Hall of Fame that was created in 1999. Eligible inductees fall into three categories — junior caddies, professional caddies and caddie advocates. Email Dennis Cone with a nomination.

Reopened: By Golf Saudi, Dirab Golf and Country Club in Saudi Arabia on Sept. 23. The club underwent a series of improvements to its course and clubhouse that began in 2021.

Honored: By the World Golf Hall of Fame, Dick Ferris and Peter Ueberroth will receive a new Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2022 Induction Ceremony in March. Ueberroth and Ferris were part of a group of investors who purchased Pebble Beach in 1999 and then served as co-chairmen of Pebble Beach Co. for 20 years. Also being recognized will be Tiger Woods and Susie Maxwell Berning, former PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem and golf course developer Marion Hollins.

Introduced: By Blue Tees Golf, the new Series 3 Max Rangefinder in a pink and white colorway that targets the women’s golfer segment. The rangefinder retails for $259.

FEATURES

Pivoting a business model to unlock new customer value

The days of golf communities being solely about golf are changing as Southworth Development president and COO Tommy Southworth explains on the latest 'ModGolf Podcast' episode

Listen

#QOTD

"If people like you, they’ll listen to you, but if they trust you, they’ll do business with you."

— Zig Ziglar

CALENDAR

NOVEMBER
9-10: National Golf Course Owners Association Multi-Course and Resort Operators Retreat 2021, Monterey, Calif. | Info
21-24: World Golf Expo 2021, Hainan, China | Info

JANUARY
25-28: PGA Merchandise Show, Orlando, Fla. | Info

FEBRUARY
5-10: GCSAA Conference and Trade Show, San Diego, Calif. | Info

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

LAST CALL

Quail Hollow awaits...
357 days until the Presidents Cup returns. pic.twitter.com/n8LG195ydT
— Presidents Cup (@PresidentsCup) September 27, 2021