The First Call 10-13-2021

FIRST THOUGHT

The USGA and R&A are trying to get ahead of the distance curve. They announced a local rule that allows professional and elite amateur tournament organizers to cap the length of clubs (excepting putters) at 46 inches. Though there are few pros who play drivers longer than that, it was likely a matter of time before someone put a long-drive competition style driver into play on a pro circuit. That’s unlikely to happen now, though it’s up to tournament organizers to decide when the local rule will be used.

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READ, WATCH, LISTEN

> PGA Tour adds $50k 'Play 15 Bonus,' increases Players purse to $20 million
[Rex Hoggard | Golf Channel | Read]

> A golfer wants to turn closed Florida courses into 'Quik Golf'
[Jason Lanning | Bay News 9 | Watch]

> Former NFL kicker Josh Scobee made an albatross at TPC Sawgrass
[Gary Smits | Florida Times-Union | Read]

Projecting who will cash in on the PGA Tour's $40 million of PIP money

An SI.com study of publicly available data shows that Rickie Fowler is still the peoples' champ. He's one of ten PGA Tour players in line to earn a share of Player Impact Program money, despite falling out of the top 125 in the world rankings.

Fact of the Day

DID YOU KNOW?

The state with the most number of private courses is Florida with 423. That accounts for 10% of all private courses in the U.S.

Source: Longitudes Group Green Grass database

INDUSTRY NEWS

SuperStroke grip trusted by Sungjae Im during Shriners Children’s Open

The 23-year-old South Korean relied on the exceptional feel and stability of the popular SuperStroke model to shoot a final round 62 and capture a four-shot victory.

At Desert Mountain, the grass is truly greener

With seven golf courses to choose from, the members of Desert Mountain—the exclusive luxury community in North Scottsdale—are never at a loss for chances to tee it up.

Rain or Shine Golf named among best places to work by Charlotte Business Journal

The outlet’s annual “Best Places to Work” award recognizes outstanding companies whose benefits, policies and practices are among the best in the region.

Golf Inc. Magazine judges bestow “Best Clubhouse Renovation” honor on Les Bordes (France)

The best-in-kind award recognizes the finest clubhouse renovations from around the globe in private club and public course categories, including new and renovated.

GCSAA launches third phase of golf course environmental profile with water use survey

Survey series started in 2006 and provides critical data to golf industry for assessment and best practices

Golfzon congratulates Sungjae Im and Matthew Wolff for winner, runner-up finish at Shriners Children’s Open

Im also won the Honda Classic earlier in 2021 and signed an endorsement agreement with Golfzon over the summer.

Artist and sculptor Malcolm DeMille re-envisions trophy for Air Force Association

The AFA commissioned Malcolm DeMille to breathe new life into their award named for General Jerome F. O’Malley former Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force and pioneer of the United States Air Force Space Command.

The cost of everything just went up … if you can get it at all

Renovation at Eau Claire Golf and Country Club

From general managers to superintendents, hard decisions are having to be made due to rising prices across the board. How could that affect the bottom line — and you?

#QOTD

"If a lot of people gripped a knife and fork the way they do a golf club, they’d starve to death."

— Sam Snead

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

October 11, 2020: NBA Championship
October 11, 2021: College Golf Debut
Keep doing your thing, @TheRealJRSmith https://t.co/KbrGpE2qOW pic.twitter.com/s1HMN2ACUD
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) October 11, 2021