The First Call 10-18-24

FIRST THOUGHT

If there is such a thing as a perfect golf round, it might look a little like this: Every fairway hit, all greens hit in regulation and 18 putts. On Thursday, in the opening round of the Shriners Children’s Open, Taylor Pendrith was pretty close — 13 of 14 fairways hit, 17 of 18 greens in regulation and 26 putts. The Canadian shot a 10-under 61 and owns a three-stroke lead over 10 players. With a victory, Pendrith would become the fifth consecutive international winner of the Shriners Children’s Open and the first Canadian, joining Tom Kim, Korea (2023 and 2022); Sungjae Im, Korea (2021); and Martin Laird, Scotland (2020).

POLL

> How interested are you in watching competitive golf simulator tours? | Vote
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IN THIS ISSUE

> Design Notes: Davis Love III is perfect for Harbour Town restoration | Read
> The Ryder Cup says 'Show me the money' | Read

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

If you could write an alternative ending to any of 2024's majors — men or women — what would it be?

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.

> Responses to last week's question.

Design Notes: Davis Love III is perfect for Harbour Town restoration

Greg Norman adds a short course at Mexico’s Playa Mujeres; Joe Jemsek refreshes the Cypress course at Florida’s Woodmont

TFC PODCAST / VIDEO NETWORK

PODCASTS

GOLF INNERVIEW WITH ANN LIGUORI
How the Stand Up and Play Foundation is connecting the dots
Board member Karen Atkinson joins host Ann Liguori to tell her story and share how the organization is giving disabled veterans opportunities to participate in a variety of sports
[Listen | More 'Golf Innerview with Ann Liguori episodes]

VIDEOS

MO GESUALDI
The realities of recruiting
Fiona Clancy, a senior at Beachside High in St. Johns, Florida, and a member of the school's 2023 state championship team, joins host Mo Gesualdi to talk junior golf and college recruitment
[Watch | More 'Mo Gesualdi' instructional videos]

MO GESUALDI
Lorin Anderson, CEO / founder, The Proponent Group
Anderson joins instructor Mo Gesualdi to share insights on golf instruction and its impact on facilities, members, and instructors
[Watch | More 'Mo Gesualdi' instructional videos]

LIBRARIES: Podcasts | Videos

INDUSTRY NEWS

Audubon International: Adds Toro, Troon execs to board of directors

Rick Lohman, senior director of corporate accounts for the Toro Company, and Ruth Engle, executive vice president and chief financial officer for Troon Golf, join the board

West Lake CC: Reopens 9 holes after Hurricane Helene

Augusta, Georgia, club bounces back after a community-wide effort to clear over 1,100 trees downed by the storm

Arcis Golf: Adds Maisie Filler as brand ambassador

Former University of Florida All-American joins world No. 2 Lilia Vu as representing Arcis Golf

Bobby Jones Links: GMIT program continues to inspire

Company creating opportunities for aspiring managers through its General Manager in Training program

Nemacolin: Michael LaBella makes Best Young Teachers list

LaBella, director of instruction at The Nemacolin Golf Academy and Tri-State Teacher of the Year, is named to Golf Digest's 2025-2026 list of best golf instructors under 40

READ, WATCH, LISTEN

> The real sin of $750 Bethpage Ryder Cup tickets isn’t the price
[James Colgan | Golf.com | Read]

> Discover the sophisticated side of mini golf with Swingers, the Crazy Golf Club
[Jared Ranahan | Forbes | Read]

> Tom Kim, Tony Finau and Ben Roethlisberger talk golf, good food and social media
[Hayley Wilson | PGA.com | Read]

> A golf simulator is never far
[Clio Chang | Curbed | Read]

#QOTD

"Who you are, what you think, feel, and do, what you love — is the sum of what you focus on."

— Winifred Gallagher

ICYMI

The Ryder Cup says 'Show me the money'

Are the ticket prices for the 2025 matches a rip-off? Not if people are willing to pay the exorbitant prices, writes TFC contributor Gary Van Sickle

TUNING IN

PGA Tour: Shriners Children's Open
Site: TPC Summerlin, Las Vegas, Nevada.
Television [ET]: Today-Sunday, 5-8 p.m. (Golf Channel).
GCSAA Fact Sheet

European Tour: Andalucia Masters
Site: Real Club de Golf Sotogrande, San Roque, Spain.
Television [ET]: Today, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday, 7:30 a.m. to noon (Golf Channel); Sunday, 5-10 a.m. (Golf Channel).

LPGA Tour: BMW Ladies Championship
Site: Seowon Hills Golf Club, Paju, South Korea.
Television [ET]: Today-Saturday, 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. (Golf Channel).

PGA Tour Champions: Dominion Energy Charity Classic
Site: The Country Club of Virginia (James River), Richmond, Virginia.
Television [ET]: Today-Sunday, 2-5 p.m. (Golf Channel).
GCSAA Fact Sheet

TFC Golf Job / Internship Board

> Associate Golf Ball Fitting and Sales Specialist
Acushnet Company — Titleist/Foot Joy
Southern California | Info

> Head Golf Professional
Fawn Lake Country Club
Spotsylvania, Virginia | Info

> Greenskeeper
Avon Fields Golf Course
Cincinnati, Ohio | Info

> The First Call Job Board

TFC EVENTS

The Friars Golf Club: Kentucky Bourbon & Horses

April 22-27, 2025 | Louisville / Lexington, Kentucky

CALENDAR

NOVEMBER
3-6: International Association of Golf Administrators, Monterey, California | Info

JANUARY
21-24: PGA Show, Orlando, Florida | Info

FEBRUARY
3-6: GCSAA Conference and Trade Show, San Diego, California | Info
5-9: Club Management Association of America World Conference and Club Business Expo, Tampa, Florida | Info

> View complete calendar

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