The First Call 10-25-2022

FIRST THOUGHT

Talk about staying power. Rory McIlroy reclaimed world No. 1 on Sunday by winning the CJ Cup. He first reached No. 1 after winning the Honda Classic in February 2012. Those following him were Luke Donald, Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer, Steve Stricker, Webb Simpson, Jason Day, Dustin Johnson, Charl Schwartzel and Hunter Mahan. Of those nine, only Dustin Johnson (No. 26) remains ranked in the top 30, but is slipping because he plays LIV Golf, as do Westwood, Kaymer and Schwartzel. Stricker is a mainstay on the PGA Tour Champions.

> Question of the Week: Just like in Major League Baseball, if you could have a walk-up song, what would it be and by which artist or group?

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

> Anthony Kim discussed LIV Golf with PGA Tour officials
[Alex Miceli | Sports Illustrated | Read]

> Tom Watson, former CBS executive Leslie Anne Wade terminate marriage after three months
[Adam Woodard | Golfweek | Read]

Design Notes: Fry/Straka reinvigorates L.A.’s Valencia Country Club

Costa Rica’s Peninsula Papagayo gets the Arnold Palmer treatment; Brian Curley begins a 36-hole project in Cambodia

FACT OF THE DAY

DID YOU KNOW ...

The golf specialty retail door count is up 16% since 2019.

Source: Longitudes Group

> Learn more about golf industry changes at the off-course channel

THE INDUSTRY

Landscapes Unlimited completes renovation at Red Rocks CC

Golf course developer and construction company completes a rebuild of greens, tee boxes and bunkers at the 6,800-yard Morrison, Colorado, course

The Club at Olde Cypress reopens clubhouse

Private Naples, Florida, club's 34,000-square-foot clubhouse receives a renovation of its interior, comes on the heels of an agronomic remastering of its golf course in 2021

OnCore Golf's Vero X2 golf ball is now available

Four-piece ball has a higher compression rating than the Vero X1 — 95 vs. 85 — and a firmer feel that is optimal for players with high swing speeds

Belfair's West Course reopens following $5.8 million renovation

Bluffton, South Carolina, community underwent a five-month course project that included a new irrigation system, regrassing of greens and bunker renovations

New world No. 1 plays Fujikura's Ventus in victory

Company's driver shaft played in PGA, DP World and Champions tour wins, and was the No. 1 driver and wood shaft at the CJ Cup

Golftec opens instruction and clubfitting center in Little Rock

The 2,500-square-foot facility features four indoor bays, powered by Tecswing and Foresight sports simulators, for lessons, clubfittings and practice sessions

KemperSports hires Steve Goris as VP of Venues

Goris to oversee strategy, growth and operations for KemperSports’ new business

KemperSports promotes Jeremy Goldblatt to COO

New duties include the managing of regional operations, purchasing and new business development teams

Golf Datatech: Positive signs for golf equipment despite slow sales

Data for September 2022 shows that golf equipment retail sales were down over 7% for the month, and are now down 1.8% YTD

#QOTD

"If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door."

— Milton Berle

ICYMI

TFC Inbox: This rule change would please a lot of golfers

The First Call readers are nearly unanimous in which one of the Rules of Golf they would like to see addressed — because it makes common sense

CALENDAR

OCTOBER
26: Fore Hire Virtual Job Fair | 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

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