The First Call 11-08-2022

FIRST THOUGHT

Prior to joining the PGA Tour Champions, Bernhard Langer's career was already worthy of greatness — 42 European Tour wins, two Masters green jackets, 11 Ryder Cups and countless other accolades. But what the 65-year-old has done since joining the senior circuit, though, is otherworldly. His win on Sunday at the TimberTech Championship just extended a compelling list of numbers. In addition to 44 Tour wins — 11 of which are majors — he has 40 runner-up finishes. There are also the 11 money titles and a run of 10 successive multiple-win seasons.

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> Question of the Week: What is the one shot you are most confident in hitting — with what club and why?

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

> USGA, R&A announce changes to Rules of Golf for 2023
[David Dusek | Golfweek | Read]

> PGA Tour motion wants business plan from LIV Golf 'boss' Yasir bin Othman Al-Rumayyan
[Rex Hoggard | Golf Channel | Read]

> How do you loosen up Tiger, Rory and Rahm? Ask TaylorMade’s content whiz
[Sean Zak | Golf.com | Read]

Design Notes: South Carolina’s Belfair gets the Tom Fazio treatment

Mike Davis makes his design debut at Florida’s Apogee; Kevin Atkinson puts a new coat of paint on Colorado’s Red Rocks

FACT OF THE DAY

DID YOU KNOW ... ?

Avid golfers play a minimum of 25 rounds per year and average 60 rounds per year. These consumers represent just over 20% of the total golfer population, but account for more than half of the spending in golf.

Source: Longitudes Group golf model

THE INDUSTRY

USGA, R&A announce 2023 Rules of Golf update

Update to Rules of Golf, with an emphasis on inclusion and sustainability, will go into effect Jan. 1 as organizations continue to make the rules easier to understand, apply

Cleveland Golf announces new HB SOFT Milled putter line

New line features SOFT concept to normalize ball speed and help the issue of distance control; officially launches on Nov. 18 with prices ranging from $199.99-$249.99

Stewart Golf offers special pricing for Black Friday week

British-based electric caddie manufacturer is giving at least a 20% discount on any online order placed Nov. 21-28

Ibkul's Ruthie top supports life-saving efforts in Ukraine

Athleisure apparel brand to donate 100% of gross profits of Ukraine-specific women's top to MercyCorps, which is helping recovery efforts in the country

Atlanta Athletic Club completes Riverside Course renovation

Architect Tripp Davis re-envisioned the routing, playing strategy and visual quality of storied course set alongside the Chattahoochee River

KemperSports selected to manage Spring Hollow GC

Philadelphia-area public course is third Pennsylvania facility to come under KemperSports management in 2022

GolfForever partners with Folds of Honor

Golf fitness company will support military families with promotions, video training and live events while working toward Folds of Honor-branded products for 2023

Whiskers laces worn by consecutive PGA Tour winners

PGA Tour's World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba winner wore brand's golf-specific laces on heels of Butterfield Bermuda Championship winner doing the same

Ocean Club GC welcomed top collegiate golf teams

Course at Atlantis Paradise Island, Bahamas, hosted 20 golf teams for the White Sands Bahamas NCAA Invitational, Oct. 21-23 and 28-30

Tour Edge’s Bernhard Langer wins TimberTech Championship playoff

Tour Edge notches its 20th victory on the PGA Tour since 2018; Langer records 44th PGA Tour Champions victory in his hometown of Boca Raton

Elected: By PGA of America members, John Lindert as the 43rd president during the association’s 106th Annual Meeting. Lindert, a member of the Michigan PGA Section, is PGA director of golf at The Country Club of Lansing. He succeeds Jim Richerson, who completed his two-year term as president and is now PGA honorary president. Succeeding Lindert as vice president is Don Rea Jr., of Gilbert, Arizona. Nathan Charnes, of O’Fallon, Missouri, was elected the new PGA secretary.

Announced: By the American Society of Golf Course Architects, its Environmental Excellence Awards honorees. Projects from five golf facilities were cited for their work with ASGCA members in addressing unique environmental challenges. The recognized courses and architects are: Brookline Golf Course, Brookline, Massachusetts / Mark Mungeam; Columbia Golf Course, Minneapolis, Minnesota / Kevin Norby; Como Golf Course, St. Paul, Minnesota / Kevin Norby; Las Piedras, Punta del Este, Uruguay / Thad Layton; and Union League National Golf Club, Swainton, New Jersey / Dana Fry and Jason Straka.

#QOTD

"If you don’t practice, you don’t deserve to win."

— Andre Agassi

ICYMI

TFC Inbox: Could LIV Golf's franchise model make or break the league?

The First Call readers offer a range of opinions on the upstart league's plan to make its team concept more like other professional leagues

CALENDAR

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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