The First Call 11-11-2022

FIRST THOUGHT

The list of professional golfers who served in the military is distinguished if only for the fact that they served in the United States military. But they could play some good golf, as well. Any such list would have to include Patty Berg (Marine Corps), Jimmy Demaret (Navy), Jack Fleck (Navy), Ben Hogan (Air Force), Bobby Jones (Army Air Corps), Herman Keiser (Navy), Lloyd Mangrum (Army), Orville Moody (Army), Larry Nelson (Army), Arnold Palmer (Coast Guard), Horton Smith (Air Force), Sam Snead (Navy) and Lee Trevino (Marine Corps).

On this Veterans Day, we thank all who have served our country.

> 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

> Saudi Ladies International raises purse to $5M to match men
[Associated Press | Read]

> LIV Golf denies report about Greg Norman moving into different role
[Bob Harig | Sports Illustrated | Read]

> Roger Maltbie, Gary Koch won't return to NBC golf broadcasts in 2023 as network looks to 'refresh' its team
[Adam Woodard | Golfweek | Read]

> LPGA shortens Florida tournament
[Associated Press | Read]

What does difficult look like in golf?

The second excerpt in a three-part series from golf course architect Richard Mandell's newly published 'Principles of Golf Architecture' examines the role of difficulty in architecture

THE INDUSTRY

LPGA's 2023 The Annika to feature largest purse outside of majors, CME

Tournament hosted by Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam, scheduled for Nov. 6-12, 2023, in Tampa Bay, will boast a $3.25 million purse

Youth on Course opens online auction featuring exclusive experiences

Nonprofit's online auction, Nov. 13-16, will feature items ranging from bucket-list courses to family trip packages; proceeds to support youth golfers across the country

Introduced: By 2K and HB Studios, bonus content for PGA Tour 2K23 with the addition of Top of the Rock Golf Course, and Dude Perfect and Hugo Boss apparel. PGA Tour 2K23 Deluxe Edition, Tiger Woods Edition and Standard Edition are available now for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation5, PlayStation4 and Steam.

Announced: By the LPGA Tour, that Atthaya Thitikul has earned the 2022 Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year award. Thitikul, who has two victories this season, has clinched the honor after finishing in a tie for 10th at last week’s TOTO Japan Classic. Thitikul has earned 1,537 points and holds an insurmountable 250-point lead over Hye-Jin Choi, who withdrew from the Pelican Women’s Championship, with two events remaining in the 2022 season.

#QOTD

“You get ideas when you ask yourself simple questions. The most important of the questions is just, ‘What if...?’”

— Neil Gaiman

TFC PODCAST NETWORK

BEHIND THE GOLF BRAND
How Stix Golf balances high quality, affordable price
Host Paul Liberatore interviews CEO Gabe Coyne, who expresses his frustration with golf being a simple game that has become far too complex and how his company is addressing that concern
[Listen | More 'Behind the Golf Brand' episodes]

GOING PRO WITH KELLY O.
Minami Levonowich's global view of golf
Host Kelly Okun interviews the London-born Speedgolf champion who has lived in five different countries, been a participant on five golf reality shows and competed on the Japan LPGA
[Listen | More 'Going Pro with Kelly O.' episodes]

GOLF INNERVIEW WITH ANN LIGUORI
Jerry Pate: ‘Nobody measures you by how much money you have'
Host Ann Liguori talks with the 1974 U.S. Amateur and 1976 U.S. Open champion about his storied career, and golf in the past, present and future
[Listen | More 'Golf Innerview with Ann Liguori' episodes]

ICYMI

Emerging from the other side of a 'biblical' high-water rain

On Aug. 17, 2021, more than 20 inches of rain fell during a two-hour flash flood that devastated Springdale. The washed out western North Carolina mountain golf resort has managed to rebuild itself

ROUNDS AND WEATHER

> Rounds played finished this past week up 17% vs. 2021, due to higher temperatures in the Northeastern and Midwestern markets, as well as favorable weather wraps in Florida. The Northeast region had the largest increase in rounds played as weather reached the high 60s to low 70s, while the Central Valley and Northern regions also had significant increases due to unseasonably warm temperatures.

> Weekday rounds as a percentage of total rounds returned to close to 60% after falling below 55% over the last two weeks. This was driven by favorable weather early in the week, along with increased precipitation over the weekend.

> Florida is forecasted to have the worst performance over the next five days, projecting to finish down 29% vs. prior year due to Hurricane Nicole, which made landfall at 3 a.m. Thursday in Vero Beach and has since weakened to a tropical storm.

TUNING IN

PGA Tour: Cadence Bank Houston Open
Site: Memorial Park Golf Club, Houston, Texas.
Television: Today-Sunday, 1-4 p.m. (Golf Channel).
Leaderboard | GCSAA Fact Sheet

LPGA Tour: Pelican Women's Championship
Site: Pelican Golf Club, Belleair, Florida.
Television: Today, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, 7:30-10:30 p.m. (Golf Channel-Tape Delay).
Leaderboard | GCSAA Fact Sheet

PGA Tour Champions: Charles Schwab Cup Championship
Site: Phoenix Country Club, Phoenix, Arizona.
Television: Today-Sunday, 4-6:30 p.m. (Golf Channel).
Leaderboard | GCSAA Fact Sheet

DP World Tour / Sunshine Tour: Nedbank Golf Challenge
Site: Gary Player Country Club, Sun City, South Africa.
Television: Today, 4-9 a.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday, 4-8:30 a.m. (Golf Channel); Sunday, 3:30-8 a.m. (Golf Channel).
Leaderboard

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.