Thursday Nov 17, 2022
FIRST THOUGHT

Of the 90 respondents to The First Call's poll question "Are you planning to play golf on Thanksgiving?" 74.4% answered "no," while 25.6% answered "yes."

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> Question of the Week: NBC Sports has announced that it will be replacing Roger Maltbie and Gary Koch as golf analysts in 2023. Who would you like to see replace them?

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

> Future hope for golf technology to accelerate to operator's needs?
[Stuart Lindsay | The Pellucid Perspective | Read]

> Pádraig Harrington and his caddie, Ronan Flood, make for a winning team
[Jim McCabe | Power Fades | Read]

> Topgolf Rolls Out First Global Brand Campaign As ‘Off-Course Golf’ Offerings Hit Record Levels
[Erik Matuszewski | Forbes | Read]

> 'The new' PGA Tour: Fall events will endure and evolve, what they'll look like is uncertain
[Rex Hoggard | Golf Channel | Read]

> Jon Rahm blasts new World Ranking formula as ‘laughable,’ takes swipe at Greg Norman for his ‘vendetta’
[John Huggan | Golf Digest | Read]

> Roger Maltbie dishes on his career with NBC, plans for the future and why he'd be shocked if LIV Golf comes calling
[Adam Woodard | Golfweek | Read]

> LPGA quietly setting a standard for women’s sports
[Doug Ferguson | Associated Press | Read]

Buffalo Groupe charges ahead with research- and data-based acquisitions
Full-service marketing collective digging deeper into golf consumer habits, trends and spends
FACT OF THE DAY
DID YOU KNOW ... ?
The golf club wholesale market value in Pennsylvania is evenly split between the three main channels of distribution — green grass, off-course and sporting goods.

Source: Longitudes Group golf spending model

Learn more about golf industry changes at the off-course channel
THE INDUSTRY
Current PGA of Alberta board advisor will be responsible for the Alberta, Canada territory
Read More
Sports performance data company welcomes dismissal of an appeal case in German Federal Court of Justice ruling the company did not infringe on a Trackman patent in Germany
Read More
Holiday season brings new ads starring Scottie Scheffler and a deal of $174.99 for the Swing Trainer and free 30-day usage of its golf training app when purchased Nov. 23-28
Read More
Release of 500 individually serialized putters honor popular putter shape; engineered from 303 stainless steel and made in the USA
Read More

Introduced: By Shot Scope, a branding and customization program for its laser rangefinders. The program allows golf and country clubs to customize rangefinders with its logos for their members, as well as sell them as tournament and corporate/charity outing gifts.

Selected: By the United States Golf Association, Trinity Forest Golf Club, in Dallas, Texas, as the host site for the 2025 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship and the 2031 U.S. Girls' Junior Championship. The 2025 championship will be the club's first USGA event. Trinity Forest was designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, and opened for play in 2016.

Announced: By Newtimes Group, that the Ashworth Golf apparel brand will return to the U.S. marketplace in 2023. The relaunch of the Ashworth brand is led by Eddie Fadel, a 30-year veteran golf apparel executive, who serves as company president, while Kate Cunningham will serve as senior vice president of sales and business development. Initial plans are for a new innovative and classic line of golf polos, bottoms, outwear and accessories to be unveiled throughout the year.   

More Industry News

#QOTD
"A bad attitude is worse than a bad swing."
— Payne Stewart
ICYMI
The Drop: Miura's anticipated MC-502 irons have finally arrived
TaylorMade unveils slick NBA-inspired driver, putter covers; PXG and pop icon Nick Jonas collaborate on apparel collection
TUNING IN

LPGA Tour: CME Group Tour Championship
Site: Tiburon Golf Club (Gold). Naples, Florida.
Television: Today-Friday, 3-5 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday, 2-5 p.m. (Peacock), 4-7 p.m. (Golf Channel-tape delay); Sunday, 1-4 p.m. (NBC).
Leaderboard | GCSAA Fact Sheet

DP World Tour: DP World Tour Championship
Site: Jumeirah Golf Estates (Earth), Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Television: Today-Saturday, 2-8 a.m. (Golf Channel); Sunday, 1:30-7:30 p.m. (Golf Channel).

PGA Tour: RSM Classic
Site: Sea Island Golf Club (Seaside, Plantation), St. Simons Island, Georgia.
Television: Today-Friday, noon to 3 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, 1-4 p.m. (Golf Channel).
Leaderboard | GCSAA Fact Sheet

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.