The First Call 11-22-2022

FIRST THOUGHT

This is the time of year when people feverishly count down how many shopping days remain before the holidays. For golf fans, the countdown is a bit different — it's how many days until next year's majors. If you're wondering, there are 135 days remaining until the Masters, followed by the PGA Championship (177 days), U.S. Open (199) and British Open (241).

> Question of the Week: The holidays are upon us, so what golf-related items are you putting on your wish list or buying for others?

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

> Adam Scott to reunite with caddie Steve Williams for Australian events and beyond
[Evin Priest | Golf Digest | Read]

> There’s a town called ‘Golf’. We tracked down its fascinating history | Golf.com
[Sean Zak | Golf.com | Read]

> Rory and me: Cameron Smith on the phone call that pre-empted the firestorm
[Adam Pengilly | Sydney Morning Herald | Read]

Design Notes: Arnold Palmer Design transforms Scotch Hall into Occano

Nick Faldo clears the way for Vietnam’s Silk Path Dong Trieu; Tom Lehman progresses at Minnesota’s Cragun’s Resort

Do fake Twitter followers aid Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy in PIP?

Nearly 40% of Tiger Woods' Twitter followers are a sham, according to a "fake follower" audit of the social media platform by Gambling.com; Rory McIlroy, Ian Poulter have next highest

FACT OF THE DAY

DID YOU KNOW ... ?

Arthur Hills, who designed more than 200 courses in his career, designed over 20 golf courses in Michigan alone. Homes surrounding a half dozen of these courses that include real estate command 40% or higher average real estate values than the surrounding zip codes.

Source: Longitudes Group green grass database, Zillow average home values

THE INDUSTRY

Golf Datatech: Signs of October sales decline

U.S. golf retail sales figures in October were off 5.9% for the month and are down 2.2% YTD

Bear Trap Dunes GC welcomes new general manager

Tim O’Neill will oversee golf operations, food and beverage, agronomy, sales and marketing, and maintenance operations for the 27-hole club located in Ocean View, Delaware

PGA Golf Exhibitions aligns with Orlando Destination Partners

Collaboration offers travel savings for 2023 PGA Show attendees, including discounts on flights, hotels, car rentals, dining and attractions

Arcis Golf honored in AvidGolfer's Dallas-Fort Worth 2022 'Best' lists

Golf club operator's seven public courses recognized for excellence in publication's annual Best of Public Golf edition; Cowboys Golf Club retains No. 1 spot in Metroplex

OnCore Golf’s Vero X2 notches another tournament win

Domenico Geminiani wins 2022 National Car Rental Assistant PGA Professional Championship while playing OnCore's new Vero X2

Rolex ambassador Jon Rahm wins in Dubai

Rahm won the DP World Tour Championship for a record third time and claimed his fifth Rolex Series title

Offered: By SkyGolf, a holiday promotion of $50 off its family of SkyCaddie rangefinders, from the handheld models of the SX400 and SX550 to the new LX2 smart watch and the LX5 and LX5 with ceramic bezel smart watches. The promotion ends Dec. 31.

Introduced: By Bloodline Golf, a new Putting Mat, which is designed to help improve putting by perfecting a series of targeting drills. The 8-foot by 12-inch putting green features three lines that line up with sight lines any putter and includes two different areas to practice aim. The Putting Mat retails for $159.00.

> More Industry News

#QOTD

"Of all the hazards, fear is the worst."

— Sam Snead

ICYMI

TFC Inbox: Who will NBC choose as its new voices of golf?

While a segment of The First Call readers did not believe Roger Maltbie and Gary Koch needed to be replaced for 2023, others suggested some new and familiar names

A Beam who makes gin — well, bourbon, too

Steve Beam, 63, a seventh-generation descendant of the Jim Beam founder, is finding his niche in the spirits industry with Limestone Branch Distillery in Kentucky

TFC PODCAST NETWORK

GOLF INNERVIEW WITH ANN LIGUORI
Frank Nobilo looks back on the 2022 golf season
The 14-time tour winner and CBS Sports golf correspondent offers his opinions on topics ranging from LIV Golf to the depth of talent on all the tours
[Listen | More 'Golf Innerview with Ann Liguori' episodes]

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]

CALENDAR

DECEMBER
5-8: Ohio Turfgrass Foundation Conference, Columbus, Ohio | Info

JANUARY
23-25: Golf Business Conference, Orlando, Fla. | Info
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.