The Grant Thornton Invitational, set for Friday through Sunday in Naples, Florida, is the first mixed-team co-sanctioned event between the PGA Tour and LPGA since John Daly and Laura Davies won the final JCPenney Classic in 1999. And there is no shortage of firepower. Consider the following:
> Of the 32 players in the field, a combined 15 (three men, 12 women) competed in either the Ryder Cup or Solheim Cup.
> Eleven players have won a major — Nelly Korda, Lexi Thompson, Lilia Vu, Brooke Henderson, Lydia Ko, Celine Boutier, Allisen Corpuz, Ruoning Yin, Jason Day, Lucas Glover and Justin Rose.
> Twelve players have represented their country in the Olympics, including gold medalists Nelly Korda and Justin Rose..

IN THIS ISSUE

> A hot sauce created in golf's ultimate think tank | Read

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

What was the best golf story of 2023?

Send replies on this question or other topics and questions you would like to have asked to shall@buffalogroupe.com. For a response to be published, you must include your first and last name, along with the city and state of residence.
> Read responses to last week's question.

Nippon Shaft: Scottie Scheffler won the Hero World Challenge by using the N.S. Pro Modus3 Hybrid Tour X-flex shaft in his utility iron, while Ashleigh Buhai won the Australian Women’s Open using the N.S. Pro 950GH neo steel shafts in her wedges and N.S. Pro 950GH shafts in her wedges.

> Golf officials to roll back ball for pros and weekend hackers alike. Not everyone is happy
[Doug Ferguson | Associated Press | Read]

> Golf ball rollback has interested engineers scratching their heads about ultimate impact on game
[Tod Leonard | Golf Digest | Read]

> PGA Tour tournament officials see trouble ahead as costs spiral
[Bob Harig | Sports Illustrated | Read]

PGA Tour / LPGA Tour: Grant Thornton Invitational
Site: Tiburon Golf Club, Naples, Florida.
Television [ET]: Friday, 1-4 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday, 2-3 p.m. (Golf Channel), 3-5 p.m. (NBC); Sunday, 1-2 p.m. (Golf Channel), 2-4 p.m. (NBC).
Leaderboard | GCSAA Fact Sheet

PGA Tour Champions: World Champions Cup
Site: The Concession Golf Club, Bradenton, Florida.
Television [ET]: Today-Friday, 1-5 p.m. (ESPN); Sunday, 1-5 p.m. (ABC).
GCSAA Fact Sheet

BEHIND THE GOLF BRAND
Taking golf indoors may be the next best thing
Renee Delgado, Indoor Golf Shop founder and CEO, joins host Paul Liberatore to discuss how his company began and how its positioned within the growing golf simulator industry
[Listen | More 'Behind the Golf Brand' episodes]

THE MODGOLF PODCAST
Embrace a "give first" mindset to start a business, then scale
Gary Guerrero Jr. joins host Colin Weston to discuss how he laid the foundation for his two companies — Lag Shot Golf and Scratch Golf Academy — and what he learned along the way
[Listen | More 'The ModGolf Podcast' episodes]

GOLF INNERVIEW WITH ANN LIGUORI
A look at Italy's one-of-a-kind course
Ottavio Coppola, golf manager at Argentario Golf & Wellness Resort, joins host Ann Liguori to talk about the country's lone PGA National course — and Italy, as well
[Listen | More 'Golf Innerview with Ann Liguori' episodes]

> Lead Assistant Golf Professional
Taconic Golf Club
Williamstown, Massachusetts | Info

> Second Assistant Superintendent
Worthington Country Club
Bonita Springs, Florida | Info

> Manager Marketing Strategy & Execution
PGA Tour
Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida | Info

> View a complete listing of jobs

Make Golf Your Career is a golf industry DE&I initiative launched by Make Golf Your Thing that allows job seekers to search, find and apply for opportunities throughout the industry in one place.

JANUARY
23-26: PGA Show, Orlando, Florida | Info
29-February 1: GCSAA Conference and Trade Show, Phoenix, Arizona | Info

MARCH
4-8: Club Management Association of America World Conference and Club Business Expo, Las Vegas, Nevada | Info

> View complete calendar

To submit events for the calendar, please include the event name, date, location and informational link to info@firstcallgolf.com.