The First Call 12-09-2022

FIRST THOUGHT

According to the National Golf Foundation, 54 new courses are under construction — ground has been broken and work is under way — in 2022, the highest such number since 53 in 2016. Also, the 107 courses that are either under construction, in planning or proposed is the most since 2017 when the combined total was 112.

> Question of the Week: Inspired by a list created by Open Links Golf, what are the top three courses (either private or public) within a 10-mile radius of where you live?

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

> Did Greg Norman recruit for LIV Golf as QBE Shootout host?
[Adam Schupak | Golfweek | Read]

> LIV's Greg Norman not at Shark Shootout, but typical of bizarre year in golf
[Tom D'Angelo | Naples Daily News | Read]

> 12 things you forgot happened in golf in 2022
[Shane Ryan | Golf Digest | Read]

THE INDUSTRY

PGA Show Demo and Fitting Day to feature top golf companies on Jan. 24

The 20th edition will return to Orange County National Golf Center in Winter Garden, Florida, and feature more than 70 participating golf companies and widespread educational programming

Mizuno announces its return to the PGA Show in 2023

Japanese equipment manufacturer to return following a two-year absence due to the COVID pandemic

Uneekor to exhibit launch monitors at PGA Show

Company to exhibit Eye XO, QED launch monitors and newest innovation, the Balance Optix — a biomechanical system that focuses on the lower body movement of the golf swing

Ping's Gold-plated PLD Anser Patent 55 putter drops Dec. 12

The putter marks the fourth and final collector’s model being offered as part of a year-long celebration acknowledging the issuance of the Anser putter patent 55 years ago

CVB creates Moore Miracles for the Holidays to assist Sandhills businesses

Moore County, North Carolina, power outage impacts local Aberdeen, Pinehurst, Southern Pines businesses during busy holiday season

GolfTrainingAids.com acquires The Putting Arc product line

Company becomes the the exclusive owner and distributor of the putting training aid

Pelican Golf Club to host Capital One’s 'The Match' on Dec. 10

Warner Bros. Discovery Sports to deliver expansive coverage of matchup on TNT in primetime at Belleair, Florida, club beginning at 6 p.m. ET

Golf Inc. recognizes Golfzon’s TwoVision simulator for innovative technology

Simulator is chosen by the magazine as one of the 10 most innovative and exciting new offerings of the year, as highlighted in the publication's inaugural Golf Tech Awards

PGTAA announces 2022 Holiday Special offer through Dec. 31

Get $100 discount on PGTAA Master Teaching Professional certification courses

Announced: By Swing Control, plans to exhibit at the PGA Show in Orlando, Florida, Jan. 24-27. The manufacturer of performance-based golf and lifestyle apparel will present its new wide-ranging line of shorts, skorts, pants and dresses from the 2023 spring collection.

Announced: By Makefield Putters, that John Maginnes, a former PGA Tour player and host of the "Katrek and Maginnes On Tap" radio show on SiriusXM’s PGA Tour Radio, has joined the company as an exclusive endorser. Makefield Putters is based in Bensalem, Pennsylvania.

Honored: By the PGA Tour, Charles "Buddy" Buder and Loaves, Fishes & Computers as its 2022 PGA Tour Volunteer of the Year and Charity of the Year, respectively. Buder, a volunteer celebrating 50 years of service at the Travelers Championship in Cromwell, Connecticut, will receive $10,000 from the PGA Tour to donate to The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, a longtime Travelers Championship beneficiary and the charity of Buder’s choosing. Travelers will also provide $10,000 to the charity of Buder’s choice. Loaves, Fishes & Computers (LFC) is a nonprofit beneficiary of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and helps address the growing digital divide throughout the greater Monterey Bay region. LFC will receive a $30,000 grant from the PGA Tour.

> More Industry News

#QOTD

"The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts."

— Marcus Aurelius

ICYMI

Design Notes: Gil Hanse gets the A-OK to reimagine Australia’s Royal Sydney

Rees Jones touches up North Carolina’s Old Chatham; Wisconsin’s Lawsonia Links gets the Oliphant bunker treatment

How Pinehurst Resort perseveres amid a power outage

A recent attack on Moore County, North Carolina, electric substations left the resort — and much of the surrounding region — at a loss and having to pivot to old-school ways of business

Rounds & Weather

> Rounds played finished this past week down 30% vs. 2021, due to heavy rain in the Central and Eastern regions of the United States. Northern California and the Mountain Pacific region also experienced rain and snow this week. The Northeast region had the largest decrease in total rounds (down 52% vs. 2021). Weekday golfers as a percentage of total golf business was over 60% for a second consecutive week.

> Pacing over the next five days is expected to be greatest in the Northeast region, which is projected to finish up 19% vs. prior year as weather is expected to be clear for six out of seven days.

> The Great Plains region is forecasted to have the worst performance over the next five days. It is projected to finish down 26% as thunderstorms are forecasted for the entirety of the week.

TFC PODCAST NETWORK

GOING PRO WITH KELLY O.
Stephanie Gibri focuses on culture in golf travel
Host Kelly Okun interviews Stephanie Gibri, one of golf's first Instagram influencers, about her content creation and her episode of 'Holey Moley'
[Listen | More 'Going Pro with Kelly O.' episodes]

GOLF INNERVIEW WITH ANN LIGUORI
Alan Shipnuck opens up on his infamous Phil Mickelson call
Host Ann Liguori interviews the author of 'Phil: The Rip-Roaring (and Unauthorized!) Biography of Golf's Most Colorful Superstar' and unpacks the book's fallout
[Listen | More 'Golf Innerview with Ann Liguori' episodes]

THE MODGOLF PODCAST
How John Simpson used his polio and golf for the greater good
Host Colin Weston interviews the On Course Foundation founder about the nonprofit that introduces injured veterans to golf and opportunities within the industry
[Listen | More 'The ModGolf Podcast' episodes]

TUNING IN

PGA Tour: QBE Shootout
Site: Tiburon Golf Club, Naples, Florida.
Television: Today, 1-4 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday, 1:30-2:30 p.m. (Golf Channel), 2:30-4:30 p.m. (NBC); Sunday, 1-2 p.m. (Golf Channel), 2-4 p.m. (NBC).
Leaderboard | GCSAA Fact Sheet

European Tour | Sunshine Tour: Alfred Dunhill Championship
Site: Leopard Creek Country Club, Malelane, South Africa.
Television: Today, 5:30-10:30 a.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, 9:30-4:30 p.m. (Golf Channel).
Leaderboard

CALENDAR

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
24-28: CMAA World Conference and Club Business Expo, Orlando, Fla. | Info

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