The First Call 12-13-23

FIRST THOUGHT

Of the 200 respondents to The First Call poll question "What is your opinion about the USGA and R&A decision to roll the golf ball back?", 34% chose "It was about time." Twenty-four percent believed there was no need to change, while 23% thought bifurcation was the best option. Of the remaining 19%, 17% were indifferent and 2% believe the decision will ruin the game.

IN THIS ISSUE

> 'The ModGolf Podcast': MyGolfSpy founder Adam Beach | Read
> 'Golf Innerview with Ann Liguori' podcast: Shot Scope COO Gavin Dear | Read

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

What are your thoughts on the decision by the USGA and R&A to roll back the golf ball?

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.

TFC PODCAST NETWORK

THE MODGOLF PODCAST
MyGolfSpy: Becoming the Consumer Reports of the golf industry
MyGolfSpy founder Adam Beach joins host Colin Weston to share his motivation for creating the website that offers unbiased golf equipment reviews
[Listen | More 'The ModGolf Podcast' episodes]

GOLF INNERVIEW WITH ANN LIGUORI
How shot tracking is improving the game
Shot Scope CCO Gavin Dear joins host Ann Liguori to talk about the benefits of the technology and how his company is carving out its niche
[Listen | More 'Golf Innerview with Ann Liguori' episodes]

DRIVER$: INSIDE THE GOLF INDUSTRY
Setting the pace
Tagmarshal CEO Bodo Sieber joins co-hosts Jon Last and David Klein to discuss pace of play optimization and how to improve the economic engine of golf facilities
[Listen | More 'Driver$: Inside the Golf Industry' episodes]

FEATURED

It's time to start checking that list

Still searching for the right gift for the golfers on your list? Here is a selection of golf and lifestyle products

INDUSTRY NEWS

PGA Show: Begins with Demo Day testing of latest golf equipment, technology

Thousands of PGA of America golf pros will attend PGA Show Demo Day on Jan. 23 to kick off the annual PGA Show week

GCSAA: Bill Murray wins Morley Award

Award is presented to a Class A or B GCSAA superintendent member who has made a significant contribution to the advancement of the superintendent’s profession

West Bay Club: Receives Boardroom Magazine's Distinguished Club award

Community in Estero, Florida, is awarded the Elite Level distinction for the fourth consecutive year based on proprietary criteria and an evaluation process measuring member experience

Desert Willow Golf Resort: Honored with annual CGCOA award

Association honors the Palm Desert, California-owned facility with the Course of the Year Award for its commitment to golf instruction and advancement of the game

Ace Indoor Golf, Yardstick Golf: To co-host golf simulator webinar on Dec. 14

Q&A will be co-hosted by Yardstick Golf founder Reid Colson and Ace Indoor Golf co-owner Joe Neumeyer

'Did I Tell You About My Albatross?': Golf podcast debuts

Podcast, hosted by Brandon Redding, Laken Fischer and Billy Heiser, discusses the best stories in and around golf

PGTAA: A path to golf teaching certification

Professional Golf Teachers Association of America is offering a $100 discount for all new members through December

USGA: Selects Sand Valley Resort, in Nekoosa, Wisconsin, to host four USGA championships, beginning with the U.S. Mid-Amateur in 2026. The 2029 U.S. Junior Amateur, 2030 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur and 2034 U.S. Girls’ Junior will also be conducted at the resort. Sand Valley features five courses, including The Lido, which opened this year and is a recreation of Charles B. Macdonald's design on Long Island that opened in 1917. The course will host the 2026 U.S. Mid-Amateur and the 2029 U.S. Junior Amateur.

READ, WATCH, LISTEN

> Jon Rahm goes back on his word. But circumstances changed
[Doug Ferguson | Associated Press | Read]

> PGA Tour suspends Jon Rahm, which has domino effect on other players' eligibility for 2024
[Tod Leonard | Golf Digest | Read]

> PGA Tour University benefits expanding to reward five more players, D-II Player of the Year
[Cameron Jourdan | Golfweek | Read]

> Rank-and-file players hire lawyer to demand information from PGA Tour on outside investors
[Adam Woodard | Golfweek | Read]

#QOTD

"We are stronger when we listen and smarter when we share."

— Rania Al-Abdullah

TUNING IN

PGA Tour Champions: PNC Championship
Site: Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Orlando, Florida.
Television [ET]: Saturday, 1-2:30 p.m. (Peacock), 2:30-6 p.m. (NBC); Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Peacock), 12:30-1:30 p.m. (Golf Channel), 1:30-4:30 p.m. (NBC).
GCSAA Fact Sheet

PGA Tour: PGA Tour Q-School
Site: TPC Sawgrass (Dye’s Valley), Sawgrass Country Club, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.
Television [ET]: Saturday, 2:30-4:30 p.m. (Golf Channel); Sunday, 1:30-4:30 p.m. (Golf Channel).

European Tour / Sunshine Tour: Afrasia Ban Mauritius Open
Site: Heritage La Reserve Golf Club, Heritage Bel Ombre, Mauritius.
Television [ET]: Thursday-Friday, 3:30-8:30 a.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, 3-7:30 a.m. (Golf Channel).

Make Golf Your Career

> Videographer Player Content
PGA Tour
Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida | Info

> Human Resources Business Partner
USGA
Liberty Corner, New Jersey | Info

> PGM Intern
Stonewall Links
Elverson, Pennsylvania | 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.

CALENDAR

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.