The First Call 12-16-2022

FIRST THOUGHT

How sporting events are being consumed — whether it's in person, on television or streaming services — is changing. And how they are impacted going forward could be impacted by the youngest of generations — Gen Z (between the ages of 13 and 25). A recent survey by Morning Consult found that 33% of the 1,000 respondents do not watch live sporting events, much higher than the 24% of all adults surveyed. Also, Gen Z respondents who watch live sports, including golf, are doing so more via digital platforms (32%) compared with traditional broadcast of cable (28%), another slight increase over a similar survey done in 2020.

> Question of the Week: In your opinion, what has been the top golf story of 2022?

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

> Golf course built on ‘America’s Stonehenge’ must surrender lease
[Alistair Dunsmuir | The Golf Business | Read]

> Endeavor president: ‘We won’t work with LIV Golf’
[Josh Sims | SportsPro Media | Read]

THE INDUSTRY

DeWiz capturing in-tournament swing data at PNC Championship

Vijay and Qass Singh use wearable tech to capture comprehensive swing data, providing new layer of understanding of how swings differ on the range vs. inside the ropes

Palmilla celebrates 30th anniversary as Los Cabos' golf pioneer

Los Cabos golf club celebrates by upgrading its golf experience through additions and improvements, it also plans to roll out new membership program next year

Galleri Classic ticket, pro-am and volunteer opportunities available

Inaugural PGA Tour Champions event will take place March 20-26 at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California; purse set at $2.2 million

Arcis Golf acquires TPC River's Bend

Southern Ohio golf club now part of growing portfolio; continues to operate as a licensed TPC property

Announced: By the PGA of America, that Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish, Washington, has been selected as the site of the 2024 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. Sahalee hosted the 2016 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship as well as the 1998 PGA Championship.

Announced: By the PGA Tour, Golf+ as the tour's official virtual reality golf game. The agreement will also see the creation of new PGA Tour game experiences where Golf+ players will be able to experience exclusive, interactive content and features tied to real-world PGA Tour tournaments.

Introduced: By Usev, Innovate, an eight-passenger golf car, to the U.S. market. Developed and produced by Seoul, Korea-based DY Innovate, the low-speed vehicle has, according to the company, earned a 60% market share in South Korea since its debut in 2015. The vehicle is designed off of an automotive platform with automotive-caliber components.

> More Industry News

#QOTD

"Those who do not complain are never pitied."

— Jane Austen

ICYMI

Are course architects up to the challenges of designing?

The third excerpt in a three-part series from golf course architect Richard Mandell's newly published 'Principles of Golf Architecture' examines the role of challenge in architecture

ROUNDS AND WEATHER

> Rounds played finished this past week down 13% vs. 2021 due to heavy rain in the Northeast and Great Plains regions. While Northern California and the Mountain Pacific regions also experienced rain and snow this week, the Northeast region had the largest decrease in total rounds (-42%) vs. prior year due to the weather impacts.

> Pacing over the next five days is expected to be greatest in the California region, projecting to finish up 4% vs. prior year as weather is expected to be clear for five out of seven days.

> The Northeast region is forecasted to have the worst performance over the next five days, projecting to finish down 79% as this market moves out of season.

> Weekday golfers as a percentage of total golf business was over 60% for a third consecutive week. This is the first time this has happened since January 2022.

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 Champions: PNC Championship
Site: Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Orlando, Florida.
Television: Saturday, 1-2 p.m. (Peacock), 2-6 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).
Leaderboard | GCSAA Fact Sheet

DP World Tour / Sunshine Tour: AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open
Site: Mont Choisy Le Golf, Grand Bale, Mauritius.
Television: Today, 3:30-8:30 a.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, 3-7:30 a.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.