The First Call 12-20-2022

FIRST THOUGHT

Korn Ferry Tour players got an early holiday gift on Monday when it was announced that members who earn FedEx Cup points at the U.S. Open will have those points count toward their total on the Korn Ferry Tour Points List. The policy was approved by the PGA Tour Policy Board and Korn Ferry Tour Player Advisory Council. The U.S. Open traditionally falls the same week as the KFT's Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Kansas Wichita Open, so members who qualified for previous U.S. Opens sacrificed an opportunity to improve their standing on the points list. In 2022, nine of 20 KFT members made the U.S. Open cut. The new ruling will take effect at the 2023 U.S. Open.

READ, WATCH, LISTEN

> ShotLink 2.0 brings myriad big data and cloud efficiencies to the PGA Tour in 2023
[Mike Dojc | Forbes | Read]

> Could a shuttered Augusta golf course be getting new life? A pending offer might mean so
[Joe Hotchkiss | Golfweek (via Augusta Chronicle) | Read]

> KFT members will now be able to earn points when making U.S. Open cut
[Brentley Romine | Golf Channel | Read]

Design Notes: Jack Nicklaus tweaks own spectacular Quivira design

Lobb + Partners to redesign Canada’s Chilliwack; Todd Quitno fine-tunes Wisconsin’s Westmoor

TFC PODCAST NETWORK

THE 19TH HOLE
Nick Jonas, Renee Parsons talk PXG collaboration
Music entertainer and PXG Apparel president join host Michael Williams to talk about how they fused their respective passion for golf and fashion into a partnership
[Listen | More 'The 19th Hole' episodes]

BEHIND THE GOLF BRAND
How Sunday Golf found its niche, paves a new trail
Host Paul Liberatore interviews CEO Ronan Galvin, who discusses how finding a niche allowed Sunday Golf to revolutionize the golf bag industry in just a few short years
[Listen | More 'Behind The Golf Brand' episodes]

THE MODGOLF PODCAST
How Sqairz does the common in an uncommon way
Founder Bob Winskowicz shares with host Colin Weston how having Arnold Palmer in his mentorship corner was one of many positive experiences that shaped his entrepreneurial mindset
[Listen | More 'The ModGolf Podcast' episodes]

FACT OF THE DAY

DID YOU KNOW ...

In the off-course golf retail channel, 62% of all square footage and 18% of total doors are owned by multi-door retailers with store footprints over 10,000 square feet.

Source: Longitudes Group 2022 Off-Course Market Trends Report

THE INDUSTRY

Capstone Hospitality partners with Smoke Rise Country Club

Tucker, Georgia, club partners with Capstone to drive growth strategy while undergoing a million-dollar capital reinvestment to upgrade amenities

Golftec opens instruction, clubfitting center near Seattle

New 3,425-square-foot facility features four indoor bays, equipped with OptiMotion and powered by Tecswing technology, for lessons, clubfitting and practice

World-ranked golfers commit to playing The American Express

Top-15 golfers Jon Rahm, Will Zalatoris, Sam Burns and Tom Kim have committed to playing Jan. 19-22; all daily ticket options are on sale online

#QOTD

"So much of what we call management consists in making it difficult for people to work."

— Peter Drucker

ICYMI

TFC Inbox: Hands down, LIV Golf is 2022's top headline

The First Call readers leave no doubt about the story of the year that played out in the media, on course and in the courts, and featured the game's biggest names

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
24-26: Chicago Golf Show, Rosemont, Ill. | 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.