The First Call 12-21-2022

FIRST THOUGHT

The 2023 Masters should be lively, even before the ceremonial first tee shot is struck. On Tuesday, Augusta National Golf Club chairman Fred Ridley announced that the Masters would welcome all eligible players, including those who defected to LIV Golf and were suspended by the PGA Tour. Currently, 16 players with ties to LIV are eligible — or 20.5 percent of the 78 players currently eligible. That also includes six former Masters champions — Sergio Garcia, Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson,
Patrick Reed, Charl Schwartzel and Bubba Watson.

READ, WATCH, LISTEN

> Masters to keep criteria, invite all eligible players in ’23
[Doug Ferguson | Associated Press | Read]

> Why McLemore’s new course, The Outpost, makes this golf's next emerging destination
[Derek Duncan | Golf Digest | Read]

> TrackMan launches NEXT Golf Tour, indoor golfers can compete in six 18-hole stroke play tournaments
[Andrew Cohen | SportTechie | Read]

Fred Funk goes long — really long — with 1st signature design

Former Players champion fulfills bucket list with RainDance National, a unique Colorado layout that measures 8,463 yards — the longest course in North America

Q&A: Ed Doyle | president, RealFood Hospitality, Strategy and Design

Doyle, who also serves as senior vice president of Troon Food and Beverage, discusses why experience matters and the keys to success and leadership

THE INDUSTRY

Boardroom Magazine names Troon as Management Company of the Year

Publication’s 23rd Excellence in Achievement awards honored management company for a ninth consecutive year alongside Troon's vice president and two of their core operating brands

GCSAA names John Newton as 2023 Col. John Morley Award winner

Award recognizes a significant contribution to the advancement of the golf course superintendent’s profession

Audubon International adds golf industry leaders to board of directors

Environmentally focused nonprofit organization adds Dan Murphy, CEO of Bridgestone Golf, and Jake Riekstins, chief development officer of Landscapes Unlimited, to its board

FlightScope integrates Titleist RCT into Mevo+, X3 models

Golf balls with Radar Capture Technology are designed to enhance data capture of launch conditions of indoor environments, deliver the most accurate information possible

Special Olympics Michigan’s award-winning 3-Hole Challenge returns

Event part of the 2023 Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational’s schedule; 12 Special Olympics athletes welcomed for annual competition on July 21

#QOTD

"I believe in courtesy, the ritual by which we avoid hurting other people’s feelings by satisfying our own egos."

— Kenneth Clark

ICYMI

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]

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.