THIS WEEK'S EDITIONS OF THE FIRST CALL

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QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Does the WM Phoenix Open have an alcohol problem after the hole-in-one celebrations in 2022 and the suspension of alcohol sales on Saturday at this year's event? 

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.

LPGA Tour: Announces Ford as the title sponsor of the Ford Championship, March 28-31 at Seville Golf and Country Club in Gilbert, Arizona. The 144-player field will play for a $2 million purse.

Peacock + Lewis: Partners with The Directors' Club of America. The planning, architectural and interior design firm will contribute its creative vision to the development and enhancement of racquet facilities associated with The Directors' Club.

Women’s Golf Day: Launches a new website with an integrated online social community, WGD Connect, and increased functionality for golf facilities to promote tee times, fittings, instruction, travel and events. The site gives consumers and locations more opportunities to engage, empower and support women's golf globally. WGD is currently running a promotion through February, offering facilities nearly $200 off their premier registration package.

Club Car: New flagship commercial vehicle, Club Car Urban, is featured in a Uuniversity of Georgia Today article: "Facilities Management Division introduces new electric fleet." The article showcases Club Car Urban as a vehicle that navigates the Athens, Georgia, campus easily without impact to pedestrians. It also highlights the safety features, low-cost of operation and versatile vehicle customization options as factors in the decision process.

Crushers Golf Club: The LIV Golf League team names Stitch Golf as its on-course apparel partner. This partnership will deliver custom products for the team and fans, with available items on sale to the public online and in-store later this year. The collaboration will produce a co-designed assortment of men’s custom on-course polos, driver head covers and an opportunity to create a wider array of additional items in the future. All custom products worn during play will be made available to the public in late spring of the 2024 season. 

USGA: Announces local and final qualifying sites for the 124th U.S. Open, set for Pinehurst Resort & Country Club’s Course No. 2, June 13-16. Local qualifying, conducted over 18 holes at 109 sites in 44 U.S. states and Canada, will take place between April 22-May 20. Those players who advance out of local qualifying will join a group of locally exempt players in final qualifying, which will be conducted over 36 holes. This final stage will be held in England and Japan (May 20) and Canada (June 3) as well as 10 U.S. sites, one on May 20 and nine on June 3. Online player registration for the 2024 U.S. Open will begin on Feb. 21 and continue through April 10.

USGA: Announces 26 qualifying sites for the 79th U.S. Women’s Open, to be held at Lancaster Country Club in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, May 30-June 2. Thirty-six-hole qualifiers will be held across the United States, Canada, Japan and Germany between April 15 and May 20. Online entry applications open on Feb. 14, and will continue through April 3, at 5 p.m. ET.

The Club at Olde Cypress: To undergo a clubhouse renovation project beginning in spring of 2025. When the Naples, Florida, club's multimillion dollar project concludes in January 2026, the clubhouse will boast an additional 10,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space, including a 2,000-square-foot kitchen to support the casual and fine dining options, expansion of its covered second floor terrace and sun deck, highlighted by a new bar area, and the addition of a golf simulator and movie theatre experience.

Indian Wells Golf Resort: Partners with four neighboring hotels in the Indian Wells, California, area to offer various stay-and-play packages. Guests can stay at the resort's hotel, Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort and Spa, Renaissance Esmeralda Resort and Spa or Tommy Bahama Miramonte Indian Wells Resort and Spa, and have access to Indian Wells Resort's two courses — the John Fought-designed Players Course or the Celebrity Course.

Genesis Invitational: Announces that Kristopher Stiles of San Jose State University has been named the 2024 Pathway Player into the tournament’s Collegiate Showcase. Stiles will compete alongside a field of collegiate golfers at the Riviera Country Club on Feb. 12. The champion will earn an exemption into the 2024 Genesis Scottish Open, July 11-14 at the Renaissance Club in North Berwick, Scotland. 

The Cognizant Classic: Names Todd Fleming, Legends senior vice president of global sales, as executive director of the PGA Tour event. The announcement comes two months after the PGA Tour named Cognizant as the new title sponsor of the long-running tournament in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Joie Chitwood, who has served as interim executive director since November, will maintain his role through completion of the 2024 event.