THIS WEEK'S EDITIONS OF THE FIRST CALL

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QUESTION OF THE WEEK

How would you describe the state of golf today?

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> Read responses to last week's question.

Bonfit America: Manufacturer of the Brush-t bristle golf tee develops a partners portal specifically for pro shops and golf specialty retailers. The platform provides easy on-demand ordering at exclusive wholesale pricing for 12-unit minimums. 

Epson Tour: Announces a multiyear corporate partnership with Reliance Matrix, a Philadelphia-based insurance and absence management company. The agreement, which begins this year, makes the company an official diversity, equity, and inclusion partner through 2026.

Ford Championship: Announces The Thunderbirds as a founding partner of the LPGA tournament and that the nonprofit is dedicating $250,000 to the tournament purse, bringing the weekly total to $2.25 million. The Thunderbirds, host of the WM Phoenix Open, will also support efforts by the LPGA Foundation, including junior clinics and providing opportunities for junior volunteers. The tournament will be held March 28-31 at Seville Golf and Country Club in Gilbert, Arizona.

LPGA: Recognized as one of the Best Places to Work in Sports by Sports Business Journal. The inaugural honor celebrates companies that demonstrate outstanding leadership and prioritize the well-being and satisfaction of their employees. According to SBJ, a total of 116 companies satisfied Quantum’s late 2023 survey criteria to be considered an honoree; however, only 75 generated a score high enough to be deemed a Best Place to Work in Sports.

Payntr Golf: Former world No. 1 Jason Day takes equity ownership in the company and will co-create a line of golf shoes that merge performance with classic style. The collection, dubbed the X1 Proto, is scheduled to hit retail in fall 2024 with Day testing the model throughout the 2024 season. Day is currently wearing the X 006 RS in PGA Tour competition.

Stuburt: Agrees to become the on-course apparel partner of LIV Golf's Fireballs GC, Torque GC, and Stinger GC teams. Through the multiyear partnership, Stuburt will create custom team branded golf apparel products and accessories via online and global retail locations beginning this summer.

Fripp Island Golf & Beach Resort: Reports that Fripp Island has been named as one of the Best Islands in South Carolina by Southern Living. The publication also named Fripp Island to its list of "Prettiest Beach Towns" in the South earlier this month.

Alphard Golf: Announces that its Club Booster V2, which converts any standard pushcart into a remote-controlled motorized electric golf caddy, is now available at The Golf Warehouse. 

FootJoy: Unveils two exclusive, limited-edition releases for the Players Championship in collaboration with street-fashion artist Jon Buscemi. The collection will include a limited edition Premiere Series Field LX and Premiere Series Wilcox. Both shoes will be available at FootJoy.com beginning on March 12.

Nippon Shaft: Scottie Scheffler won by the Arnold Palmer Invitational while using the N.S. Pro Modus3 Hybrid Tour X-flex shaft in his 3 and 4 utility irons.

Uneekor: Adjusts pricing on its lineup of overhead launch monitors — the Eye XO2, Eye XO and QED. The Eye XO2 is now $13,000, the EYE XO is $8,000 and the QED is $6,000. Also, Uneekor's flagship Eye XO2 now includes the Performance Optix package (swing cameras and balance mat) for $2,700.

Haig Point Club: Names Don Hunter as chief executive officer for the Daufuskie Island, South Carolina, club, which has invested $1 million in club and community facility improvements for 2024, including renovations to its Strachan Mansion, roof replacements at key facilities, and new furniture throughout several venues. In addition, the club has invested $5.25 million to replace 5-plus miles of interior roadways over the next three years.

Noteefy: Names Zac Keener as director of partnerships and strategy for the technology company that created an automated tee time waitlist notification program. Keener spent 17 years at Chambers Bay in University Place, Washington, and the past five as general manager with KemperSports.