Are golf's dog days here?
+ TGL has finally arrived; Nine questions to ponder; Bill Bergin on The Keep; Hawaiian classic reopens.
THE STARTER
🏌️ TGL debuted on Tuesday with a boisterous crowd and a Bay GC rout over New York GC. Did you watch? For how long?
🏌️ What could TGL do better? Trash talking? How about a double-or-nothing hammer to give a trailing team a chance to catch up?
🏌️ The two-hour TGL telecast on ESPN averaged 919,000 viewers. How much was the curiosity factor? And what do you suppose the numbers will be next week when Tiger Woods plays?
🏌️ Scottie Scheffler suffered an injury to his right hand from broken glass while preparing Christmas dinner, keeping him out of action for a few weeks. Shouldn’t a man who won $62 million with his hands last year be kept away from sharp objects?
🏌️ Victor Hovland fractured his toe running into a hotel bed frame and limped painfully around The Sentry. Isn’t that why you turn on the light when you go to the bathroom in the middle of the night?
🏌️ Hideki Matsuyama wheeled around The Sentry at Kapalua in a PGA Tour record 35-under par — and still missed a handful of short birdie putts. Can you imagine what he could have shot?
🏌️ The Plantation Course at Kapalua gives up obscene scores almost every year, yet no one complains. Aren’t there a half-dozen courses in Hawaii that would give the Tour players a better test?
🏌️ LIV Golf’s Legion XIII signed Tom McKibbin, a rising star for sure but nowhere close to a big name. Could it be that LIV isn’t offering the same kind of money to golf’s stars as it did in the beginning?
🏌️ A fan, identified only as Jimmy, won $100,000 for making a hole-in-one over Bryson DeChambeau’s house. Thing is, it took DeChambeau 16 days and Jimmy only five shots. Is Jimmy that good or does DeChambeau need some wedge work?
:: Mike Purkey
FEATURES
This (hot) dog has its day
Gleezy, maker of the all beef with double-smoked brisket hot dog and Carolina Dog Sauce, seeks to make its brand as recognizable at courses as a golfer’s favorite beverage, chips or snacks and make it the official hot dog of choice.
:: Ken Klavon | Read
Georgia on his mind
Course architect Bill Bergin dishes on McLemore Resort’s new Peach State gem, The Keep.
:: Joe Passov | Read
BOOKMARKED
Good reads — and listens — that are sometimes about golf, but not always.
📖 The after dark bandit
The police couldn’t figure out how the perpetrator ripped off two banks at the same time. Until they discovered there wasn’t just one robber but a pair of them: identical twin brothers.
:: Andrew Dubbins | The Atavist Magazine | 12.2024 | Read
📖 How Premier League stadiums have evolved over the past 40 years
Simon Inglis, the UK’s foremost stadium expert and author of the seminal book on the subject, “The Football Grounds of England and Wales,” offers a look into the transformation.
:: Richard Sutcliffe | The Athletic | 12.26.2024 | Read
📖 His very best (1924-2024)
A little of my experience as Carter's biographer.
:: Jonathan Alter | Old Goats | 12.29.2024 | Read
THE LIBRARY
Recent drops to The First Call’s video and podcast section.
🎧 The rise of Concert Golf Partners
Guest: Jordan Peace, Concert Golf Partners senior vice president of corporate development.
:: Golf Interview with Ann Liguori | 1.2.2025 | Listen
TFC Libraries: 🎧 Podcasts | ▶️ Videos
BUSINESS
THE FIRST CALL
Week in Review: The industry’s names, news and notables making headlines. | Read
This week’s editions: Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday
Industry press releases | Read
Industry press release videos | Watch
TFC / PR Newswire feed | Read
LIFESTYLE
THE STYLE LINKS
In less than two weeks, the golf industry will converge again at the PGA Show in Orlando, Florida. New school, old school, modern, traditional, hi-tech, hand-crafted … it’s where all of what the golf industry has to offer is showcased. And what you will be seeing in the weeks and months to come.
:: Janice Ferguson | IG: @janiceferguson_thestylelinks
19TH HOLE
Each episode of the “Course of Life” podcast closes with the guest sharing a favorite 19th hole experience.
Jason Mengel, tournament director for the 2025 KPMG Women's PGA Championship and the 2027 PGA Championship: “Probably start with a Mich Ultra on draft with a lime in it for a little flare. And then some chips and queso to set the stage.”
:: Alex Lauzon | Co-host of “Course of Life” podcast
TFC EVENTS
PerryGolf: Scottish Links and Islands
June 19 – July 1, 2025 | Southampton, England to Dublin, Ireland
:: Event and registration information
ARCHITECTURE
DESIGN NOTES
Robert Trent Jones II reopens Hawaii’s Mauna Kea
After an extensive enhancement led by Robert Trent Jones II, Mauna Kea Resort unveiled its newly renovated Mauna Kea Golf Course the week of Christmas.
The reopening coincides with the 60th anniversary of the golf course’s original opening on Dec. 10, 1964, by the Big Three — Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player —that marked a historic milestone in its legacy.
First crafted in 1964 by Robert Trent Jones Sr., the 18-hole Mauna Kea Golf Course transformed a rugged and barren black lava field into lush, world-class fairways, establishing it as the island’s first resort course.
Updated by his son Rees Jones decades later, and most recently by the Jones II and his firm, Robert Trent Jones II Golf Course Architects, the course holds a unique distinction as the only one in the world to feature the combined vision of the Jones family — father and both sons.
For six decades, it has remained a bucket-list destination for golf enthusiasts, captivating players with its seaside cliffs, undulating greens, and the iconic over-the-ocean third hole, which is hailed as one of the most unforgettable challenges in the sport. Jones II incorporated modern design elements to enhance playability while preserving the course’s historic charm.
"The Mauna Kea Golf Course has long been hailed as one of Hawaii's top courses, with a deep history and cultural connection to the island," said Kansas Henderson, hotel manager of Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. “With this renovation, we’ve elevated the course to new heights, while honoring its legacy. By working alongside its original designer’s son, Robert Trent Jones Jr., we’ve ensured the updated course remains true to his father’s original vision and continues to be one of the most celebrated in the world."
Highlights of the renovation include:
> Upgraded fairways and greens: The course now features seashore paspalum grass, known for its lush appearance and suitability for tropical climates, ensuring optimal playing conditions year-round.
> Redesigned bunkers: Enhanced for modern play while complementing the natural landscape, the redesigned bunkers offer improved playability and aesthetic appeal.
> Restored iconic holes: The renowned over-the-ocean third hole, a par-3 masterpiece with a kidney-shaped green and breathtaking cliffside views, remains a highlight of the course.
> Commitment to sustainability: Efforts include water conservation using drought-tolerant seashore paspalum grass, native landscaping, and eco-friendly management practices to help preserve the surrounding environment.
> Modern amenities: The reimagination also includes a state-of-the-art pro shop, practice range, professional lessons, and GPS-equipped carts to enhance the golfing experience.
RELATED: This week’s Design Notes in full
RELATED: Design Notes archive
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From a look at the Keep website it seems they have made it walkable, unusual for a US mountain course. Great to see.
Just wondering! The annual PGA Show seems to be a great event. Why hasn't someone thought of offering similar regional experiences for golfers. I believe that many golfers, myself included, would be willing to pay for a similar event if it's not so far away. When I lived in Omaha, there was an event similar to the PGA Show there we could view some of the new features of the game as well as new clubs on the market.