Better get some popcorn for this tell-all book
+ Superagent Hughes Norton spills the beans on Tiger Woods and Greg Norman in 'Rainmaker'; Thoughts on televised women's golf; A new feature debuts.
THE STARTER
🏌️ Austin Eckroat won the Cognizant Classic in a Monday finish. Good for him but where are the PGA Tour’s stars?
🏌️ Joaquin Niemann received a special invitation to the PGA Championship. He’s now in three of the four majors. Think he might be a little embarrassed about complaining?
🏌️ “Full Swing” season 2 is currently on Netflix. Who will the stars be? Will you watch?
🏌️ Paulina Gretzky said on “Full Swing” that she and Dustin Johnson received death threats after Dustin signed with LIV Golf. If true, what does that say about the state of social media?
🏌️ LIV Golf ended its pursuit of world ranking points from the OWGR by withdrawing its application. Did they make their move too soon?
🏌️ Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay both said that OWGR is not a true measure of who the best players in the world are. So, it’s not just LIV players griping. Shouldn’t the OWGR listen to the players?
🏌️ Tiger Woods will receive Bob Jones Award from the USGA that “recognizes commitment to sportsmanship and respect for golf’s time-honored traditions.” Is that the right award for Woods?
🏌️ Woods and others from the PGA Tour and SSG will get seats on the board of directors of the newly formed PGA Tour Enterprises. Didn’t the “framework agreement” name Yasir Al-Rumayyan of LIV chairman of the board? Did the reports seem to neglect mentioning that?
🏌️ Daylight Savings Time will be here over the weekend. But will any starting times be available?
:: Mike Purkey
FEATURES
Hughes Norton: Golf's ultimate deal maker
In the upcoming book "Rainmaker," the former IMG superagent to the likes of Tiger Woods and Greg Norman provides a riveting tell-all account of the game's biggest players and deals
:: Gary Van Sickle | Read
Florida Swing feels the strain of winter
The effects of an unusually cool and wet El Nino cycle have put many courses throughout the Sunshine State on the defensive
:: Bradley S. Klein | Read
How the women's game is viewed — if at all
While a percentage of The First Call readers believe they can relate to how the women's game is played, others have issues with the fields and the networks' presentation or don't bother to watch
:: The First Call Inbox | Read
BOOKMARKED
Good reads that are mainly about golf, but not always.
📖 The (many) vintages of the century
Some top wine regions leave critics screaming about a Vintage of the Century every other year. Others never do. Are we the only ones who think that this is strange?
:: Jason Wilson | The New Wine Review | 02.28.2024
🎙️ Why we love an office drama
From Adelle Waldman’s novel “Help Wanted” to the sci-fi-inflected Apple TV+ show “Severance,” fictional depictions of work are getting darker, or at least stranger. What can the state of the workplace in art tell us about the workplace in life?
:: Vinson Cunningham / Naomi Fry / Alexandra Schwartz | The New Yorker | 03.07.2024
SUBSTACKED
The First Call | Extra has been publishing on Substack for a few years now and there is really good work being written on this platform. So, we’re going to start highlighting some of the pieces we come across.
📖 No, you don't owe me a favor
Generosity is not a loan to repay or a debt to settle. It's a gift to appreciate.
:: Adam Grant | Granted | 02.02.2024
BUSINESS
WEEK IN REVIEW
1️⃣8️⃣ The industry’s names, news and notables that are making the headlines. | Read
PERFECT PUTT
Acushnet's $2.38 billion year
Titleist is a golf ball juggernaut, and the brand recognized $761 million in golf ball revenue last year. Publisher Jared Doerfler examines the brand’s success
:: Jared Doerfler | Read
Each Monday, Jared Doerfler breaks down the business of golf. Subscribe to Perfect Putt here.
ICYMI
This week’s editions of The First Call:
Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday
TRAVEL
The First Call has partnered with SportGo Travel, an online booking service, to give you up to 50% off or more on hotel accommodations worldwide.
Whether you’re planning your next trip to a tournament, a buddies or girls golf getaway, or a family vacation, book your stay through SportGo Travel and save. Simply create your account and start planning.
LIFESTYLE
THE STYLE LINKS
Callaway Apparel launches its spring 2024 golf collection for men and women, offering a wide range of lifestyle and performance pieces. “These collections accentuate the importance we place on performance for today’s active golfer,” says Oscar Feldenkreis, CEO of Perry Ellis International. “Our design team has done a great job engineering technically superior products, emphasizing function and on-trend styles. These collections are designed specifically to help golfers feel stylish, confident and comfortable so they can perform their best on and off the course.”
:: 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.
Ana Belac, LPGA and LET professional: “Usually whatever player dining has, I'll eat. Or I like to go home make myself some pasta with tomato sauce or bolognese after a round."
:: Alex Lauzon | Co-host of “Course of Life” podcast
HOME FRONT
Summit Club | Las Vegas, Nevada
Listing: Fete.
Stats: 9,820 square feet | 5 bedrooms | 8 bathrooms | 6-bay garage.
Price: $23.5 million.
About: Nestled within the prestigious Summit Club residential community in Las Vegas, this home is an unrivaled modern minimalist masterpiece by Blue Heron that defines opulent living. It has an array of luxury features, including an attached casita, and offers a lifestyle that seamlessly blends indoor and outdoor living with two zero-edge pools and a rooftop deck with breathtaking views of the Las Vegas Strip. The Summit Club is an oasis of luxury and serenity, offering an unparalleled golfing experience that transcends traditional boundaries. Designed by renowned golf course architect Tom Fazio, the Summit Club's championship golf course merges breathtaking desert landscapes with meticulously manicured fairways and greens. With its picturesque setting against the backdrop of the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, golfers are treated to stunning panoramic views at every turn.
ARCHITECTURE
DESIGN NOTES
Tom Lehman revives the Arizona Biltmore
The Arizona Biltmore Golf Club in Phoenix has reopened its former Adobe course after an eight-month renovation project by Lehman Design Group, led by Scottsdale resident and former British Open champion Tom Lehman. And it has been rebranded as the Estates course.
Using the existing corridors, Lehman crafted nearly an entire new golf course atop the bones of one of the Grand Canyon state’s oldest courses, dating to 1928. The new layout — measuring 6,721 yards and par 71 from the Black tees — features more variety, recontoured fairways, new greens and bunkering, and enhanced landscapes.
“It was a pleasure working with the JDM team to refresh one of Arizona’s most iconic and historic properties,” Lehman said. “The renovated course demands a much wider variety of shots, has more length and much improved strategy. We used the most efficient and highest quality modern turf to dramatically improve the ability to maintain the greens, fairways and tees to the highest standards. Add on to that a wonderful landscape plan full of trees, colorful plants and flowers and the result is a far more visually appealing course for players of all levels.”
The Estates name was chosen to represent the tony, exclusive neighborhood where the course resides, astride some of the priciest real estate in greater Phoenix. Originally designed by William F. Bell, the course opened 96 years ago a few months before the iconic Arizona Biltmore Hotel. During the renovation, crews installed a new state-of-the-art irrigation system and planted new drought-tolerant TifTuf bermudagrass throughout the golf course. TifTuf maintains turf quality under drought stress. In addition, green complexes were rebuilt, tee boxes laser-leveled and all the bunkers were renovated, incorporating a variety of shapes and sizes.
JDM Partners, led by former Phoenix Suns and Arizona Diamondbacks owner Jerry Colangelo, is the Arizona Biltmore Golf Club’s Phoenix-based ownership group. JDM consulted with neighbors, community stakeholders, the City of Phoenix and industry experts on the multi-phase property improvement project. The significant investment by JDM brings the historic property on par with the neighboring Arizona Biltmore Resort and Wrigley Mansion.
READ: This week’s complete Design Notes
RELATED: Design Notes archive
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