Ely Callaway in his own words

+ Adding to your wardrobe in 2025? We have some suggestions; Gamble Sands allures, Streamsong awaits; What's not to like about Rosapenna's St. Patrick's?

Feb 07, 2025

THE STARTER

🏌️ Rory McIlroy won the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, which this year was a “signature event” on the PGA Tour. McIlroy was a big supporter of the idea of limited-field events for the best players. This week’s WM Phoenix Open is also a “signature event” this year, but where is McIlroy?

🏌️ Charlie Hoffman wrote a letter to his fellow PGA Tour members, saying in part, “The best competition happens when the best players go head-to-head in a deep, competitive field — not in small, limited-entry events that leave deserving players on the outside looking in.” A thinly-veiled shot at McIlroy?

🏌️ Justin Thomas, given the PGA Tour’s current popularity with the public, encouraged Tour players to be more cooperative with media. He needs to start with himself, doesn’t he?

🏌️ The USGA has granted LIV one direct exemption this year for a player in the top three of the league’s points rankings, which will increase to two exemptions next year. One more step toward LIV legitimacy?

🏌️ LIV Golf debuted on Fox under the lights in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Thursday in the league’s first night game. There was a halftime light show, the greens were slow and the scores were low. Good tournament or TV show?

🏌️ During Tuesday night’s TGL match, one of Tommy Fleetwood’s shots wasn’t picked up by the simulator, resulting in the league’s first do-over. The players have also complained about the accuracy of the yardages. They spent how much on the technology?

🏌️ Rickie Fowler, that fashion icon, rolled out in a head-to-toe camo outfit for the first round of the WM Phoenix Open. You better play good dressed like that, don’t you? (He didn’t — first-round 74.)

🏌️ The LPGA Tour unveiled its new slow-play rules: “Should a player take up to 5 seconds too long they will receive a fine, while players who take between 6 to 15 seconds too much will receive a one-stroke penalty. Those who take over 15 seconds too long will be docked two strokes.” Sounds good but will it be evenly enforced?

🏌️ Kultida Woods, Tiger’s mother, died Tuesday at age 78. Has there ever been a more influential mother in golf?

:: Mike Purkey

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FEATURES

Ely Callaway tells his own story

New autobiography, 'The Unconquerable Game,' documents the Georgia native's rise to become one of golf's pivotal industry leaders. With the aid of AI, the audio version uses Callaway's voice.

:: Gary Van Sickle | Read

PGA Show Apparel Review — Part II

TFC contributor Janice Ferguson walked the aisles of the annual show at Orange County Convention Center to find the apparel and footwear that are expected to make a splash in 2025.

:: Janice Ferguson | Read

Follow Gary Van Sickle on TFC | Extra

BOOKMARKED

Good reads — and listens — that are sometimes about golf, but not always.

📖 How Zyn conquered the American mouth

Why did Swedish nicotine pouches become a generation's go-to fix for blasting through long work days and longer nights out?

:: Emily Sundberg | QG | 01.30.25 | Read

📖 The tangled tale of the New York Times’s URL

The Times wanted to go online in 1996 with nytimes.com. But the domain was already owned — by a Times reporter.

:: Megan DiTrolio | 01.25.25 | Read

📖 50 ‘Saturday Night Live’ cast members reveal their favorite ‘Saturday Night Live’ cast members

To mark the anniversary of a cultural institution, GQ conducted a series of interviews with SNL legends and newcomers alike. Here’s how they responded to a question no one wanted to answer.

:: GQ | 01.27.25 | Read

📖 58 Super Bowl rings, 58 stories

Big and small, lost and found, each ring has a unique tale to tell.

:: ESPN | Read

THE LIBRARY

Recent drops to The First Call’s video and podcast section.

🎧 The year ahead in the golf industry

Guests: Co-hosts Jon Last and David Klein of Sports and Leisure Research Group.

:: Driver$: Inside the Golf Industry | 02.06.25 | Listen

🎧 Writing the history of 2 underrated stars

Guest: John Riley, author of "A Will to Win: Legendary Amateur Bill Hyndman's Story of Perseverance and Triumph" and "How He Played the Game: Ed 'Porky' Oliver and Golf's Grestest Generation."

:: Golf Interview with Ann Liguori | 02.05.25 | Listen

TFC Libraries: 🎧 Podcasts | ▶️ Videos

Subscribe to The First Call | Extra

BUSINESS

THE FIRST CALL

Golf Industry Job / Internship Board

LIFESTYLE

THE STYLE LINKS

roger_steele

A post shared by @roger_steele

Lululemon continues to get after it in the golf space with its newest ambassador, Roger Steele.

:: Janice Ferguson | IG: @janiceferguson_thestylelinks

19TH HOLE

“Course of Life” podcast co-host Alex Lauzon closes each episode with the guest sharing a favorite 19th hole food and beverage experience.

Megan Johnston, director of instruction at Big Cedar Lodge: “I love a good old fashioned, and any steak that comes from Big Cedar Lodge is melt in your mouth good.”

A PICTURE TELLS …

“We emerge into a sky that seems endless, and by the fourth tee — perched brilliantly above the most gorgeous of holes along the coast — we four are spellbound by St. Patrick’s, and though the wind and Tom Doak batter us, in each other’s eyes there is only enchantment … For here, in the wind off the ocean and the bobbling run of a chipped recovery, lies the visceral spirit of the game, the essence of golf.”

:: Words: Richard Pennell / Pitchmarks | Photography: Simon Pope
:: Image: Hole No. 1, Rosapenna, St. Patrick’s Links, County Donegal, Ireland.

HOME FRONT

One Park Tower by Turnberry | North Miami, Florida

Listing: Penthouse 3201.
Stats: 8,000 square feet (interior, 5,130; exterior, 2,870) | 5 bedrooms | 6.5 bathrooms.
Price: $8,000,000.

About: A luxury residential high-rise, situated within the 184-acre private SoLe Mia community, recently unveiled an exclusive collection of 21 penthouse residences — The Ones — that offer sweeping views of the seven-acre Laguna SoLe, the Miami skyline and Oleta River State Park. Perched atop the 33-story tower, Penthouse 3201 is an exquisitely designed duplex. This architectural masterpiece features five bedrooms, six and a half bathrooms, a private library and a luxurious plunge pool — perfectly positioned on the expansive terrace with panoramic views of both the Atlantic Ocean and the Miami city skyline. The penthouse boasts soaring 11-foot-plus ceilings, and a private outdoor kitchen complete with Subzero refrigeration. One Park Tower’s state-of-the-art fitness center includes equipment accompanied by dedicated studios for yoga, spin, golf and Pilates. The exclusive Golf Simulator Studio offers an unparalleled indoor golfing experience, allowing residents to perfect their swing and play iconic courses from the comfort of their home. Additionally, the renowned Turnberry Isle Golf Course, a 36-hole course designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr., is located less than 5 miles from SoLe Mia.

ARCHITECTURE

The Land as It Lies: Gamble Sands

Ever wonder what playing golf on Mars would be like? Then Gamble Sands might be a good place to start.

DESIGN NOTES

Streamsong snags David McLay Kidd to design 5th course

Streamsong Golf Resort is expecting — again.

On Jan. 22, the Bowling Green, Florida, destination announced that its fifth course has broken ground under the direction of architect David McLay Kidd. The golf course is located amongst some of the resort’s most interesting sand site terrain as it traverses rambling sand dunes and dramatic elevation changes situated between Streamsong Black and Streamsong Red.

"I have read many times how great players have a special love for the majors," Kidd said. "Not sure I understood what that meant when I was younger, but now I get it. In the world of golf design, there are certain properties, locations and even owners that working for can be like playing in the majors. Streamsong, for me, is a major.

"The destination is world renowned and KemperSports [which manages Streamsong] 'gets it.' To be included in that group of architects requires my team and I to do something exceptional. That opportunity both excites me and makes me nervous, but in a good way. My team and I are so excited to add to the history of a place so young and yet so rooted in a tradition of exceptional golf architecture."

Streamsong burst onto the destination golf scene in 2012 with the opening of Streamsong Red (designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw) and Streamsong Blue (Tom Doak) along with a 228-room Streamsong Lodge and the Red and Blue Clubhouse. The resort added to its golf offerings in 2017 with Streamsong Black (Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner), most recently, launched a 19-hole short course (The Chain) and 2.5-acre putting course (The Bucket) designed by Coore & Crenshaw that opened in April 2024.

With Kidd joining the Streamsong architect roster of Coore, Crenshaw, Doak, Hanse and Wagner, Streamsong will become the only golf resort in the world to feature this collection of world-famous architects. Kidd is credited with ushering in a new era of golf course architecture and established himself as one of the premier figures in modern golf architecture where his highly regarded golf designs include Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, Mammoth Dunes at Sand Valley Resort, Tetherow Resort, Gamble Sands, Nanea Golf Club and the Castle Course at St. Andrews.

"We’re excited to partner with David to lead the continued evolution at Streamsong Golf Resort," KemperSports CEO Steve Skinner said. "He is one of the most talented architects of his generation with a unique ability to design golf courses that are visually appealing, challenging, and great fun to play. I know the whole golf world will be excited to see what he creates on some of our best property at the resort."

The new golf course name and timeline for completion have yet to be determined.

RELATED: Design Notes archive

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