Golf's ever-changing landscape
+ Mike Purkey seeks answers in 'The Starter'; Iowa businessman follows his passion; 'Bookmarked' takes a look at the brilliance of Lorne Michaels and Bob Uecker.
THE STARTER
🏌️ Tiger Woods’ team, Jupiter Golf Links, got royally thumped, 12-1 by L.A. Golf Club in the second TGL simulator match. Did that help or hurt TGL?
🏌️ Viewership increased for the second TGL match. But that was the Woods factor. Are you through watching or are you going to hang in there with it?
🏌️ It appeared that most players in the TGL match were hitting their simulator iron shots disturbingly long. That couldn’t be just adrenaline, could it?
🏌️ Why is some golf media covering TGL like it’s serious competition. Seriously?
🏌️ Xander Schauffele withdrew from the American Express for an unspecified medical reason. Chronic fatigue from playing easy courses?
🏌️ Nick Taylor chipped in for eagle on the 72nd hole and went on to win the playoff at the Sony Open in Hawaii. Did you see it or were you watching football?
🏌️ Sergio Garcia paid 1 million euros in fines to be eligible for the 2025 Ryder Cup. Will that be wasted money or does he have a chance to be a captain’s pick?
🏌️ The (London) Telegraph reported that Garcia, Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter are ineligible to be Ryder Cup captain. Will the Europeans recycle old captains or will they trust their fortunes to, say, the Molinari brothers?
🏌️ Jon Rahm said at the Dubai Desert Classic that he believes “we’re living in a golden era right now for golf where the possibilities are endless.” Taking the high road or whistling past the graveyard?
:: Mike Purkey
FEATURES
TGL's unlikely rising stars
Indoor simulator league is long on high-tech and star power, but the real attraction may be watching golf’s finest player navigate fantasy golf holes designed by high-profile course architects.
:: Gary Van Sickle | Read
‘I had to at least give it a go’
Iowa-based Jared Doerfler left a good job to start his own business, Hanna Golf, building putters. It hasn’t been an easy shift, but his new company is gradually gaining a solid reputation.
:: Tony Dear | Read
TGL — boom or bust?
Now that the highly anticipated TGL has launched, readers of The First Call offer their early opinions — likes and dislikes — of the indoor simulator league that was co-founded by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy.
:: TFC Inbox | Read
BOOKMARKED
Good reads — and listens — that are sometimes about golf, but not always.
📖 Meet the Texans who run 100 miles with alligators in Brazos Bend
One of the state’s biggest ultramarathons, the Brazos Bend 100, is not for the faint of heart.
:: Emma Brocato | Texas Monthly | 01.16.2025 | Read
📖 Lorne Michaels is the real star of ‘Saturday Night Live’
He’s ruled with absolute power for five decades, forever adding to his list of oracular pronouncements — about producing TV, making comedy, and living the good life.
:: Susan Morrison | The New Yorker | 01.13.2025 | Read
📖 Milwaukee’s best: A tribute to the humor and humanity of Bob Uecker
Some people may actually remember him from his playing days. Others from his role in the movie ‘Major League’ or Miller Lite commercials. Or maybe just as the longtime voice of the Brewers. He was a legend, for sure.
:: Tyler Kepner | The Athletic | 01.16.2025 | Read
THE LIBRARY
Recent drops to The First Call’s video and podcast section.
▶️ Merchandising mastery and mentorship
Grace Hurley, vice president of brand and national sales at Catapult, joins host Mo Gesualdi to discuss leadership, branding and navigating a career in golf.
:: The Coach Mo Golf Show | 01.12.2025 | Watch
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
If golf shoes could talk, these would purrrr!
:: 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.
Francis Biondi, founder of Beyond Golf Performance in Austin, Texas: “Being in Austin, a lot of courses here serve tacos now, so I like a good taco or a brisket sandwich after the round.”
:: Alex Lauzon | Co-host of “Course of Life” podcast
TFC EVENTS
The Friars Golf Club: Kentucky Bourbon & Horses
April 22-27, 2025 | Louisville / Lexington, Kentucky
:: Event and registration information
ARCHITECTURE
DESIGN NOTES
Fazio Design’s Tom Marzolf reopens Sabal at Bonita Bay
Bonita Bay Club’s Naples campus has unveiled its most recent upgrades, and a series of master plan improvements are now complete.
Following the reopening of the renovated Sabal golf course on Dec. 2 and the completely rebuilt clubhouse, the prestigious southwest Florida private club continues its ongoing quest for excellence.
Since 2022, the club has renovated two courses and the 14-acre golf practice facility, built two new golf performance centers and replaced the Naples clubhouse.
RELATED: This week’s Design Notes in full
The Sabal course underwent a $16.5 million renovation that touched on all golf features, from drainage to greens. Led by Fazio Design senior associate Tom Marzolf, the renovation took 16 months to complete. In 2022, Bonita Bay Club concluded a renovation on the Cypress golf course, also located on the Naples campus.
Bordering on a wildlife preserve, Sabal is a member-friendly golf course featuring five par 5s and five par 3s, offering a different playing experience than the Cypress course. Renovated in 2022, the Cypress course was recognized as Renovation of the Year (Private Club category) by Golf Inc.
Marzolf completed the recent work on the Sabal course in conjunction with builder Close Golf. Fazio Design, spearheaded by Tom Fazio and Marzolf, opened Sabal in 1998. Marzolf and Close Golf dug new lakes to create sufficient fill to raise the golf course by more than a foot and a half to improve the drainage. The team also installed 450 catch basins with intricate French drain lines to further assist drainage in the playable areas.
The Sabal course is home to multiple large lakes and protected wetlands that house a variety of wildlife. Among the fauna are Florida panthers, wading birds, alligators, deer, wild turkeys and black bears.
"The Sabal course is a short and sporty fun challenge that has become a member favorite at Bonita Bay Club," Marzolf said.
The newly rebuilt Naples clubhouse, carried out by D. Garrett Construction and AM Design Group, now features a sleek, open design with expansive glass walls offering handsome vistas of the surrounding landscapes and the 18th holes of the Cypress and Sabal courses. The expansive views of the two finishing golf holes were achieved with a 17-degree rotation of the clubhouse.
"The recent renovation of the golf courses and the clubhouse put an exclamation mark on the investments the club has made to enhance the Naples campus," said Fred Fung, Bonita Bay Club’s CEO and general manager. "It is all about maximizing our members’ experiences and enjoyment levels. We are confident these dramatic upgrades have accomplished these goals."
RELATED: Design Notes archive
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Jon Rahm is delirious!! This the age of money grubbers who only care about their self importance!!
For pros like him, it is the "golden" age in that top level pros like him are raking in more "gold" than they ever have before, even at a time when their product is losing viewership. This would suggest that the "golden" age won't last forever. Better grab it while they can!