LIV Golf Goes Live, Do You Care?
+ Golf's Billion Dollar Man Without a LIV Golf Deal
ON THE TEE
🏌️ LIV Golf kicked off its first tournament on Thursday outside London with few fans and fewer of the game’s top players. Did it seem underwhelming?
🏌️ PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan suspended 17 Tour players who played in the LIV Golf event. Was it the right thing?
🏌️ Golf Channel’s Brandel Chamblee thinks LIV Golf is going to ruin the professional game. Is it?
🏌️ Very few logos on the shirts of the LIV players, especially the Americans. Are you surprised?
🏌️ Rocket Mortgage dumped Bryson DeChambeau before he ever hit a shot in an LIV event. Do you blame them?
🏌️ LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman has his attorneys poised for a legal fight with the PGA Tour. Which side are you betting on?
🏌️ USGA CEO Mike Whan said the LIV players are welcome at next week’s U.S. Open at Brookline. Should they be?
🏌️ In the meantime, the PGA Tour goes on and the RBC Canadian Open is being played for the first time since 2019 because of COVID restrictions in Canada. Is anyone paying attention?
🏌️ Is all this fuss more important to the media than it is to the average golf fan?
:: Mike Purkey
FEATURES
LIV Golf: To watch or not to watch?
Readers of The First Call have strong opinions regarding their interest in LIV Golf, which is quickly become a rival to the PGA Tour by signing marquee players
:: The First Call Readers | Read
Editor’s take: Since The First Call began the question of the week section earlier this year, no question has prompted as much feedback as this one regarding LIV Golf. Like a lot of issues these days, there appears to be a line drawn in the sand with fans. Will that remain the case if or when LIV Golf becomes more established remains to be see, but this has all the makings of the AFL vs. NFL and, to a lesser extent, the ABA vs. NBA rivalries in the 1960s and 1970s, respectively.
:: Stuart Hall
Tiger Woods achieves new status — billionaire
According to Forbes, the 15-time major champion's net worth is now estimated to be at least $1 billion, joining LeBron James and Michael Jordan in the 10-digit club among athletes
:: Stuart Hall | Read
Q&A: Brittany Bomar | Bomar Putting Co. / CEO
Once Brittany Bomar started side-saddle putting at age 10 and was successful, she was hooked. Today, the putter manufacturer CEO seeks to show others the benefits of the unorthodox method
:: Mike Purkey | Read
BOOKMARKED
Good reads that are mainly about golf, but not always …
📖 Battle for control of World Tour won by Finchem, PGA
:: Ron Sirak | Associated Press (via L.A. Times) | 11.09.1997
📖 The Shark is on the attack again
:: Kent Babb | Washington Post | 06.05.2022
📖 Two fathers
:: Mitch Moxley | Esquire | 06.02.2022
📖 Just how important is eye contact between musicians? And what does it signal?
:: Ariane Todes | BBC Music Magazine | 05.27.2022
DESIGN NOTES
Gil Hanse taking Oakmont back to the future
Oakmont Country Club outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is a true American original, home to perhaps the most historic golf course in the United States.
Gil Hanse and his team at Hanse Golf Course Design aim to keep it that way. In late May, The Fried Egg website reported that Hanse has completed a master plan that proposes to restore Oakmont’s bunkers to a style and purpose that more closely hews to the intentions of Henry Fownes, the original course architect.
Also on tap are improving drainage, expanding green surfaces to their original sizes and modifying existing bunkers, and adding others in order to discourage or eliminate the “cross-country” alternate routes that long-hitting competitors were utilizing during the 2021 U.S. Amateur.
For instance, Hanse plans on rebuilding the “hook bunker” between the 10th and 11th holes and adding another bunker in attempt to dissuade players from subverting the original design intent of the holes by hitting purposely into an adjacent fairway. Hanse will relocate many bunkers so that Oakmont will stay relevant for today’s heavy hitters.
He anticipates that the part renovation/part restoration will make the golf course more playable for members, but more difficult for tournament competitors. Already host to a record nine U.S. Opens, Oakmont will four additional U.S. Opens between 2025 and 2049. The golf course will remain open during the construction period, which is expected to span from spring 2023 to spring 2024.
⛳️ Of note: Sanford Ferris seeks to rescue Cavalry Club; Jim Urbina aims to recapture MacKenzie’s magic at Pasatiempo; Tripp Davis completes bunker renovation at Pursell Farms
RELATED: Design Notes archive
HOME FRONT
Costa Palmas | Los Cabos, MX
Listing: Beach Club Casita 8
Stats: Interior, 7,295 square feet; exterior, 1,960 square feet. 5 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms.
Price: $14.95 million.
About: One of only eight Beach Club Casitas, this custom residence is timeless and modern in its design. The light-filled Casita offers a comfortable living and dining area with floor-to-ceiling windows and a relaxing patio that encourages seamless living onto the main-level patio area. On the lower floor, the indoor/outdoor living area is complemented by an open-air dining space, grill station, pool and lounge seating. The interior design pulls from the lush and open environment. while The finishes inspired materials and warm Baja colors with textural light oak wood and the ocean-blue washed linens are soft yet strong.
The residence is part of a 1,500-acre private beachfront resort community 45 minutes from Los Cabos International Airport on the East Cape of the Baja Peninsula. Home to Four Seasons Los Cabos and Amanvari — the brands’ first in Cabo — Costa Palmas blends luxury hospitality and residential offerings together on an international marina among organic farms. Thoughtfully designed along a 2-mile stretch of swimmable beach, the community features the Robert Trent Jones II-designed Costa Palmas Golf Club, which also includes 18 acres of orchards and farms, and its own beach and yacht club.
RELATED: Home Front archive
NAMES | NEWS | NUMBERS
BUSINESS
▪️PGA Buying and Education Summit [July 11-12, JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort and Spa, Las Vegas] to preview the latest from apparel, accessories and golf lifestyle companies. … Soul Machines, Nicklaus Companies debut a digital twin of Jack Nicklaus to engage with fans and brands. … Lohla Sport launches a Junior Ambassador Program to identify pre-teen and early-teen girls who excel at golf, community service and academics. … Troon is celebrating Women’s Golf Month in June by hosting introductory golf clinics, events and creative playing opportunities. … PGA of Canada (Ottawa Zone) announces Srixon/Cleveland Golf Canada as title sponsor for the Zone Championship [Aug. 7-8, Loyalist G and CC, Bath, Ontario]. … PXG opens PXG Denver, its first retail location in Colorado and 16th retail store nationally. … PopStroke Entertainment Group, co-owned by Greg Bartoli and Tiger Woods’ TGR Ventures, to open its PopStroke Orlando location on June 13. PopStroke is a technology-infused golf entertainment venue featuring two TGR Design 18-hole putting courses … USGA breaks ground on Golf House Pinehurst [Village of Pinehurst, North Carolina]. The 6-acre campus will include an equipment-testing facility and a visitor-friendly USGA Experience. The campus is to be completed by the end of 2023. … Cutalong at Lake Anna, a master-planned private golf community northwest of Richmond, Virginia, hires Buffalo Agency to create a comprehensive public relations program. … Malcolm DeMille designs trophy for Secession GC [Bluffton, South Carolina]. The cast white bronze trophy features the club's iconic cannon surrounded by bushes and a flag pole flying United States, South Carolina and Secession Club flags. … LPGA Tour and Dow announce the "Celebrating the Green" digital hub, a continuation of Dow's commitment to sustainability and the fight against climate change. … Women's Golf Day celebrated worldwide on June 7. The organization's hashtag #womensgolfday reached 79.1 million unique users, generated 94 million impressions and saw a 501% increase in engagement across social channels compared to last year
CHARITABLE
▪️Members of Belfair, a private Bluffton, South Carolina, community, donate $155,600 to 17 local nonprofits and charity organizations. … LIV Golf contributes £1M to support non-profit organizations serving underrepresented communities across the Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire, England counties.
CLUBS | COURSES | DESTINATIONS
▪️Course architect Agustin Piza to restore Tijuana CC [Tijuana, Mexico] to its original William P. Bell design. … Capstone Hospitality to create and lead new membership and marketing initiatives for James River CC [Newport News, Virginia]. … LPGA announces the Jack Nicklaus Signature Course at The Club at Carlton Woods [Houston, Texas] as the venue for the 2023 Chevron Championship. … The Wigwam [Litchfield Park, Arizona] is named to the 2022 Top 25 Historic Hotels of America’s Most Historic Golf Courses list. … The Cape Club acquires The Fox Club Florida [Palm City, Florida]. … Arcis Golf acquires Four Bridges CC [Liberty Township, Ohio] and is its ninth club acquisition in less than a year.
COMPETITION
▪️The R&A receives a record number of entries for the 127th British Amateur [June 13-18, Royal Lytham and St. Annes and St. Annes Old Links]. The championship attracted 585 entries, an increase of 32% on the previous entries record set in 2017. … On Course Foundation member Chad Pfeifer qualifies for the U.S. Adaptive Open Championship [July 18-20, Pinehurst Resort and CC]. … The PGA Tour Latinoamerica announces the 2022 Totalplay Cup bonus pool, which will be $100,000 split among the top 10 players at season’s end. Also, the Bupa Tour Championship will have its purse increased to a minimum U.S. payout of $200,000. … Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give [June 16-19, Belmont, Michigan] gives sponsor exemptions to collegiate golfers Valery Plata and Natasha Andrea Oon, along with John Shippen National Invitational winner Sadena Parks.
GEAR
▪️Rain or Shine Golf introduces its simDIY brand, which helps consumers build custom at-home simulators and offers DIY golf simulators, guides, products and tools. … Radmor unveils men’s and women’s apparel additions to its 2022 collections. … Fujikura wins shaft counts at U.S. Women's Open; Ventus driver shaft played in PGA, DP World tour victories. … Whiskers reports that nearly 50 players and caddies are wearing its myriad colors and patterns on the PGA Tour. … The PGTAA publishes a list of Father's Day gift ideas. … Vokey Wedgeworks launches its 2022 T Grind wedges that are available in 58° and 60° lofts and with custom options. The wedges retail for $225.
PEOPLE
▪️The United States finalizes its roster for the PGA Cup [Sept. 12-18, Foxhills Club and Resort in Surrey, England]. The roster includes Jesse Mueller, Alex Beach, Frank Bensel Jr., Michael Block, Larkin Gross, Jared Jones, Ben Polland, Omar Uresti, Ryan Vermeer and Wyatt Worthington II. … Princeville Makai GC [Kauai, Hawaii] names Michael Neider as general manager. … Team Troon adds LPGA player Yealimi Noh, currently ranked 60th in the Rolex Women's World Golf Player Rankings, to its team of tour ambassadors. … GolfForever signs PGA Tour veteran Ryan Palmer as a brand ambassador. … The USGA announces that 12 players have earned exemptions into this week's U.S. Open, based on the current Official World Golf Ranking or the four-event U.S. Open European Qualifying Series. The 12 players are Aaron Wise, Luke List, Victor Perez, Ryan Fox, Thorbjorn Olesen, Sam Horsfield, Sebastian Soderberg, Kalle Samooja, Wil Besseling, Yannik Paul, Richard Mansell and Marcel Schneider. … USA Solheim Cup Captain Stacy Lewis selects Natalie Gulbis as assistant captain for the 2023 American squad. Gulbis was a three-time member of Team USA (2005, 2007, 2009) and compiled a 5-4-1 record.
THE STYLE LINKS
Stitch Golf has started a new program called M.I.Y. — Make It Yours. It allows customers to customize products by selecting colors and adding personalization, such as initials. The first M.I.Y. featured product is the brand’s best-selling SL1 golf bag.
:: Janice Ferguson | IG: @janiceferguson_thestylelinks
THE GOOD LIFE
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