The First Call’s Scorecard, a compilation of the golf industry’s news for February 18-24, 2023.
Youth on Course, Malbon: Announce design competition
Me & Buckets design contest will inspire authenticity through art; participants will transform Malbon’s Buckets logo into art representing their own personality and uniqueness
Global Value Commerce: Expands focus on proactive sustainability
Re-commerce platform launches Second Chance, a section that gives consumers access to gently used inventory, sales representative samples, customer returns and more
Discover Puerto Rico: Unveils results of visitors profile study
Island scores high marks with business and leisure guests; golf, beaches, culture and gastronomy contribute to satisfaction and intention to return
Legendary Publishing & Media Group: Publishes book on New Jersey golf
'Remarkable Stories of New Jersey Golf,' written by Kevin Casey, is available for online purchase and tells the 130-year history of golf in the Garden State
Grail: Raising awareness of multi-cancer early detection
Healthcare company teams up with professional golfers David Duval and Juli Inkster to encourage awareness of first-of-its-kind Galleri Multi-Cancer Early Detection Blood Test
DeWiz: Continues tournament swing data capture as pros gain new insight
Wearable tech captures comprehensive swing data, providing a new layer of understanding of the swing and the ability to monitor consistency from anywhere
Austin Country Club: Unveils newly renovated clubhouse
The $5 million clubhouse renovation project began in September 2020 and addressed many areas of the facility, including dining, retail and event space
Epson Tour: Introduces the inaugural Champions Fore Change Invitational, which will be held May 29-June 4 at Taberna Country Club in New Bern, North Carolina.
True Blue Golf Club: Pawleys Island, South Carolina, course will host a Barstool Classic event on March 6. The Barstool Classic is a series of 25 events held across the country. The top-four finishers in the two-man, better-ball format will to the Barstool Classic Championship and have the opportunity to win $10,000.
LPGA, Pacira BioSciences: Announce a multiyear agreement that makes Pacira’s Iovera the Tour's official non-opioid pain management partner and sponsor of the LPGA's fitness trailer. Pacira will host awareness and education initiatives at various LPGA tournaments throughout the season.
LIV Golf: Launches LIV Golf Plus and LIVGolfPlus.com, the league’s new app and global streaming site that enables viewers to watch live and on-demand coverage of the 2023 LIV Golf League, which debuts Feb. 24-26 in Mayakoba, Mexico. LIV Golf Plus is now available free to download on iOS, Android, Apple TV and FireTV. Broadcasts will also be available on LIVGolfPlus.com.
Global Golf Post: Launches newsletter aimed at women golfers
Golf news brand launching GGPWomen, a subscription-based publication that will be published three times a week
Malcolm DeMille: Creates champion medal for Showcase
Texas Tech's Jack Wall won the Genesis Invitational Collegiate Showcase and earned medal handcrafted out of antique polished nickel
Tour Edge: Bernhard Langer ties all-time PGA Tour Champions record
Brand ambassador wins the Chubb Classic to tie for most wins on Tour's at 45; Tour Edge notches its 21st victory on the PGA Tours since 2018
Drop Not Golf: Attracts global attention, sales at 2023 PGA Show
Company reports that Drop Not headcover accessory was purchased by attendees representing clubs and organizations from Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States
SwingU: Mark Blackburn joins as client, brand ambassador
The CEO of Blackburn Golf Academy and director of instruction at Greystone Golf and Country Club in Birmingham, Alabama will aid students through SwingU Coach's statistical reporting
Tour Edge: New lines earn 8 2023 Golf Digest Hot List awards
Exotics 723 series received seven of the annual golf equipment awards, while the Hot Launch 523 series earned one; over the past six seasons Tour Edge has earned 36 of the awards
Teesnap: Publishes article on raising phone rates in 2023
Post makes case for golf courses raising tee time rates for those booking by phone, highlights potential benefits of raising phone rates and addresses common concerns
8AM Golf: 2nd Bridges Cup slated for Les Bordes Golf Club
Elite mid-amateur event will feature 12-player teams from the U.S. and Europe squaring off in Ryder Cup-style competition, April 27-30 at French golf club
Hurricane Junior Golf Tour, Perfect Hands Golf: Announce partnership
Collaboration is designed to help junior golfers accelerate their player development levels with the patent-pending PHG system
KemperSports: Chosen to manage Lake of Isles
Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation selects company to manage the Rees Jones-designed 36-hole facility in North Stonington, Connecticut
Stewart Golf: Releases 2023 R1-S Push golf trolley
Upgrades include improved durability, performance and a new color option; features self-adjusting silicone bag cradle, quick release wheels and anti-rotation silicon bungees
Troon: The Fountaingrove Club welcomes new general manager
Eric VanderWerff assumes GM and COO roles for the Santa Rosa, California club
Golftec: Welcomes Joe Hooks as brand ambassador
Hooks, who turned pro in 2018, currently plays on the Advocates Professional Golf Association Tour
Wilson Golf: Notah Begay III to play Staff Model golf ball
Expanded Wilson partnership includes golf ball endorsement and sponsorship renewal of the NB3 Junior National Golf Championship
World Golf Hall of Fame: Announces finalists for 2024 Induction Class
Final selections will be announced the week of March 6; 12 finalists were selected by a nominating committee
Golf Datatech: External factors hit January golf equipment sales
Total equipment sales were down 12.9% for January; distance devices and shoes feel the most impact
Club Champion: Opens stores in 3 new markets
Clubfitter continues growth with stores opening in Destin and Fort Myers, Florida, and Westlake, Ohio, in first quarter of 2023
Golfzon, Troon: Partner to open Golfzon Social in New York
Indoor golf entertainment venue opened Feb. 21 in West Nyack, New York; features include a chef-driven menu, full bar and 22 TwoVision simulator bays
LPGA: Announces a multiyear partnership making Goodr, a performance eyewear maker, an official licensee of the Tour. The partnership includes on-site tournament activation with a dedicated fan experiential space.
PGA Tour: Announces a new five-year partnership with Pacific Life, a global life insurance and retirement solutions company, through 2027. Pacific Life will amplify its brand via broadcast and online advertising through multiple Tour-owned media platforms, and will support various tournaments on the schedule.
USGA: Online entry applications are available for the 123rd U.S. Open, scheduled for June 15-18 on The Los Angeles Country Club’s North Course in Los Angeles, California. Non-exempt players will compete in one of 109 local qualifiers hosted throughout the United States (with one in Canada) between April 17 and May 22. Nearly 1,000 players will then compete in final qualifying, scheduled at 13 sites worldwide May 16 through June 5.
LPGA: In Gee Chun, Lizette Salas and Mariah Stackhouse are finalists for the LPGA Velocity Global Impact Award, which celebrates players who have helped to grow golf and inspire the next generation of athletes through their actions. Fans will be able to vote at LPGA.com through March 6, and the winner will be announced on International Women’s Day on March 8. The winner of the award and her charity of choice will each receive $100,000.
Annika Foundation: To begin its 2023 Share My Passion clinic series with Annika Sorenstam on Wednesday, March 8, at Sawgrass Country Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Along with The First Tee of Northern Florida and the North Florida Junior Golf Foundation, the Foundation will invite 50 girls between the ages of six and 14 to participate in a clinic that will feature instructional stations and sessions with Sorenstam., followed by a photo and autograph session. Then, the groups will rotate through stations taught by local instructors covering the fundamentals of driving, putting and the importance of fitness.