The First Call’s Scorecard, a compilation of the golf industry’s news for December 2-8.
BUSINESS
▪️Golf Datatech: High levels remain for rounds played in U.S. despite rounds played being down 1% for October 2023. Figures are still up 3.3% year to date when compared to October 2022. … Golf Live: Company develops a membership program, Golf Live Corporate Elite, ideally suited for sales and marketing departments that have direct interaction with golf-playing clients and suppliers. … Rosewood Hotels & Resorts: Effective immediately, the company will operate all three Robertson Lodge properties in New Zealand — Rosewood Kauri Cliffs in Matauri Bay, Rosewood Cape Kidnappers in Hawke’s Bay, and Rosewood Matakauri in Queenstown. As a result, Rosewood will handle accommodations as part of stay-and-play packages with Cape Kidnappers and Kauri Cliffs golf clubs. … Golfzon Range by Leadbetter: Indoor golf training to open a second location in Westbury, New York, in 2024. The facility will feature 18 GDR+ simulators, a Puttview interactive putting green and coaching from Leadbetter instructors. … Putts & Pins: Bar and restaurant opens in West Des Moines, Iowa, and features two interactive mini golf courses, four duckpin bowling lanes and a full arcade with billiards, shuffleboard, vintage arcade games and TVs. … Ace Indoor Golf, Yardstick Golf: Reid Colson, founder of Yardstick Golf, will host a webinar Q&A about simulators with Ace Indoor Golf co-owner Joe Neumeyer and president Trevor Faust on Dec. 14. … Gather Voices: Company will collaborate with Reed Exhibitions to enable participating brands and attendees to share their PGA Show experiences and product highlights in an engaging way at the annual Orlando, Florida, show in January. … CGX: West Coast Exposure Camp is set for The Links at Lakehouse in San Marcos, California, Jan. 6-7. The College Golf Experience Camp is headlined by U.S. Open champion Scott Simpson and former PGA/LPGA Tour players, and will provide education on college golf and the recruiting process.
COURSES
▪️St. Joe Company: Announces the construction of another Watersound Club course in Watersound, Florida. The new course will be named The Third, and will be designed by Love Golf Design founders Davis Love III, Mark Love and Scot Sherman. The par-72 design will feature six sets of tees, allowing golfers to adjust the course distance to play from 4,900 yards to over 7,600 yards. … Indian Wells Golf Resort: To host the 2023 Troon Challenge National Finals, Dec. 15-17 in Indian Wells, California. The field features 68 two-person teams representing nine states that will compete in both net and gross divisions. … Grass Clippings at Rolling Hills: The Tempe facility becomes Arizona’s first fully lit golf course with more than 78 LED lights illuminating the course. … T36 at Baytown: Double-loop, 18-hole golf course in Baytown, Texas, to open for public play on Dec. 13. It’s a first-of-its-kind course that wraps two loops through nine common fairways connected to two separate green complexes.
GEAR
▪️Nippon Shaft: Scottie Scheffler won the Hero World Challenge by using the N.S. Pro Modus3 Hybrid Tour X-flex shaft in his utility iron, while Ashleigh Buhai won the Australian Women’s Open using the N.S. Pro 950GH neo steel shafts in her wedges and N.S. Pro 950GH shafts in her wedges. … PXG: Launches its 2024 Aloha apparel, accessories capsule collection. The nine-piece release features styles detailed with Americana-inspired Hawaiian floral print in red, white and blue, and pays tribute to Hawaii. … SuperStroke: Adds 18 NFL team grips to its officially licensed collection. All 32 NFL team logos are now available in SuperStroke putter and club grips, which come in the Tour 2.0 design. … GolfTrainingAids.com, Mullybox: Partner on a new golf subscription box. The quarterly performance-focused box, The Golf Performance Club, promises game improvement at an affordable price.
PEOPLE
▪️National Golf Course Owners Association: Announces winners of the association’s annual awards, which will be presented throughout NGCOA’s Golf Business Conference 2024, Jan. 22-24 in Orlando, Florida. Winners included: Northampton Country Club (Leeds, Massachusetts), Jemsek National Course of the Year Award; Matt Galvin, president and CEO, Morningstar Golf & Hospitality, Don Rossi Award — given for significant and long-lasting contribution to the NGCOA; Maple Hill Golf Course (Grandville, Michigan) and Harborside International Golf Center (Chicago, Illinois), the Player Development Award. … PGA of America: Ty Day, director of club operations and general manager at Safari Golf Club in Powell, Ohio, earns his PGA Master Professional designation. … Golf Tourism Solutions: Hires Ryan Cannon as executive director for the agency responsible for promoting Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, as a golf destination. Cannon, who will begin his tenure at GTS on Jan. 2, will develop and operationalize the organization’s strategy at the direction of the Board of Directors while serving as the lead advocate for the Myrtle Beach area golf industry. … GCSAA: Wayne Mills, superintendent at La Cumbre Country Club in Santa Barbara, California, receives the President’s Award for Environmental Stewardship. … Pro Golf Weekly: Names Len Ziehm as a senior writer who will provide regular contributions about the PGA Tour, LIV Golf and LPGA. … Power Tee: Appoints Jon Sjostrom to VP of sales. Sjostrom previously worked for SmartTarget.golf, Ellwee AB and Range Servant. … Concert Golf Partners: CEO Peter Nanula listed in the top 10 of Golf Inc.’s annual Most Powerful People in Golf list.
PGA SHOW
▪️Golf Pitch Challenge: Innovators will be able to pitch concepts and showcase products during the inaugural event, Jan. 25 at the PGA Show in Orlando, Florida. … ParOne: Creates MediaHUB for PGA Show. The golf technology company's creation will facilitate media access and workflow of video content surrounding the Orlando, Florida, show.
COMPETITION
▪️PGA of America: Stephanie Connelly-Eiswerth became the first woman to win a PGA Tournament Series event in its 46-year history. … World Champions Cup: ISPS Handa All-Abilities Competition is set for Dec. 7-8. The event will showcase top players in the World Ranking for Golfers with Disability and will mirror the World Champions Cup format by featuring international, European and U.S. teams. … The American Express: Sixty-fifth edition of PGA Tour event returns to the Coachella Valley in California, Jan. 18-21. Patrick Cantlay, Xander Schauffele, Tom Kim and Tony Finau are early commits to return. … Farmers Insurance Open: Marcus Byrd receives a sponsor’s exemption and continues the tradition of Farmers Insurance and APGA Tour growing diversity in golf.