The First Call’s Scorecard, a compilation of the golf industry’s news for July 8-14, 2023.
BUSINESS
▪️OnCore Golf, Black Girls Golf: Partnering to increase diversity and inclusivity in the golf industry by providing more opportunities for Black females. … NCAA: Spikemark Golf will become the provider for all golf scoring and ranking services utilized by the Association beginning with the 2023-24 season. Spikemark will transition into the service role previously provided by Golfstat. Spikemark provides a new website and mobile app that includes tournament scoring, real-time leaderboards, detailed statistics, in-depth analytics and media through its platform. … V1 Sports: Partners with 21 Golf Range in Palisades Park, New Jersey, to offer mobile on-demand instruction and swing analysis tools directly to instructors and players. Beginning this month, V1 Sports is integrating into all instruction operations at 21 Golf Range through the V1 Golf and V1 Pro mobile apps. … NBC Sports, American Century Investments: Announce a six-year extension of the American Century Championship through 2029, the tournament's 40th anniversary. Owned, operated and produced by NBC Sports, this year's event will play out July 14-16 at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course in Stateline, Nevada. … GCSAA: Launches Women's Leadership Academy, Nov. 7-9 in Lawrence, Kansas, to provide women in the turfgrass industry with education, mentoring and networking. … Golf Nation: Premiere 'Three Courses,’ a series that features hosts Gabi Powel and Hannah Leiner needling each other during rounds of golf, then highlighting local eats and cocktails to drink. … Golftec Enterprises, Spark Golf: Announce partnership that will connect the Golftec, SkyTrak and Spark Golf communities, providing game improvement and entertainment opportunities to engage golfers nationwide. … Breezy Golf, Five Iron Golf: Partner to launch the Breezy Lounge, a sports bar and lounge experience to open at Five Iron Golf’s Herald Square location in New York City this fall. … NBC Sports Next, KemperSports: Extend decade-long golf tee-time distribution and technology agreement that will provide KemperSports-managed golf courses with a variety of tools to increase exposure and generate revenue.
COURSES / COMPETITION
▪️Bonita Bay Club: Naples, Florida, club upgrade facilities, including the Sabal Course, Naples Clubhouse, practice facilities and the addition of two golf performance centers. … Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational: LPGA tournament is set for July 19-22 at Midland Country Club in Midland, Michigan, and will feature the return of Jane Park to LPGA competition. … Boyne Golf: Petoskey, Michigan, golf resort — spanning 10 courses and three resort properties — is upgrading with more responsible and sustainable methods on and off the course. … Hudson National GC: Fazio Design will modernize its 1996 design of the Croton on Hudson, New York, course with new greens, more strategic bunkering, a lifecycle replacement of the entire irrigation system and improved fairways. … Audubon International: Bandon Dunes' Sheep Ranch gains ACSP for Golf certification. … Hilton Head Golf Island: Booking now for fall golf getaways offered by The Sea Pines Resort, Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort and Heritage Golf Collection.
PEOPLE
▪️SkyTrak: John Decastro appointed senior vice president of product development. … SwingU: Ambassador Austin Hitt earns Korn Ferry Tour card after finishing in the top five of the PGA Tour Latinoamerica’s Totalplay Cup standings.
GEAR
▪️Ahead: Expanded AeroSphere tech headwear collection, available for spring/summer 2024, introduces the extreme fit Kall & XL fit Kald, offered in four colors, and the rope-style Alto, offered in six color combos. … Nippon Shaft: Allisen Corpuz won the U.S. Women's Open while playing the brand's N.S.Pro Modus3 105 S flex shafts in her irons and wedges. Corpuz, 25, shot a 9-under-par 279 score to win her first title on the LPGA Tour. She was also the first American to win the championship since 2016. … Club Champion: Fitting appointments booked through July 17 and completed by Sept. 30 will receive a $200 credit toward a golf club purchase of $500 or more.