The First Call’s Scorecard, a compilation of the golf industry’s news for October 14-20, 2023.
BUSINESS
▪️TMRW Sports Group: TGL announces a San Francisco team ownership group that is led by Marc Lasry’s Avenue Sports Fund and NBA all-star Stephen Curry. … PGA Tour, DraftKings: Conducted a ceremonial ribbon cutting at the DraftKings Sportsbook at TPC Scottsdale on Oct. 19, with former Arizona Cardinals player Larry Fitzgerald placing the ceremonial first bet. The sportsbook will officially open to the public on Friday, Oct. 20. The 13,000 square-foot space includes state-of-the-art technology offering 32 betting kiosks, 3,400 square-feet of video walls and six ticket windows. … Golftec: Opens a 2,000-square-foot instruction, club fitting center in College Station, Texas. The facility features three indoor bays, powered by Tecswing and equipped with OptiMotion, an indoor putting green, and lessons enhanced by Tecputt. … Kavooa Golf: Training aid company partners with Proponent Group on marketing initiatives, education and instruction events, and providing distribution channels to golf instructors and students. … Tower Club Tysons Corner: Invited Clubs facility to host the 2023 Charity Classic Gala on Thursday, Oct. 26, from 5-9:30 p.m., in Vienna, Virginia. The event benefits the NFL Alumni Association and and Invited’s Employee Care Foundation. Since the program’s inception in 2007, Charity Classic events staged at properties owned and operated by Invited, have raised more than $30 million to support local charity partners. … Golf Tourism Solutions, PlayGolfMyrtleBeach.com: Partner with St. Andre Golf to produce a series of videos highlighting the benefits of a Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, golf trip. The videos will follow golf enthusiasts on their journeys, both on and off the golf course. St. Andre is an Atlanta-based sketch comedy group comprised of golf-loving comedians and actors lampooning every corner of the golf world. St. Andre Golf boasts more than 670,000 social media followers. … True Spec Tucson: Facility opens at The Club at Starr Pass and features outdoor fittings utilizing Foresight's GCQuad launch monitor. Fitting sessions range from $125 to $375. … NBC Sports Next: West Virginia State Parks partners with GolfNow. Golfers can now directly book tee times at Cacapon, Canaan Valley, Pipestem and Twin Falls through the GolfNow website, app.
COMPETITION / COURSES
▪️The Annika: Launches ‘Birdies for Babies’ initiative that will donate $50 for each birdie made during the LPGA tournament, Nov. 9-12, and $100 for every 30-foot putt made in the BayCare Long Putt Challenge. … The Peninsula Club: The Cornelius, North Carolina, club broke ground on an extensive golf course renovation project on Oct. 2. Led by Beau Welling Design, the project is set to be completed by October 2024 and will feature significant renovations to both the 18-hole championship golf course and other club facilities. … The Club at ArrowCreek: Reno, Nevada, club wins the 2023 Troon Cup on its home course. … TMRW Sports Group: Completes TGL committed player roster with the addition of Patrick Cantlay, Wyndham Clark, Lucas Glover, Min Woo Lee and Kevin Kisner. Inaugural TGL season in 2024 to include 13 of top 20 players currently in Official World Golf Ranking. … Hero World Challenge: Tiger Woods announces field for this year’s tournament in Albany, Bahamas, Nov. 30 – Dec. 3. The field will feature eight of the world’s current top 10 players. … The Annika: World No. 1 Lilia Vu commits to the LPGA event, Nov. 6-12 in Belleair, Florida. Two-time reigning champion Nelly Korda and major champion Lexi Thompson are also committed. … Troon CC: Sarah Gallagher wins the U.S. Senior Women's Amateur Championship at the Scottsdale, Arizona, club. … Bobby Jones Links: Bobby Jones Golf Club to host the WLD Championship, Oct. 18-22. The event will highlight the world's top long drivers and feature special clinics and activations for children, teens and women, and the local chapter of PGA HOPE. … World Champions Cup: Steven Alker, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Jerry Kelly are the first Chairman’s Selections for the tournament debuting Dec. 7-10 at The Concession Golf Club in Bradenton, Florida.
GEAR
▪️Nippon Shaft: Matthieu Pavon and Rod Pampling won the European Tour's Spanish Open and PGA Tour Champions' SAS Championship, respectively, while playing Nippon Shaft products. Pavon used the N.S.Pro Modus3 120 steel shafts in his irons and the N.S.Pro Modus3 Hybrid in his utility club. Pampling played the N.S.Pro Modus3 130 steel shafts in his irons. … SuperStroke: Tom Kim wins the Shriners Children’s Open for his third PGA Tour title. Kim, 21, used SuperStroke’s Zenergy Tour 1.0 putter grip. … Vice Golf, Nicklaus Companies: Partner to collaborate on a special edition Pro Bear release that will include Vice Pro Bear golf balls and will support the Play Yellow campaign.
MEDIA
▪️Pro Golf Weekly: To present 'Live from LIV Golf' at Trump National Doral. Golf media brand will have complete coverage of the LIV Golf Team Championship, Oct. 20-22.
PEOPLE
▪️Kinsale Golf Club: Names Mike Scully as its general manager / director of golf in advance of the North Naples, Florida, club's opening in fall 2024. Scully joins Kinsale from Streamsong Resort in Lakeland, Florida. … World Golf Hall of Fame: NBA star Stephen Curry to receive the Charlie Sifford Award for advancing diversity in golf through his Underrated Tour as part of the Induction Ceremony on June 10, 2024. … Landscapes Unlimited: Appoints Larry Barefield as senior project manager. … SwingU: Announces its September College Player of the Month Award recipients. Presented in partnership with the Golf Coaches Association of America, seven divisional winners were chosen.
PGA SHOW
▪️Uneekor: Golf simulator company will make its fifth successive appearance at the annual Orlando, Florida, show. … PGA Show: Show floor exhibits exceed 2023 event and include recognizable golf brands, manufacturers and emerging companies.
PHILANTHROPY
▪️Arcis Golf: Donates $25,000 to the Love Hope Strength Foundation. A benefit concert at River Place Country Club in Austin, Texas, supported the foundation's mission to save lives and the city's music community. … Princeville Makai GC: Raises $30k for Aloha Aina Collective. The charity golf tournament held on Oct. 7 supports the nonprofit programs that strengthen the health and relationships of Kauai, Hawaii.