The First Call’s Scorecard, a compilation of the golf industry’s news for October 7-13, 2023.
BUSINESS
▪️PGA of America: VendorMatch expands sourcing opportunities for the 2025 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina. Local and diverse suppliers can register through Nov. 2, 2023, for opportunities across nine categories. … Arcis Golf: Acquires Champions Retreat Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. Golf facility owner and operator will assume operations of the 27-hole private club on Oct. 13, marking its 14th club acquisition in less than two years. … Audubon International: Adds new courses and resorts to its membership rolls. Nonprofit reports solid new enrollee growth in Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary for Golf Certification and Signature Sanctuary Certification tracks within the U.S. and internationally.
Kavooa Golf: Partners with Dr. Rick Sessinghaus
Training aid company partners with golf mental expert's FlowCode Golf Academy to enhance golf instruction and practicing
PGA of America: Offering short-term employment opportunities in 2024
Registration is open through Nov. 10 for entry-level positions at the PGA Championship, KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship and KPMG Women’s PGA Championship through PGA JobMatch
Bobby Jones Links: Kevin Frisch PR to manage golf media relations
Atlanta-based management solutions firm continues to expand its portfolio of select daily fee, private and semi-private clubs across the United States
COURSES / COMPETITION
▪️Rivers Edge GC: Myrtle Beach Area Golf Course Owners Association selects the Shallotte, North Carolina, club as the 2023 Golf Course of the Year. The Arnold Palmer design has been ranked among "America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses" by Golf Digest and succeeds Tidewater Golf Club as the MBAGCOA Course of the Year.
Hokuala Golf Adventures: Expands fall golf programming
Offerings on Kaua‘i, Hawaii, already include golf clinics, private lessons, FIT Golf, The First Tee, Operation 36 and Sunset Holoholo
LIV Golf: Roshn, a Saudi Arabia-based real estate developer, returns as presenting partner for LIV Golf’s regular-season finale, LIV Golf Jeddah, Oct. 13-15 at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club. LIV Golf and Roshn have committed to a series of initiatives aimed at improving Saudi communities through golf.
Hazeltine National GC: Named site for 2026 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship
Chaska, Minnesota, club to host its second KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and its fifth PGA of America championship
GEAR
▪️Bushnell Golf: Introduces its upgraded Launch Pro personal launch monitor, which was developed in partnership with Foresight Sports. The base model, which retails for $1,999, provides ball only data. The Launch Pro can be upgraded to also include club data for an additional $1,500 at the time of registration. In addition to club data, optional software packages are also available. … Sun Mountain: Introduces its Tour Series+ Rainwear Collection, which offers a jacket, long- and short-sleeve pullovers, and pant for men, and a jacket and pant for women. The Jackets offer waterproof zippers, two-way front zipper, adjustable waist, adjustable cuff, and zip-through comfort collar. The women’s jacket has the addition of a hood. The pant includes elastic side panels at the waist for comfort, silicon grip pattern inside the waistband, zippered rear pockets with storm flaps, deep leg zips, Velcro cinch system at leg opening, and a snap system at hem that shortens pants 2.5 inches. … Stewart Golf: Debuts its Nero golf bag, which is designed to fit electric golf caddies. The Nero includes a 14-club system with full-length dividers, an XL putter well, nine pockets and a padded shoulder strap. … Uneekor: Introduces its EVN More Golf! promotion, which features a $500 promotional code for use at Evnroll.com on select launch monitor purchases and debuts the Balance Optix aid as part of a new Performance Optix Bundle. The Balance Optix is included free of charge with purchase of the flagship Eye XO2 overhead launch monitor or Eye XO2 SimKit.
SuperStroke: Debuts Off the Truck series Zenergy 1.0P 17-inch putter grip
Developed with feedback from Tour players, the grip is an extended length offering with a shape characterized by a larger, flat front section and tapered, slimmer back section
PEOPLE
▪️Sacks Parente Golf: Appoints Scott White as its new Chief Operating Officer. White's primary responsibility of oversight will be the day-to-day business operations of the company, including managing SPG’s operations at its manufacturing facility in St. Joseph, Missouri. … TMRW Sports Group: Adds sports, media industry veterans to its front office, including Scott Levine as Chief Financial Officer. The latest hires bring expertise from NFL, NBA, MSG, PGA Tour, Vinik Sports Group, NBC, Turner, IMG, MLS, AEG and Kroenke Sports & Entertainment. … TMRW Sports Group: Adds players Keegan Bradley, Cam Young and Sahith Theegala to its TGL roster. Eleven of the current Official World Golf Ranking's top 20 players are now represented in the inaugural season, which begins in January 2024. … GCSAA: David Garrett named Grassroots Ambassador Leadership Award winner. The course superintendent at Walker Golf Course at Clemson (S.C.) University is honored for advocacy efforts, advancement of association priority issues and congressional outreach.
Ocean Club GC: The Bahamas club to host 20 collegiate teams
Atlantis Paradise Island will welcome men's and women's teams for the White Sands Bahamas NCAA Invitational, Oct. 19-22 and Oct. 26-29
PXG: Ambassadors Luke List and Paul Barjon win on PGA, Korn Ferry tours
List snags his second career title at the Sanderson Farms Championship, while Barjon wins the Korn Ferry Tour Championship and secures his 2024 PGA Tour card
True Spec: All fittings are $100 with any club purchase in October
Offer good at any True Spec location through the 31st
SuperStroke: Luke List plays Zenergy Flatso 2.0 putter grip for PGA Tour win
Second-time winner won the Sanderson Farms Championship in playoff