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The First Call’s Scorecard, a compilation of the golf industry’s news for September 2-8, 2023.
BUSINESS
▪️EP Golf Ventures: Strategic investment partnership between Elysian Park Ventures and the PGA of America announces the completion of the first closing of its first investment fund, EP Golf Ventures Fund I. EP Golf Ventures invests in areas that add strategic value across the $102 billion golf industry and investors in Fund I include Topgolf Callaway Brands, Gametime Capital and several other institutions, individuals and investors across the sports, technology and media ecosystem.
COURSES / COMPETITIONS
▪️The Club at Skyline: Junior PGA Golf team achieves a No. 2 national ranking as the Tucson, Arizona, club team prepares for the PGA Junior Regional Championship.
GEAR
▪️Shot Scope: Unveils advanced full-course aerial maps designed exclusively for its laser rangefinders and GPS golf watches. The GPS mode allows current Shot Scope users to view an overhead map of the course during play, while the GPS distances update as the golfer moves around the course. The Preview mode allows golfers to view any course regardless of their location and access a bird’s eye view of every hole. This feature allows golfers to plan their round in advance of play and devise a strategy for optimal performance. … Honma Golf: Debuts its 65th anniversary Beres Lady Go, a beginner women’s 10-piece set that includes clubs from driver to putter, a matching cart bag, tote bag and shoes case. … PXG: Announces a new apparel collection comprised of 32 designs each for men and women. … Garsen Golf: Announces the addition of two new grips models to its popular Quad Tour line — the Quad Tour Pistol TPE and Quad Tour Pistol NT.
PEOPLE
▪️Trout National – The Reserve: Announces Ian Leggatt as GM, COO.
TMRW Sports Group: Steven A. Cohen acquires New York TGL team
Cohen Private Ventures secured rights for a TGL team representing New York and adding to MLB's New York Mets in Cohen’s sports portfolio
Ace Indoor Golf: Announces Uneekor 'Golf More' promotion
Through Sept. 31, consumers can save a minimum of $1,000 on a Uneekor launch monitor
Orca Golf: Debuts customized golf bags in time for holidays
Consumers can create tailor-made bags reflecting their personality, preferences and playing needs with a customization platform
Pro Golf Weekly: Names Alan Darty as publisher
Darty will post daily stories from a team of golf writers, produce a weekly newsletter and provide original content for all social media platforms
Creighton Farms: The 900-acre gated community located in Aldie, Virginia, ranked in the top 10 of Golf Digest’s Best in State Virginia rankings. The latest rankings saw Creighton Farms move up five places to 10th. Since its opening, Creighton Farms has consistently ranked in the top 20 of these rankings. In the 2019-20 rankings, the club also finished 10th.
Longitudes Group, Buffalo Groupe: Announce 2023 Golf Travel Report
Report delivers research on where golfers are going, how they are influenced to travel and provides golf industry stakeholders with insights on active golf consumers
Audubon International: Announces winners of 7th BioBlitz
Southwinds Golf Club receives the Community Engagement Award; Adrienne van den Beemt wins for Best Photograph; Harbour Ridge Yacht and Country Club earns Biodiversity Award
Club Champion: Celebrates annual Putter Fitting Month
Through Oct. 2, every Club Champion location will waive the putter fitting fee for any golfer who purchases a new putter or custom putter shaft with Club Champion installation
Pro Golf Weekly: Names Steve Pike as business editor
Golf journalist will produce a weekly notebook-type column about the business side of the golf industry, along with commentary and reviews
Bull's Bridge GC: Course renovations underway
Fazio Design oversees refinement of on-course features while Connecticut architect Erik Furno designs new Golf House and renovates clubhouse
Bridges Cup: Elite mid-amateurs square off in U.S.-Europe event
Americans win Ryder Cup-style format at Les Bordes Golf Club in France
Circling Raven Championship: Opens door to 1st LPGA win
Tournament at Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel in Worley, Idaho, merits the label 'LPGA Champion Launch Pad' after tournament runner-up Chanettee Wannasaen wins LPGA's Portland Classic one week later
Pinehurst Resort: Pinehurst No. 10 to open in April 2024
The Tom Doak design will be the first original course the resort has unveiled in nearly 30 years, opening just a few months before Pinehurst hosts the U.S. Open
Golf Pride, Asher Golf: Launch limited edition fall collection
Four seasonally inspired box sets feature 13 Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360 grips and two Asher gloves in matching tonal colorways
Ace Indoor Golf: Offering free golf simulator webinar, Q&A on Sept. 11
Company co-owner Joe Neumeyer and president Trevor Faust will join host Todd Mrowice to discuss setting up commercial and home golf simulators
GCSAA: Inaugural class announced for GCSAA Women’s Leadership Academy
Event to be attended by 40 turfgrass professionals, Nov. 7-9 at GCSAA headquarters in Lawrence, Kansas
PGA Tour, Salesmanship Club of Dallas, CJ Group: Announce a long-term agreement for the CJ Group to become the new title sponsor of the PGA Tour's long-standing Dallas-area event — renamed The CJ Cup Byron Nelson, which returns to TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas, April 29-May 5 as part of the FedEx Cup regular season.
USGA: Montclair Golf Club, in West Orange, New Jersey, has been selected as the host site for the 2026 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship. The club, founded in 1893, has previously hosted two USGA championships — the 1973 U.S. Women’s Amateur and the 1985 U.S. Amateur. Its original 18-hole course was designed by Tom Bendelow and opened in 1899. In 1920, Donald Ross designed the present-day first, second and third nines, and in 1928, Charles Banks designed the fourth. Robert Trent Jones Sr. and son Rees Jones redesigned and improved the original layouts.
PGA Tour: Bridgestone Americas will become the presenting sponsor of the Bridgestone Collegiate Development Program, a part of the PGA Tour’s Pathway to Progression. The program is designed to increase focus on developing talent from diverse and historically underrepresented groups, and will elevate the competitive and mentorship opportunities for Historically Black College and Universities golfers. Among its initiatives are the Bridgestone APGA Collegiate Ranking, the HBCU Coaches Summit, the Bridgestone Player Development Camp and two new collegiate golf tournaments.
Club Management Association of America: Announces the latest CMAA members to have attained the designation of Certified Chief Executive. The designation was developed to recognize those managers who have shown the ability to successfully serve as the most senior manager in a club. The following members successfully met all CCE requirements in the third quarter of 2023: Enrique Contreras, Seven Oaks Country Club, Bakersfield, California; Lloyd Gillespie, Shady Canyon Golf Club, Irvine, California; Jeff Lowder, McAllen Country Club, McAllen, Texas; Robert Aaron Martin, Wycliffe Golf and Country Club, West Palm Beach, Florida; John D. Meagher, Francis Yacht Club, San Rafael, California; and James M. Reisig, Tokeneke Club, Darien, Connecticut.
Power Tee: Appoints William Gray to North American sales director role
Based in Nashville, Tennessee, Gray previously held sales management positions at PXG, Trackman and Wilson Golf
Landscapes Unlimited: Lost Rail GC honored by Golf Inc. Magazine
Publication recognizes Lincoln, Nebraska, club's with Clubhouse of the Year honor, the second award Lost Rail has received from the magazine after being named one of the world’s top three new private clubs
Malcolm DeMille: Creates tradition with CPKC Women’s Open
The company has crafted money clips for the Canadian Pacific Kansas City Women’s Open since 2018
Rain or Shine Golf: Offering summer-ending deals in Labor Day flash sale
Specials on launch monitors and indoor packages available through Sept. 5