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The First Call’s Scorecard, a compilation of the golf industry’s news for September 9-15, 2023.
BUSINESS
▪️Five Iron Golf: Since launching its franchising program in May 2023, the company has experienced exponential growth with domestic and international franchises opening, including in India and Australia. … LPGA: Launches its online merchandise shop, the LPGA Pro Shop, as part of its partnership with Legends, a data-intelligence fueled solutions company. The LPGA Pro Shop will offer an expanded selection of LPGA-branded products for on and off the golf course from renowned brands such as Lululemon, Greyson, G/Fore, Yeti, and '47 Brand, along with 2023 U.S. Solheim Cup apparel from Dunning and Imperial. Also, the LPGA and Legends collaborated to develop new designs with non-traditional LPGA marks, including merchandise using retro LPGA logos, featuring LPGA block text, and headwear and t-shirts with modern, fashion-forward designs. … TMRW Sports Group: TGL announces partnership with U.S. Integrity, which establishes a foundation for a betting program. TGL joins U.S. Integrity’s portfolio of leagues and conferences, including the NFL, MLB, NBA, PGA Tour, UFC and SEC. … Indonesian Masters: PT Bank Negara Indonesia becomes the tournament's title sponsor for a second successive year. The tournament, sanctioned by the Asian Tour, will be played Nov. 16-19 at Royale Jakarta Golf Club and features a purse of $1.5 million. It is the 10th and final International Series event, and will crown the winner of the International Series Order of Merit, who will earn a place on next year’s LIV Golf League. … PGA Tour: Announces an increased financial commitment from Valspar to its Caddie Appreciation Program, which rewards participating PGA Tour caddies who wear branded Valspar hats throughout the FedEx Cup season, based on a points system. Approximately 145 caddies took part this season in the Valspar Caddie Appreciation Program, with Derek Smith, who caddies for Denny McCarthy, taking home Caddie of the Year honors. Valspar also offers various additional perks throughout the season, including gift cards and caddie-exclusive appreciation events at several PGA Tour tournaments. … Players 1st: Announces a new round of investment from venture fund Scale Capital. The investment will enable the company, a provider of customer experience solutions for more than 2,000 courses globally, to accelerate its strategic growth goals in the U.S. market and fuel new platform capabilities. … Club Champion: Opens a 3,000-square-foot studio near Vancouver. The studio features two indoor hitting bays, Quintic ball roll system and a build shop for golf club repair and assembly.
COURSES / COMPETITION
▪️NBC Sports Next: GolfPass introduces a guide to golf in the Caribbean and will feature 58 golf resorts across 20 Caribbean Islands and Bermuda. The guide will feature dedicated pages for every resort, complete with maps, photos, property information and more. … Ascendant LPGA benefiting Volunteers of America: Major and past champions, Texas residents, and Solheim Cup participants headline the early commitments for the LPGA tournament that will feature a $1.8 million purse and be played at Golf Clubs at The Tribute, Oct. 2-8 in The Colony, Texas. … USGA: Selects Prairie Dunes Country Club, in Hutchinson, Kansas, as the host site for the 2029 U.S. Senior Open and 2032 U.S. Senior Women’s Open. They will be the ninth and 10th USGA championships held at the club and the first since 2006. … Monster GC: Monticello, New York, club reopens for public play during the late summer and early fall preview season. … Fox Harb’r Resort: Announces additional development updates at its five-star property in Nova Scotia, including an accelerated launch of a second phase of construction for its new Carrick-McBroom designed golf course. By summer 2026 36 holes will be completed — an 18-hole Ocean Course fronting the Northumberland Strait and an 18-hole parkland-style course, adjacent to the resort’s vineyards, to be known as the Vineyard Course. … Pebble Beach Company: Partnering with Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner, and Hanse Golf Course Design to re-design The Links at Spanish Bay. Opened in 1987 between the Inn at Spanish Bay and the Pacific Ocean, Spanish Bay offers a Scotland-inspired golf experience with ocean views on nearly every hole. … Invited: Unveils a new name, logo and brand for Westlake Country Club to coincide with a massive capital improvement and course transformation for what was previously known as Lost Creek Country Club in Austin, Texas. The club is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2023 and will showcase the enhancements as part of a multi-phase project that started in 2022.
GEAR
▪️SwingU: Bucknell University head women’s golf coach Laura Tyler-Cook selects the SwingU Coach platform for advanced statistical reporting to her coaching staff and team members. … Ecco Golf: Unveils new Biom Tour and updates as part of its AW23 Collection. Updates include new colorways for men's Biom C4 collection, a reworked upper for the Ecco Biom H4 model and new colorways for the Ecco S-Three. … Tour Edge: Introduces the Forged Exotics Wingman wedge series that were inspired by brand ambassador Bernhard Langer. The club is the most advanced in the company’s wedge history, featuring three different grinds and available in five total bounces. … Bettinardi Golf: Debuts its limited-run oil-rubbed bronze PVD HLX 5.0 forged wedges. The wedges will be offered from 48-to 60-degree lofts and with both C Grind and RJ Grind options, and will be available starting Sept. 13 online and at select authorized Bettinardi retailers.
MEDIA
▪️PGA Tour: Through a partnership with Samsung Electronics, the Tour launches a free, 24/7 FAST channel in international markets on Samsung TV Plus. The channel will reach viewers in the U.K., Australia, New Zealand, India and South Korea, and will feature tournament highlights and original programming from PGA Tour Entertainment. … GolfForever: Launches new lifestyle and fitness podcast with company founder Dr. Jeremy James and vice president Jon Levy as hosts of “GolfForever Play Without Limits Show.” The show will feature PGA Tour players, golf industry leaders, fitness experts and more.
PEOPLE
▪️Volvik USA: Names Pete Kinney as president and John Holst as vice president of sales. … Soleta GC: Names Alan Pope as membership director for the Myakka City, Florida, club, and hires Clay Watson as the club’s director of grounds for the new Nick Price course and residential grounds. … USGA: Names Pepperdine University associate head coach Chris Zambri as the first head coach of the United States National Development Program. Zambri, who led Pepperdine to a national championship in 2021 and was previously on the Southern Cal coaching staff for 14 years, will begin Nov. 1. … 2K: Debuts iconic Welsh soccer player and avid golfer Gareth Bale as a playable golfer for PGA Tour 2K23. In addition to appearing as a playable golfer, Bale provided guidance to VctryLnSprts to design his dream course, The Elevens Club, using PGA Tour 2K23’s Course Designer.
REAL ESTATE
▪️McLemore: The Lookout Mountain, Georgia, golf club and community is partnering with Garden & Gun Magazine to style a custom Arthur Rutenberg Home within the club’s community. "The Lookout by AR Homes" breaks ground this fall in the Clubhouse Lane community at McLemore Club and will be completed in 2024. …
PGA National Czech Republic at Oaks Prague: Partners with Audemars Piguet
Exclusive partnership with Swiss watch brand enhances member and guest experience
BallenIsles CC: Leaders play 272 holes of golf, raise 20k
GM/CEO Ryan Walls and director of golf Jeff Fitzherbert participated in the 100 Hole Challenge Golf Marathon on Sept. 12 and raised funds for the First Tee of the Palm Beaches
CME Group: Becomes World Golf Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony title sponsor
Padraig Harrington and Sandra Palmer alongside the late Johnny Farrell, Beverly Hanson, Tom Weiskopf and the 13 LPGA Founders will be inducted during a ceremony that coincides with the 2024 U.S. Open
NBC Sports Next: GolfPass launches 'The Next Shot' video series
New instruction series is hosted by Nathalie Sheehan, one of America’s Best Young Teachers, and designed to help golfers develop better practice habits
Golftec: Unveils brand's next generation app
App features are set to help golfers enhance their skills and elevate their game
College Golf Experience: Announces dates for Top100 Camps
Junior golf showcase camps will be held at Georgia's Chateau Elan Resort in November and Arizona's Wigwam Golf Resort in December, and will feature 48 NCAA Division I women’s and men’s coaches
Troon: Announces relationship with Inness in New York's Hudson Valley
Troon will provide consultative agronomic and operational support, help develop and market golf packages, as well as support golf-related sales and marketing opportunities
GolfTrainingAids.com: Congratulates contributor Alison Curdt
Southern California teaching pro and GolfTrainingAids.com instructional contributor is named to Golf Magazine’s Top 100 Teachers to Watch list for the third successive time
Rolex: Official timekeeper of the Solheim Cup since 1994
Europe and the United States square off Sept. 22-24 at Finca Cortesín in Andalucia, Spain
True Spec Golf: It’s 'Shaftember' at all locations nationwide
Until Sept. 30, the clubfitter is offering 10% or more off all shafts and an extra 1% will be taken off your order for each additional shaft purchased