Taking golf outside the box
+ Notable club leans into its milkshakes; an epic Fall Classic has arrived; golf has some questions to answer; South Carolina island course gets renovation. .
THE STARTER
🏌️ The first match in TGL — the simulator league — will pit New York Golf Club vs. The Bay Golf Club, Jan. 7 on ESPN. Are you excited? Do you even know who the players are?
🏌️ The WM Phoenix Open announced changes for 2025 that are supposed to keep the crowd flow moving but didn’t say anything about preventing a fan falling from the bleachers, a fight and an out-of-control crowd that caused the gates to be closed and alcohol sales halted on Saturday in 2024. Do they have any plans to control that?
🏌️ Charles Barkley said, “I wish these fools would quit screwing around, LIV and the PGA Tour. I don’t know what the hell they’re doing. They’re so stupid. These guys are so idiotic.” Do you want to put Chuck in charge of the negotiations?
🏌️ DP World Group chief communications officer Daniel Van Otterdijk told Gulf News that he believes that the PGA Tour, LIV and the DP World Tour will be unified in the near future. Has he been talking to Chuck?
🏌️ Turns out that only one spot on the LIV Golf League will be awarded at LIV’s Promotions Event in December instead of three, as it was last year. Having a Promotions Event at all was supposed to appease the Official World Golf Ranking. Is it even needed?
🏌️ Anthony Kim might have a spot in LIV Golf next year. Does he deserve it?
🏌️ Caitlin Clark is getting golf lessons ahead of her appearance in the pro-am for Annika Sorenstam’s tournament at which she will be paired with Sorenstam and Nelly Korda. According to her teacher, Clark just wants “to pound drivers.” Does that come with any surprise?
🏌️ Transgender golfer Hailey Davidson began the second stage of LPGA qualifying in the face of 275 female players asking the game’s governing bodies to prevent players assigned male at birth from competing on the LPGA. Where do you stand?
🏌️ Is the end of Daylight Savings Time the saddest day of the golf year?
:: Mike Purkey
FEATURES
Dryvebox hits the road
Adeel Yang’s idea for a mobile golf simulator is quickly gaining traction and the expanding company recently partnered with TGL, the simulator league backed by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy.
:: Mike Purkey | Read
Castle Pines Golf Club's iconic merchandising success
The Castle Rock, Colorado, club turned its iconic milkshake into a branded merchandise sensation, with high demand for limited-edition items, boosting member engagement and club identity.
:: AGM | Read
BOOKMARKED
Good reads that are mainly about golf, but not always.
Twenty-five years after the golfer’s passing, a writer remembers unguarded times.
:: Guy Yocum | Golf Digest | 10.24.2024
Donna Kalil has plunged into canals in the dead of night, straddled two-hundred-pound serpents, and been bitten more times than she can count—all in the name of killing a thing she loves and playing a game she can’t win.
:: Lindsey Liles | Garden & Gun | 10.15.2024
“Pulp Fiction,” which starred John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson among many, debuted on Oct. 14, 1994.
:: Todd Gilchrist | Variety | 10.14.2024
📖 Jayden Daniels makes it look effortless. It’s actually all meticulous
Look under the hood of the Commanders’ rookie quarterback’s ‘natural’ performance, and you’ll discover hours of methodical attention on mechanics.
:: Sally Jenkins | Washington Post | 10.15.2024
📖 Distance
The game belongs to Bob Gibson.
:: Roger Angell | The New Yorker | 09.22.1980
Los Angeles Dodgers at New York Yankees — Reggie Jackson’s three-homer game.
:: Major League Baseball | 10.18.1977
THE LIBRARY
In addition to its existing podcast collection, The First Call has started building a videos section that will range from courses to travel. Each week TFC will highlight a few of its latest.
🎧 John Bryan’s commitment to youth, player development
The U.S. Kids Golf Foundation vice president joins co-hosts Jon Last and David Klein to provide an introspective look at the game’s present and future.
:: ‘Driver$: Inside the Golf Industry’ | 10.23.2024
▶️ The Land as It Lies: The Loop
The documentary series features Forest Dunes' The Loop, a Tom Doak design that opened in 2016. Embark in this journey as the story of how the reversible golf course came to life and key architectural features within it are illustrated.
:: Up River Film Company | 10.07.2024
TFC Libraries: 🎧 Podcasts | ▶️ Videos
BUSINESS
THE FIRST CALL
Week in Review: The industry’s names, news and notables making headlines. | Read
This week’s editions: Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday
Industry press releases | Read
Industry press release videos | Watch
TFC / PR Newswire feed | Read
PERFECT PUTT
Golf entertainment goes mobile
Dryvebox provides an interesting business case in golf entertainment.
:: Jared Doerfler | Read
Publisher Jared Doerfler analyzes the business of golf. Subscribe to Perfect Putt.
LIFESTYLE
THE STYLE LINKS
Tiger Woods’ apparel label, Sun Day Red, introduces its first women’s Elevated Essentials collection. Simple classic fits, solid colors, side-split hems, moisture wicking and four-way stretch are some of the features in the inaugural variety of tops and luxe lounge wear shorts.
:: Janice Ferguson | IG: @janiceferguson_thestylelinks
19TH HOLE
Each episode of the “Course of Life” podcast closes with the guest sharing a favorite 19th hole experience.
Sebastian Pell, of Rutland High, medalist at the 2024 Vermont Division I state high school golf championship: “I've been liking Italian food lately, so I'll go with a chicken parm for the 19th hole to fill me up.”
:: Alex Lauzon | Co-host of “Course of Life” podcast
TFC EVENTS
The Friars Golf Club: Best of Napa '25
July 23-27, 2025 | Napa, California
:: Event and registration information
ARCHITECTURE
DESIGN NOTES
Dye Designs debuts renovation of Fripp Island’s Ocean Point
Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort has reopened its Ocean Point course following a renovation by Dye Designs Group (DDG). Designed originally in 1964 by George Cobb, the aptly named South Carolina island course sits on a barrier island in the Atlantic, 90 minutes from Hilton Head Island and 19 miles from Beaufort.
Cynthia Dye McGarey, Pete Dye’s niece, led the renovation, in tandem with her son, Matt McGarey. The duo spearheaded an effort that involved reshaping more than 50 bunkers and adding 11 greenside bunkers. Also new were a smattering a fairway bunkers, five-and-a-half acres of waste area and native dunes, constructed to boost the visual appeal. They also added new boxes and leveled others for maximum playability.
“Ocean Point epitomizes the best of Lowcountry golf, something my family knows well,” said DDG senior design associate Matt McGarey. “We enjoyed partnering with the Fripp Island Resort to bring about a more modern playing experience that capitalizes on the unique Lowcountry elements — all with an eye toward the intent of Mr. Cobb’s original design.”
The final phase of the renovation will introduce more than 13,000 native plants to various areas on and adjacent to the playing areas, a nod to DDG’s focus on sustainable course design.
“We are delighted to work with the world-renowned Dye Designs Group team to bring our shared vision for Ocean Point to life,” said John Scappatura, COO of Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort. “The end result has exceeded our expectations and we are confident that our members and guests will enjoy this refreshed layout that offers a fun and rewarding experience through our beautiful Lowcountry surroundings.”
RELATED: This week’s complete Design Notes
RELATED: Design Notes archive
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