The remaking of a Jersey classic
+ Keegan Bradley's growing conundrum; Of billionaires, fitness and darts; Beau Welling and The King and Prince.
Editor’s note: In observance of Independence Day, The First Call | Extra will not publish on Saturday, July 5. The First Call | Extra will resume publishing on July 12.
THE STARTER
🏌️ Is it even realistic that Keegan Bradley could be a playing Ryder Cup captain? Should he either be one or the other?
🏌️ Is the European Ryder Cup apparatus collectively snickering (with their hands covering their mouths) at the Americans expending so much energy over the pros and cons of a playing captain?
🏌️ Richard Bland didn’t defend his U.S. Senior Open victory because he’s presumably under contract by LIV Golf to play its event in Dallas this week. Should LIV have made an exception and allowed Bland to play at the Broadmoor?
🏌️ Fourteen LIV players are currently qualified for the British Open and another 18 are entered in final qualifying on Tuesday (July 1). And Sergio Garcia still has a chance if he can hold onto fourth place in the LIV points standings after Dallas. Is that fair LIV representation?
🏌️ Which is a bigger deal: Collin Morikawa with his third caddie in less than three months or Tommy Fleetwood not winning at the Travelers Championship?
🏌️ With 11 LPGA Tour victories, including three major championships after last week's KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, what does it say that Minjee Lee is still lesser known than her brother, Min Woo Lee, who has five worldwide wins?
🏌️ If the LPGA had been in charge of the KPMG PGA Championship setup, would the course still have been difficult enough to cause six-hour rounds?
🏌️ After he takes a closer look, will new PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp insist that the PGA Tour Champions be self-sufficient?
🏌️ If AI caddies were available today, how many Tour players would want one?
:: Mike Purkey
FEATURES
Gil Hanse merged Baltusrol's Upper past with the future
TFC contributor Bradley Klein examines Hanse's restoration of A.W. Tillinghast's classic design, revealing there was more than meets the eye in returning the Upper Course to its intended roots.
:: Bradley S. Klein | Read
Baltusrol completes new chapter
For course architect Gil Hanse, the opportunity to restore the club's Upper Course to A.W. Tillinghast's original vision was too good to pass on.
:: Tom Mackin | Read
Maximizing range revenue, Part 1: Inventory
Expanding your range’s inventory isn’t just about adding more bays or extending hours, it’s about making the right strategic moves at the right time.
:: Inrange | Read
BOOKMARKED
Good reads — and listens — that are sometimes about golf, but not always.
📖 How a Vegas billionaire’s plan to bring casinos to Texas went bust
The behind-the-scenes story of Miriam Adelson’s failed bet to legalize gambling—and the right-wing activists and megadonors who stood in her way.
:: Forrest Wilder | Texas Monthly | 07.25 | Read
📖 Inside the exclusive, obsessive, surprisingly litigious world of luxury fitness
How Tracy Anderson built an exercise empire.
:: Xochitl Gonzalez | The Atlantic | 06.12.25 | Read
📖 An 18-year-old prodigy may be darts’ first global superstar
Luke Littler, the world’s best pro darts player, is just 18 — and he’s helping put his sport on the map.
:: Oliver Whang | New York Times | 06.26.25 | Read
THE LIBRARY
Recent drops to The First Call’s video and podcast section.
🎧 | ▶️ Nick Dimengo: Finding the greener grass
The founder of Rainmakers Golf Club left a dream job at Golf Magazine to pursue a greater passion.
:: Content Clubhouse | 06.26.25 | Listen | Watch
🎧 The Big Easy: The story of a storied career
Hall of Famer Ernie Els, 55, won his first major title in 1994. Thirty-one years later, he remains a fixture within golf — as a player, as a spokesman and as a philanthropist..
:: Golf Interview with Ann Liguori | 06.23.25 | Listen
ARCHIVES: 🎧 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 | Industry press release videos | TFC / PR Newswire feed
Golf Industry Job / Internship Board
LIFESTYLE
THE STYLE LINKS
We love Holderness & Bourne’s classy options of sporting red, white and blue for Independence Day.
:: Janice Ferguson | IG: @janiceferguson_thestylelinks
19TH HOLE
“Course of Life” podcast co-host Alex Lauzon closes each episode with the guest sharing a favorite 19th hole food and beverage experience.
Dr. Alison Curdt, PGA Professional and president of the Southern California PGA: “It wasn't the food or drink at Grove XXIII [Michael Jordan’s invitation-only private club in Hobe Sound, Florida], it was the locker room. You walk into the women's locker room and feel special, anything you can think of was in there and that was most memorable to me."
:: Alex Lauzon | Co-host of “Course of Life” podcast
HOME FRONT
Clear Creek Tahoe | Carson City, Nevada
Listing: 202 Haskell Mill Court.
Stats: 4,883 square feet | 1.25 acres | 4 bedrooms | 4.5 bathrooms | 3-plus car garage.
Price: $9,750,000.
About: Meadow View at Clear Creek Tahoe is a luxurious modern farmhouse retreat ideally nestled on 1.25 private acres in one of Nevada’s most exclusive gated mountain communities. Overlooking a vibrant wildflower meadow with expansive views, this custom residence is thoughtfully designed for both privacy and entertaining with a floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace, a den, billiards room and a separate game room. Retractable sliding doors seamlessly connect the interior to an outdoor oasis with an infinity-edge swim spa, built-in BBQ, custom firepit and five separate outdoor entertaining zones. Located on the eastern slope of the Carson Range, Clear Creek Tahoe is a new private residential community set on a spectacularly unspoiled sanctuary of 1,576 acres bordered by six million acres of the largest national forest in the lower 48 states. The community features natural beauty, along with access to winter sports and summer activities, making it a year-round luxury community. The heart is an impressive amenity suite including the Coore & Crenshaw-designed golf course, Clear Creek Tahoe, which is ranked as the No. 1 private course in the state and No. 28 in the U.S.; Summit Camp, with pools, sport courts and game room; a pro shop and provisions outlet; and elegant fairway cabins. There is also the Julia Morgan-designed Twin Pines Lake & Ski House and the new 20,000-square-foot Clear Creek Clubhouse, a defining community amenity featuring indoor and outdoor space for dining and social gatherings, and approximately 5,000 square feet dedicated to fitness and wellness.
Home Front Archives | Read
ARCHITECTURE
DESIGN NOTES
Beau Welling to restore luster to The King and Prince GC
South Street Partners, a private equity real estate firm headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Charleston, South Carolina, announced on June 18 that they have engaged Beau Welling to lead a renovation of The King and Prince Golf Club’s golf course on St. Simons Island, Georgia. Work is scheduled to commence mid-year of 2026.
Located a few miles north of The King and Prince Beach and Golf Resort, The King and Prince Golf Club is also planning a clubhouse reimagining, alongside the upgrades to its 18-hole golf course, as it shifts to a fully private model in the next year.
Beau Welling Design (BWD) has become known as a leading innovator in the golf industry after serving as the principal planner of the award-winning PGA Frisco and the designer of its Field Ranch West Course. Also, this isn’t the first time BWD has collaborated with South Street Partners on projects — such as the new Orange Hill course and club community at Kiawah Island Club on Kiawah Island, South Carolina.
Originally known as the Hampton Club, King and Prince was designed by Joe Lee in 1989. Located on marshland and carved out of grand oak trees, the course favors precision over power throughout a secluded journey that features several greens and tees accessible only via long wooden bridges that traverse the dense marshland. Numerous water features and doglegs keep wayward hitters on their toes.
The planned enhancements at The King and Prince Golf Club will showcase the course’s distinctive setting while elevating every aspect of play. With dynamic design updates to fairways and greens, reimagined practice areas, and inspiring new view lines from opening tree canopies, these improvements are designed to bring fresh energy to the course.
In addition to the course renovations, early stages of planning have begun on a clubhouse transformation designed to complement and elevate the overall member experience.
“We identified The King and Prince for acquisition as both the resort and golf club complemented our existing portfolio of exceptional assets, including Kiawah Island Club and Palmetto Bluff, located in high-growth, Southeastern markets,” said Chris Randolph, managing partner of South Street. “We are really excited to bring our expertise in the development and operations of luxury residential and resort communities to The King and Prince Golf Club and introduce best-in-class experiences, premier golf offerings and thoughtful design to this iconic property.”
Welling is equally enthusiastic about the prospects.
“The King and Prince Golf Club sits on an incredibly unique piece of land, and there’s a real opportunity here to highlight that natural beauty in a more intentional way,” he said. “Our approach is to stay true to the original character of the course, while introducing design elements that improve playability, strategy and visual interest. It’s about refining what’s already here and creating a more engaging experience for members.”
The 188-key resort spans nearly six acres with direct beach access and amenities that include bars and restaurants, resort-style swimming pools — as well as the 18-hole golf course at The King and Prince Golf Club. The property also includes developable land and beachfront condos for purchase.
Design Notes Archive | Read