The First Call’s Scorecard, a compilation of the golf industry’s news for January 14-20.
BUSINESS
▪️ TaylorMade Golf: Makes a material investment in PopStroke, a cutting-edge putting and casual dining concept that merges a technologically advanced competitive golf environment with food and beverage. TaylorMade joins an ownership team that includes PopStroke Entertainment Group and Tiger Woods. … Sensible Weather: Closes a strategic investment to extend the company’s Weather Guarantee coverage to PGA-affiliated golf facilities in partnership with EP Golf Ventures. … Galway Bay: Golf rainwear brand will offer its custom outerwear in the retail market through RepSpark. … Youth on Course: Announces YOC Athlete, partnering with Opendorse to create a golf NIL deal and recruits 18 high school and collegiate athletes/YOC members and alumni to use its platforms to highlight affordable access to golf. … Sqairz: Creates RightFit, a no-inventory retail program that gives pro shops the ability to fit customers in Sqairz in person. … Pepsi Little People’s: Applebee’s will sponsor the parent-child tournament, closest to the pin contest and other associated contests tied to the 50th Pepsi Little People’s Golf Championships, June 18-21 in Quincy, Illinois. … PXG: Debuts PXG Westchester, its first New York-based retail and fitting studio located in New Rochelle. … GolfPass: Reveals its 2023 ‘Golfers’ Choice’ lists, which include rankings by state, most improved, pace of play, value and course conditions. … SwingU: Collaborating with Craig Bocking, director of instruction at The Ledges in Huntsville, Alabama, to deliver advanced statistical reporting to students and clients. … Epson Tour, OnCore Golf: OnCore will be the official golf ball of the LPGA’s qualifying tour in 2023 and company representatives will support Epson Tour players at tournaments throughout the season. … Whiskers: Top selling color patterns for its golf-specific shoelaces anchor 2022’s growth in golf. The company saw an increase of more than 500% over a strong 2021 with top sellers including blue-red, pink-navy and garnet-navy.
COMPETITION / COURSES
▪️KemperSports: To manage full resort operations at private Dismal River Club in Mullen, Nebraska. … Apes Hill Barbados: Opens new Golf Performance Centre, designed by Tim Cutshall and featuring two coaching bays, Swing Catalyst technology and a range of fitness equipment. … Madinaty Golf Club: Cairo course to host successive MENA Tour Egyptian Swing tournaments, Jan. 31-Feb. 7. … Tripp Davis and Associates: Starts construction on Green Tree Country Club's West Nine in Midland, Texas. The East Nine was completed in 2022. … Dundonald Links: Western Scotland resort promotion will award one foursome with a deluxe trip valued at over $3,000. Offer runs through Feb. 5. … DIO Implant LA Open: Tickets on sale for the first of two LPGA Tour events in Los Angeles. Tournament set for Palos Verdes Golf Club, March 30-April 2, and features a 144-player field competing for a $1.75 million purse. … Landscapes Unlimited: Completes enhancement projects at Desert Mountain Club’s two courses in Scottsdale, Arizona. … Santa Maria Golf Club: Panama City, Panama, club to host the ninth Latin America Amateur Championship, Jan. 18-21, 2024. … Chubb Classic: Reigning champion Bernhard Langer, hall-of-famers and past champions headline early commitments for the PGA Tour Champions event, Feb. 17-19 at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Florida.
DESTINATIONS
▪️French Lick Resort: Southern Indiana resort reports that since 2020 golf rounds have grown by more than 22% and pre-bookings for 2023 are up over 300%. … PlayGolfMyrtleBeach.com: Enjoyed a record 2022 as the South Carolina destination totaled more than 2.4 million rounds played at 59 Golf Tourism Solutions member courses along the Grand Strand, as recorded by the Omni Golf Tee Sheet. … Golf Nation, Ocean City Tourism: Partner to feature the popular Maryland golf destination inside “Ambush with David Feherty” on the new golf-lifestyle entertainment network that features in-video shopping.
GEAR
▪️SuperStroke: Launches next generation Zenergy putter grips that feature multi-zone texturing and reimagined Spyne technology. … Sqairz: Debuts Speed Bold golf shoe that will be available for purchase online in early March. … Cleveland Golf: Unveils CBX Full-Face 2 wedge with largest CBX face ever. … Wilson Golf: Reimagines its Dynapower line of clubs after 70 years. They will be available for pre-order on Feb. 22. … ProTee United: Introduces three golf launch monitors — ProTee RX, ProTee VX and ProTee RLX — that allow golfers to track shot, club and flight data for a realistic golf simulation. … True Linkswear: Debuts Lux Hybrid shoe, which is designed to look like a traditional saddle shoe, but blends tradition and technology. … GolfTrainingAids.com: Names Divot Board its Product of the Year for the second successive year. … Swing Control: Introduces its FW23 Collection, a performance-based golf and lifestyle apparel line. Each piece uses luxe high-tech fabrics and is rendered in rich fall tones. … Titleist: Introduces the Vokey Design SM9 wedges, which feature new lightweight shaft offerings. Featured shafts include KBS Tour Lite 95, a steel shaft for players seeking additional spin and precision, and Tensei AM2 Red, a graphite, high-launching shaft for players looking for more control. The wedges will be available at retail beginning March 10. … Titleist: Introduces the 2023 Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x. The balls will be available in golf shops beginning Jan. 25. … Titleist: Unveils its new TSR2 and TSR3 hybrids, the latest additions to the TSR metalwood family. The TSR2 hybrid is reported to be designed for forgiving speed and performance, while the TSR3 hybrid offers precision and workability. The hybrids will be available for fittings and presale on Feb. 2 and in golf shops beginning Feb. 23. They will retail for $299. … Grit Inc.: Enters the golf bag market with its Golf Tower, a golf bag that features a three-level shelving unit and holds equipment in one place. … Honma Golf: Debuts its Beres Nx family of drivers, woods, hybrids and irons. … Golfzon: Introduces its Wave launch monitor. … SkyGolf: Reports that the majority of competitors on the 2022 Legends Tour used SkyCaddie GPS distance measuring devices for their yardages. On average, SkyCaddie GPS users made up over two-thirds of the field in 2022 Legends Tour events where DMDs were permitted. … Zero Friction: Wheel Pro Push Cart bag is one of three finalists in the 29th ING Industry Honors Awards Program in the Product Ingenuity – Accessories/Soft Goods category. It retails for $349. … Srixon: Unveils new generation of Soft Feel golf balls that will will launch on Feb. 16 in North America. … TaylorMade Golf: Introduces its 2023 Spider putter lineup, featuring the all-new Spider GTX and Spider GT Max. The Spider GTX is available for preorder, will be at retail beginning Feb. 24 and will retail for $349. The Spider GT Max will be available at retail in late spring with a retail price of $449. … Shot Scope: Introduces Shot Scope Academy, a game-tracking system designed specifically for PGA professionals, golf coaches and teachers to track and analyze performances during a round using the company’s V3 Smart Watch or Pro LX+ Rangefinder models. … Srixon/Cleveland Golf, Access Golf: Partnering to offer Srixon/Cleveland Golf players a free set of Arccos smart sensors and free trial of the Arccos Caddie platform. … Biion Footwear: Launches the Trainer golf shoe for adults and kids in a variety of colors and patterns.
MEDIA
▪️ LIV Golf, The CW Network: Enter into a multiyear U.S. broadcast television and streaming agreement. Beginning with the 2023 LIV Golf League season, The CW, 75% owned by Nexstar Media Group Inc., will air all 14 global events and stream the events live on The CW app. … NBC Sports: Signs an agreement to provide more than 50 hours of television coverage of GF Sports and Entertainment’s recently acquired World Long Drive over the course of the agreement. While terms were not disclosed 10 hours will be aired annually by NBC Sports on Golf Channel. … NBC Sports: Will present a record nearly 450 hours of live women's professional golf across NBC, Golf Channel, USA Network, Peacock and NBC Sports digital platforms in 2023. The schedule features coverage of all 35 LPGA events, including the five major championships and Solheim Cup. Also, the U.S. Women's Open third- and final-round coverage from Pebble Beach Golf Links, July 8-9, will air live in primetime on NBC for the first time. … NBC Sports: Signs an agreement to provide more than 50 hours of television coverage of GF Sports and Entertainment’s recently acquired World Long Drive over the course of the agreement. While terms were not disclosed 10 hours will be aired annually by NBC Sports on Golf Channel. … CBS Sports: Will kick off its 2023 "Golf on CBS" coverage with the Farmers Insurance Open, Friday-Saturday, Jan. 27-28, which will conclude with a Saturday final round. CBS and Paramount+ will air 23 PGA Tour events throughout the year.
PEOPLE
▪️SkyTrak: Hires Dave Pauley as vice president of business development. … TaylorMade Golf: Expands its partnership with LPGA Tour player Brooke Henderson, who is currently the No. 7-ranked player in the world. After signing an exclusive golf ball and glove deal in early 2022, Henderson has now agreed to a new multiyear contract and will have a full bag of TaylorMade equipment. … Power Tee: Signs golf instructor Rick Smith as a brand ambassador. … PGA of America: Honors Stephen Szurlej as the third recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award in Photojournalism. Szurlej, 73, served as Golf Digest’s senior staff photographer for nearly 30 years. … Ryder Cup: U.S. Captain Zach Johnson names Davis Love III as a Vice Captain for this year's Ryder Cup Matches, Sept. 29-Oct. 1 in Rome, Italy. Love played in six Ryder Cups, is a two-time Ryder Cup Captain (2012 and 2016) and a three-time Vice Captain (2010, 2018 and 2021). … GolfForever: Signs U.S. Ryder Cup Captain Zach Johnson as a brand ambassador. … NewEngland.golf: Adds international travel writer Stephan Guertler to its growing list of contributors. … Piza Golf: Founder Agustin Piza and golf course architecture partner Brandel Chamblee are ranked fifth on Golf Inc.’s 2023 Visionaries list. … Newtimes Group: Signs Tom Hoge, currently No. 30 in the Official World Golf Rankings, to represent Ashworth Golf apparel as it returns to the U.S. market. … TaylorMade Golf: Signs Nelly Korda to a multiyear agreement. Korda, No. 2 on the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings and an eight-time winner on the LPGA, will play a full bag of TaylorMade equipment and TP5 golf ball.
The Apogee Club: Private Hope Sound, Florida, facility hires Colin Burns as chief operating officer. Burns, previously served as the general manager at Winged Foot Golf Club. … PGA Tour: Names the 16-member Player Advisory Council for 2023 — Ryan Armour, Sam Burns, Corey Conners, Rickie Fowler, Brice Garnett, Brian Harman, Max Homa, Mackenzie Hughes, Shane Lowry, Maverick McNealy, Keith Mitchell, Henrik Norlander, Scottie Scheffler, Adam Scott, Kevin Streelman, Will Zalatoris. … GCSAA: Kyle Maynard, author and focus of ESPN documentary 'A Fighting Chance,' will share his insights into dealing with daily challenges during the Sunrise Celebration at the GCSAA Conference and Trade Show, Feb. 6-9 in Orlando, Florida. … SwingU: Versus ambassador Emma Schimpf wins Dixie Women’s Amateur at Palm Aire Country Club in Pompano Beach, Florida. … GCSAA: Honors Brandon Razo with its Emerging Leader Award. Razo is an eight-year GCSAA member and Panther Creek Country Club golf course superintendent in Springfield, Illinois.
PGA SHOW [Jan. 24-27, Orlando, Florida]
▪️ EyePromise: To offer complimentary MPOD readings, while sports vision optometrist Dr. Graham Erickson will speak on Jan. 26. The title of his talk is “Reading the Greens Better. Improving Your Eye Health and Sports Vision with EyePromise.” … Flyway Hats: Launching its 2023 golf headwear collection, which features straw gamblers, fedoras, classic Ivy League caps and contemporary safari styles. … Golf Cutlery Gifts: To showcase its expanded corporate gifting range and new products. … Ibkul: Launching its athleisure apparel fashion and technology with its 2023 summer / fall collection. … Duca del Cosma: Recruiting potential sales representatives with plans to expand its sales team in 2023. … CertiFresh Cigar: Will showcase its expanded accessories line and new packaging. … Fore Craft Cocktails: Launches new cocktails and will pour samples of its golf-inspired canned cocktails featuring vodka and all natural, gluten free ingredients. … Ecco Golf: To showcase newest collection that features the Classic Hybrid and updates to several of the brand’s most popular shoes. … International Network of Golf: Announces six support sponsors for its ING Hospitality Room at the 2023 PGA Show, Jan. 25-27 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. The sponsors are CertiFresh Cigar, Makefield Putters, PGA Show, Proud 90 Apparel, Sycamore BioPharma and former LPGA Tour Commissioner Charlie Mechem. … Jackets Required Inc.: Supplier of embroidered blazers for the past 23 years, the company will showcase its men's and women's collections. … Scratch Stick: Exhibiting its multifunctional training aid that enables golfers to align full swing and short game shots on the range. … Radmor: Seattle-based brand gears to show new on- and off-course sustainable apparel, including men’s and women’s polos, pants, shorts and outerwear. … 918 Booking: Company to share details about new golf simulator booking and online food delivery platforms. … True Linkswear: Debuting the True Apparel Collection, a line of performance-based pants, joggers, polos, quarter zips and t-shirts.