10 of Golf’s Scariest Opening Tee Shots
Any first tee can spook you. What happens on the first hole sets the tone for the whole round, so it’s only natural to be nervous when it’s your turn to blast away. That’s why many course designers make their opening holes gentle affairs—to help ease you into your round. But there are some courses […]
Golf’s State-of-the-Industry – Where Were We Before COVID-19?
The big picture view of golf has been understandably clouded by the crisis at hand: Thousands of courses in various parts of the country are still temporarily shut down due to the coronavirus, memorable golf trips to incredible getaway destinations are on hold, and operations often look quite different in places where the game goes […]
Questions: European Tour CEO Keith Pelley
Keith Pelley, the chief executive of the European Tour, thinks the pro game needs to speed up for the digital age, marvels at his players’ respect for one another, and wishes the media weren’t so negative. And yeah, he’s a Canadian. _____________________ Q. Was there any resistance from the players to a Canadian taking over […]
Architecture 101: Routing
I am a dinosaur when it comes to computer-aided design, still clinging to pencils (and usually golf pencils, at that), erasers, and sheets of tracing paper when sketching out a golf course. I wear out erasers, and when working directly on a topographical map I sometimes wear out the map. The first stage of course routing […]
How Can You Spot Fake Clubs?
What are the risks of shopping for clubs online, and how do you ensure you’re not buying fake clubs? Here is a guide.
The Untold Story of Golf Course Shapers
Though they prefer to remain out of the spotlight, you often read about them. Highly skilled and invariably obsessive about the quality of their work, their role on the typical golf course construction site has evolved greatly in recent years to the point where they are now considered more than just simple earth-movers, but rather […]
Ben Wright: Buttered and Bunkered
Of all the great golfers I have seen in more than half a century of covering the game, I believe the best never to win a major was the majestic Irishman Christy O’Connor Sr. A two-time winner of the European Tour’s Order of Merit (1961, ’62) and a member of the Great Britain and […]
The Best Golf Layering Pieces
As we get closer to the end of the golf season in many parts of the world, thankfully some of the biggest brands in the sport have gear that can help you extend your season—no matter where you live. From base layers to vests, pants, and pullovers, just because the temperatures are dropping that doesn’t […]
Must-See at the Masters
It’s (almost) the most wonderful time of the year. The wait from the end of August’s PGA Championship to the Masters in the first week of April feels interminable. Soon the golf world will converge at Augusta National, one of golf’s most cherished cathedrals. I’ve been going since 1998, and it is one of those […]
Questions: Dottie Pepper
The major champion-turned-TV analyst has many favorites—from restaurants to golf courses—and doesn’t let a Hall of Fame omission get her down How much time do you spend in Saratoga Springs as opposed to on the road? I don’t travel much other than being on the road for 20-plus weeks each year for televised golf. Day […]