Dream Nine: Par Fours

The par four. Routinely benign, sometimes repetitive, yet often unforgettable. More than any length on the golf course, it’s the par fours which will likely make or break your round. Let’s face it: A birdie on a par four is just a bit more rewarding, isn’t it? With that in mind, the premise is simple: […]

5 of the Best Golf and Skiing Areas

banff springs mountain golf courses

Mountains have something magical about them. The unique rock facings. The way their look changes with the sun bouncing off them in the morning or late afternoon. And the fact that my ball usually flies much further while playing mountain golf doesn’t hurt, either. In some locations, depending on the time of the season, you […]

Player-Architects: What They Offer, What They Lack, and Who Was the Best?

John Fought, the 1977 U.S. Amateur champion, a two-time PGA Tour winner, and a highly regarded course architect, believes a successful playing background can both hurt and hinder the transition into design. “One advantage I had was that I’d seen some of the best courses in the world under tournament conditions,” he says. “I think […]

Amid Coronavirus Chaos, How Are Golf Travel Operators Coping?

travel operators

Every other month, international golf tour provider PerryGolf conducts a 30-minute webinar for potential customers on a different destination or topic, from Scotland and South Africa to cruises or escorted trips. It’s more of an educational opportunity than a sales pitch, explaining their planning and process. Their webinar topic for this month—before a national emergency […]

The History Behind Stadium Golf

The year 2020 marked the 40th anniversary of TPC Sawgrass; built with spectators in mind, it was the idea known today as stadium golf.

My Courses: Gary Player

Very few golfers have played such a global variety of golf courses as Gary Player—the nine-time major champion shares his answers here in “My Courses” MY FAVORITE COURSE: If you were asked to choose your favorite rugby player and your child happened to be a star, you would have to pick him, right? So, I’ll […]

Goat Herding: Who is the Game’s Best Ever?

Some thoughts on Jack, Tiger, and the question of which is the game’s best ever As Jack Nicklaus celebrates his 80th birthday this year, my thoughts turn to the day I met him. It didn’t go well. This was late September of 1976 in Pinehurst, where a tournament called the World Open was being played. […]

PopStroke: Tiger Woods’s New Venture

venture

The gamification of golf—it’s a term we’ve heard a lot lately, especially in this Topgolf world we live in. The latest attempt to increase the fun factor for the golf masses has 15-time major champion Tiger Woods on board as the architect of enjoyment. PopStroke opened its first location in Port St. Lucie, Fla., in […]

Questions: Tom Watson

The eight-time major champion points to an early victory as key to his success, acknowledges his heroes, and sets his sites on another sport Most of the focus is on your eight major titles, but is there a victory that has meant just as much, if not more, to you? The one that really changed my […]

Which Rangefinder Is Right For You?

rangefinder

As traditional a game as golf is, technology continues to shape its evolution. Traditionalist or technophile, a commonality among golfers is wanting to know how far they are from the pin, whether walking off a distance from a sprinkler head, using a GPS device, or buzzing the flagstick with a laser rangefinder. Like the major […]