Golfing News & Blog Articles

There is a lot of cool gear in the golf equipment world that doesn’t always fit neatly into Most Wanted Tests or Buyer’s Guides. You still want to know how it performs. In our We Tried It series, we put gear to the test and let you know if it works as advertised.

WHAT WE TRIED

TaylorMade MySpider X Custom putter interface – The online design interface that allows golfers to create customized versions of TaylorMade’s Spider X mallet.

YOUR CUSTOM BUILDER

Dave Wolfe – MyGolfSpy writer and putter fanatic. I’ve tested hundreds (maybe thousands) of flatsticks.

BUILDING A MYSPIDER X

When it comes to custom putters, some companies follow traditional human-based design channels as I documented with Bettinardi’s custom putter program. Others have online customization interfaces with myriad options. The great thing about designing putters online is that you get to see a mock-up of your design right away. While it’s cool to see the computer rendering of the putter, I always wonder how that rendering will compare to the finished putter.

Last year, I explored the expectation versus reality story using the Toulon Garage online interface. Today, I’m going to put the TaylorMade MySpider X designer to the test.

South Coast Today’s Kiernan Dunlop reports on Acushnet’s need to make around 200 hires to handle the surge in golf thanks to distance. That’s…social distance, not actual distance increases. Go figure!

Dunlop writes:

The open houses will continue into October and the company plans to hire over 200 people when all is said and done, according to Laurie Herbert, director of talent acquisition.

Golf has been a positive activity for people to partake in during the coronavirus pandemic, Chief People Officer for Titleist Brendan Reidy said, since it’s outdoors and allows for social distancing.

“We continued to see incredible demand for our products as we came out of the heart of the initial part of the pandemic,” Reidy said, “It has really effectively forced us to look at how we respond to that demand.”

During a time where unemployment and layoffs are rampant, mass hirings by companies seem to be a rarity.

“We’re privileged to be in a position where our business has turned around where we can continue to make these investments,” Reidy said, “To see that Acushnet [Company] is doing well and has come through 2020 in a positive way has really left a positive mark on people.”

Just think Wally, all that money spent on patents and Global Golf Post propaganda pieces to lobby against distance when it was another form of distance that spurring demand.

Either way, love the investment in American jobs and in the company. What a refreshing contrast to so many golf organizations and businesses slashing and burning their way into the future.

The eyes-closed-while-putting component to Sergio Garcia’s Sanderson Farms Championship win is certainly amazing, but other factors added to his emotions.

From Adam Schupak’s thorough Golfweek story on Sergio’s first win since the 2017 Masters:

Afterwards, Garcia dedicated the victory to his father, Victor, who has lost two brothers, Paco and Angel, to COVID-19 back in his native Spain.

“It’s sad,” said Garcia, who now counts Tour wins in three different decades (2000s, 2010s, 2020s). “And I know that a lot of families have lost a lot more people, but you never want to lose anyone like that, and I wanted to win this for them.”

Schupak also details the struggle to find a presentable putting stroke, though the win was still done with trademark Garcia ballstriking and strokes gained leads for the week in driving and approach play.

Garcia now returns to the world top 50 and puts himself in the mix of pre-(November) Masters favorites.

Check out Rod Morri’s Golf Australia piece on what the distance debate is not about:

It’s not about players or athleticism or Trackman or modern coaching or ‘handcuffing’ the most talented individuals.

It’s not about which golfers might gain or lose the most in a rolled back world or whether the value of long hitting in relation to the field has changed over time.

It’s not about scoring or agronomy or making the game harder with stupid rough and penal minefields of bunkers in some futile bid to ‘protect par’. In fact, it’s not about score, full stop.
It’s not about any of those things because all of those things are about golfers and the distance debate isn’t about golfers, it’s about golf courses.

Bookmark this one for the next time you experience the inevitable hissy fit over the prospect of lost distance. Throw in Dr. MacKenzie’s quote about relativity of distance losses and you should be able to calm down the set fearful having their rights violated by increased regulation.

But be careful in your distance debates. The athleticism push of late has the marketeers now part of the discussion. They are trying to sell a product and could care less about the long term health of the sport. A surprising number have anointed themselves jocks because many of today’s top players hit the gym and fill out a shirt. Any suggestions of distance now are somehow a threat to their virility. Beware!

Twice during the Sky Sports/Golf Channel telecast of the Aberdeen Standard Scottish Open (at least that I saw) Lee Westwood was aided by television sharing the approximate coordinates of a lost ball. Both were found.

This prompted a tweet from European Legends Tour player David Shacklady that generated a wide variety of replies:

Nothing against Lee Westwood but for the 2nd time today sky TV and Ken Brown using replay to help find his ball yet even though they showed Lucas Herbert's drive go in the grass I never saw any TV replay to help him and he never found it.
How can this be fair?@SkySportsGolf pic.twitter.com/oNfdiKrh0b

I didn’t think much of the assistance because television is part of the competition in so many different ways. Plus, only those devoid of a heart want to see an avoidable lost ball. (Though many commenters expressed delight in pros experiencing what we mere mortals go through.)

Since the fan-free return, Brooks Koepka predicted lost balls earlier this year and we did see two consequential ones created by Winged Foot’s rough. But this situation was different:

Segio Garcia's one-shot victory over Peter Malnati at the Sanderson Farms Championship on Sunday marked his first PGA Tour win since the 2017 Masters, and stretched his worldwide winning streak to 10 years.

A week after a second place finish in the Irish Open, Aaron Rai took his first Rolex Series event and third European Tour victory at the historic Scottish Open. The 25-year-old Englishman made a handy up-and-down on the first playoff hole to edge Tommy Fleetwood, who missed a few key short putts, including on the Renaissance Club’s 18th green.

Martin Dempster with the full story for The Scotsman.

Here is the ending courtesy of the European Tour as autumnal light emerged and made for a rewarding finish:

How the play-off drama unfolded 🎥 #ASISO #RolexSeries

One other fun note: both Rai and Fleetwood have participated in Gullane’s Wee Wonders program, started by their longtime pro Alasdair Good. Rai finished in the top ten of the 2018 Scottish just down the street at Gullane:

Throwback to 2018 celebrating Aaron’s great top 10 finish in the @ScottishOpen at @GullaneGolfClub 👏🏻🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

As a former wee wonder, Alasdair has known Aaron for many many years and it’s been incredible to follow his journey ⛳️

We are chuffed to bits for you Aaron! 🏆👏🏻1️⃣ pic.twitter.com/VkyEcGWX4t

Two weeks after losing a 2-shot lead, Mel Reid finished strong Sunday to win the ShopRite LPGA Classic for her first LPGA Tour title.

Englishman Aaron Rai needed only one playoff hole to beat compatriot Tommy Fleetwood and win the Scottish Open for his second European Tour title on Sunday.

Mental skills for golf can be worked on with every round you play.

20 years ago, it was generally considered that the mental game of golf was something that you were born with, or not. But thanks to scientific research and growth of the field of sport psychology, we know that it’s something that can be trained and learned to improve a player’s performance.

One of the reasons that mental skills for golf are often overlooked is because they are invisible. A swing or equipment change can have visible effects immediately. Although mental skills for golf are less measurable and more intangible, they are essential if you are to access your best skills during your rounds and tournaments.

In this week’s lesson, I’d like to 1) identify the mental skills for golf necessary to play your best, 2) show you how to assess and measure your skill level and 3) how to improve your mental skills so you improve your scores and performance. Just like you do the technical reps each week to work on your swing, you’ll need to do mental reps to work on your mind.

7 Essential Mental Skills For Golf

When I start working with a new student, as part of their mental game assessment, I have them score themselves (out of 10) for the following mental skills for golf. I will also have their coaches do it (for the student) and compare the results. By doing this exercise yourself, it will help you get a better understanding of your mental game strengths and weaknesses.

Looking for his first win of the season, Sergio Garcia shot a 6-under 66 on Saturday to earn a share of the Sanderson Farms Championship lead with Cameron Davis and J.T. Poston.

A six-time winner on the Ladies European Tour, Mel Reid will try to earn her first LPGA Tour win Sunday at the Shoprite LPGA Classic. Reid holds a 2-stroke lead over Jennifer Kupcho and Jennifer Song.

Normally the fall overseed is not national news, but with hurricane remnants hitting the course and a November Masters looming, the club reported no damage and an on-time conversion to green grass.

The latest photo posted by Eureka Earth shows green grass and bunker sand revealed. Though from this view, the 17th fairway (right center) continues to narrow with tree growth in excess fashion. Even single row irrigation might be overkill at some point soon.

The course is scheduled to reopen to members on October 12th.

40 days until The Masters 2020, and what a difference 10 days make!!! Massive shout out to all the ground crew magicians, and most likely some of those gnomes, who have magically transformed Augusta National back into a golf wonderland. 💚⛳️💚 ©01OCT2020 David Dobbins/Eureka Earth * #EurekaEarth #NotDrone #DiscoverThePresent * #themasters #aerialphoto #aerialphotography #augustaga #augustanational #golfstagram #instagolf #golf #golfer #loveaugusta #masters #masters2020 #mastersgolf #morningdrive #tigerwoods #pgatour #golfaugusta #whyilovethisgame #augustanational #angc #pga365 #golfporn #augustanational #topgolf #fallMasters #topgolfaugusta #beautifulgolfcourses

Since last week’s post here, Eureka posted another September 24th photo showing the 12th green and 13th tee indicating some damage to the banks, presumably from Rae’s Creek running well above normal levels at some point.

Thanks to the reader who sent this gem in to the news desk. A stunning gemsbok from South Africa making a strong case for several modifications to the rules of golf, from dangerous animals, to repairing your line to leaving the flagstick in.

No where on any planet that plays golf will you see this. Can SA Inc pls capitalise on what we can offer world golf @EuropeanTour @Sunshine_Tour pic.twitter.com/5filbdPJl1

Keegan Bradley was dialed in with his putter on Friday, shooting a 7-under 65 to take a two-shot lead over J.T. Poston and Charley Hoffman after the second round of the Sanderson Farms Championship.

Nasa Hataoka shot a 4-under 67 to take a one-stroke lead over Mi Hyang Lee and Mel Reid on Friday in the Shoprite LPGA Classic.

Australian golfer Lucas Herbert shot a 6-under 65 to lead the Scottish Open by 1 stroke going into the weekend.

Thanks to reader John for Ben Cohen and Joshua Robinson’s look at the long distance movement in several sports under the headline, “Athletes Are Conquering Distance. Sports Will Never Be the Same.”

The story looks at the efforts of marathoner Eliud Kipchoge to use technology to refine technique and tactics, the increase in basketball’s three-point shots, baseball fastballs and golf. Not surprisingly, the focus is on Bryson DeChambeau’s physical overhaul and the tools he has used to get longer.

It’s not just DeChambeau. The average carry distance for drives on the PGA Tour a decade ago was 268 yards. This year it was 280 yards. DeChambeau’s was 314 yards.

Darned agronomy!

Dustin Johnson’s comments on optimization were used in the context of the piece and as the primary reason golfers have outsmarted the rules.

Golf course development doesn’t get much better than when previously used industrial land gets a second life as a lush, recreational oasis the public can enjoy. Eagle Ridge Golf Club in Lakewood, New Jersey is just that kind of transformative experience. This 27-hole property was once a sand and gravel quarry that provided material for […]

The post Spotlight: Eagle Ridge Golf Club A Favorite Among New Jersey Golfers appeared first on Golf Blog, Golf Articles | GolfNow Blog.

Raw wedges elicit a mixed bag of reactions from golfers. Some swear they give them more spin but that’s a topic for another day. Some prefer the look of shiny chrome, tour satin or jet-black finish. Remember the days when we only had one choice?

The last few years have seen manufacturers offer a slew of raw options in their wedge lineups. With Cleveland Golf having successfully launched the new RTX Zip Core wedges in the summer, it has joined the Raw game, offering what it calls Tour Rack finish.

We’re going to leave it to you to tell us if raw is better.

Testers Wanted

We are looking for FIVE dedicated golfers who will provide an in-depth  four- to six-week commitment to testing the Tour Rack Zip Core wedges. Testing is open to right-handed golfers who reside in the U.S.