First limited-edition Bettinardi putter of 2021.Only 350 of this uniquely crafted Studio Stock 18 Slants will be available.Find it Jan. 12 in The Hive at Bettinardi.com or Bettinardi retailers.

Aloha! While many of us are stuck under the blankets of winter, the Bettinardi 2021 Tiki putter should produce some tropical reverie. Island time is but a state of mind, right? Though our cities may socked in, our thoughts are free to blissfully roam Polynesian putter paradises. On that note, here’s your first look at the Bettinardi 2021 Tiki SS18 Slant limited-run putter.

Specs: Bettinardi Tiki SS18 Slant Limited Run

Model: Studio Stock 18 SlantMaterial: Soft carbon steelFinish: True Black PVDFace Milling: Tropical Fancy F.I.T.Weight: 362 gramsNeck: SlantUnits Produced: 350 worldwidePrice: $800Release Date: Jan. 12

Robert J. Bettinardi’s first Limited-Run putter of 2021 starts the new golf season with a splash! Robert engineered the 2021 Tiki SS18 Slant from one piece, precision-milling the newly designed head shape from soft carbon steel to 362 grams and including a sound slot to offer players more responsive acoustics at impact. Impressively designed with Hawaiian island vibes, the SS18 Slant was given a tropical Full Fancy F.I.T. Face extending across the bumpers, intricately engraved along the inner neck and perfectly displayed across the pocket and sole.

The 2021 Tiki putter was completed in a True Black PVD finish with Honolulu blue, electric pink and white paint scheme with key Bettinardi engravings, including “Limited Run” on the sole with the iconic Orca whale and a unique island-inspired Hex B in the pocket. The SS18 Slant Tiki comes paired with a matching Made in USA leather headcover and black Gripmaster perforated grip with sharp pink stitching.

Bettinardi 2021 Tiki: Honolulu Blue and an Orca or Two

I have played this game for over 50 years and love the challenge. I only break 80 once in a while so I’m always looking for ways to keep a consistent swing for every club in my bag. One of our blog followers asked if GOLFSTR+ could help him overcome EARLY RELEASE. My response reminded me how important your practice with training aids can be.

Swing rhythm and weight shift from your trailing foot to your leading foot during your transition can help you avoid YOUR EARLY RELEASE. Unfortunately the changing weight of each club and the mental pressure from your last shot often have an impact on your next shot.

Practicing with GOLFSTR+ will remind you to keep your leading arm straight. Your leading arm should stay straight in both your back-swing and your down-swing. That’s a good starting point to stop your early release. Following are 2 of the 6 training aid uses for GOLFSTR+

1/ Straight Arm Trainer
a. Feel it touching the back of your leading arm as you pull down to start your down swing.
b. That’s your mental reminder to prevent your EARLY RELEASE as you shift your weight to your leading foot.

2/ Lag Trainer
a. The pressure on your trailing forearm is the reminder to start your transition.
b. The rotation of your leading hip starts your weight shift.
c. Holding your cocked wrist as you start your down-swing stops your EARLY RELEASE.

December 30, 2020

Celebrating the 2019-2020 NCGA Players of the Year

Each of the 2019-2020 NCGA Players of the Year were first-time honorees; Congratulations to all of our champions!

To learn more about the NCGA Player of the Year program, please visit ncga.org/play/poy-points/

 

NCGA Player of the Year—–Alex Chin

Alex Chin, a senior at University of San Francisco, won his first NCGA Player of the Year title with a total of 1,326 points. Achievements included reaching the quarterfinals of the California Amateur and finishing second at the NCGA Amateur Stroke Play Championship. Congratulations Alex on winning Player of the Year honors.

December 30, 2020

Celebrating the 2019-2020 NCGA Players of the Year

Each of the 2019-2020 NCGA Players of the Year were first-time honorees; Congratulations to all of our champions!

To learn more about the NCGA Player of the Year program, please visit ncga.org/play/poy-points/

 

NCGA Player of the Year—–Alex Chin

Alex Chin, a senior at University of San Francisco, won his first NCGA Player of the Year title with a total of 1,326 points. Achievements included reaching the quarterfinals of the California Amateur and finishing second at the NCGA Amateur Stroke Play Championship. Congratulations Alex on winning Player of the Year honors.

Mizuno adds three new models to their M•Craft putter line-up.These new putters feature 100-percent milled construction and the same three finish options from 2020.They will be in shops on Feb. 21, 2021, with a MSRP of $300.

Building upon their 2020 success, Mizuno Golf decided to expand their M•Craft putter line-up in 2021. The original M•Craft putters proved quite popular in 2020 as, for some reason, golf consumers responded positively to fully milled carbon steel heads, three finish options and an included weight kit for $300.

Go figure.

In 2021, Mizuno is adding three models to the M•Craft putter line. Don’t worry. The three models released last season will still be available in 2021.

SPECIFICATIONS: 2021 MIZUNO M•CRAFT PUTTERS

Metal: Forged 1025 carbon steelFinishes: Three (White Satin, Black ION, Blue ION)Construction: 100-percent milledLength: 34 or 35 inchesLie: 70 degreesLoft: 4 degreesHead Weight: 4 and 5, 355 grams; 6, 370 gramsWeight Kit: IncludedGrip: Lamkin Deep Etched Full BLUE cordPrice: $300 .truegolffit-banner-inner-right { padding-top: calc(574/1020 * (100% - 430px)); } @media screen and (max-width: 991px) { .truegolffit-banner-inner-right { padding-top: calc(574/1020 * 100%); width: 100%; } }

The Masters Tournament has delayed its ticketing process for the 2021 championship as it seeks a way to allow some number of spectators for the first major of the year.

WGANC Legacy Hers ‘n His  | Sierra View & Serrano  | October 27-28, 2021

 

ENTRIES OPEN: September 13,, 2021

ENTRIES CLOSE: September 27 2021

ENTRY FEE: TBA per Team

ELIGIBILITY:

WGANC Legacy Two-Person Scramble II  | San Juan Oaks | October 12-13, 2021

 

ENTRIES OPEN: August 30, 2021

ENTRIES CLOSE: September 13, 2021

ENTRY FEE: TBA per Team

ELIGIBILITY:

WGANC Legacy Fifties-Sixties  | Valley of the Moon  | September 27-28, 2021

The WGANC Age Tournaments have had many names throughout the years.  Before 1953, it was called the Seniors & Grandmothers Tournament, but it was changed to the Seniors Tournament in 1953 (ages 50 and over).  In 1970 another age tournament was added, called Nifty-Fifties (50-59) and the Seniors Tournament was now 60 and over.  Due to the oversubscription of the Nifty-Fifties and the Seniors Tournament, more age groups were added in 1977:  Junior-Senior (ages 50-55), Mid-Seniors (ages 56-62), Seniors (ages 63 and over).

In 1983, a new age group was added – 49ers (ages 18-49)

In 1997, the Super Seniors Tournament was added (ages 72 and over)

In 2000, the age tournaments were reorganized again and the tournament for players 70 years old and up was named Swingin’ Seniors.

Finally in 2018, Sassy Sixties was renamed Fifties-Sixties, to include a larger age group.

WGANC Legacy The Eclectic  | Canyon Oaks  | August 23-24, 2021

 

ENTRIES OPEN: July 12, 2021

ENTRIES CLOSE: July 26, 2021

ENTRY FEE: TBA

ELIGIBILITY:

WGANC Legacy Swingin’ Seniors  | Oakhurst & Discovery Bay  | August 3-4, 2021

 

ENTRIES OPEN: June 21, 2021

ENTRIES CLOSE: July 5, 2021

ENTRY FEE: TBA per Team

ELIGIBILITY:

WGANC Legacy Team Challenge  | Marin & Bay Club Stone Tree  | July 14-15, 2021

 

ENTRIES OPEN: May 24, 2021

ENTRIES CLOSE: July 14, 2021

ENTRY FEE: TBA

ELIGIBILITY:

WGANC Legacy Stroke Play  | Sequoyah & Contra Costa | June 15-16, 2021

 

ENTRIES OPEN: May 3, 2021

ENTRIES CLOSE: May 17, 2021

ENTRY FEE: TBD per 2-Person Team

ELIGIBILITY:

It has been nearly two years since we last asked you to take what we call the One Word Survey. As brand perception surveys go, it’s simple and doesn’t leave much room for nuance. It’s more a word association game than a deep introspection into your feels about the leading brands in golf. (We’ll do that one later).

Despite its simplicity, the results are compelling and never fail to capture the attention of the golf equipment industry.

Given the rollercoaster the industry has ridden through COVID and all of 2020, we thought it was time to do it again.

As we sift through the results, we’ll not only look at what you had to say this time around but we’ll take a closer look at how perceptions have changed over the three surveys in this series.

Which brands are trending up? Which brands are trending down? Those are the questions we hope to answer.

Greg Norman said on Sunday he tested positive for the coronavirus and is getting treatment.

Greg Norman shared photos on social media Friday of a visit to the hospital. On Thursday, he posted a video on Instagram saying he was experiencing coronavirus symptoms.

Looking to upgrade your bag?

MyGolfSpy is the premier place to find unbiased golf equipment testing and reviews with results based on carefully collected data. We’ve compiled all of the 2020 Most Wanted winners and put them in one place. This list includes 31 winners across 14 categories.

Drivers

Best Overall- Ping G410 LST

BUY NOW

Best Driver For Slow Swing Speeds- Honma XP-1

BUY NOW

Best Driver For Mid Swing Speeds- Cobra King Speedzone Xtreme

BUY NOW

Have you ever experienced an Out of Body SENSATION during your golf swing? It’s that moment when you get everything in sync for the perfect shot. Your subconscious mind seems to picture your swing in slow motion as it takes control of your body. I now realize that my brute force in my External Game of Golf is limiting my lower scores.

I decided to share these thoughts after I finished reading “The Inner Game of Golf”. Improve your game by letting your subconscious mind take control.

So many golfers, including myself, rush our backswing during the transition and never give our body time to start the shift of our weight to our leading foot at the top of our swing. Are you experiencing the following in your iron swings?
1/ You finish your swing falling back on your trailing foot.
2/ You rarely take any divot after the point where your ball rests.
3/ Your divot starts before your ball.
4/ The direction of your divot is never running up your target line.

Practical-golf.com provided this image. Impact your ball and then take your divot.

You need to slow down your transition and accelerate from the top of your swing. Danny Maude refers to this motion as swinging from “high to low” as your club falls DOWN through the ball. Your rushed, brute force swing from the top of your swing is killing your game.
a. Add rhythm to your swing by thinking 1, 2, 3 (with “2” at the top of your swing).
b. Force yourself to start the press forward (instead of backwards) at the top of your swing so that you WILL take a divot (or at least some grass) after the point where your ball is at rest.
c. Force yourself to finish your swing so that you are balancing on your leading foot and watching the amazing hit that you just made.

I know that many, including Tiger Woods, shift their minds into a yoga like trance where their subconscious takes over their swing. I’m not sure that I have described this correctly but I do know that it’s a subconscious experience. It’s that strange awareness when your mind takes control of your brute-force swing. Pros get this feeling on almost every shot.

It’s generally accepted that nine out of every 10 drivers sold come from Callaway, TaylorMade, PING, Titleist and Cobra – the so-called Big Five. It’s a ratio that hasn’t moved much, if at all, this century. Sure, there have been individual clubs that have stood out for a season or two but, by and large, the status quo remains unthreatened.

The Big Five’s domination is so complete that there’s precious little room at the table for the “challenger brands.” Companies such as Wilson, Cleveland-Srixon, Mizuno, PXG and every other company that makes drivers are fighting and scrapping for just a sliver of that last 10 percent of the driver market.

As far as the Big Five are concerned, the challenger brands are more of an annoyance than anything else.

Against that backdrop, Tour Edge’s five straight years of record sales and 33 straight years of turning a profit are, on the face of it, remarkable. At the very least, it’s worth a deeper dive to find out why.

Tour Edge: A Little Background

David Glod started Tour Edge in his garage outside of Chicago in the mid-1980s. A college teammate of Lee Janzen and Rocco Mediate, Glod was equal parts golf pro and entrepreneur. Like any good entrepreneur, he found a large gaping hole in a lucrative market: high-quality, low-cost clubs for the average recreational golfer. By 2000, Glod decided to expand into premium equipment aimed at the better player and in 2005 introduced the ultra-premium Exotics line.

New Sub 70 Forged Wedges

Key Takeaways

Two new wedges for two different styles of play.286 Forged wedge is for the player with a steeper angle of attack; features a more rounded sole.JB Forged wedge offers more versatility – for players with a shallower angle of attack who hit a variety of shots around the green.Both are available now on Sub 70’s website.

Sub 70’s new 286 Forged and JB Forged wedges represent new ground for the direct-to-consumer brand. It’s one thing to offer a wedge because, well, you have to if you want to be a full-line company. It’s another thing entirely to offer wedges aimed at specific types of play.

And while it’s a far cry from the plethora of grinds, shapes, styles and grooves the usual suspects offer, the new Sub 70 286 Forged wedge and JB Forged wedge give you something you haven’t had before from DTC brands.

Options.

Sub 70 286 and JB Wedges – How Do You Play?

“Instead of heaving 14 grinds like Vokey has, we’re going to offer two options,” says Sub 70 owner, founder and guiding spirit Jason Hiland. “One is for the creative player with low-bounce options and more heel relief. The other is for the golfer who is more straightforward with his wedge game and wants a traditional, rounded sole.”