Golfing News & Blog Articles

The majority of us are on the same journey: to lower scores and lower our handicaps. How we get there can be a bit of a rollercoaster ride with the highest of highs, lowest of lows and occasions where things nearly go completely off the rails.

One simple, but often overlooked, aspect of scoring better is proper club gapping. When your clubs are properly gapped, it helps to minimize shots wasted getting in and out of trouble while maximizing your chance to shoot lower scores.

What is Club Gapping?

Club gapping is the distance difference between each of your clubs. For example, if you hit your 8-iron 150 yards and your 7-iron 160, your gap is 10 yards.

I love easy math.

Fundamental to the gapping process is understanding exactly how far you hit every club in your bag.

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:

The Oakley Edge Icon golf shoes. If you know me at all, I tend to go for stuff that’s flashy rather than functional. Let’s just say the Edge Icon is more Malbon than FootJoy.

Who Tried It:

Connor. Managing Editor and resident sneakerhead. From the first moment I saw the Oakley Edge Icon, I knew I had to have them. They’re so weird and funky that you can’t help but stare. Seriously, the looks I got from rocking these in a recent scramble was well worth it.

When I brought these home, my wife asked if we were going boating. Yes, they kind of look like water shoes. No, I didn’t tell her how much they cost.

Polarizing or Praiseworthy?

There are few, if any, golf shoes I’ve ever seen that are this … interesting? It’s hard to find an appropriate way to describe the Oakley Edge Icon. While I’m a big fan of the boisterous design, I understand I’m very much in the minority here.

Full 2024 RBC Canadian Open tee times for Thursday's first round, featuring Rory McIlroy, Nick Taylor and Tommy Fleetwood.

The post 2024 RBC Canadian Open Thursday tee times: Round 1 groupings appeared first on Golf.

LPGA golfer Lexi Thompson, the winner of 15 events who was just 12 when she qualified for her first U.S. Women's Open, will retire from full-time competition at 29.

Jack Nicklaus, often referred to as "The Golden Bear," is one of the most legendary figures in the history of golf. Here’s an in-depth look at his life, career, and contributions to the sport:

Early Life

1. Birth and Early Years

   • Born on January 21, 1940, in Columbus, Ohio, USA.
   • Showed an early interest and talent in golf, influenced by his father, Charlie Nicklaus, who was a pharmacist and an avid golfer.

2. Amateur Career

   • At the age of 10, he recorded his first score under 100, and by 13, he had scored under 70.
   • Won the Ohio State Junior Championship at 12 and the Ohio State Open at 16.
   • Attended Ohio State University, where he further honed his golfing skills.
   • Won the U.S. Amateur title twice (1959, 1961) and was a member of the victorious 1959 Walker Cup team.

Professional Career

1. Turning Pro

   • Nicklaus turned professional in 1961, quickly establishing himself as a force in the golf world.

2. Major Championships

It’s that time of year again to officially recognize all the great dads out there. While a golf polo is a pretty traditional gift, we thought maybe you want to dig a little deeper this year. We broke down some of the best golf gifts for your dad and split them into various price ranges to make this an easier decision for you.

Best Golf Gifts for Dad Under $100

Vice Pro Plus Golf Balls

The Vice Pro Plus is a four-piece golf ball designed for maximum distance while still offering a soft feel around the green. In our 2023 ball testing, the Vice Pro Plus was one of the best values we could find.

For $38.99, the Vice Pro Plus offers many of the same benefits as a premium ball.

Waggle The Green Hatket Hat

Waggle makes fun hats that work well as a Father’s Day gift. This particular one is $35, has a bit of a Masters motif and is comfortable and adjustable. If you have a dad who needs a little fun on the course, this is a good choice.

CMC Design Black Clover Live Lucky Headcover

The CMC Black Clover Live Lucky logo headcover can bring a bit of personality to your dad’s golf bag. Not only does it protect the driver from damage but it’s also a unique and well-made gift. The head cover costs $39.99 and pairs well with a new driver for dad.

Everyone wants to attend the Masters.

There is a mystique and exclusivity about the tournament that puts the experience on a different level than any other sporting event. There are old-school rules that help everyone be present in the moment, and there are enough activities for one jam-packed day of being a patron.

We all know it’s a special place—but how do you get a ticket?

This is an elusive pursuit for many of us. Augusta National doesn’t reveal how many patrons attend the tournament but the avenues for getting inside the gates are limited.

The Ticket Lottery

Assuming you don’t know someone who has a badge or an extra ticket on their hands, your only shot at reasonably priced tickets will be through the lottery system.

Golf is a beautiful game. Part of that beauty stems from the varying types of courses available for us to enjoy. From parkland to sandbelt to heathland, each design offers varying terrain, elevations and challenges sure to provide excitement in every round. It all started, however, with links golf. 

In this article, we will dive into the origins and roots of this great game, what defines links golf, how it varies from other course styles, strategies for success and some of the best links courses around the world. 

A Game is Born

Golf originated along the coastline of Scotland in the 15th Century, taking place on what we describe today as “links”courses. The term “links” is derived from the Old English word “hlinc,” which refers to sandy dunes. While you’ll see many courses billed as “links-style”, the following elements must be present in order to be a true links course:

Each provides an essential characteristic to making a links course what it is. Let’s take a look at these elements in more detail.

The Elements of Links Golf

Dunes and Soil

Typically found along coastlines, links golf courses feature natural sandy dunes and sandy soil. These conditions provide hard and fast fairways, which tend to provide more roll than other types of courses. You’ll also find deep pot bunkers lining many fairways and greens.

Michael Thorbjornsen of Stanford finished No. 1 in the PGA Tour University standings and secured his PGA Tour card.

This week's golf news: An intriguing coaching trend continues, a PGA Tour-PIF deal grows murky, Scottie Scheffler's saga drags on and more.

The post PGA Tour stars swap coaches, Scheffler’s saga continues | Monday Finish appeared first on Golf.

LIV pro Richard Bland improbably won the 2024 Senior PGA Championship in his senior debut but was denied a customary winner's exemption. Here's why.

The post LIV pro wins Senior PGA but gets denied customary PGA Tour Champions exemption appeared first on Golf.

How to watch the 2024 RBC Canadian Open at Hamilton Golf & Country Club, including full TV coverage, streaming info and more.

The post 2024 RBC Canadian Open: How to watch, TV coverage, streaming info, tee times appeared first on Golf.

The 2024 RBC Canadian Open odds have been posted, and we're picking the defending champion as our long shot to win again.

The post 2024 RBC Canadian Open odds: Defending champion is our long-shot pick in Ontario appeared first on Golf.

In today's edition of Play Smart, Jonathan Yarwood and Chris Como explain the common denominator in all great players' swings.

The post All great players do this during their swings, says top teacher appeared first on Golf.

On this week's Subpar, Stanford Steve told hosts Colt Knost and Drew Stoltz about the first time he met ESPN colleague Scott Van Pelt.

The post ESPN’s Stanford Steve recalls the first time he met Scott Van Pelt  appeared first on Golf.

The latest edition of GOLF's weekly equipment notes takes a look at Justin Rose's red-hot putter, Tour prototypes, persimmon woods and more.

The post What happens when pros use a persimmon driver? | Wall-to-Wall appeared first on Golf.

In a recent interview with GOLF's Dylan Dethier, Patrick Reed discussed being cast as a villain, his controversies, and how he views himself.

The post Patrick Reed on being cast as a villain, his controversies, and how he sees himself appeared first on Golf.

Levelwear, a family-owned Canadian brand, has steadily built a strong reputation based on consistent quality and superior customer service.

The post How this understated Canadian apparel brand is making a big impact in the golf space appeared first on Golf.

Some golfers do a great job of staying up to date with the latest trends in fashion on the course. Others struggle—and that can be an understatement! Golf apparel technology and styles change from one season to the next. These are the best gifts for the golfer who needs a new wardrobe. 

KJUS Cool Recovery Midlayer Half-Zip 

The KJUS Cool Recovery mid layer features a four-way stretch fabric that allows even the strongest and fastest swingers to make clean contact. This half-zip is available in three color combinations and has built-in UPF 50+ protection. 

It’s one of those pieces that comes in handy for those early morning or late afternoon rounds when an extra layer is needed. The KJUS Cool Recover Midlayer Half-Zip is $219.

goodr Sunglasses 

When we look at golf wardrobe upgrades, we can’t forget the accessories. Some of these goodr sunglasses start at just $25 and they come in dozens of colors and patterns. They provide full UV400 protection and have scratch-resistant lenses. 

Sunglasses are a great addition to any golf polo or even a dozen golf balls you give as a gift. We recently compared these sunglasses to a $600 pair and they held up quite well. 

Do you know what the second most popular U.S. shoe brand is?

If you said Skechers, you’re either lying or made a really good guess. But the truth is the truth. Outside of NIKE, Skechers is the best-selling casual shoe brand in the United States.

Why then, when looking for a new pair of golf shoes, is the brand with the giant “S” logo often an afterthought?

When I was in middle school, I was obsessed with NIKE and Air Jordan. I am, to some degree, still that same 12-year-old kid who just wanted to have the coolest shoes. If NIKE and Jordan were the top of the sneaker pyramid, it always felt like Skechers was at the bottom.

To me, Skechers were always just the shoe that janitors wore (no offense intended, I was a janitor all through college to support my family). And my opinion largely stayed that way until I started testing and reviewing golf shoes for a living.