The Longest Golf Hole in the World Is Over 1,000 Yards
The longest golf hole in the world is the 3rd hole on the Jeongeup Course at Gunsan Country Club in South Korea. This par-7 hole stretches an incredible 1,097 yards (1,003 meters), making it the only known par-7 of this length globally.
About the Hole
Course: Gunsan Country Club, Jeongeup Course, Hole 3
Par: 7
In this week's episode of Emergency 9, Subpar co-host Drew Stoltz explains how to stealthily employ a hand wedge to fool your friends.
The post Drew Stoltz’s favorite bunker trick to fool your unsuspecting buddies appeared first on Golf.
It’s that time of year again, and since Titleist operates on predictable two-year cycles, that time is iron time.
Debuting at the Charles Schwab Challenge and the DP World Tour’s Soudal Open this week are the new T100, T150, T250, and T350 irons. T250U and U505 utility irons are also available to Tour players for the first time.
As is customary, Titleist describes this pre-launch phase as the “seeding and validation process.” The company is pointedly not using the “prototype” description because the reality is that the recipe is final, the irons are cooked, and from here until the official launch later this summer, they are what they’re going to be.
Per usual, Titleist isn’t saying exactly (or even hinting at) what’s new and different, but there are some obvious visual clues that things have changed.
From what we can see, the T100 and T150 irons remain true to their split cavity design heritage. Given that the T100 has been the most played iron on the PGA TOUR since 2019, you wouldn’t expect Titleist to deviate too much from their winning formula.
As we suggested in a story earlier this year, there may very well be no better time to try a Mizuno driver than right now. The company has been selling its ST-Series drivers for just $300 all season long.
Today, we’re getting our first real look at what the next Mizuno drivers are likely to be, and if company insiders are to be believed, they might be worth waiting for.
Hitting the USGA conforming list this week are four new Mizuno Prototype drivers. And in this case, we’re talking about legitimate, not-100%-ready-for-primetime prototypes. Specifically, the updated entries include two versions each of two Mizuno drivers – PROTOTYPE D131 and PROTOTYPE D132.
Version 1 of Mizuno’s D132 Prototype DriverDistinctions between “Type 1” and “Type 2” models are subtle to say the least and aren’t discernible in the USGA photos – at least not to my Monday morning eyes.
The photos suggest that the D131 is larger and more elongated while the D132 is perhaps more compact. Take all of that with a grain of salt, however, as the USGA cameramen rarely provide any dependable sense of scale. For all we know, one could be the size of a toaster and the other might fit in your pocket.
We knew Scottie Scheffler had the game to win the PGA Championship; he just needed to stay out of the slammer.
One year ago, Scheffler made headlines not just for his world-class ball striking, but for being arrested on his way into Valhalla during Friday’s round. This year, no such drama—just a Wanamaker Trophy.
Scheffler cruised to a five-shot win at the 2025 PGA Championship. While none of us can replicate his poise under pressure, we can take a closer look at the equipment he used to get the job done.
Here’s everything Scottie Scheffler used to win the PGA Championship.
Scheffler still plays with the TaylorMade Qi10 driver, even after the release of the Qi35. It has 8° loft adjusted to 8.25° and features a Fujikura Ventus Black 7X.
Nothing lasts forever in golf – not your swing, not your lucky ball marker that mysteriously vanished mid-round and certainly not that driver you were convinced would add 20 yards (spoiler: it didn’t).
While golf equipment obsolescence is practically an industry business model, there are a few heroic companies that stand behind their products, not just through the honeymoon phase, but until death do you part.
There’s an expression in the tool world that applies perfectly to golf as well: “Buy once, cry once.” The idea is you spend a bit more upfront on higher quality, better or just the product you truly want. You cry initially at checkout but between longevity, performance and your unbridled joy of owning the thing you really wanted, you more than get what you pay for in the long run.
The reality is few things in the golf world (or even the golf-adjacent world) have lifetime warranties. One to two years is pretty standard and while that’s not terrible, it’s worth calling out brands that actually stand behind their products for the long haul.
In some cases (like Vortex) it’s “no questions asked” while others offer “limited lifetime warranties.” As an example, Peter Millar might (just spit-ballin’ here) warranty the zipper on your favorite Kiawah Island-branded hoodie against manufacturing defects but if your puppy decides to use that same zipper as a teething toy (asshole), you’re probably out of luck.
As a new golfer, it will not take long to figure out that you will hit most of your shots in what’s called the “short game” (chipping, pitching, putting). The quicker you get better at these short shots, the easier it will be to lower your scores. Even if you can’t drive the ball 300 yards or hit your irons consistently every time, nothing should stop you from getting better around the greens. Here are some chipping and pitching basics to help get you started as you learn the game.
Chipping and pitching are not the same. Understanding the differences between the two shots will help you choose which is the best to hit under which circumstances.
A chip shot has a low trajectory with a short swing that doesn’t spend much time in the air and rolls out toward the hole after it lands.
A pitch shot is a higher shot with a bigger swing and more spin. It’s used to hit over obstacles and when you want a softer landing on the green.
| Shot Type | Height | Swing Size | Spin | Best Used For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chip | Low | Short | Moderate | Just off the green, low runners |
| Pitch | High | Bigger swing | More spin | Over obstacles, softer landings |
As you get better, the clubs you use to hit chips and pitches may expand and you may develop favorites. Generally, for chipping, you can take a less-lofted club while pitch shots require more loft.
I’ve recently become a “L.A.B.” rat. No, I don’t mean I bought a white coat and a chemistry set. I mean I’ve gone all in on L.A.B. Golf putters and their Lie Angle Balanced technology (L.A.B. Get it?). I’d tried a couple models but I wasn’t a huge fan of the feel and didn’t have that putting epiphany some of my friends had. So I shelved them in favor of less weird-looking flatsticks. Then came the OZ.1i and I was intrigued, to say the least. One remote fitting and a dent to the wallet and I was the proud owner of a TPT-shafted charcoal OZ.1i.
It took a little bit of getting used to, I grant you. L.A.B. calls it a “torque hangover” and, believe me, some hangovers are worse than others. I’d been on a decade-long torque bender and it took some effort via a lot of thumbless drills to get clean. That hard work is behind me and I’m seeing quite a few more putts go in this year than last.
There’s just one problem in this burgeoning love story. Like most golf equipment junkies, I’ve got a bit of a wandering eye. What I don’t have is an unlimited budget. Having sunk considerable cheddar into the OZ purchase, I was now insatiably curious about the rest of the L.A.B. lineup (even the weird-looking ones). I had a dilemma.
A little bit about me: I putt “heads up,” meaning I’m looking at the target, not the ball, when I make my stroke. If you’re at all curious about that, fire up Google and search “Sasho MacKenzie” and “heads up putting.” You’ll find plenty of material from perhaps the smartest man in golf extolling the virtues of this method. The point is that it seems to me that if I’m not going look at the ball when I putt, I should probably emphasize forgiveness in my choice of putters.
Peruse the L.A.B. lineup and you’ll find the OZ is plenty forgiving, but not the most forgiving. That honor goes to the flagship DF 2.1. You know, the one that looks like a branding iron.
When a PGA Tour player wins, we are not just looking at their clubs. We are checking the shoes, too. Sepp Straka, who previously wore Sqairz, wore the adidas TOUR360 ’24 during his win at the Truist. The TOUR360 ’24 is not just lab tested. It is Tour-proven, winning our Best Spiked Golf Shoe Test in 2024 and 2025.
When we test spiked golf shoes, we look at traction, comfort and stability. The adidas TOUR360 ’24 isn’t the leader in any one category but it was in the top five for traction, comfort and stability.
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Traction | 9.75/10 |
| Comfort | 44.3/45 |
| Stability | 28.8/30 |
| Elements | 14.25/15 |
| Total Score | 98.0 |
For the second year running, no other shoe has offered this level of across-the-board performance.
Most golfers associate comfort with spikeless shoes and for good reason. The TOUR360 ’24 breaks that mold. Testers loved the BOOST cushioning in the heel and the soft leather upper. Step-in comfort is strong and the overall feel is more like a walking shoe than a cleated one.
If you walk more than you ride, this shoe needs to be on your radar.
Every three months, we get a master class teaching us that golf’s two biggest OEMs are two very different companies. Acushnet and Topgolf Callaway do put up the numbers, though, with combined sales of $1.8 billion in just the first three months of 2025.
I don’t care who you are or what you think of the current state of affairs in the golf industry, $1.8 billion is a lot.
As always, the topline numbers almost always paint a happy picture. It’s when you dig into the details of profit, loss, trends and shareholder guidance that you get a sense of what’s going on with these companies.
What we’re finding is pretty fascinating. For Topgolf Callaway, the upcoming spinoff of Topgolf into an independent company needs to happen sooner rather than later. For Acushnet, one of its industry-standard brands might need a little soul searching sooner rather than later.
As we look into each company’s Q1 2025 financial reports, we need to offer up our regular disclaimer:
Unless you’re involved in the hockey or dance world, GRIT may be a brand you’ve never heard of. I fell squarely into this category and therefor was surprised to see a golf cart bag coming from a brand unknown to me.
First and foremost, GRIT is a bag company. Their focus is solely on creating high-quality bags for a variety of sports and got their start in the hockey world. During the pandemic, hockey shut down and golf ramped up which helped them get the ball rolling on their original Tower cart bag. The 2.0 has been redesigned and improved to offer players who ride and push a better, more convenient golfing experience. While other major brands centralize their focus on clubs (and for good reason), GRIT’s sole focus is on creating the most functional bag possible.
“Utilitarian” was the first word that came to mind when I saw the Golf Tower 2.0. It has an industrial, rugged look that is built to hold up to whatever may be thrown its way. The square design helps it stand out in a sea of cylindrical bags. One nagging problem with traditional golf bags is the twisting and rotating once strapped onto the back of the cart. Through testing the Golf Tower 2.0, I can say that it does a better job of staying squarely in place. It’s different – but in a good way. The more I look at the square design, the more I like it.
All storage, excluding the large apparel pocket, is located on the back of the bag in a locker-style layout. This draws from their designs with their hockey bags and having dedicated storage sections for individual pieces of gear. The rangefinder/ball pocket is located at the top of the bag, which is a departure from traditional designs, and a large cooler pocket is located at the bottom. You’ll find zero side pockets on this bag, which is another unique design element to the Golf Tower 2.0
As mentioned, the rangefinder/ball pocket is located at the top of the bag for quicker access. At first, this didn’t seem like that big of a deal to me. I normally don’t consider it hard to bend over and grab a ball out of the lower pocket of my golf bag but, man, this has been breath of fresh air. The magnetic closure pops open with a simple pull. For older golfers who may have a harder time bending down, this is a huge plus.
When driving to and from the golf course, the last thing we need is our gear to be scattered around the trunk of our vehicle. Keeping everything neat, clean and organized saves time in the parking lot so that rushing to the tee box unprepared becomes a thing of the past. Check out the items below to ensure that you keep your gear, plus other essentials you may need, organized and ready to go at a moment’s notice.
This shoe storage bag from Ghost Golf is the perfect accessory to keep in your car so that your shoes are easy to grab when heading to the course. This bag is large enough to hold shoes up to size 14 and is water-resistant. A quilted PU lining is easy to clean and adds a touch of style. Keep your shoes organized and car clutter-free.
The perfect accessory for your walking round, the Nitron push cart from Bag Boy features Nitro Piston Technology, a powered auto assist open mechanism. It folds down into a small and compact package, making storing it in your car a breeze for when you feel like getting some extra steps in out on the course.
Nobody likes dirty shoes. But, let’s face it, sometimes you don’t have time to clean your kicks after every wear. That’s where the Sneaker Wipes from Reshoevn8r come in. Each wipe features a smooth side for quick cleanup and a textured side for stubborn stains or dried mud. These wipes are safe to use on leather, plastic, vinyl and rubber and work great on midsole scuffs. Keep your shoes fresh with these wipes.
This extra-large umbrella features lightweight fiberglass shaft and a double-canopy vented design to resist strong winds. “Automatic open” makes deploying this umbrella a breeze when weather strikes on short notice. 210T water-repellent fabric keeps you dry and allows for quick moisture drainage.
Rory McIlroy's driver wasn't the only one the USGA deemed nonconforming in testing ahead of this week's PGA Championship. Scottie Scheffler confirmed Sunday after his five-stroke victory that he also was forced to use a new driver for the tournament.
Jon Rahm made it close for a while, but Scottie Scheffler's inevitability hung in the Charlotte air all day.
After being tied for the PGA Championship lead with nine holes to play, Jon Rahm came up seven shots short of winner Scottie Scheffler on Sunday.
Scottie Scheffler, whose three-shot lead was erased during the final round, held steady to win the PGA Championship by five shots as Jon Rahm stumbled down the stretch.
Scottie Scheffler's golf is the key to his brilliance, but his secret is about something much deeper than that.
The post After an emphatic PGA, Scottie Scheffler told the world his secret appeared first on Golf.
Even as Scottie Scheffler faltered early on Sunday at the PGA Championship, he never doubted the final outcome. That's what makes him great.
The post Even when there was doubt, PGA champ Scottie Scheffler had none appeared first on Golf.
Jon Rahm may have lost the PGA Championship Sunday, but it didn't look like a defeat. It looked like the start of something big.
The post Jon Rahm lost the PGA Championship, but it didn’t look that way from up close appeared first on Golf.
© 2025 GolfLynk.com a division of Outdoorsmen.com
