Last Saturday, I watched a student pull out his rangefinder on the 14th tee, zap the pin at 147 yards, then proceed to fly his approach shot over the green into thick rough. He had the exact distance but made the worst possible decision with that information.

Here’s the thing: knowing yardages doesn’t automatically make you a better golfer. In fact, I see players get worse when they first start using rangefinders because they become obsessed with precision while ignoring strategy. They’re so focused on hitting it exactly 147 yards that they forget about the water hazard lurking behind the pin or the bunker guarding the front.

After two-plus decades of teaching, I’ve learned that rangefinders are only as good as the decisions you make with them. The magic isn’t in the technology itself but in how you use that information to eliminate big numbers from your scorecard.

The layup that saves strokes

Most golfers use rangefinders to attack pins. Smart golfers use them to find safe landing zones. When you’re 180 yards out on a par-4 with water short of the green, don’t just zap the flag. Range the front edge of the hazard, the back edge, and identify your perfect layup distance.

I teach students to find their “money yardage” for each wedge. If you’re deadly with a 60-yard sand wedge, use your rangefinder to identify spots that leave you exactly that distance. Suddenly, that intimidating approach becomes a routine pitch shot to a fat part of the green.

There’s a decent chance you have a Fairway & Greene golf shirt or two in your closet. The company, founded in 1995, specializes in classy, traditional golf polos and outerwear.

It’s very likely you’ll see more of their apparel in your local pro shop very soon. Fairway & Green has recently become the official uniform supplier of the PGA of America. More importantly, however, is that it’s now part of PGA Golf Retirement Plus, an incentive program for PGA of America golf professionals.

What is PGA Golf Retirement Plus?

If you pay attention to the staff comings and goings at your local clubs, you know the life of a PGA pro doesn’t have a lot of guarantees. They receive a base salary, which often isn’t as large as you might think. They also make money from lessons, usually about 50 to 70 percent of the hourly fee. The last source of income comes from pro shop sales. That can range from a five- to 15-percent commission on merchandise sales to a full profit opportunity if they operate the shop independently.

Private clubs, as you’d expect, tend to pay more than public or municipal courses.

PGA Golf Retirement Plus is a supplemental retirement savings program offered by the PGA of America for its club professionals. A pro can contribute his or her own after-tax money to the program and employers often contribute as well. This year, to celebrate its 30th anniversary, Fairway & Greene is joining more than 30 other merchandise and apparel brands in supporting the program by incentivizing pro shop sales.

Buying golf rain gear is like asking a favor of Don Corleone.

“Someday – and that day may never come – I’ll call upon you to do a service for me.”

Owning rain gear is literally preparing for a rainy day, but you hope to never use it. If that’s the case, why bother buying rain gear that may be considered expensive?

Well, what if that day should ever come? What if you’re at St Andrews or Pebble Beach, and rain starts to fall? You’ll want your rain gear to do a service for you.

Galvin Green can certainly lay claim to being the godfather of modern golf rain gear. That is, after all, how the company got its start in Sweden in 1990. Not one to sit still, Galvin Green says its next-generation waterproof technology brings rain gear to a new level of comfort and performance.

2025 FedEx St. Jude Championship tee times for Thursday's first round at TPC Southwind, featuring Scottie Scheffler and more.

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In this edition of Play Smart, Padraig Harrington breaks down what you can learn from the iconic Happy Gilmore swing.

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The 2025 FedEx St. Jude Championship is on ESPN! Will Hideki Matsuyama defend his title? Check out how to watch the action now.

It's time for the 2025 FedEx Cup playoffs! What are the main events on this year's schedule? Check out how the PGA process works now.

What do you do when you arrive to the tee and discover that one of the tee markers is missing? Rules Guy has the answer.

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The 2025 FedEx St. Jude begins on Thursday in Memphis. Here are 6 picks our expert loves — and why he thinks you should too.

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The FedEx Cup Playoffs run has six surprising subplots, including Ryder Cup closing statements and stars on the wrong side of a bubble.

The post Stars in danger, Ryder Cup closing arguments: 6 FedEx Cup Playoffs subplots appeared first on Golf.

Golf, a sport steeped in tradition, is on the cusp of a significant transformation. As technology advances and societal preferences evolve, the game is adapting to remain relevant and engaging for a new generation of players. This document explores key trends and innovations shaping the future of golf.

Technological Advancements

Technology is revolutionizing how golf is played, practiced, and experienced.

• Equipment Innovation:
• Smart Clubs: Clubs embedded with sensors providing real-time swing data and feedback.
• Personalized Ball Design: Golf balls tailored to an individual's swing characteristics for optimized flight and distance.
• Data Analytics:
• Performance Tracking: Wearable devices and launch monitors offering comprehensive data on swing mechanics, ball speed, and shot accuracy.
• Course Management Tools: AI-powered systems providing optimal strategy recommendations based on player data and course conditions.
• Virtual and Augmented Reality:
• Immersive Training: VR simulations for practicing in various course environments and conditions.
• Augmented Reality Overlays: AR glasses providing real-time data overlays on the course, such as yardage and hazards.

Sustainability Initiatives

The golf industry is increasingly focusing on environmental stewardship.

I'm an obsessed golfer. And an obsessed traveler. These are the travel tips I'm writing down so I don't forget them next year.

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GOLFTEC Director of Teaching Quality Josh Troyer explains the two biggest reasons recreational golfers struggle with a hook.

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Ryder Cup captain's picks are just a few weeks away, which begs the question: will Europe ignore one of its hottest players right now?

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A new "Official Masters Hospitality" program will be offering packages that can run upward of $219,600 for the week of the tournament.

August is National Dog Month, a fact not lost on Callaway. You may recall its past “Let the Big Dog Eat” offerings, which included balls featuring pit bulls, German shepherds, labrador retrievers, huskies and Bernese Mountain dogs. Some of those may not have been official releases, but they do exist … as do a few with Dobermans on them.

Anyway, big dogs are, apparently, soooo last season. This time around, instead of letting those big dogs eat, Callaway has decided to let the small dog do whatever it is small dogs do. Bite ankles, maybe? Yap incessantly at the mailman? Judge you silently from their tiny throne on the couch?

Why does Callaway hate medium-sized dogs?

First up—and I don’t know if there’ll be more—is the Chrome Tour Small Dog Corgi, which is, as the name makes painfully obvious, a Chrome Tour golf ball with a corgi-inspired TruTrack design.

Not exactly my favorite breed, but people—some people—absolutely lose their minds over corgis. No judgement. All dogs are awesome, but anyway, if you’re the type of golfer who refers to your three-putt as “just giving it the royal treatment,” then maybe this is your ball.

Once just a remote outpost, Gamble Sands has matured into one of America's must-visit golf playgrounds.

The post Gamble Sands golf resort: Why it’s America’s hidden gem for golf trips appeared first on Golf Blog, Golf Articles | GolfNow.

Wondering if your long irons are going as far as they should?

The 4- and 5-irons are your traditional long irons but we’ve included the 6-iron here, too. For many mid- to high-handicap golfers, it’s the longest iron still in the bag. With more players switching to hybrids, and with the 2- and 3-iron all but extinct, this is a part of the bag where yardage often gets left on the table. Use this chart as a ballpark idea of where you stand.

Shot Scope provided updated distance performance averages based on handicap, which filter out mishits and reflect a solid strike. Take a look at the numbers below.

25 handicap

At the 25-handicap level, long irons can be a real weak spot. The gaps between clubs start to compress. Many golfers struggle to get consistent launch and carry distance. With a greens-hit percentage of just six percent using a 5-iron and proximity over 230 feet, it’s no surprise that this is one of the least effective clubs in the bag. If you’re seeing similar patterns, it may be time to consider a hybrid or more forgiving iron in this range.

20 handicap

The 20-handicap isn’t all that different from the 25 when you look at the long iron stats. Yardages are higher, but the gaps are still tight, and the overall effectiveness remains low.

Golf gear is a lot like a new car. Once you take it out for a spin, it starts losing value. Depreciation is just part of the deal. While that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t invest in new clubs, bags or tech, it can be smart to go in with a resale mindset.

There’s a solid secondhand market out there if you buy the right gear, take care of it and sell it while it’s still in demand. Here’s what actually holds value (and what you should think twice about keeping too long).

PING clubs

PING gear has loyal followers, longer product cycles and consistent demand. Even older models like the G400 or i210 still fetch respectable prices. Old PING Anser putters are another hot commodity on websites like eBay.

The important thing to remember is that clubs with standard loft, lie and length are easiest to move, but you can get lucky if someone with just the right specs comes along.

Titleist gear

Titleist is one of the most trusted names in golf. Their irons and drivers stay relevant longer than most. The TSR series drivers are selling for a few hundred dollars in very good condition. You’ll even find some old 917 fairway woods and drivers that people pay $100 or more for.

Golf is full of dumb products.

You’ve seen ’em. You’ve probably even bought a few in your day (don’t make me bring up the Swing Shirt).

But every once in a while, someone successfully identifies a problem within the game and has the wherewithal to create a useful product to offer golfers a working solution.

Enter Jain Golf and their Club Caddy. After a wildly successful initial launch, the budding lifestyle company is bringing it back for another go-around.

The Club Caddy 2.0 is a reimagined Sunday bag. Designed for short courses and range practice sessions, its minimalist design holds up to four clubs for an easy, portable carry solution.