Every year, there are products that stand out. Although it feels like there are fewer standouts each season, I still manage to find some things I genuinely love. With that in mind, here are my five favorite finds for 2025—a mix of gear that either solved problems I didn’t know I had or reminded me why I fell in love with certain categories in the first place.

Kjus Iver shorts

I’ll be honest. There’s a part of me that wishes I had never tried these Kjus shorts. They’ve completely ruined other golf shorts for me. The Kjus Iver shorts hit that perfect sweet spot: ideal weight, perfect stretch and a fit that’s not the least bit baggy while avoiding being too “Euro” in a way that makes both the guy wearing them and everyone else around him uncomfortable.

I’m not going to sugarcoat the price. They’re not cheap, but if you buy them in staple colors, you’re probably going to have them long enough to justify the investment.

Sunday Swagger apparel

Sunday Swagger isn’t a new brand but I’d admit that, as not the “apparel guy” around here, it’s new to me. My first real introduction came when I wrote the pieces I would, and wouldn’t, wear from their spring collection.

Truthfully, the material isn’t wildly different from a good bit of what’s out there but the shirts fit me well and the brand is always bold enough to inject some life into your wardrobe.

That inconsistency off the tee? Those three-putts that come out of nowhere? The iron shots that feel perfect on the range but fall apart on the course? They all trace back to one problem: You don’t have a reliable pre-shot routine.

Your pre-shot routine determines your mental state, physical readiness and shot execution. Get it wrong, and you’ll second-guess every swing, rush crucial shots, and let pressure destroy your game. Get it right and golf becomes repeatable, even under stress.

You don’t need complex visualization exercises or a sports psychologist. Three specific elements can transform your consistency faster than you’d think possible.

Why a pre-shot routine matters

Most golfers obsess over swing mechanics, equipment and fitness. Meanwhile, their lack of routine undermines everything else.

A rushed, random approach produces anxiety and poor decisions. You stand over the ball thinking about mechanics, worrying about hazards, replaying your last bad shot. This mental chaos creates tension, rushed swings and that sickening feeling of losing control.

LIV questions — plus the PGA Tour's step-skipper, the righty putter who's found lefty success and much more in the Monday Finish.

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King-Collins' creative nine-hole course at Inness is a must-play, and it should be your next New York golf destination.

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The Titleist GT1 fairway wood was originally designed as a "game-improvement" club, but now it has two PGA Tour titles.

The post This ‘game-improvement’ fairway wood has won multiple PGA Tour titles appeared first on Golf.

The United States boasts a robust and diverse golf course landscape, catering to a wide range of enthusiasts from casual players to professional athletes. The number of golf courses in the USA has seen various trends over the decades, influenced by economic factors, real estate development, and the sport's popularity. Understanding these numbers provides insight into the health and direction of the golf industry.

Key Statistics on Golf Courses

While the exact number can fluctuate due to new constructions and closures, various industry reports and associations regularly track the total number of golf courses. These reports often categorize courses by type (public, private), size (18-hole, 9-hole), and geographical distribution.

Total Number of Golf Courses

Based on recent industry data, the United States generally maintains a total number of golf courses in the range of 14,000 to 15,000 facilities. This figure includes both regulation 18-hole courses and shorter 9-hole or executive courses.

Distribution by Course Type

The majority of golf courses in the USA are accessible to the public. The breakdown typically looks like this:

After the PGA Tour pulled the plug on its Sentry event at Kapalua, the Maui resort has remained sanguine about any potential fallout.

The post After losing PGA Tour event, Kapalua forges onward: ‘A real rollercoaster’ appeared first on Golf.

Rico Hoey is an elite ball-striker but a troublesome putter left him on the wrong side of the top 100 bubble. One switch changed everything.

The post Pro’s late-season gear change helped save his PGA Tour card appeared first on Golf.

We are working on getting the new balls robot tested, and we’ll get those results to you as soon as possible. In the meantime, we’ve dug a little bit deeper to find out more about the specifications of the new ball.

Here’s what we know so far.

A Familiar Factory

The Amazon Core Soft is produced by SM Global. That’s the same factory that produces the Kirkland Performance+, both PXG Xtreme Models, and the Malbon golf ball.

Where the stories diverge is that while those other balls feature urethane covers, the more affordable (that’s saying something when Kirkland is in the mix) Amazon ball is an ionomer-covered offering.

Dimple patterns are equally familiar

It’s not unusual for balls from the same factory to feature the same dimple patterns. Great examples are balls from Maxfli, Vice, OnCore and more that share Foremost’s 318-dimple cover.

Earlier this year, Callaway released Chrome Tour Shark golf balls. Today, they’ve jumped them. Every last one.

Much to the dismay of many of you (particularly our friends in the UK who apparently hate fun), I’ve been all in on this limited-edition stuff this year. It doesn’t matter if we’re talking about golf balls, headcovers or other bits of golf gear miscellany. I’ve been here for every last bit of it.

But cats? I’m sorry but limited edition or not, cats on golf balls (especially since we’re not talking about Supersoft) is a bridge too far.

And to be clear, Callaway didn’t lose track of when April Fools’ Day is. This is an entirely real thing that is happening (to us).

When the marketing department runs out of ideas

According to Callaway: “Cats have entered the chat. Chrome Tour Cats is a limited-edition collection that celebrates the playful and independent spirit of our feline friends. With designs inspired by Charlie, Birdie, Chippy, and Thor, this drop captures the essence of cat charm. Built on the foundation of Chrome Tour, you’ll enjoy Tour-level performance with incredible speed, control, and feel.”

Journeyman pro Tag Ridings earned his 2026 PGA Tour Champions card on Sunday. But many former PGA Tour stars didn't survive the buzzsaw.

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What if you built your entire golf bag around forgiveness? Not ball speed. Not spin. Just pure consistency. If that’s your goal, these clubs could make all the difference. We went through each of the Most Wanted tests completed this year and pulled the most forgiving golf clubs of 2025. If you need a little help from the equipment, these are the clubs to build your golf bag around.

Most forgiving golf bag of 2025 at a glance

Most forgiving driver

PXG’s Black Ops 0311 Tour-1 topped the driver forgiveness rankings, producing the smallest loss in carry distance and ball speed on off-center contact. Testers called it “the most stable driver in the field,” with consistent results across all swing speeds. It wasn’t the longest in pure distance. Several low-spin models edged it out. The Srixon ZXi Max earned runner-up honors for its high launch, easy-to-square design and excellent dispersion consistency.

Most forgiving fairway wood

The COBRA DS-Adapt Max D delivered standout forgiveness with a high-MOI, draw-biased design that virtually erased the distance gap between center and off-center strikes. The PING G440 SFT trailed just behind, trading a touch of raw distance for a straighter flight and repeatable spin window that helped keep shots in play.

Most forgiving hybrid

The Orka RSX earned its top forgiveness title by producing the tightest dispersion pattern among hybrids tested in 2025. Carry distance deltas were less than five yards between center and off-center strikes. It wasn’t the most powerful hybrid but it was among the most predictable. The TaylorMade Qi35 Max followed closely, offering similar forgiveness with a hotter feel and slightly higher launch.

Most forgiving player’s irons

The Srixon ZXi7 accomplished something rare: it finished first in both accuracy and forgiveness. MyGolfSpy testers found that even when contact drifted slightly off-center, the ZXi7 held spin and carry distance better than nearly any other player’s iron. Its forged feel and clean look give it tour-caliber feedback. The TOURA SCB-1 finished second, offering classic shaping and a softer feel.

With hundreds of golf balls on the market, picking the right one can feel impossible. You play, you love the game, and you know you’re not chasing a tour card. But you also don’t want to waste your money on something that doesn’t perform.

We analyzed the entire MyGolfSpy Ball Test results to identify golf balls that deliver the right blend of distance, spin, feel and consistency for average golfers. Here are five to start with.

Titleist Pro V1

The Pro V1 remains the ball by which all others are measured. Across all swing speeds in the 2025 Ball Test, it showed consistent distance off the tee, predictable iron spin and one of the most stable flights of any model tested.

For the average golfer, that means dependable performance round after round. It’s not the cheapest option but its combination of mid-launch, mid-spin and exceptional consistency makes it the industry standard. If you ever wondered what a truly balanced golf ball feels like, start here.

Maxfli Tour

Once again, Maxfli proved it belongs in the same conversation as the big names. The 2025 golf ball test called the Maxfli Tour one of the best-performing value urethane balls we’ve tested.

The cult classic Golf Channel show “Big Break” is coming back in 2026.

Golf’s version of a reality TV show ran from 2003 to 2015 before leaving the air due to budget cuts. It is arguably the most creative and interesting original programming Golf Channel has produced in its 30-year history.

For my money, Big Break was a huge reason to flip on Golf Channel back in the day. It was captivating TV during the show’s peak as we got to see future stars like Tony Finau, Matt Every, Wesley Bryan, Tommy Gainey, Richy Werenski and Gerina Piller get introduced. There was often Survivor-like drama involved as players were put into niche pressure situations you would never see in a normal golf tournament.

The fact it’s been gone for a decade is symbolic of how Golf Channel has been totally gutted by NBC, so this is a happy surprise to get it back.

This new version of the show will air in August 2026 in partnership with Good Good, the YouTube channel-turned-influencer brand that has been everywhere recently (including the sponsorship of a new PGA Tour event next fall).

There are two things I adore in this life: traveling and golfing. 

Now, when I get to combine these two admirations together, it is a win-win. I feel alive. I feel blessed. 

Being able to experience new places and new golf courses is a dream come true. It is extremely gratifying to soak in the great outdoors on the golf course, to down a few cold ones, and enjoy the rollercoaster of emotions that is golf. 

This is your guide to an epic golf trip in the heart of Texas hill country and the host of the newest edition of Big Break x Good Good.

Horseshoe Bay Resort: A golf haven

Prior to this adventure, Texas hill country was an afterthought for me. Unless you’ve been there before, I don’t feel like it is a first-choice golf destination for most. Yet, if you just give it a try, I’m convinced you won’t be disappointed. It has EVERYTHING. 

ASU Junior comes from six back to win the Asia-Pacific Amateur. Plus, Ridley and Darbon discuss Ryder Cup, while Peter Dawson talks OWGR and LIV.

Michael Brennan was just as dominant at Black Desert as he was on the PGA Tour Americas. He closed with a 5-under 66 to go from a sponsor exemption to a PGA Tour winner Sunday with his four-shot victory in the Bank of Utah Championship.

Michael Brennan just won the PGA Tour's Bank of Utah Championship on a sponsor's invite. Here are the Titleist clubs he used to do it.

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Michael Brennan set the scoring record in his first PGA Tour victory, but his lava-ridden finish on 18 was no cakewalk.

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Our Tour Confidential panel discusses Keegan Bradley's Ryder Cup future, the PGA Tour's scheduling questions, Yani Tseng's win and more.

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