Golfing News & Blog Articles

It’s not hyperbole to say golf is a major commitment. Not only does the sport cost a pretty penny for everything from equipment and apparel to green fees, it also takes up a lot of time. And, after all, time is money.

Both of these barriers to entry are magnified significantly when attempting to play in metropolitan markets like New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles. Not only is actually playing more expensive, but just getting to a course can take up to an hour or more, which can tack on an extra couple of hours to your outing.

With golf more popular than ever (41.1 million Americans age six and older played in 2022 according to the National Golf Foundation), accessibility is a major key to not only continue to quench that thirst but provide opportunities for further growth in the game.

That’s where Five Iron comes in. Founded in 2017 in New York City, the technology-backed indoor urban golf experience brings the game to your backyard and other places it couldn’t otherwise exist.

“There are so many barriers to entry in golf—the time it takes, the cost and maybe it’s just intimidating,” says Five Iron Chief Marketing Officer Jed Lewis. “That’s why we’re trying to be in the most convenient locations—metropolitan areas—so that people have access to it and they can come on their lunch hour or before work.”

Among the numerous benefits of the explosive growth golf has seen recently are the creativity and talent that newcomers are injecting into the game. One of the many brands bringing that excitement is Eastside Golf, committed to making the game accessible and approachable to youth as well as people considering taking up the game for the first time.

A Lifelong Pursuit

Starting his golf career at the tender age of six, Eastside founder Olajuwon Ajanaku eventually earned a golf scholarship at Morehouse College in his native Atlanta, where he and his team won the 2010 PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship (by a whopping 20 strokes).

After school, he pursued professional golf but was forced to step away due to the exorbitant costs of supporting himself through tournament play. In 2019, after a few years working in finance, he couldn’t resist golf’s siren song and decided to give pro golf another shot.

During the process of pitching himself to potential sponsors, Earl Cooper, his former Morehouse teammate and now PGA professional, encouraged him to put his logo on a T-shirt. Following a compliment-laden jaunt through downtown Detroit wearing one of his tees, Ajanaku knew his design had some juice to it.

Next thing he knew, he and Cooper were en route to the 2020 PGA Show with thousands of products already sold and over a dozen designs that would eventually become Eastside Golf.

Indoor simulators have revolutionized the way golf enthusiasts practice and play the sport, bringing virtual courses into your home or other indoor area. With advancements in technology, there now is a wide range of golf simulator builds catering to every golfer’s needs and preferences. 

Whether you’re a seasoned golfer looking to refine your skills or a passionate beginner eager to learn, come along with us as we explore the fascinating world of golf simulators and help you start planning your own.

The key is planning before building

Building a dedicated space for your golf simulator involves careful planning and consideration. First and foremost, the space should be large enough to accommodate a full swing without any obstructions. Ensure the ceiling height is adequate to accommodate your swing and the projection screen without any interference. Proper lighting is essential as lighting can affect certain launch monitor readings and the look of your projected picture (if you are using a projector). There are ways to utilize a smaller space but you may be restricted to using only your shorter irons.

The next two points are not critical but can truly enhance your space. Soundproofing the space can be advantageous so you don’t disturb the entire household when using your simulator. Proper temperature control is important to keep the atmosphere comfortable during practice sessions. 

By focusing on these key points before starting your project, you can create the optimal golf simulator space for your needs and budget that enhances your practice sessions and provides an enjoyable experience.

With promises of improved stability for better speed, distance and accuracy, these shafts are a must-have for serious golfers.

The post Fujikura just released its 2024 Ventus Blue Wood shaft appeared first on Golf.

How to watch the 2024 Cognizant Classic at The Palm Beaches on Thursday, including the full TV coverage, streaming info and more.

The post 2024 Cognizant Classic TV coverage for Thursday: How to watch Round 1 appeared first on Golf.

Sarah Schmelzel birdied two of of her final three holes Thursday for a 4-under 68 to take a 1-stroke lead at the LPGA tournament in Singapore.

Rickie Fowler, ahead of this week’s Cognizant Classic, was asked about evolution in golf. He had one key wish.

The post Rickie Fowler is asked about evolution in golf. He had 1 key wish appeared first on Golf.

For a golfer who lived large, Anthony Kim's reintroduction has been surprisingly low key — and, in all its crypticness, a bit weird, too.

The post Anthony Kim’s return feels as surreal as his disappearance appeared first on Golf.

With Nike no longer in the clubs and ball game, it's fair to wonder what Kim will be wielding this week at Royal Greens Golf Club.

The post What’s in Anthony Kim’s bag? We have some equipment clues appeared first on Golf.

It's time for the 2024 PGA Cognizant Classic! Can Rory McIlroy dethrone 2023 champion Chris Kirk? Check out how to watch the action on ESPN+ now.

Camilo Villegas was named the new chairman of the PGA Tour's Player Advisory Council on Wednesday.

Rory McIlroy said he wanted to give LIV Golf's Talor Gooch "the benefit of the doubt" over comments he made that if the world's No. 2-ranked player wins the Masters to complete the career Grand Slam, the accomplishment should come with an asterisk.

Anthony Kim is making his return to professional golf after 12 years away. Here's a look back at why he was one of the most exciting golfers in the game.

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:

TecTecTec’s new TEAM8 E Golf GPS Earbuds. These little earbuds pair with the TecTecTec app to provide verbal distances to hazards and the flag.

Who Tried It:

Connor. Director of Soft Goods Testing and resident sneakerhead. When I play solo, I like to have an earbud to listen to music. The idea of my earbuds reading distances to me was intriguing enough to put these little fellas to the test.

About the TEAM8 E GPS Earbuds

Why might you need golf GPS earbuds?

The value proposition is fairly simple. On the course, they play music and read distances. Off the course, they function just as any other TWS (true wireless) earbud does.

Golf could be in the midst of a short course revolution. 

As we pointed out in last week’s story about night golf becoming more popular, the Google search history for “par-3 golf near me” is up more than 60 percent since the pandemic started, outpacing the growth in general “golf course near me” searches. 

And, according to the National Golf Foundation, 50 percent of new course openings in the United States over the last decade have been nine-hole layouts or short courses. 

It feels like every other course opening is a short course, particularly at resorts and public facilities. Just last year, we saw notable short course openings with the Battlefield at Shangri-La (Oklahoma), The Swing at PGA Omni Frisco (Texas), The Park West Palm Beach (Florida) and Sandhill Crane (Florida). 

There is no mystery in why this is happening. Short courses are packed with advantages: 

Ready to boost your golf game? Discover the beginner-friendly magic of yoga! From improved flexibility to a stronger core and a calmer mind, yoga has the potential to take your golf game to the next level.

In this guide, we’ll explore how yoga can improve your golf game and introduce easy poses that will enhance your swing. We will include some of our favorite brands and items for those new to yoga and looking to get started. Let’s dive in!

How Can Yoga Help Golfers?

Yoga can be highly beneficial for golfers for several reasons by addressing the physical and mental aspects of the game. Here are some key reasons why yoga is particularly helpful for golfers.

Flexibility Improvement

Golf requires a wide range of motion and mobility, especially in the hips, shoulders and spine. Many yoga poses work to increase flexibility in these areas. Improved flexibility allows golfers to execute a full and unrestricted swing with proper rotation while reducing the risk of injury.

Enhanced Balance and Stability

Many yoga poses focus on balance and stability. These poses help golfers develop a strong and stable base, crucial for maintaining control during the different phases of the golf swing. Better balance contributes to more consistent shots and improved overall performance.

European Solheim Cup captain Suzann Pettersen named Anna Nordqvist, Laura Davies, Caroline Martens and Mel Reid as her four vice captains for the 2024 competition.

There has been a recent spat of blogs about improving our golf swing with extreme freedom in almost every part of your body. I noticed that a professional golf trainer, Erika Larkin, was exaggerating statements to get your attention so that you will recall the critical importance of her instruction. I have to admit that we can learn from her instruction, so I used this no brainer to get your attention.

“No legs”: In this example she referenced a WW1 veteran who had lost a leg and became an exceptionally good golfer. KEY POINT: The arc of his swing always hit the lowest point directly off his single left foot (which was his leading foot as a right-handed golfers). So, your ball should be setup just behind that point for best impact. Make sure that the weight of your body finishes balanced on your leading leg. [NOTE: Your drives are teed up so the impact point for your ball needs to be about 4 inches beyond the bottom of the arc of your swing.]

“No Hands”: She suggested that you take your hands out of your swing as over control from a tight grip may be destroying the direction of your swing. A poor grip can open or close your club face during your swing.

“Lazy Arms”: This is my interpretation of her next point. Let the forward rotation of your body control the swing of your arms to generate more power. By letting your forward rotation pull your lazy arms down, you will create wrist lag at the top and extreme power when your arms and hands catch up to your body rotation at the bottom of your swing. I guarantee that this will give your more power, but you may have to play with your ball position to manage your direction control.

No Brain: I had to add this one after reading about a golfer who had a few too many to drink and started to play with the perfection of a pro golfer. As it turned out, the golfer forgot about the pressure to win and started stripping shots to the green and sinking putts. When a golfer in his 4some pointed out his new-found success, he instantly lost his game again. I don’t think that golfing in a drunken state will fix your game. Golf is not a no-brainer.

Jon Rahm told ESPN that Tiger Woods has ghosted his attempts to explain his move to LIV Golf, but Rory McIlroy has responded in a positive manner.