There is a striking difference between being inside the ropes at a Solheim Cup and watching the narrative unfold from across the Atlantic once the dust settles.

Standing on the 1st tee at Bernardus Golf a few weeks ago, surrounded by a deafening crowd that rivals anything you’ll experience at a Ryder Cup, you couldn't help but feel that women's team golf was reaching whole new heights.

The energy was electric, the quality of play under intense pressure was outstanding, and Europe’s dramatic 15-13 triumph felt like a pivotal milestone for the sport on this side of the pond.

Then the American data dropped, and the narrative instantly shifted to doom and gloom. According to figures circulating stateside, Golf Channel’s Sunday broadcast averaged just 170,000 US viewers, a sharp 39% drop compared to 2023, when the Solheim Cup was last held at Finca Cortesin in Europe. Media outlet Fried Egg Golf sounded the alarm, calling the ratings a “three-alarm fire” for the LPGA.

While the Sky Sports viewing figures aren't in yet, having been on the ground for the entire event in the Netherlands, my response to the stateside sceptics is simple. You are looking at the wrong numbers.

To evaluate the health of an international spectacle based purely on traditional US cable television ratings in 2026 is outdated. The US broadcast window for a European event meant live action was airing in the early hours of the morning across American time zones. Add in the massive shift toward digital clips, app streaming, and social media consumption, where LPGA impressions were actually up 30% on 2023, and the idea that interest is evaporating is wide of the mark.

More importantly, the American media reaction highlights a classic case of viewing a global event through a narrow domestic lens. What those figures actually reveal isn't a flaw in the Solheim Cup format, but a specific challenge within the American sports market.

Writing for Golfweek, Beth Ann Nichols hit the nail on the head when she highlighted the generational handover quietly troubling the US team. The household names who anchored American fan interest for two decades - Paula Creamer, Cristie Kerr, Michelle Wie West, Lexi Thompson - have stepped aside.

As Nichols rightly pointed out, while World No.1 Nelly Korda is an immense talent, she can’t carry the promotional weight of an entire 12-woman team alone, especially when competing for airtime against college football and the NFL on a Sunday morning.

In Europe, however, the picture couldn't be more different. Here, the Solheim Cup isn't just surviving, it’s booming. It doesn't rely on a single American superstar to sell tickets or drive conversation. European fans tune in for the event itself, for the partisan energy, the team dynamics, and the sheer drama of match play golf.

Anyone who walked the course at Bernardus knows the appetite for this contest in Europe is at an all-time high. The 1st tee stadium build was bigger, the crowds turned out in huge, loud numbers, and the general buzz around the venue was electric from Thursday through to Sunday evening, despite the wet weather at times.

The Solheim Cup isn't broken. It delivered one of the most compelling weekends of tournament golf all year. If US television networks struggle to package live action airing at breakfast time on the East Coast for an American audience, that is a scheduling and broadcast strategy issue, not a product problem.

As we look ahead to Valhalla in 2028, the US media will undoubtedly enjoy their prime-time afternoon slots and familiar domestic storylines. But let’s not mistake a localised dip in television numbers for a decline in the tournament itself. From where I was standing in the Netherlands, the Solheim Cup has never looked healthier.

Did you attend or watch the Solheim Cup on TV? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments box below.

The discourse around the World Handicap System continues to take place at golf clubs all over the world on a daily basis. While tools like iGolf have allowed those with no fixed abode to submit general play scores, there’s a clear divide developing between nomads and members.

Many who pay a membership believe handicaps should only be forged during competition rounds, some don’t see the point in nomads having official indexes at all and others believe the current system is more open to manipulation than its predecessor.

However, cheating isn’t solely confined to the unattached ranks, and some efforts to manipulate are more flagrant and offensive than others – like the one below.

I’ve personally witnessed a member play a casual round with no handicap pressure, shoot a good score, decide to submit a scorecard as a result and sit in the bar for a couple of hours afterwards until it was accepted. I’m sure many others have too.

I’ve also seen plenty of golfers not holing out on every green during general play rounds. Many members and nomadic golfers have stories of dubious submissions, ‘impossible winning scores’, handicap inflation and more.

I was recently contacted by a golf club member, who shared details of his friend’s duplicity.

“I don’t think I'm the only person who is sick of the World Handicap System,” he said. “Not the system itself, which is probably fairer than the old system! But allowing individuals to manipulate their handicap however they like by adding cards which are often played from the comfort of their home.

“My friend was cut to 21.2, but he then put in a card at his and my home club (he lives close enough to the golf course for that to work).

"He was at work and there was no booking on the sheet! It is ridiculous. If they are allowing cards for general play, another member must surely sign as verification.

“I’m a 62-year-old trying hard to keep his handicap down at 10.2 when his friend cheats to put his handicap up.”

Naturally, I followed up and informed the reader that someone has to attest your score when you put in a general play card. He’d never done one – being firmly of the belief that handicaps should come from competition scores only – so was unaware of the process.

I explained he must have been sending his cards to someone else to sign off, meaning another person was in on it. Whether that person knew he was submitting cards from the comfort of his own home or not is another matter.

Not an isolated example

I’ll admit to having attested friends’ cards in the past when I wasn’t playing with them, because I know they’d never cheat. While I acknowledge this is wrong – and it’s not something I’ve done since being investigated by England Golf – it shows how the system can be manipulated if someone is determined to artificially inflate or lower their score.

“I’ve never done a general play score so I don’t know how it works, but I do know that while playing in a four-ball with me and two others, he put in a card without the knowledge of any of the group.

“He put a wrong score in on 18 and, more importantly, putts were being given. He always does stuff like this to increase his handicap.”

Such blatant cheating would surely lead many to stop playing with the person in question, but I assume the bond of friendship in this case is strong enough to preclude that from happening.

I presume the same reason is why he hasn’t been reported to the club and formally investigated. Either way, it’s shocking behaviour.

“We tell him he’s a cheat to his face, but it’s water off a duck’s back.”

While particularly egregious, I’m sure it’s not an isolated example. I’d be shocked if others who live close enough to a club to trigger a potential submission haven’t done the same thing.

Hopefully it’s a very small number of people, but this sort of behaviour does happen, especially in the summer. You’ve probably seen WhatApp messages from someone at your club that are accusatory in nature.

I subsequently took to X in search of more anecdotal evidence. I asked our followers this question: “Are you aware of anyone submitting a general play scorecard when they’re not on the golf course but are in the vicinity for the purposes of handicap manipulation (could live/work nearby)? Some 68% replied ‘no’, but a startling 32% said ‘yes’.

Cheating, banditry and sandbagging in golf is nothing new, but has the introduction of the World Handicap System made these practises easier? You’d struggle to argue it hasn’t.

Hardly a week goes by when I don’t encounter a player who has problems getting out of bunkers. Some golfers dread the sand so much that they literally aim away from the green to avoid them. I can’t help but wonder why these players don’t try something different, and the obvious solution is to look at what club you’re using.

Most golfers use a standard sand wedge from a set of irons out of bunkers, it’s the club that you’re supposed to play, right? It’s stamped SW, (the abbreviation for sand wedge) so who can blame you for choosing it. The very name suggests it’s built for bunkers. So why would you question its suitability for the job?

Actually, there are several reasons to question the suitability of a sand wedge, and the fact that you are struggling with these shots may not just be down to technique. It could be that the standard shop bought sand wedge in your set isn’t tailored to the type of sand you have to escape from regularly.

So start by asking yourself what type of sand do you typically have to play from? Is it soft, deep and fluffy or hard and compact, or do your bunker conditions vary with the seasons?

If you play a links course then you are most likely to encounter the latter. The type of heavy sand that’s used in links course bunkers is designed to withstand the wind. It’s deliberately dense so that it doesn’t blow away.

To have the best chance of success from this sand you’ll need a wedge with low bounce (typically 4 to 8 degrees). This allows the leading edge of the wedge to cut into the heavy sand, so that you can take a shallow slice of sand right beneath the ball.

Use a wedge with too much bounce from hard, compact or wet sand and it will act like a skid plate. The club will bounce off the surface and strike the middle or top of the ball, leading to a thin, screaming shot over the green

It therefore goes without saying that the opposite is true for parkland courses, where the sand tends to be deeper, thicker and softer.

A wedge with plenty of bounce (an ideal range of 12 to 14 degrees or more) will help you get out. The high bounce acts like a ski on the sand. It stops the leading edge of the club from digging too deep into the soft bunker surface, allowing the club to glide smoothly underneath the ball and pop it out effortlessly.

Understanding Bounce

Once you understand bounce you will look at your wedge differently. The problem is that most standard sand wedges in a set are rarely stamped with a bounce number so you won’t know what you’re playing.

That’s where a custom fit comes in. Specialist wedges tend to display two numbers, the bigger (52, 56, 60 etc) is the degree of loft. The smaller number (8, 10, 12, 14) is the degree of bounce. Look out for this.

Rethinking Loft

When it comes to choosing the loft of sand wedge to use, don’t assume that the standard 56 degrees is enough. How steep are the lips of the bunkers that you have to escape most of the time? Some courses have bunkers with relatively shallow lips but others are much more severe, like steep little riveted pots.

I made the decision to use a more lofted wedge out of bunkers many years ago and I have never looked back. After struggling with the standard 56 degrees I jumped to a 60 degrees and things became much easier.

Nowadays I’ve found a happy medium and alternate between using my 52 or 58 degree wedge, as I’ve distance-gapped my wedges perfectly for full shots. The 58-degree is right in the sweet spot of shot-making versatility for me. By carrying both wedges I have excellent options around the greens and particularly in bunkers.

If I face a long bunker shot (from 50 to 80 yards) to a back flag, I’ll use my 52-degree wedge. For most standard close range greenside bunker shots I use my 58-degree.

The reason I switched to these wedges is as I improved and lowered my handicap into single figures I recognised the importance of carrying the right equipment for the job. Specialist wedges played a big role in helping me become more skilful and successful, not just in sand but every shot around the greens.

I think that this fact is seldom sold to club golfers. We frequently read about getting custom fitted for a new driver or set of irons but wedges hardly ever get talked about. Yet they are critical scoring clubs.

The Shaft Factor

The shaft is the final piece of the puzzle and definitely the most forgotten thing, and yes you can change it! In 99% of cases the golfers who I see fail to get out of sand successfully don’t have enough speed, especially women.

They swing too slowly and a lack of acceleration causes the club to get stuck in the sand. Then the ball doesn’t come out. A sand wedge fitted with a lighter weight graphite shaft will be easier to swing with speed.

Why Is A Standard Sand Wedge 56 Degrees?

From a manufacturing perspective it’s easier (and cheaper) to put a pitching wedge and a sand wedge in a standard set - they distance-gap perfectly.

Equipment manufacturers look at the ‘typical’ or average bunker conditions we all face and most sand wedges are able to tackle these bunker shots satisfactorily, as they are broadly suited to most scenarios. But that doesn’t mean that it’s good enough for the type of bunkers conditions you face or for you.

Which leads me back to the very question I posed at the start - is your standard sand wedge really suitable for the job or is it holding you back?

In short, the answer is that a standard sand wedge is probably good enough for most recreational players. It has enough loft and bounce to tackle a bunker. But, and it’s a big but, if you really want to take your game to the next level then specialist wedges are the way forward.

Remember, a standard sand wedge only has 56-degrees of loft and this may not be enough for you if you’re struggling. So next time you play, ask yourself the question, is my standard sand wedge really suitable for the job?’

Think about all the scenarios I’ve mentioned above and consider a specialist fitting. It’s a small expense, but it might just hold the solution to your bunker woes.

Golf club members are more transient than they were 25 and more years ago. Fewer clubs have joining fees and waiting lists today, and that allows golfers to move around more feasibly and freely.

Many club members remain steadfastly loyal to their 'mother club' and would never consider shifting allegiances. But others are less set in their ways.

Golf club membership is one of the largest recreational expenditures most of us will make each year and we all want to feel that expenditure is worthwhile.

If you don’t feel that, you might well be thinking about a change of scene. There are plenty of clubs out there looking to take on new members after all. But, if you are considering a move, how do you choose? What should you consider when looking for a new golf club?

Why are you leaving?

If you’re disillusioned with your current golf club, there must be clear reasons for that feeling… What are they?

If you’re to move, you’ll be looking for a club that doesn’t have the same failings you perceive your current club to be suffering from.

Are you unhappy with the state of the course? If so, you need to find a club where the course has an excellent greens team and a great reputation for consistently high-quality playing surfaces.

Are you unhappy with the management of your current club, be it member-run or proprietary? If so, why is that? Do you feel members are being overlooked? Perhaps you feel monies are not being spent in the directions you would like. You need to research and find a club where the objectives for the future align with yours.

Have you fallen out with fellow members or do you simply not get on with them? You almost certainly don’t think that’s your fault, so you must find a club where you feel the members are more similar. That, again, will require some research and a few 'secret shopper' visits.

Whilst doing that, you must also think about…

What golfing culture are you looking for?

How do you enjoy your golf? Are you a casual player or do you play more competitively? You’re going to enjoy a club where the majority of members are like-minded golfers.

If you’re a relaxed player who likes the Saturday roll-up, you’re not going to enjoy being a member at a club that hosts three competitions a week and puts club team matches at the top of their priority list each year.

Likewise, if you’re a golfer who enjoys getting a card in the hand and playing knockout games, you’re going to have a frustrating time as a member at a club that rarely hosts a medal and puts little into competitive events.

Check with the secretary or general manager what the playing culture of the club is before you make any commitments.

Then, think about the club more generally. Are you looking for a traditional 'old school' club vibe or do you want something totally relaxed?

If you’re looking for somewhere you can slope into the bar wearing shorts and flip flops, you’re not going to have fun at a club that still requires jacket and tie in the dining room!

Could you play this golf course every day?

This is a big one. If you’re committing a significant outlay to becoming the member of a golf club, you absolutely must like the course you’re going to be playing.

Think about how highly you rate the layout. Do you enjoy playing it? Do you find it fun, compelling, a good test, a track you want to master?

If you could take it or leave it… leave it.

What does the golfing return on investment look like?

How much is the membership of the club you are considering? Is that value for money? How often will you play it? How far away is it from your house? Will you be popping down for nine holes after work?

How good is the course? How well is it maintained? Will you have lots of events to play in and will there be like-minded people to play with?

Then, off the course, what other facilities are available? A good clubhouse is a must for many golfers, with decent catering and bar options. Are there other facilities to make use of? Perhaps there’s a great practice ground, maybe even a gym or a tennis court?

If you’re shelling out a hefty sum each year, you want return on your investment.

Benefits for family and friends

Something to consider carefully when choosing a new club is what will your family and friends get from your membership? Is there a lively social scene that you can jump into? If you have kids, is there a strong junior section for them to join?

Are guests of non-members welcomed at all times? Most people will be looking for that to be the case, but perhaps that’s something you wouldn’t want!

Overall, if you’re considering a new golf club, you must weigh up the inevitable pros and cons involved with each potential venue.

You must work out which are the most important to you.

Cost may not be an issue for the lucky few, but value for money should be for everyone. What will you get from your financial outlay? Which club can you see yourself and your nearest and dearest enjoying to the greatest extent? Picture that and select the club you feel is best placed to deliver it.

The Rules of Golf exist to provide fairness and clarity. As a result, they are very prescriptive and breaking them comes with varying degrees of penalties in both stroke play and match play.

Clearly, they should absolutely be adhered to during all competitive or card-in-hand rounds, and in no way are we suggesting it's okay to break the rules in those circumstances.

However, we all play non-counting, casual games or matches with friends and in this scenario different players often have different approaches to how they apply the rules.

So, which rules (if any) do we deem okay to break during casual rounds? Here, the Golf Monthly team have their say, and I'd be interested to hear your views in the comments section below.

Presumably in this scenario you are playing a friendly match. If so, then you might decide at the start that preferred lies are okay (if the golf course isn't in great condition).

You might also make certain calls as you play - ie. allowing a penalty drop instead of forcing your opponent to go back to the tee to hit another if they've lost a ball or free relief from a particularly bad lie.

As far as I'm concerned, you can break any of the rules you like in a friendly match as long as you both agree.

Grounding a club in a bunker I’m not fussed about, so long as they’re not digging a channel behind their ball before their swing.

Also teeing it up just in front of the tee markers - how much advantage are you really gaining by starting a hole an inch in front of everyone else?!

The answer is clearly none, but if I was pressed I would say marking the ball on the green.

I can't find my ball marker at the best of times, so in a casual round does it really matter?

If I turn my ball 30 degrees to align the line to my desired start direction, without placing a coin behind it, the fractional edging of a centimeter closer to the hole is going to make zero difference to the outcome of my putt.

I'd never do that in competition, but in a friendly knock it’s not that big of a deal.

Honestly, almost all of them! I am a huge believer in casual golf being purely for enjoyment and I very rarely even keep score if I am not playing in a competition.

I will move my ball out of a divot, just drop one down if i can't find it, chuck a couple of balls down around the green for some chipping after I have finished a hole (as long as I am not holding anyone up).

You name it, I will break it in a casual round!

Personally, I don't think it's okay to break any rules in golf, even in a casual round, as I wouldn't want any bad habits to start trickling into my game.

If I had to choose one, though, it would be either asking, or being asked, for advice when playing a certain type of shot.

For example, if you are on a par 3 and there's a lot of wind swirling, then asking what club they'd hit, or another one could be if you are short-sided with a chip shot, you ask how you should play it.

I think that could be seen as more beneficial, as you can take what you have learned from your playing partner into a competitive environment on the course.

I'm fine with my playing partners dropping out of a divot or from under a tree in a friendly game.

Also, when taking relief from a hazard, drop it roughly, i.e. don't bother measuring it out with a club. Don't bother going back to the tee if ball is out of bounds, either. And I agree with Matt in regards to sharing club advice.

I like to try and follow all of the rules if possible during friendly games so I don't put myself in an awkward position if I ever play a competitive round, but having said that, I'd say the obvious ones to break during a casual round include not putting everything out if it's within tap-in range and dropping where you think your ball has gone when you can't find it.

It's so frustrating to hit a good shot around or even over the 200-yard mark but then - because we're not afforded the luxury of spotters - you end up losing the ball, even though you believe you've hit it in a perfectly reasonable part of the course (i.e. the rough).

I'd say as long as you're not taking the mick with your drop position in a friendly game, just dropping a ball and carrying on with no penalty strokes is perfectly acceptable.

If you're not counting score or playing a match, then I couldn't care less if you break any rules.

However, in my usual friendly four-ball better-ball or skins matches we play at our club, we tend to play by the letter of the law.

The only occasions I can think where we might be a bit loose with rules are if a stone or tree root could cause damage to your club or wrist, so in that occasion I'd say it's fine to move your ball a couple of feet.

The correct answer here is whatever rules you agree to.

In every round of golf I play with friends, we play a match, whether we're playing a casual round or a club competition. In these matches, I want to have a fun, competitive match in which good shots win holes, not accidental rules breaches.

Accidentally touch the sand with your club before a bunker shot? Don't worry about it. Lose a ball off the tee that shouldn't have been lost? Take a lateral drop and play it as your third, but as long as I get a lateral to use later in the round.

Golf has a lot rules and it is easy to feel suffocated by them.

As long as you aren't marking a card for your handicap or skirting rules without the knowledge of your group, then play the game however way you want - we aren't playing the Open Championship here, we're here to have fun.

If I am playing with a friend I would let them move their ball out of a divot, provided it is in the fairway.

In every other round, that’s tough, play it as it lies, but in a friendly round, let’s have some fun and hit fun shots, not grind for scores or adhere to every rule to the finest detail.

Which rules are okay to break in casual rounds? Join the conversation below...

Over my few years playing golf, I’ve realised it’s really hard to get better. I’m not talking about improving your putting stroke, or hitting more fairways. Lowering your scores consistently, which ultimately leads to a lower handicap, is difficult to accomplish.

It’s a multi-year commitment and not everyone is willing or able to dedicate the time, or perhaps doesn’t know how to achieve that level of improvement. I’ve heard quite a few women in my golfing league complain that their handicaps have lingered in the same range for years.

I spent a lot of time frustrated that I wasn’t getting better as quickly as I wanted. I could see the potential in my game, but it was mixed with a lot of bad golf. I still struggle with a fully-consistent round.

The other day I finished the front 9 on my home course with one of my lowest scores. I thought, This is it. I’m going to hold it together for an entire 18 holes and get my best score ever. Rookie move, setting those kinds of expectations mid-round. I parred 10, bogeyed 11, and then fell apart for the next 4 holes.

Despite that lacklustre back 9, I’ve been scoring lower overall. Sure, my golf swing is more technically consistent - my bad shots aren’t as bad as they used to be, and my good shots are better than they used to be. But, my current progress has just as much to do with how I’m thinking and planning my golf days. Here are 5 ways I’ve changed the way I approach my game.

I Stopped Rushing, Especially Around the Green

When I feel rushed, as I often do, all sorts of bad stuff happens. I forgo my pre-shot routine, I swing way too fast, my mind loses focus, and most frustrating of all, I miss short putts. Very short putts. I decided I was sick of sacrificing my game because I needed to play faster to appease the single with his hands on his hips behind my group. As long as I’m keeping on pace, I’m now taking the time I need before each shot.

It’s not always easy. My golf club takes pace of play seriously and is always reminding members to play faster. But, to play better, I need to focus on being thorough, and if that means taking an extra three seconds to set up for a short putt, then I’m going to stay committed to that routine. Even having the mindset that I’m in control of my pace has helped keep me focused tremendously.

I’m Playing 18 Instead Of 9 As Often As I Can

Some of you may be scratching your heads at this, but for a mom with young kids, it’s hard to make time for 18 hole rounds. I got into a comfortable habit of playing 9 all the time, which was no help to my golf endurance. I struggled to maintain focus when I needed to play 18 during a tournament, and I left feeling disappointed in myself.

Over the past several months, I’ve prioritized playing the full 18, which has made me a much stronger golfer. Aside from building golf endurance (both physically and mentally), it’s given me the confidence that I can recover on the back 9 if my front 9 didn’t go well. I’m playing better during our league’s match play, and I’m confident it’s because I’m more prepared for it.

I Practiced My Punch Shot, And Got Pretty Good At It

Have you seen those videos where two people are at a golf simulator, one holding a tree branch over the other’s face while he swings? Practice like you play. It’s a joke, obviously, but there’s something to that. When my tee shots get a little wild, I typically need to get out of a precarious spot.

I’ve seen single digit golfers not only get out of these situations, but also make a great deal of progress down the fairway. I practiced using different lofted clubs to see how the ball came out, and now I have a good idea where to aim and how high and far each club will go. My punch shot has saved me on numerous occasions. Even though it’s tempting to hit a high shot over a tree to get out of trouble, for me, it’s almost always a safer play to punch my ball back into the fairway.

Course Management Is Key

How satisfying is it to hit the ball as far and hard as you can? The problem is, it generally doesn’t lead to lower scores. That’s where course management, making smart golf choices, helps.

Recently during my women’s team match play, I played at a course that had multiple deep bunkers surrounding every green. Club selection was important because if you landed in the sand, it was hard to get out. Since it was a new course for me, I relied on my GPS and picked a target and distance where I would avoid the bunkers (for the most part), even if it meant landing extra short or long.

Another place course management comes into play for me is on par 5s. I consider what distance I want to leave myself for my 3rd shot, which is why I often choose a shorter club for my second shot so I’m in a comfortable position for my approach. It feels really good to make smart choices during my rounds, and gives me a sense of control over how I’m performing on each hole.

I Ventured Out To Easier Courses

My home course is difficult. I love it, it’s beautiful, but it’s a hard course. There are lots of places to get in trouble, and even when you’re not in trouble, you’re more than likely to land on a slanted part of the fairway. It’s a real test in course management and recovery.

Lately, I’ve played at more forgiving courses with flatter fairways and greens and fewer hazards. Little did I know that mixing up where I play would increase my golf confidence tremendously. It’s not me, it’s my golf course! What a relief.

I’m joking, but not worrying about losing my ball in a hazard is freeing. I was able to fully focus on my golf swing, instead of where the ball would go, which not surprisingly, had great results. I’ve brought that swing feeling back to my own course when I’m also paying attention to where I’m landing my drive.

Golf progress has ups and downs, but I believe it’s important to celebrate the stretches of good golf when they happen. I have a lot, I mean, a lot of work to do to get to where I want to be, but I’m hoping by continuing to follow the five points I’ve listed above, I can keep the good golf vibes going strong.

“I was always told by a very wise man at the golf club, 'Invest in shoes and a bed.’

“You’re going to use them all the time, and you’ve got to look after your feet and your back.”

Wise words from this man, and thank you for passing that simple piece of advice on, Joe.

This teed up one of the discussions on Kick Point perfectly, with hosts Dan Parker and Joe Ferguson talking about those expensive items of golf equipment that are REALLY worth the money.

WATCH: Dan and Joe from Kick Point discuss some of their favorite premium-priced products (from 15:44)

Let’s be honest, you don’t have to search too hard to find some eye-wateringly expensive golf equipment - fancy GPS watches and limited-edition clubs, especially putters - spring to mind.

Are they really worth the money? Debatable.

Some people would argue that investing in the very latest premium driver, some of which now exceed $1,200 (£900), is not worth the money, especially not if your current model is only a few years old.

Some items of golf gear, though, well, they are worth breaking the bank for. We've all done it.

As Dan points out before diving into his selections, both he and Joe are fortunate to get a fair bit of gear sent to them without dipping into their own pockets (someone has to do the job of testing).

However, as two experienced golf equipment reviewers, they are more than qualified to offer their opinions.

For Dan, it’s a Vessel bag - and Joe wholeheartedly agrees. They’ll take their Vessel to outdoor photoshoots; it’ll sit in the office just to look good and give off happy vibes; and, of course, it goes to competitions, too, for the same reasons.

Talking specifically about the Vessel Prime 2.0 Staff stand bag, Joe says: “Every function of that bag, every zip, every pocket, every magnet, every clip, every everything is just so well built.

“I think I could have that bag for the next decade and it will last the test of time.”

This is a golf bag that costs around $800 (£595), but when you put it like that, it does represent good value.

“Not a single stuck zip, not a bit of fraying, not a carabiner come loose, not a clip, not anything.”

We hear you, Joe. You get what you pay for.

Occasionally, we do put our hands in pockets - and what better endorsement can there be for a product when a golf equipment journalist actually spends their own money on it.

The Jones Players Series carry bag also gets a shout-out, not least for its thick canvas and vintage aesthetics. Very nice. So nice, in fact, Dan has actually bought one.

“The Ds Bs,” he says (that's a shortened version of a British slang phrase that translates to the bee’s knees for our American readers).

Joe agrees with Dan.

“This thing is incredibly hardwearing,” says Joe, who is also a proud Jones bag owner. “It looks so cool and retro.

“Again, I would look at this objectively. £170 ($230) for a piece of cloth… that’s ludicrous.

“However, I feel like a million dollars when I’m using it. It’s incredibly well built and well made, and I’ve never had so many compliments about anything I’ve ever used in golf.”

Coming from someone who could open his old golf retail store, this is quite some endorsement.

The author would agree, too. I caddied for a lovely chap from Chicago recently whose wonderful golf swing was matched by a beautiful Jones bag.

This was a first for me - and it was love at first sight/carry. It’s on the Christmas list.

Last but not least, Dan waxes lyrical (again) about the Sun Mountain ClubGlider Meridian travel bag. He’s not on commission, honest.

“This is worth every single penny you ever chuck at it,” he says.

We’re talking over $400 (£300) for a travel cover, which is punchy, but Dan wouldn’t trust packing his clubs in anything else when he’s on the move - and let’s be honest, airlines don’t always care for our clubs as much as we do.

There’s a new model on the way, too, which we understand will be even more expensive. Don’t let that deter you, is Dan’s advice.

It’s not just the hard-wearing fabric and best-in-class padding that we love - the maneuverability is second to none.

“Every time you travel, you’ll be so, so grateful for it - and even if you don’t travel that much,” says Dan.

“If I left the industry now and someone said, 'What was the best thing you had or tested?’ That would be right up there for me.”

The GOAT in its category.

How about you? Let us know your favorite purchases, products that you’re still paying off months later but have no regrets over whatsoever.

Maybe it’s a bag or a pair of shoes that have lasted for 10 years.

Talking about shoes, Dan’s off again, raving about his Under Armour Clones…

Leave your comments in the box below - we’d love to hear what you’ve been spending your hard-earned money on.

There’s a lot to like about Scottie Scheffler. Generational talent? Check. Nice guy? Check. Fantastic to watch when in full flow? Check.

On the other side of the coin, he’s not the swashbuckling, charismatic entertainer many would like him to be. To an extent, this isn’t his fault – he’s found an approach he perceives to be advantageous and he’s not trying to be someone he’s not.

Even if I’d like him to be slightly more gregarious, it’s hard to find fault with any of that.

One thing he absolutely should be criticised for, though, is the fact he’s seemingly allergic to leaving America for more than a fortnight each year.

The World No.1 should be a global ambassador for the game and he falls well short in this department. His reticence to leave his bubble and travel the word is confusing.

To be clear, I'm talking mainly about the autumn here, when the Tour Championship has finished and there isn't a 'meaningful' PGA Tour event for several months. Clearly I understand why he plays in America from January to August, two weeks in July aside.

Let’s start with the case for the defence to see if there’s merit in any of it. Philosophically, does he owe anything to anyone? Why should he leave his comfort zone to travel around the world? Why should he change a routine that’s made him so successful in the first place?

I can see both sides of this argument, but when you reach such heights, you have to acknowledge some things are bigger than you. Being World No.1 comes with certain inferred responsibilities.

While you’re the custodian, you should make an effort to promote the game globally and give back to a sport that’s provided you with so much.

I know some people will disagree here, and that’s fine. If you see things as black and white, I doubt I’ll be able to change your mind. But the fact is plenty of Americans – in a golfing and wider sense – aren't fond of leaving their homeland. There’s no question this is detrimental to the global golfing ecosystem.

Another argument is he’s recently become a father of two. I understand that, but I’d counter with four points: his career dictates he’s away from home a lot anyway, his family could easily join him abroad (he’s plenty rich enough to afford a private jet), he barely travelled before having children and plenty of others play around the world while having families.

Patrick Reed is an apt example here given he’s American and also has two children. Every European golfer seems to manage a two-circuit schedule, too.

The best excuse is the Presidents Cup – something I’d like to see removed from the schedule – but I’m still not buying that as it only happens every couple of years. It’s hardly as if he hangs around in Europe after the Ryder Cup to play some fall events, either.

Scheffler could be playing in the BMW PGA Championship this week, but instead he’s in America preparing for another demolition of the International Team. However, I’m confident in saying he wouldn’t have been at Wentworth anyway – he’s never played there.

'A Debt Incurred'

We recently asked Gary Player – the most prolific international golfer of all time in terms of global tournament wins – for his views on whether Scheffler should travel more.

“What I admire about Scheffler is that he's very much a family man. Your family is so vitally important, and I was deprived of that because I had to travel away from my family from South Africa,” he said.

“At least he's lucky, he lives in America. When he finishes a tournament, most of these guys have their own jets so they're back home on Sunday night and they can see them.

“But I would like to see Scheffler, who's such a wonderful golfer and such a very nice man, to travel and promote golf internationally more than he does, because we have a debt incurred.

“Golf has done so much for us, and I wish Scottie would travel and play just a little more. I would say five tournaments a year, like Nicklaus did, like Palmer did, like Sam Snead did, like Trevino did, like Tom Watson did.”

I couldn’t agree more with Player. The Open, the Scottish Open, the Ryder Cup and the Olympic Golf Tournament are the only non-PGA Tour events he's played in since he joined the circuit full-time in 2020. To me, that is inexcusable.

Let that sink in. He hasn’t competed in a single DP World Tour event that wasn’t co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour. He’s never taken part in the Australian Open. He's never ventured to Asia or South Africa.

He's made noises recently about being intrigued by certain regions and events outside America, but actions speak louder than words. He'd be welcomed with open arms at any golf tournament in the world.

I just don’t understand why he won’t leave his bubble. Getting out of your comfort zone and playing in different conditions on different styles of courses with different types of grasses can only make you a better golfer. It clearly helped the development of players like Brooks Koepka.

I suppose if you only ever play in America on identikit courses, there’s not much benefit. Well, apart from the fact the Ryder Cup is away from home every four years. Did he compete in Europe before Marco Simone in 2023? No. Did that contribute to the World No.1 returning one point from a possible four? Almost certainly.

Next year, the Ryder Cup takes place at Adare Manor, a parkland course, in September. The BMW PGA Championship is staged on a parkland course in September. I’ll let you decide if he could have gleaned anything useful from visiting Wentworth over the years.

European fans have so much time for the likes of Billy Horschel – and even Reed – because they’re prepared to travel, they have respect for the fans and they recognise the magnitude of the tournaments. They’re not sheltered and closed off to the golf world beyond American shores.

A barrier to greatness?

There’s also a question about whether you can truly be considered a great of the game if you haven’t won around the world.

Tiger Woods was hardly a prolific traveller, but he won events in Thailand, Australia, Dubai, Germany and Japan outside of the Majors and World Golf Championship. Jack Nicklaus won the Australian Open six times.

Arnold Palmer claimed titles in England, Spain, Australia and Latin America, Tom Watson triumphed in Japan, Hong Kong and Australia and Gary Player won on every golf-playing continent. Rory McIlroy has been victorious in seven different countries. You get the point.

To be clear, it’s not just Scottie – the likes of Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas and Xander Schauffele also have a lot to answer for – but the issue is magnified given his position at the top of the world rankings.

Is Scheffler a great golfer? Yes. Is he a great of the game? Given his reluctance to promote golf internationally, I don’t think he can be classed as such.

To keep your full status on the LPGA Tour, you need to finish inside the top 80 on the Race to the CME Globe points list – players 81-100 keep their cards but have a lower priority – so that seems a good place to start when looking at prize money.

In 2025 Ashleigh Buhai finished in 80^th spot having made 14/22 cuts and had two top 10s, all of which added up to $291k.

At the other end Jeeno Thitikul made 20 starts, picked up money in 19 of them and finished inside the top 10 14 times. There were three wins, including the defence of her Tour Championship title which gave her the vast pay-out of $4m.

Her total for the 2025 season was $7.6m which was more than twice as much as Miyu Yamashita in second.

This year Nelly Korda is already on $6.2m with eight more possible starts, capped by the riches of the season-ender in Florida. To state the obvious if you are able to pick your weeks to dazzle, then the five Majors and Tour Championship are the ones to do it.

Lottie Woad, for example, won the Kroger Queen City Championship in May and she picked up $300k from total prize pot of £2m. Now, when you compare that to the Majors, that is relatively small fry.

Leading Tournaments For Prize Money 2026 (In Order)

• $13m KPMG Women’s PGA Championship
• $12.5m US Women’s Open
• $11m CME Group Tour Championship
• $10m AIG Women’s Open
• $9.1m Amundi Evian Championship
• $9m Chevron Championship

No other tournament has a pot over $5m. You might think, with the Women’s Scottish Open being a co-sanctioned event with the LET, that the prize money would bring a huge purse but, again, the winner here receives $300k.

The last few years have seen a seismic shift in prize money in the women’s game as more parity seeps into the sport. In 2022 the Women’s PGA Championship doubled from $4.5m to $9m in a single year, a figure that has now since very nearly tripled.

And as such the powers-that-be are able to make statements about being the biggest and the best, even if that isn’t true and is only based on the prize purse.

“We're proud to deliver the premier major on the LPGA Tour," said Tim Walsh, the US chair and CEO for KPMG. "Working with the PGA of America and the LPGA Tour, we're combining a record purse with technology that gives players better, real-time insight into their performance, along with broader, more dynamic coverage for fans. It's all about continuing to build momentum for women's golf."

Tennis’ Grand Slams are well known for having the same prize money, which isn’t the case in golf, but all five now offer a very respectable offering and a world away from many of the LET events which only pay out a total purse of €350k – the winner here receives €52.5k.

One stat from this season, which would have been unthinkable in years gone by is that Korda earnt more from her five Major starts than Scottie Scheffler did in the men’s quartet of big ones.

Korda won the opening two Majors, the Chevron and the US Women’s Open, as well as top 10s at the Women’s PGA Championship and AIG Women’s Open. In total she won $4.59m which was only bettered by Rory McIlroy and Wyndham Clark in the men’s game.

Haeran Ryu also won a pair of big ones, the Women’s PGA Championship and Evian, to pick up $3.7m which was slightly ahead of the Open champion Ryan Fox.

Korda is the clear World No. 1 and the poster girl of women’s golf. In 2025 Sportico listed the top 15 highest-paid female athletes and Korda and Thitikul were both in there. Thitikul won $7.6m, there was $2.5m in endorsements which gave her $10.1m and 15^th place.

Korda had a winless year, lost her No. 1 spot but still pulled in $13.8m, $11m of which came in sponsorship. At the time the American had 14 marketing partners (FOURTEEN!) which included Nike, TaylorMade, Goldman Sachs, T-Mobile, Franklin Templeton EY, Delta Airlines, Emirates Airlines, BMW, Cisco, TUMI, Whoop and Upper Deck.

This is a whole world away from the vast majority of the women’s tour pros.

This season Korda won the year’s first two Majors, is well clear of Thitikiul on the rankings and is already over $6m in on-course earnings so we can expect the off-course bits to spiral even further.

Korda won’t be part of the upcoming WGTL, probably for a variety of reasons and she certainly doesn’t need the money or time commitment but she is also making a stand due to not making it a mixed event in the first place.

“I think it's a huge and unbelievable miss that we're not playing alongside the men. It would have been the first time, I think, that men and women are on the same playing field, playing for the same exact amount of money.”

If we were to look at the players in the middle of the 2025 money list then we have Woad in 40^th. The English star, who only played nine times after turning pro midway through the season, won $830k last year.

There was a brilliant article in Golf Digest a couple of years ago where an unnamed tour pro broke down a 20^th-place finish and $100k pay day as follows:

• Flight: $800
• Accommodation: $3.2k
• Caddie: $10k (8% plus weekly rate)
• Coach and trainer: $2k
• Food: $200
• Federal: $37k
• Tournament state: $7k

So, he took home $39.8k from a $100k finish.

This year, as things stand, we have a whole host of Solheim players in the 70-80 slots on the money list: Anna Nordqvist (70), Carlota Ciganda (72), Lindy Duncan (73), Nastasia Nadaud (75), Julia Lopez Ramirez (76), Andrea Lee (77) and Linn Grant (81).

A good example of how your career (and earnings) can fluctuate is Gabi Ruffels. The Aussie, who won the US Amateur in 2019, comfortably kept her card in 2024 and 2025 but this year has been a different story. The 26-year-old has made 14 starts and only played on the weekend three times, which adds up to just $55k and a long way from keeping her playing privileges in 2026.

The socio-economic profile of caddies has changed enormously from the beginnings of the game. Caddies were often youngsters or low-skilled and poorly educated. Now, at the top level, caddying is seen as a profession – a respectable career for highly educated college graduates.

The driver for this change is the amount of prize money that has come into the game. Once golf became a popular televised sport, and prize money increased in line with golf’s raised profile, caddying became more profitable.

Tournament caddies are typically paid a fee plus a percentage of their player’s winnings. With prize money now at stratospheric levels, top caddies can become exceedingly rich.

A country’s best-paid sportsman

It was oft claimed that the best-paid sportsman in New Zealand was Steve Williams. He was Tiger Woods’ caddie from 1999 to 2011 and was on the bag for 13 of Woods’ 15 Major wins and 63 of his PGA Tour titles.

Steve Williams amassed an estimated $12 million just from his share of the prize money during his time caddying for Woods.

Williams’ profile also allowed him to secure his own sponsorship deals. After splitting with Woods, Williams caddied for Adam Scott, winning another Major. It is reported that Williams is worth around $20m in net assets.

How cuts and costs are allocated

Every caddie has their own financial agreement with their player, and these are rarely made public. Caddies are considered self-employed contractors, and normally pay their own travel and hotel costs. The player, in return, pays them a fee per tournament, typically somewhere around $1,500 to $4,000.

Where caddies can make big money is through their cut of the player’s tournament prize money. A typical agreement a caddie might have with a top golfer is 10% of the winning prize money, 7% of the prize money for other top-10 finishes, and 5% of the prize money for finishes outside the top 10.

Some journeymen tour players, who do not expect many top 10s, are said to offer a straight commission on all prize money of around 7-8%.

But every player makes his own agreements with his or her caddie. Seve Ballesteros notoriously offered his caddie only a 5% cut of any prize money.

But Woods is said to have paid his caddie 10% of his prize money regardless of finishing position. If rumours are true, Woods also covered his caddie’s travel and hotel costs.

When the money flows in

Get on the bag of a winning golfer, or just one regularly high up the leaderboard, and the money soon rolls in these days.

Scottie Scheffler was the highest-earning golfer on the 2026 PGA Tour in prize money. He is coy about what he pays his caddie, as are most golfers.

But, presuming a 10-7-5 split, Scheffler’s caddie, Ted Scott, would have earned $5,882,585.94 this year as his share of the prize money. In addition, he will receive either a retainer or a tournament fee.

Further down the field, the man 30th in the FedExCup table, JJ Spaun, earned $5,099,908 in tournament prize money during a season that included one win and three other top-10 finishes.

Again presuming a 10-7-5 split, his caddie Mark Carens, who has been on Spaun's bag since April 2021, will have earned $376,721.80 in his cut of this prize money.

On top of this, he would have been paid a fee, and most likely a proportion of Spaun’s FedExCup bonus of $245,000 as an upfront payment and a deferred pension payout of $305,000.

As the FedExCup bonus pool is not for a specific tournament, and part of the bonus is paid into a pension fund, players have separate agreements with their caddies as to how, and if, this bonus money is shared.

LPGA Tour

Prize money in the women’s pro game is substantial but does not remotely match that on the PGA Tour. Nevertheless, caddies can still make a good living on this tour, especially if looping for the top players.

Jeeno Thitikul won the most prize money in women’s golf in 2025, with $8,269,748.75. Her caddie, Banpot Bunpisansaree, has been on her bag since she was 16 years old, and before she turned professional.

Based on the standard 10-7-5 professional golf caddie split, Banpot Bunpisansaree would have earned an estimated $736,541.91 purely from his share of Jeeno Thitikul’s official prize money pool.

How millionaires were born

The term ‘millionaire’ originated in France in 1719 to describe speculators who became extremely wealthy through holding shares in the Mississippi Company, which were originally sold for 500 livres and rocketed to over 10,000 livres in late 1719.

In 1821, the Oxford English Dictionary included the word, which it defined as a “person possessed of a ‘million of money’”.

A millionaire is thus someone with net assets worth at least a million of the local currency. However, sometimes modern usage equates the word to an annual income of a million to reimpose the exclusivity of millionaire status.

According to the UBS Global Wealth Report, roughly 1 in 10 adult Americans qualify as millionaires and 16% to 18% of American households have a net worth of $1 million or more. In the UK, around 1 in 20 adults are dollar millionaires..

As to how many caddies are part of this group, well, the short answer is no-one knows, or can know. Bit estimates vary from 60 top a number in the low three figures.

What is certain is that someone who gets on the bag of someone who visits the upper reaches of the leaderboard on even a semi-frequent basis for a few seasons, will have earned him- or herself a tidy sum.

Million-a-year

Six players’ bags this year would have paid out $1m in prize money, presuming a 10-7-5 split: four on the PGA Tour and two in the LIV Golf League.

On the PGA Tour, it was the bags of Scheffler (Scott), Cam Young (Kyle Sterbinsky), Matt Fitzpatrick (Daniel Parratt) and Wyndham Clark that were the most lucrative. Clark changed his caddie during the season, so no one person earned $1m from his bag.

On the LIV Golf League, Jon Rahm’s (Adam Hayes) and Bryson DeChambeau’s (Greg Bodine) bags would have earned their caddies over $1m.

The modern caddie is viewed as a partner in a well-paid elite performance sport — and the financial rewards now reflect that.

High-handicappers struggle more than most with the turbulence that this frustrating game consistently delivers.

The addictive nature of golf means we are always striving to shoot lower scores, cut our handicap and generally improve on the course - but there are some benefits to being a high-handicap golfer.

Let me be clear, I'd rather not be - but while I am on the journey to a sub-20 handicap I might as well enjoy a few things along the way.

It was mentioned on our Golf Monthly team call that I might have an image problem, perhaps due to some strong (and often negative) takes on issues such as slow play and, more recently, the NR rule.

In a bid to shake that, I am going to write something positive about my experience as a 'chopper' that I am sure will endear me to low- and mid-handicap players everywhere! I'll wait to hear your thoughts in the comments section below...

1. The Points

Let's start in the most obvious place - the shots!

Rocking up to the course and checking the handicap table is a fun experience for a high-handicap golfer, with astronomical numbers paving a majestic yellow brick road to the promise land of points.

Some people might feel embarrassed explaining to their playing partners that they get 25 shots, but I would encourage those individuals to let go of that guilt.

I put a card in a card regularly and anyone who looks at my England Golf profile will see that my handicap is coming down (slowly). They will also see that I am capable of posting three-figure scores regularly and I am not averse to a snowman here or there.

The reality is I need those shots just to be semi-competitive.

But, with the blind optimism that every amateur golfer experiences before the first tee shot is hit, I always fill in my scorecard believing this is going to be the day I break 90 and bring home a monster points haul.

2. The Winning Potential

At risk of sounding like a famous British TV presenter from the 80s and 90s... what do points make? Prizes.

With shots in the bank, I theoretically have a a great chance of winning competitions almost every weekend.

In the Saturday medal, I can afford to fritter away 25 shanks, duffs, slices and pulled putts before the need to get serious really kicks in.

Stableford, you say? Well, that's even better. With 25 shots, I am walking on to seven of the hardest holes with two shots up my sleeve (not literally, I'm not a cheat).

There have been times I have made par on the significant seven, which has returned a tasty four points and immediately rectified the blob I made on the hole before.

The safety net feels great on the front nine, but when I turn in 52 and realise that I probably need at least double the shots I was originally given to actually lift the trophy - the fairytale fades and the reality of the game kicks me in the groin.

By now, I hope you realise that there is a sense irony and a hint of sarcasm in my tone.

That relates to this section in particular.

I am fed up of being told that I am 'lucky' to get so many shots and that it's 'unfair' that I have such a good chance of winning the comp at the expense of better golfers - who apparently stand 'no chance'.

For clarity, I would swap my golf game with any low-handicap golfer in a heartbeat. I am not going to feel sorry for you because you are good at golf, so please cut it out.

The handicap system is there to help level the playing field and I think it does a good job of it.

Anyway, that's my one and only moan of this much more positive piece (I promise).

3. The Progress

That nicely brings me on to my last point.

As a high-handicap golfer, seeing improvements in your game is thrilling. It also isn't that hard, with a little work and effort, to notice your swing, short game or putting performances moving in the right direction.

After all, if your starting point is not being able to keep the ball on the planet, struggling to get out of bunkers in less than two shots and three-putting on every other green - progress is relatively achievable.

Scratch players and low-handicap golfers grind for weeks to see marginal gains, to help move their already stellar swing a step closer to their ideal movement, but not me.

I can have a lesson, pitch up to the range once a week for a month and start getting closer to breaking 90 for the first time.

Again, I'd happily give up the sense of euphoria that a high-handicapper experiences when watching their golf ball travel 160 yards+ on their intended start line if the trade was the ability to shoot in the high-70s or low 80s every week (and say I played 'terribly').

Everything in the game of golf is relative. I am enjoying the journey I am on, apart from the grief that high-handicappers get, and I know that one day I will reflect longingly on the days where I used to get two shots on a 155-yard par 3.

1. Know your distances

If you normally hit your drive 200 yards, don’t go looking for an errant tee shot in the rough 240 yards from the tee. Any ball you find there is not likely to be yours.

A GPS watch that measures the distance of the last shot can be so useful with this. Especially on a course that you are unfamiliar with and on a hole without obvious landmarks, it can narrow down which stretch of rough you should be looking through.

Don’t be shy in bringing your fellow players back to the target area if they start hunting for the ball in unrealistic places. Put your bag down where you think the ball is and tell people that it must be around here somewhere.

Do check the ground under your golf bag or trolley before you do this to ensure that you have not covered up the ball accidentally – I have seen several people do this!

2. Walk through the target area

If you've hit your ball into the rough, don’t walk down the fairway and then enter the rough at the point you think your ball might be; walk through the rough earlier than this so as to cover more area in your search. You are walking anyway, so why not walk through the rough?

3. Choose a landmark

Sometimes you can use something to line up where your ball has gone, but the topography of the land means when you get near to where your ball is, you can no longer see this point of reference. Patches of lighter or darker coloured grass fall into this category effortlessly.

4. Search methodically

Walking up and down in a straight line combing the area is better than wandering about randomly to ensure every bit of the likely area is actually being searched.

5. Shuffle your feet

Sometimes a ball is buried and invisible to the eye, but you can find it by foot. There is no penalty if you accidentally kick, step on, or move your golf ball while fairly searching for it in the rough. But if you have kicked it to a new position, you have to replace it where it was.

6. Make sure everyone is looking

It is easy on a tee to be distracted: filling in the scorecard, hunting for something in your bag, and so on. A polite reminder to your playing partners to look out for your drive is quite in order. The more people spotting, the more likely someone is to see exactly where the ball has ended up.

7. Note grass direction

Grass often leans in one direction, so do not look from the direction from which the grass will flip over the ball and hide it.

8. Walk in a straight line

Once you have lined up where the ball has gone, walk in a straight line to that landmark if you can. If you can’t, line up two points – the tee box is an obvious one for errant drives – to ensure you are going to the right place.

9. Read the topography

Especially when the ground is baked dry and hard, balls can roll and bounce more than expected. So look for any slopes that may have carried the ball away. A hard, firm fairway will send the ball bouncing further than a soft, wet one will.

Picture this... you meet a woman on holiday and you instantly click. She just feels right in your arms as you enjoy a fantastic few days laughing, going for long walks and dancing around in the sunshine.

She's all you think about while you're away but you know in the back of your mind it isn't going to last. There are tearful goodbyes and you spend the whole journey home wondering what it would have been like to spend your life together. After all, she made you a better person.

Just as you adjust to normal life again without her, a friend asks if he can introduce you to someone. It's her. The very same person you spent those magical few days with.

You instantly fall back in love and the next several weeks, months and years come so easily for you both.

But then, around three years into the relationship, you begin to hit a few bumps in the road. She doesn't quite have that same spark and the magic feels as though it's slipping away.

You don't feel like you did before. Your head is occasionally being turned by other options. Perhaps it's time for someone new...

Welcome to my life.

Fortunately for my long-suffering girlfriend, I'm not referencing her. Not in the slightest. I still love her more than anything in the world. And we met in our home town, which isn't very sunny at all.

Instead, the aforementioned analogy recounts my experience with a rented TaylorMade Stealth 3-hybrid I used on a press trip to the Algarve back in 2023.

That's right. Those long walks were along fairways and greens and the better person the club made me is unfortunately limited exclusively to the golfing sense.

What I found at first was that I was able to bridge a gap in my game - between 180 and 200 yards - which always posed me significant problems before.

It was like turning up to family gatherings and introducing a new partner before grandma had time to ask "when are you going to bring a nice girl home?"

But the issues I'm now facing with her... I mean, it, are still very real. I went from hitting the ball out of the sweet spot with unerring regularity to considering whether I even take it out anymore.

I just can't seem to use the club. I'm regularly pushing the ball out to the right or slicing it into the trees. For whatever reason, the synchronicity that used to exist has evaporated.

As a result, I've been checking out 5-woods and 7-woods... heck, even a 9-wood caught my attention quite recently. But are they the right options for me?

Do I need something with a bigger head to give me that trust back and comfort me in times of trouble. Would a little more loft lift me up when I'm feeling down on the course, allowing me to hit 190 yard shots again?

Or maybe I need to stick with a 3-hybrid but change the kind of traits I'm looking for in the club?

In all honesty, I know the right thing to do is take the both of us to couple's counselling. A.k.a go for a lesson.

We can work through our issues and I'm sure we'll rediscover those happy days again very soon. After all, you can't artificially create that kind of initial spark.

It would be so much easier to just ask one of my colleagues if they know someone else... something else for me to mess around with for a while.

But, at the end of the day, I know that won't make me happy. I'm sure this is just an awkward patch for the two of us and we'll sail off into the sunset like I always knew we would.

It's like they say, when you know, you know. Y'know?

If we were to be given a pound for every time we've mentioned how important it is to play with the right golf ball, everyone on the Golf Monthly team would be extremely wealthy.

It’s tempting to shop at the premium end of the market - the ones the best in the business use.

‘Premium’ means ‘best’, right, so shouldn’t everyone, regardless of level, play with one of the best premium golf balls?

Not exactly.

“There is certainly an argument that every golfer should play a premium ball due to the spin and control you gain around the greens using a soft urethane cover,” says our resident golf ball guru, Sam De’Ath, a county representative.

“On the flip side, it completely depends on each golfer's preferences - their short game could already be a strong point of their game, and so they may be seeking distance.

“If that’s the case, a golfer with a slower swing speed may not compress a ‘tour-ball’ enough and would be better off with a firmer ball to help maximise ball speed.”

So it’s not quite that simple - ‘premium’/’tour’ doesn't mean ‘best’ golf ball.

To steer you towards a suitable model, one that will help you to shoot lower scores, here’s some advice from our team of experts.

If you want to go a step further, we thoroughly recommend a ball fitting.

Low Handicap

At this level, golfers demand exceptional control, spin, feel, and consistency.

When you’re regularly shooting rounds in the 70s and lower, the game comes down to small margins, and the quality of the golf ball can make a significant difference - the difference between a par and a birdie.

So, we’re looking at the best premium golf balls on the market, including franchises like the Titleist Pro V1, TaylorMade TP5, Srixon Z-Star and Callaway Chrome Tour.

A premium ball is usually designed with three or four layers for optimal compression and energy return, and the softer cover will help provide more spin and control with scoring clubs. The layers also help achieve low driver spin while maximising short game control.

For many, the Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x are the gold standard, offering reliable distance, soft feel, and elite-level spin around the greens.

These two models still dominate the major professional tours, with the slightly firmer-feeling Titleist Pro V1x currently the most-played ball on the PGA Tour.

Mid Handicap

There is plenty of choice when it comes to the best balls in the mid-handicap category, most of which are three-piece models that boast decent all-round performance, sometimes at a slightly lower price point than the best premium balls.

In fact, many golf ball models in this segment perform extremely well against premium models whilst costing a fair few dollars less.

Our top pick in this category is the 2026 Srixon Q-Star, a high-quality option for moderate swing-speed players searching for tour-level performance.

In testing, we were very impressed with the short game control it offered. For Sam, it provided “a feel and stopping power usually reserved for much more expensive tour balls.”

The TaylorMade Tour Response Stripe also impressed our gear team. “I've finally found a mid-priced golf ball that offers genuine tour-level performance,” said Sam.

“Aside from a minuscule distance trade-off in the mid-irons, it stands out as one of the most complete three-piece balls on the market.”

Other models in the mid-handicap category include the Bridgestone B12 Straight, Wilson Triad, and Callaway ERC.

Meanwhile, the Titleist Tour Soft ball, which is a two-piece model, will suit those who like a soft feel off the face - although it’s not the ball for you if you are a high-spin player.

High Handicap

Golfers with very different skill levels are often grouped in this category, which can be misleading because not all players have the same strengths and weaknesses.

As with the other handicap categories, there’s no one ‘best ball’ for all golfers.

The high handicap player, which typically includes beginner golfers, is often someone who is rapidly improving in a certain area of the game, too.

For example, you can be an 18-plus handicapper and still swing the ball and get as much distance as a low handicapper. For these reasons, it’s worth experimenting with those balls in the other two handicap categories.

Of those balls that target the ‘typical’ high handicap player, our top all-round golf balls are the Srixon AD333 and the Titleist TruFeel.

In testing, the AD333 separated itself from the TruFeel thanks to excellent spin retention. It's a great choice for golfers that want a ball that performs consistently in all areas but without the premium price tag.

The TruFeel ball felt lively and responsive off the driver, delivered plenty of distance, and produced a soft, springy feel around the greens.

However, if you are a faster swinger and you create a lot of spin, you’ll want to look elsewhere.

The Wilson Triad is another impressive all-rounder. When it comes to distance, Sam says this ball “can comfortably compete with many of the best balls on the market”.

Even though modern driver technology helps players gain more distance, plenty of game improvers will benefit from using a distance-focused ball - and there are lots of these to try.

Our top pick this year is the Srixon Distance, ideal for players with 80-plus mph swing speeds.

The softer compression allows for a higher launch angle, which, in turn, delivers a more penetrating flight and greater carry.

Other models to try in this category include the Bridgestone E9 Long Drive, TaylorMade Distance+, Pinnacle Rush, and Callaway Warbird, a ball designed for slow swing players.

The trade-off is often less feel and control compared to the best balls on the market. However, you can still find a model in this category that works well for your current standard.

Hopefully this gives you a better idea of where to start your search. Still confused? Here are some final words of advice from Sam.

“I can 100 per cent advise experimenting with different types of golf balls. Different balls produce different spin rates, ball flights, and can feel dramatically different through impact.

“Some golfers may prefer a firmer feel to help with distance control; others may prefer a softer feel off the club face.

“The numbers provided by a launch monitor are important, but don’t overlook how much feel will impact performance on the course. That said, a conversation with your local PGA Pro or a ball fitting is always a good place to start if you're unsure.”

What's your handicap and which ball do you use and why? Let us know in the comment box below.

For as long as I’ve played golf, I’ve loved the competitive side of match play. I miss the team environment we had when I played for Hampshire teams as a junior. That head-to-head, adrenaline-fuelled battle, often against the odds, is so appealing to me.

The most popular spectator sport in the world is football. Why? Because of its unpredictable outcomes, non-stop flow, and massive global passion. Golf can be as exciting and appealing if only there were more match play. We’ve already seen women’s football grow at a huge rate; here’s a way to take a leaf out of soccer’s book and put our foot to the gas, accelerating the growth of golf.

Having just spent a few days at the Solheim Cup at Bernardus in The Netherlands, I truly believe that the energy sparked during this format of golf will really grow a new fanbase. The players connect with the crowd through music and dancing, really revving the mood up to a euphoric state. The roars of the crowd heard across the course fuelled the players in a way that stroke play cannot match.

Look how big the Ryder Cup has become compared to years gone by. The growth in popularity of the two greatest team events in golf cannot be denied. I have non-golfing female friends who religiously watch the Ryder Cup with their partners and freely admit they’re not into golf.

Director of Golf at Bernardus, Roel Verdonschot, said he was pleased to see the players really embrace the course’s risk-reward design. It suited the Solheim Cup and definitely saw some big power changes in many of the matches.

It was never over until the Guardians of the Cup sang their final song. That’s what I love about match play: it’s unpredictable, and every single shot impacts your opponent and can break them or fuel them to go for shots they wouldn’t usually take on. The way you can just clean the slate after taking a double bogey, lose one single hole, and then go on to win the next and ultimately the match.

The excitement when a match swings one way and then the other gives match play a faster pace, much like cricket has The Hundred or T20. Heading onto the course to play just a friendly match against a friend or a colleague carries a different level of fun when it’s purely match play.

There are no predisposed rules that you have to play 9 or 18 holes. A head-to-head 4-hole battle can be squeezed into a lunch break or a quick evening game. Think about who you’d like to challenge and which hole loops back towards the clubhouse, and throw down the gauntlet.

Pairs match play immediately turns golf, usually a single-player game, into a fuelled team event, and playing team sport comes with such deep human connection that I feel it envelopes golf in a much more connected way. It is hugely appealing to junior golfers as well as adults.

I sat and watched some of the final day’s Solheim Cup play with my nephew, and seeing the sparkle in his eyes as Europe moved ahead, or Lottie Woad holing a putt, was simply amazing. He and my son both asked why I didn’t take them with me to the Netherlands.

The instant excitement hole by hole, shot by shot, has viewers fixed to the screen and this kind of golf is pure sporting entertainment. This is why I feel we need more match play events. I’d be inclined to say team events over individual, but give me anything and I’ll be watching more golf. More importantly, this kind of “entertainment” will catch new fans and players in the same way the ramped-up versions of cricket have caught new cricketers.

GolfSixes didn’t work, but I really think this was a format issue. Turn this into 6-hole matches with teams of 4 over 3 rounds, and you’ve got a Ryder/Solheim Cup-style competition that will see fans gather in their masses. If we want to see growth (especially in the women’s game), we need a faster, more energised watch, then come the sponsors and the bigger purses.

As with the Solheim, match play exposes the character of these incredibly talented golfers and connects them to their audience as we get to know who they are. This is something we - the team at Golf Monthly - constantly discuss: the need to get to know the players for fans to become connected to them.

Seeing stars celebrate and dance around, embracing their teammates and rejoicing in the joy that is this game, helps the fans see them as people. Not just birdie-making machines with straight faces. Match play allows us to get to know these players and who they really are as humans. It exposes raw emotions as they play for each other with tears of joy, or are brought to their knees as the putt to stay in a match slides by.

So give me match play in bucketloads, because I cannot get enough of it. Show me team colours and I’ll coordinate my laces and sing the chants. If I could have taken my non-golfing pals to Bernardus, golf would have won itself a load of new fans and inspired more women to take up the game.

So next time a county or international match play event rolls into a town near you, gather up groups of women and girls and take them to showcase what this game can really be like. Here’s how golf will grow, and here’s to the magic of match play.

Having experienced the electric atmosphere at Bernardus Golf first-hand as Team Europe reclaimed the Solheim Cup trophy in a thrilling 15-13 victory, it was a brilliant spectacle for women's golf. It's an event that gets better and better, smashing records and showcasing world-class drama on a global stage. Here are my 7 takeaways from the 2026 match:

Short, Sweet, And Spectacular

This was easily one of the best Solheim Cup Opening Ceremonies in years. This might sound a bit harsh, and while I get that there’s a set protocol, these events usually drag on. All fans really want are the captains' speeches and the player pairings. Flawlessly hosted by Di Stewart, this ceremony nailed the balance: a few quick thank-yous, a short celebratory film, and straight into the main event. Fireworks signalled the start of the Solheim Cup, and a great live band kept the crowd's energy buzzing long after. Spot on.

Noise And Goosebumps

The 1st tee experience remains the absolute highlight of the Solheim Cup for me, there’s nothing else like it in the game. We spend the rest of the year watching these golfers play as stoic individuals, so seeing them step onto the tee with music blaring, players and captains dancing, and the crowd going crazy is just brilliant. If you ever get the chance to go, the 1st tee atmosphere alone is worth the price of admission.

I’m really glad we’ve found a better balance between the DJ and the crowd. The music definitely hijacked the fan culture at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in 2024, but bringing in the Guardians of the Cup, along with the rest of the chant-makers, restored the true spirit of the event. Having that mix of iconic, customised chants alongside the music gets everyone involved, right down to the players and caddies. It brings an energy you just don’t get anywhere else in golf.

Drama And Dutch Luxury

The layout at Bernardus Golf delivered the match-play drama we all want and have come to expect from a Solheim Cup. The course was presented beautifully, and full marks to the greenkeeping staff, as it also held up extremely well following the torrential rain on Sunday morning.

Perhaps not enough live scoreboards or concession stations dotted around the course, but that’s neither here nor there. In the fan village, I thought the tastefully laid-out food stations really showcased Bernardus’s refined luxury and sleek approach to hosting.

There were plenty of viewing spots, and grandstands were positioned in the best places on holes guaranteed to create the most drama, like the par-3 15th and par-4 16th. In fact, the 1st tee grandstand was the biggest I’ve ever seen at a Solheim Cup, and on the first morning, there wasn’t a spare seat in the house - another indication of the growth of this fantastic event.

A Sea Of Colour (And Bicycles!)

The crowds were phenomenal. Reports put week-long attendance around 80,000, a surge of nearly 15,000 spectators compared to the last European staging at Finca Cortesin in 2023.

While European blue and yellow comfortably outnumbered American red, white, and blue, supporters from both sides created an electric atmosphere out on the course. Naturally, there was also a prominent splash of orange in vibrant tribute to the Dutch hosts, so combined the European fans were very loud and proud.

There’s no doubt this unique golf tournament atmosphere is what hooks people in. I met four women from Virginia who became sold on the Solheim Cup when it was hosted in their home state in 2024. They certainly didn't want to miss the action this time, making the long-haul trip across the Atlantic to take it all in, and even fully embraced the Dutch experience by taking the recommended bike ride from the station to Bernardus!

Fearless Rookies And Historic Comebacks

It’s impossible to pick out just one standout player, they are all part of a team, but I was seriously impressed with the European rookie pairing of Nastasia Nadaud and Mimi Rhodes. They were totally fearless, enjoyed every single moment, and made history by becoming the first all-rookie duo to win two matches at a single Solheim Cup.

Swedish stars Maja Stark and Linn Grant were equally sensational, putting on a ball-striking masterclass in the Saturday morning foursomes to defeat Nelly Korda and Allisen Corpuz 3&2, bringing an end to the American pair's historic 5-0 undefeated streak in the format.

On the US side, Alison Lee delivered her own piece of history in the singles, staging an unbelievable comeback against Esther Henseleit. No player has won a Solheim Cup singles match after being four down since at least 2015, putting the perfect finishing touch on an incredible week where Lee finished as the tournament's top overall point scorer with a flawless 4-0-0 record.

Pure Magic From 90 Feet Out

There is one putt that will go down as an historic moment in the history of the Solheim Cup, and that was Jennifer Kupcho’s 90-foot birdie putt on the 17th green during Saturday afternoon’s fourballs. Teaming up with rookie Lindy Duncan against the formidable European pairing of Carlota Ciganda and Céline Boutier, the Americans were 1 down with two holes to play in the final match of the day.

Standing off the back of the green and staring down a nearly impossible distance across the fringe, Kupcho sent her putt rolling down the slope and it sank to tie the match and send the US side into raptures.

Then on the 18th green, Kupcho stepped up once more and drained a 25-foot birdie putt to complete an improbable back-to-back finish, securing a 1-up victory and tying the entire event 8-8 heading into Sunday's singles. In the media centre, our mouths were wide open. I bet she could hit that putt a hundred times and never make it, but that's why you've always got to expect the unexpected!

Retail Therapy Done Right

I was impressed by the shop, which had Ping’s Team Europe and Team USA’s B.Draddy and Zero Restriction clothing on sale, plus there were Solheim Cup logoed items from other brands such as Chervo, adidas and Dolcezza, the latter being a new brand to me. Women want a choice of styles to suit different tastes and budgets, so seeing this level of variety was a welcome change from the limited options often found at major tournaments.

There were also lots of accessories to choose from, a favourite was the European knitted visor, and I suspect the shop sold out of umbrellas on Sunday!

Something extraordinary is happening on the global tours right now. If you’ve been paying close attention to what’s in the bags of top players, you’ve likely noticed a prototype metalwood making remarkably frequent trips to the winner’s circle.

Equipment manufacturers routinely test pre-production clubs on tour months in advance, but rarely, if ever, have I seen a driver perform so well in terms of victories before it has even been released!

That club is a new Srixon driver (you will likely know the name already, and can read it on the driver, but technically we are not allowed to name it yet. Rules are rules!), and it is currently assembling one of the most impressive pre-launch runs in recent golf memory across both the men's and women's games.

Dominating on the Big Stage

Tour professionals are notoriously hesitant to swap out their driver mid-season - confidence off the tee is sacred, and tweaking launch specs during competition can be risky. Yet, as soon as player testing opened for this particular new Srixon model, players didn't just put it straight into play; they started lifting major trophies immediately.

The headline-grabbing run kicked off when Ryan Fox produced a masterclass of distance and control to capture the Claret Jug at The Open Championship with the driver in the bag. The momentum carried straight over to the LPGA Tour, where Jenny Shin put on a ball-striking clinic to secure victory at the Women's Scottish Open.

If any doubts remained about this intriguing new driver's big-stage credentials, Shane Lowry put them firmly to rest at the Irish Open. Driving with relentless power and accuracy under pressure, Lowry dismantled an elite field to win the title by a record margin.

Three marquee victories across three distinct venues - all accomplished before the driver has even hit shop floors.

Lips Sealed on the Tech... For Now

So, what exactly is the secret sauce driving Srixon’s latest creation? For now, the technical details remain strictly under wraps.

Because media technical specs are under a strict embargo until September 22nd, we can't yet reveal the under-the-hood engineering, face architecture, carbon construction, or sole weighting Srixon has designed for this low-spin head. However, we don't need a spec sheet to comment on what we've witnessed out on the course: penetrating trajectories, high ball speeds, and impressive stability when the pressure is on.

The tour results speak louder than any marketing pitch ever could.

Release Dates & What’s Next

For Srixon enthusiasts looking to upgrade their driver, the wait is almost over.

Our complete technical breakdown, launch monitor data, and full reviews will go live right here on Golf Monthly on September 22nd as soon as the media embargo lifts.

If you're already sold on the tour performance and ready to get custom fit, mark your calendars: the Srixon driver family will officially be available at retail on October 2nd. If its pre-launch win record is any indication, this one is most certainly worth a test!

Myrtle Beach is known as the golf capital of the world, and for good reason. It has more golf courses per capita than anywhere else. It’s no wonder, then, that it plays host to the largest amateur golf tournament in the world – the Play Golf Myrtle Beach World Amateur, aka the Myrtle Beach World Am.

This year, I was one of 3,000 players who entered the fray. The event is played on 55 golf courses across the Grand Strand, divided into 61 flights – three of them just for fun. Golfers ages 18 to 93 tested their skills against others of similar age and ability. It’s a golf tournament and a party, and this was the 43rd year.

Years ago, there was a concerted effort to promote golf tourism in the area. For decades, the Golf Writers Association of America held its championship in Myrtle Beach, generating plenty of publicity for the area as a golf destination.

At one point, there were more than 100 golf courses along the Grand Strand, which stretches 60 miles north into North Carolina and south toward Pawleys Island.

Some of the biggest names in golf-course architecture have left their fingerprints here, including Tom Fazio, Davis Love III, Robert Trent Jones, Arnold Palmer, Pete Dye, and Mike Strantz, who also authored the masterpiece Caledonia Golf & Fish Club, across from True Blue

The World Am itself began as the Myrtle Beach Dupont World Amateur Handicap Championship. The idea was to attract golfers during what had traditionally been a slow period for Myrtle Beach -- right after children returned to school and families finished their summer beach vacations.

Myrtle Beach is enormously popular during the summer and attracts plenty of golfers, particularly from the Northeast, during the spring. But late August and early September presented an opportunity to fill the tee sheets. And it worked.

Five golfers have played in every World Am since its inception: Paul Ciancanelli of DeMotte, Ind.; Gerald States of Baden, Pa.; Dean Tedder of Davie, Fla.; Don Yelton of Shelby, N.C.; and Ray Zajicek of Dallas.

Players now come from all over the world, although South Carolina and Florida are the most heavily represented states. This year, 302 women competed.

The under-49 men’s division also had the most new players, so perhaps there’s a youth movement developing. Or maybe not. The average age of the participants is 62, which makes sense. Retirees tend to have a little more time on their hands for this sort of thing.

Come one, come all

The tagline for the 43rd Play Golf Myrtle Beach World Amateur was: “Come as you are. Leave as a legend.” That’s a pretty enticing proposition for ordinary golfers. All you need is a legitimate handicap. (They do use your lowest handicap index over the last year to help prevent sandbagging.)

For many participants, the Myrtle Beach World Am is the closest thing to playing on a professional tour. After all, how often do you get to play four rounds of competitive golf, count every stroke, play without gimmes, and feel the pressure of trying to win or, in my case this year, simply trying not to embarrass yourself?

Unfortunately, that quickly became my goal.

There’s also a level of fatigue that most of us don’t factor into our normal golf. Nearly 90 percent of the field is over 50, and playing four rounds over several days in warm temperatures and high humidity can take its toll. Fortunately, you don’t have to play great golf to have a great time at the Myrtle Beach World Am.

I was disappointed each day as I found a new way to add strokes to my scorecard. For what it’s worth, I did manage to keep my scores in double digits, but it wasn’t pretty. It simply wasn’t my week.

Still, I played some really good golf courses – I love Mike Strantz’ True Blue, which I had played before – and met plenty of like-minded people who enjoy competing, embrace the camaraderie and understand the joy and disappointment that keeps all of us coming back. And that’s really what the World Am is about.

The reality of tournament golf

I played in Flight 23, alongside other mid-seniors ages 60 to 69 with handicaps ranging from 7.9 to 8.5. As poorly as I played, I was hardly the only one who struggled to shoot anywhere near his or her handicap. In fact, relatively few players do. There are several reasons.

“Although the handicapping system accounts for adjustments based on course slope and rating, there are always the intangibles,” said Scott Taylor, director of events for the Myrtle Beach World Am. “Competition adds another layer. Also, most golfers play courses for the first time, which is always a challenge.

"Also factoring in is a busy tournament schedule where players compete for four to five days in a row, which can be challenging. Only a very small percentage typically finishes close to net par for the event.”

That certainly sounded familiar. But even though I wasn’t playing well, my playing companions were gentlemen, and interesting ones at that.

On my second day, I played a course I knew wasn’t going to set up particularly well for me. It was short and tight, with water on 17 holes and plenty of out-of-bounds. I knew I was in trouble.

On one particular hole, I walked onto the tee and mumbled something to the effect of, “I wonder which side I’m going to miss this one on.” That’s when David Vaughan offered a little encouragement.

The retired pastor from Ohio, who now lives in South Carolina, was one of the most positive people I’ve ever met. He loved golf, loved his fellow competitors, and seemed genuinely happy just to be there.

He shot 83 that day, which I thought was a respectable score. I didn’t give it much thought at the time. As it turned out, he won our flight. His victory came with a $600 gift card from one of the tournament’s major sponsors, PGA Tour Superstore. Well deserved.

And that’s another thing about the World Am: While the competition is serious, it doesn’t have to be all-consuming.

The World’s Largest 19th Hole

In the three years I’ve played, I’ve met so many good people who are there for the same reasons: to compete, have fun, and maybe make a few new friends along the way. There’s also the World’s Largest 19th Hole.

Each evening, after golf, competitors and their guests gather at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center to eat, drink, dance, compete in contests, and enjoy live entertainment.

For the most part, it’s all included with your entry fee (about $700, depending on how early you register, and it includes a goodie bag worth around $250, I would estimate), unless you decide to buy something from one of the apparel or other product vendors. Event sponsors PGA Tour Superstore and GolfPass also stepped up with a $20 gift card and a year's membership, respectively.

And the food and drink – including beer and cocktails – ain’t bad. I loved the meatballs from Big Mike's Soul Food, as well as the Korean steak tacos from Pop Stroke. The most popular item? That might be the ice cream from Friendly’s, one of a dozen or so establishments providing small plates or bowls at the convention center.

It’s a pretty good time, regardless of how you played that day. Although, admittedly, I probably would have enjoyed it a little more had I been contending.

So what’s it like spending the better part of a week along the upper South Carolina and lower North Carolina coasts that make up the Grand Strand? It’s hot, but bearable.

The beaches are pretty nice, and there’s plenty to do if you have the energy after four or five days of golf, including live music shows, mini golf, water parks, Broadway at the Beach, and the Hollywood Wax Museum, just to name a few.

One winner, 3,000 stories

In the end, there can be only one winner. And at the World Am, it’s not necessarily the player who shoots the lowest score. It’s the player who produces the best net score.

The 2026 champion was Michael Fincham of New Bern, N.C. He was one of 61 flight winners who advanced to a fifth and final round at Grande Dunes Resort Course in Myrtle Beach. He had won Flight 13, the Senior Men’s division for players ages 50 to 59 with handicaps from 9.4 to 10.5.

In the championship round, Fincham defeated Bruce Shevely of nearby Murrells Inlet, S.C., in a one-hole playoff.

The rest of us went home with something a little less tangible – memories, new friends, stories about bad shots and good ones. And, perhaps most importantly, we leave with the satisfaction of having put ourselves under the gun for four days and lived to tell about it.

With the exception of winning a $50 PGA Tour Superstore gift card in one of the nightly drawings, I certainly didn’t win anything this year related to my play. But I’m already thinking about coming back.

As Clayton Adams of Houston put it, “I’ve played in this for three or four years, and I can honestly say there’s only been one person I wouldn’t want to play with again.”

Seems like a pretty good ratio. Except mine has been even better than that. Everyone I’ve played with, I’d play with again.

And maybe that’s the best way to describe the Myrtle Beach World Am.

If, like me, you watch a lot of top tour golf, you will see some of the best golfers in the world hitting greens in regulation for fun - making it all look incredibly simple.

The reality is that it isn't, for most amateurs at least, and even the top PGA Tour pros only average around 66%. Wallowing in self pity won't help though, so what can you do to improve your own green in regulation numbers?

Investing time in studying the best ball striking tips is a great place to start, but there is also value in understanding where your game is currently at in relation to other players at your handicap level.

To move forwards, you need to your starting point after all. Below, we use the latest 2026 Shot Scope data to share how many greens in regulation the average golfer hits at different handicap indexes to help you benchmark and strategise this season...

How Many Greens In Regulations Do Amateurs Hit In 2026?

A green in regulation is where a player hits (and holds) the putting surface with their tee shot on a par 3, their second shot on a par 4 and their third shot on a par 5.

When we break this down into different handicap index bands, however, there is a vast gap between single figure golfers and high-handicappers.

You can see how you compare to other amateur golfers at different handicap indexes below using our 'versus' data comparison tool.

Greens In Regulation % (By Handicap Index Band)

How many greens in regulation amateur golfers hit on average based on their handicap index

Versus Comparison Data

Attribute	0-handicap	5-handicap	10-handicap	15-handicap	20-handicap	25-handicap
Greens In Regulation %	59	41	32	21	14	9

0-handicap5-handicap10-handicap15-handicap20-handicap25-handicap

VS

0-handicap5-handicap10-handicap15-handicap20-handicap25-handicap

Greens In Regulation %

+44%59

41

A 5-handicapper hits an average of 41% of greens in regulation - which is roughly seven per round.

That number decreases when you analyse the average performance of 15-handicappers, who hit just 21% of greens in regulation.

That translates to three greens in regulation, four less than a 5-handicap golfer.

A 25-handicapper, perhaps predictably, hits even fewer. With an average green in regulation return of just 9%, they are able to find the putting surface in the outlined number of shots just once per round.

While I obviously anticipated that trend, with more capable players clearly expected to hit more greens in regulation, I'm not sure I thought it'd be quite that stark.

So, what can amateurs do to hit more greens? Let's take a look at some other Shot Scope measures for some clues.

What can amateurs do to hit more greens?

The average amateur golfer comes up short of the green around 30% of the time with approach shot from 100-150 yards. That number increases to 40% for approach shots from 150 to 200 yards and 65% from 200+ yards.

Therefore, improving your strategy and taking enough club to find the back of the green could negate any minor mis-strikes and give you a better chance of finding the putting surface.

Moreover, taking a hybrid instead of a long-iron is statistically the sensible play from 175 yards+, according to the Shot Scope data.

Ultimately, working at the driving range on achieving a centred strike is always going to help with consistency on the course - so perhaps it's time to go back to basics as you search for a way to cut your handicap in 2026.

In the Golf Monthly forums, many topics get discussed in detail and recently, our members have been sharing their experiences with direct-to-consumer equipment.

What are Direct-to-Consumer clubs?

Direct-to-consumer (D2C) clubs are companies that sell clubs directly from their factory to the customer’s door. Companies such as Takomo, Sub 70 and Haywood produce clubs at lower prices for comparable components/specs because there are fewer retail and distribution markups.

By cutting out the traditional overheads, that include tour player endorsement deals that often creep into the millions of dollars, DTC clubs can often significantly undercut comparable offerings from golf’s major manufacturers.

WATCH: We Built Our Ultimate Direct-To-Consumer Bag

One forum member, ‘MandoFred’, has used clubs from both Sub 70 and Eleven, saying: “I've used Sub 70 irons and currently have a brand called Eleven hybrid 8-9-pw. I've converted several people over to the Eleven ‘irons/hybrids’.”

“I'm very interested in the Takomo irons, and I might just take a gamble and order 7-PW. I'm at the point where I don't want to spend twice as much for the big-name brands when these cheaper clubs work 99.9% as well.”

While the aptly named ‘HoganMan1’ has shared his positive thoughts on his DTC Ben Hogan irons, saying:

“I play Ben Hogan irons and really like them. As you all probably know, Hogan Golf was started by the man himself. It's been bought and sold many times since Mr Hogan passed. Just when I thought it was gone forever, it rose like the Phoenix as a DTC company.”

“They still make great equipment and are reasonably priced. I've played Ben Hogan for decades and still have the forged blades I bought back in the early 80s. I now play the more forgiving Edge EX irons. If you're in the market for new clubs, maybe take a look at the Ben Hogan Company.”

Forum member ‘The Fader’ is another who has tried Sub 70s clubs and singled the company out for praise, saying:

“I love my Sub70s. I had a comprehensive fitting (although you need to travel to Hereford or Glasgow). Single brand but lots of options from GI to cavity backs, muscle backs and blades.”

What are the drawbacks of direct-to-consumer clubs?

However, ‘The Fader’ also noted how prices are trending upwards even for DTC brands:

“Unfortunately prices are creeping up, and the differential with the leading brands is not as wide as it was.”

Golf Monthly user ‘R0wly86’ also shared that the lack of easy access to go for a fitting has put him off taking the plunge on DTC clubs, saying:

“They do look great, and I'm tempted. But I’m put off by not being able to test them before or get properly fitted.”

However, for a sport that has long carried a reputation for being prohibitively expensive, the DTC model also creates a closer relationship between golfer and brand, with golfers often able to access greater customisation and more player-focused products.

So should you try direct-to-consumer clubs?

The answer likely varies from player to player. DTC clubs can offer genuine value, but the biggest drawback is the lack of a traditional fitting experience. Before buying, it’s worth being honest with yourself about how comfortable you are purchasing clubs without hitting them first.

If you’re someone who likes to compare different heads, shafts and specs in person before committing, the savings may not outweigh the uncertainty.

Have your say and share your experiences by heading over to the Golf Monthly forums to get involved in the full discussion here. Alternatively, share your experience with direct-to-consumer clubs in the comments section below.

Is being labelled 'underrated' a compliment? We think so. It has to be better than being called 'overrated'.

We believe the following 11 players deserve a little more recognition for their achievements. However, this is subjective - and maybe you feel otherwise.

And maybe we’ve missed a few players off - in fact, we’re pretty sure we have.

Take Vijay Singh and Retief Goosen, for example – both multiple Major winners whose successes during the Tiger Woods era of domination go somewhat overlooked.

Let us know who you think should appear on this list and why by leaving your comments in the box below.

As for the most overrated players of all time, well, that could get really sensitive…

Calvin Peete

From 1982-86, Peete was the winningest player on the PGA Tour - and he didn’t start playing the game until he was in his early 20s.

A former Players champion and two-time Ryder Cup winner, Peete also won the Vardon Trophy, beating a certain Jack Nicklaus to the title in 1984.

His peers knew just how talented and tough he was. Nicklaus, who captained Peete at the 1983 Ryder Cup, described him as a “remarkable player”.

For all his success, however (he won 12 times on the PGA Tour), his achievements are often overlooked.

“Other than Tiger, (he’s) the most successful African American or person of colour on the PGA Tour, and far and away the most successful,” said golf journalist Pete McDaniel, who wrote “Uneven Lies: The Heroic Story of African-Americans in Golf.”

Judy Rankin

Very few players have done as much for women in golf as Judy Rankin - she was a true trailblazer.

After joining the LPGA Tour in 1962, she won 26 times over 20 years and was the first player to earn over $100,000 in a single season, banking over $150,000 in 1976.

She was also one of the first players to travel with her children, an early iteration of the group of women now referred to as LPGA Moms.

After her retirement, she continued to break barriers, becoming an on-course analyst for ABC and ESPN.

Andy North

After winning the US Open in 2026, Wyndham Clark joined a group of seven other men to have taken the title twice without winning another Major.

North won his national Open in 1978 and 1985. Given the US Open is widely regarded as the toughest Major championship, the television analyst doesn't quite get the credit he deserves.

Or was he just a US Open specialist, one of those players who seems to thrive in demanding conditions?

North’s only other PGA Tour victory came at the American Express Westchester Classic in 1977.

Peter Oosterehuis

A pro in the commentary box and one helluva player on the other side of the ropes.

The affable Englishman won the European Tour’s Order of Merit four years on the bounce in the early 1970s and racked up 20 worldwide victories.

He could and probably should have won at least one Major Championship. Twice second in The Open, he lost out to Tom Watson in 1982 by a single stroke.

In 1973, Oosterehuis had also taken the 54-hole lead at Augusta, only to finish tied for third.

‘Oosty’ played some of his best golf in the Ryder Cup, compiling a 14-11-3 record that included two wins against the great Arnold Palmer.

Mac O’Grady

One of the sport’s most enigmatic figures, Mac O’Grady won twice on the PGA Tour and earned over $1 million in prize money.

He was also regarded as one of the finest ball-strikers in the game, and despite racking up a record number of attempts at qualifying school, he came pretty close to winning the US Open in 1987, where he led the way at Olympic Club with four holes to play.

It doesn’t begin to tell the story…

Often described as a “tortured genius”, they don’t make them like “Waco Grady” anymore.

Jan Stephenson

The highlight of the Australian’s career came in 1983, when she won the US Women’s Open at Cedar Ridge Country Club in Oklahoma.

Remarkably, Stephenson won using a borrowed set of clubs when her set went missing - and this was a very different era from the world in which top pros compete nowadays.

In 1986, she was photographed in a bathtub covered by nothing except a mountain of golf balls.

“It brought people to the gates,” Nancy Lopez said years later. As for the critics, she added, “There could have been a few players who were jealous because they didn’t look as good as Jan.”

Renowned for her hard work, Stephenson won 16 LPGA Tour titles, including three Major Championships.

Bob Charles

It’s a question that might come up in a sports quiz one day… who was the first left-hander to win The Open?

And now you know – it was Bob Charles, who put on a putting masterclass to defeat American Phil Rodgers by eight strokes in the tournament’s last-ever 36-hole playoff.

Sir Bob, 90, worked in banking for six years before turning professional – and his career change proved to be a good decision, for he went on to record 76 professional wins.

Charles, one of his generation’s greatest putters, received the prestigious Order of the British Empire from the Queen of England in 1972 and was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1992.

Billy Casper

Billy Casper frequently found himself up against the 'Big Three' in the 1960s – those, of course, being Palmer, Nicklaus, and Gary Player.

It should have been the 'Big Four', for Casper won 51 times on the PGA Tour, and only six other players have managed to do that.

Along with the long list of individual honours - which include five Vardon Trophies for low scoring average and three Major Championships - the American amassed 23½ points over the course of his eight Ryder Cup appearances, which remains a record for the US side.

Larry Nelson

After taking up the game at 21, Nelson’s career didn’t really get going until he earned his PGA Tour card at Qualifying School in 1973.

He went on to become one of the best players on the PGA Tour for nearly two decades, winning three Major Championships and 10 titles along the way.

He was rarely in the spotlight like some of his peers, not like Lanny Wadkins, Tom Watson and Fuzzy Zoeller – and that suited him just fine.

Nelson also won four times on the Japan Tour and 19 times on the PGA Tour Champions.

Meanwhile, in the Ryder Cup, he won his first nine consecutive matches before tasting defeat.

Despite his resume and his wealth of experience, he was consistently overlooked for the role of captain.

Moe Norman

Moe Norman was sometimes referred to as the 'Rainman of Golf' because he repeated his words often, and many people believe he lived within the autism spectrum.

In Canada, he was often called an “odd duck”, meaning eccentric and/or unusual.

Despite his quirky behaviour, many believe he was the greatest ball striker ever to pick up a golf club.

It didn’t win him a Major Championship. However, his golf swing is still discussed in teaching circles.

Stuart Appleby

Maybe it’s because Australia has produced several Major champions that Stuart Appleby doesn’t get the credit he deserves, or maybe it was because he was a bit too streaky.

Had he won just one, that would have been different.

Although that Major Championship proved elusive (he recorded top-10 finishes in all four blue-ribbon events), he did capture nine victories on the PGA Tour.

At the 2010 Greenbrier Classic, the Australian became the fifth player to shoot a 59, and he reached a career-high of eight in the OWGR.

It’s one of those age-old debates: how many golf clubs do you really need? You are allowed, of course, to carry 14 - but many believe, including our very own Joe Ferguson of Kick Point, that’s too many.

However, 14 is the number, and most golfers will fill their bag with the maximum number of clubs that they are allowed. Why wouldn’t you?

If you’ve just started playing, or perhaps you’re looking to fine-tune your line-up, how many of each type of club should you carry?

The answer is that it’s not black and white. If you like your What’s In The Bag content, you’ll know one tour pro’s 14-club lineup can look quite different from another.

However, every tour pro is evenly gapped through the set. This is crucial. There’s little point in carrying two clubs that go the same distance - that's a waste.

One of the 14 clubs, of course, needs to be a putter - so let’s look at how the rest of your set could look, starting at the top end with your woods.

WOODS, FAIRWAYS & HYBRIDS

You’ve got your driver - that’s easy. Or is it? You’ve also got your mini driver, which sits between the driver and 3-wood in terms of size.

Should you carry a driver or a mini driver? In short, it’s usually a replacement for the driver for players seeking more control, a replacement for a 3-wood for those looking for more distance, or an additional club between the driver and 3-wood.

Some players may find they are more accurate with a mini driver off the tee and/or they can use it off the fairway.

As a result, some golfers have replaced their 3-wood.

However, much depends on a player's swing characteristics and personal preferences.

Recreational golfers and high-handicap players may be better served skipping the 3-wood and playing a 4- or 5-wood, because they are more playable and provide more optimal launch and spin profiles for slower swing speeds.

On tour, we're seeing woods as high as 9-woods being used. Golfers have never had so much choice in the long game department - it's a case of finding what works for you just as the best players in the world do.

Bear in mind, the more clubs you carry at the top end of your bag, the fewer options you'll have at the bottom end (see below).

And this is the whole point. When you’re building the perfect set of 14 golf clubs for your game, it’s all about compromise.

How about hybrids and utility irons? For many golfers, it’s a no-brainer: hybrids are easier to launch and offer greater forgiveness and versatility.

The bottom line is this: the question shouldn't be how many of each you should carry; it's about choosing the ones that suit your swing and make the game easier.

However, in the hands of more accomplished ball strikers and those who can generate high club head speed, utility irons can be a great weapon to have, especially in the summer when the ground is firm or when wanting to keep the flight down on a windy links course.

Speaking of which, your line-up might also vary depending on the type of course you are playing. Most tour pros tweak their club selections throughout the season according to where they’re playing.

For example, some players will ditch their long irons in favor of a 7-wood at the Masters, as the extra loft helps players launch the ball higher, allowing their approach shots to land softly, which can be a significant advantage on Augusta’s treacherous greens.

IRONS

Most standard sets of irons consist of six or seven clubs, running from 4- or 5-PW. The key is to avoid falling into the trap of your longest hybrid/utility going the same distance as your longest iron.

So, let’s say you’ve got your driver, fairway, and hybrid/utility, and you’re happy with the transition into your longest iron (4-PW, for example) - that’s 11 clubs, including the putter.

With space for three wedges, your line-up is complete. You could call this a typical set of 14 clubs that covers the distances and shots required.

However, this lineup might not suit everyone - it’s just a guide.

WEDGES

Let’s take a step back. All golfers can benefit from a wedge fitting, which will dial in your scoring clubs. However, if you don’t want to spend time and money on that, consider these basic principles.

Longer hitters usually require more wedges than shorter hitters. Let’s say you can hit your driver 300 yards - you’re probably able to hit your pitching wedge 140 yards.

Now, if you’ve got 140 yards into the green with your pitching wedge, you’ve got a lot of ground to cover with your other wedges. Maybe this is a bit of a generalisation, but there is some truth in it.

In short, it comes down to this. Are you comfortable hitting full wedge shots? Maybe, if you’re proficient at hitting half and three-quarter pitches and manipulating your yardages, you can drop a wedge.

This might be your preferred option, therefore giving you an option at the top end of your bag - perhaps a 7-wood for when you’re struggling to find fairways with the big stick.

What's The Answer?

In summary, it comes down to what suits you and what you are comfortable with.

What are your strengths and weaknesses? How often do you use certain clubs? What type of shots do you need to play on your home course? How many different clubs do you chip with?

It sounds like a lot to consider, and if you’re serious about your golf, yes, it’s true: we can get quite granular with the details.

However, it all becomes simpler when you see a PGA pro and/or spend a little time on a launch monitor to establish your carry distances with each club.

From there, you can make tweaks at the top or bottom end of your bag.

Having an extra wedge or two in the garage, or several different long game clubs to call upon, is never a bad idea. Even in the winter, you might want to consider swapping in a higher bounce wedge for when the ground gets soft to make chipping easier.

Just as the tour pros might put a driving iron in the bag at the expense of a hybrid during Open week, you can mix up your own bag to better suit where you play.

So, how many of each club should you carry? That’s up to you to determine. However, hopefully this has given you a better idea of how to build the perfect bag.

If it helps, our resident pro and fitting expert, Joe, carries the following: driver, fairway wood, utility wood (rescue), irons 4-PW, three wedges and a putter.

How do you configure your bag? Let us know in the comments below.

Just like that, summer has been and gone. It won’t be long before fairways are adorned with fallen leaves and slightly fat contacts will result in the divot going almost as far as the ball. Summer may be over (in England at least), but that doesn’t mean we can’t take lessons and learnings forward and apply them to autumn and beyond.

I’ve never experienced a drier summer with firmer fairways in all the years I’ve been playing golf, and while this presented some good scoring opportunities, I also found I put needless pressure on myself.

As an example, I’d struggle to fight off thoughts on par-5 tees of the hole being very reachable and often slice one into the trees or come over the top and pull the ball straight left as a result. It definitely put my mental game under pressure.

I also found par 3s and second shots into par 4s challenging. Was it best to bounce the ball in, risking an unpredictable bounce, or fly it all the way knowing a slight push or pull could bounce off a firm side slope and into the trees?

However, there were undoubtedly opportunities to take advantage of. Average hitters could become extremely long hitters; drivers simply weren’t needed on a lot of holes, allowing golfers to play safer if that way inclined; and many enjoyed hitting off firm turf, especially those prone to catching the ground behind the ball.

Below, I’ve detailed the main lessons I learned from my scorched summer of golf, which will hopefully stand me in good stead for the rest of the year and beyond…

The basics

When the fairways are firm, being only slightly out with your alignment and start line can result in a ball bounding off into the trees. You have to be so precise, and the way to achieve that is to be meticulous with your fundamentals.

This summer, I also started setting up to a point about two feet in front of me. Previously, I’ve been guilty of not really knowing where I’m aiming and pointing in vaguely the right direction. Not anymore. There’s no excuse for anyone to have poor alignment.

No GIR? No disaster

I’ve slowly come to realise that not finding a green in regulation isn’t the worst thing. If you don’t find the putting surface in the right number of shots, it really doesn’t matter. Why? Because you can get up and down (or maybe even hole out) and sometimes a bogey is more than acceptable. Plus, it’s not as if you’re guaranteed to two-putt anyway.

There’s no point taking needless risks because of a baseless infatuation with finding the green in regulation. If you play the sensible shot and take the big number out of play, you could still walk off with a par. And if not, a bogey won’t completely wipe out your momentum.

Hit the right club for the situation

A lot of golfers have an aversion to a particular club, especially off the tee. They’d prefer to hit a club that’s wrong for the hole because they’re not comfortable with the ‘right’ one.

But guess what? You’ll never be comfortable if you don’t change how you operate, so pick the right club for the shot and continue down that path until you’ve learned not to fear any club in your bag.

Try to hole every putt

So many of my summer three-putts came about because I was trying to get my approach effort in the vicinity of the cup, instead of attempting to get the ball in the hole. This often led to non-committed, tentative efforts that came up well short – especially on fast putts – and left me with fiddly five-footers.

Of course, you can miss a five-footer from beyond the cup, but at least you’ve put a positive stroke on the ball if it’s gone that far past. Also, there’s a chance it’ll go below ground. Never up, never in and all that.

Good runs can come at any time

I’ve often been guilty of looking at the scorecard and identifying areas of the course where I feel I should be stringing some pars together and building good Stableford points totals. If these holes fall at the start of the round, I’ve immediately put myself under pressure.

But golf simply doesn’t care about your plan. I know as well as anyone that a bad run can happen at any time, which also means a good run can come at any time. Keep making good decisions and you’ll hit a good streak. Don’t force the issue.

Miss on the wrong side

Given how firm the turf was, you could be disproportionately punished for an okay-ish shot that just happened to miss in the wrong place. I learned pretty quickly that short-siding myself was something to be avoided at all costs, as often it was impossible to get enough loft to pitch a ball over a bunker and stop it near a tight flag.

Instead of aiming at the flag all the time on approach shots, I started shifting my focus to the middle of the green, thereby building in more margin for error. It’s something I’ll continue to do going forward.

Less is more

I’ve generally chipped with plenty of loft, but that wasn’t always an option this summer – there were times when I physically couldn’t get the leading edge under the ball on delicate shots.

This forced a change of approach, and I’m glad it did. It’s much easier to chip consistently well with a 9-iron or wedge instead of a 54° or 60°, even if you have a good short game. I’ll only be using loft when needed in the future.

I experienced something on the golf course last weekend that epitomises why golf has a slow play problem.

I have written extensively about this in the past, including a 12-point plan to solve the pace of play issue and 5 signs you are part of the slow play problem, but some golfers still appear to be totally oblivious (or simply don’t care) - and it really grinds my gears.

One huge factor in causing a slow play pile up on the course is when a player returns to the tee after not finding their ball.

My stance on this is clear: hit a provisional or take the NR.

Perhaps I am being harsh or unfair, but I will explain the circumstances around this particular incident below and you can be the jury. Let me know what your verdict is in the comments section below this article…

Why The Return-to-Tee Rule In Golf Needs to Go

Let’s set the scene. I was playing at a course that I’ve never visited before, but despite a lack of course knowledge and intermittent torrential downpours, it was all going fairly well.

Early in the back nine we had caught up with the group ahead, who we hadn’t seen for most of the round to that point. The final few holes were slow and it became clear that the group ahead clearly didn’t care much about slow play.

The straw that broke the camel's back occurred on the 16th hole, however.

After arriving at the tee box and waiting five minutes, we were almost ready to tee off. Suddenly, we saw a figure emerge from the trees on the left, about 200 yards up the fairway.

It became clear that it was a player who was jogging back towards the tee, with a driver, glove and golf ball in his hands. I knew what was about to happen!

After taking another two minutes to ‘run’ back to the tee, the player then explained that he had lost his tee ball and needed to hit another shot.

He hadn’t hit a provisional ball - strike one. He didn’t really seem to care about the fact we had already been waiting for ages - strike two.

He then went behind our group to the white tees, suggesting that perhaps he was playing in the members’ competition.

After composing himself after the exertion of running back, and with four sets of fairly fed up eyes on him, he proceeded to tug that ball straight into the same trees.

That was always going to happen, wasn’t it?

The chances of him striping one down the middle under that sort of pressure and physical duress were slim, which essentially doubles the delay for zero reward.

Anyway, no provisional ball was hit that time either - strike three. Now, I was fuming.

As he jogged back up the fairway to look for that ball, we were ticking up to 10 minutes on the tee box.

There was no wave to us to play up and there was no suggestion that his friends were looking for his ball while he made his way back.

In that situation, there is no way I could go back to the tee if I hadn't hit a provisional ball. The way I see it, if I lost my ball in the trees, which is completely plausible, and I didn’t hit a provisional - that’s my own fault.

My options are to not score on that hole (Stableford), enter a NR (medal) or stroke-and-distance relief for a two-shot penalty if the local rule applies (casual round).

In terms of complying with the rules of the game, perhaps he did the right thing. But, in my opinion, that rule needs to go.

Clearly, if this person was a professional in a competition there would be a need to finish every hole - but we are talking amateur golf here, folks.

I want to believe that they were playing in the competition, and that he was having an absolutely unreal round up until that point, as then I can understand to an extent - despite not agreeing.

The decision to return to the tee showed a flagrant disregard for pace of play and basic etiquette.

It’s not all about you. There are groups of players behind you and why should they be held up because you didn’t make a sensible decision on the tee box.

Hitting a provisional ball takes 30 seconds, and significantly less effort than jogging up and down the fairway.

There was a group playing behind us who were now queuing up on the same tee box, and the group behind them had played their tee shots on the par-3 15th. This put our group under unnecessary pressure too, which is never conducive to playing good golf.

The impact on others who have to wait for 10-15 minutes on the tee box to play their next hole is significant, so if you ever find yourself in that situation please do two things: Hit a provisional ball if there is any doubt about finding your first one and stop being selfish - take your medicine, learn from it and move on.

This year’s Solheim Cup in the Netherlands will be the 20th staging of what has become the highlight of the golfing calendar. The United States lead 11-7 with just one tie in Spain three years ago. Over the years there have been heroics, tears, controversy and records being set and broken with the cream of American and European golf putting on a biennial masterclass for us.

We document some of the most memorable times from a competition that began as recently as 1990 but has been packed with drama ever since.

1992 – Europe’s Unexpected Upset

The inaugural Solheim Cup saw the Americans win all three sessions and the overall match by seven points. The visitors had 21 Majors between them at the time, Europe had two – from Lotta Neumann and Laura Davies – but, as we've come to appreciate, home advantage can be huge in team competitions.

Europe moved one point clear going into the singles at Dalmahoy and then cleaned up 7-3. Davies led the hosts in each of the three sessions and contributed a point each time. “It was, obviously, the biggest upset in Solheim Cup history but it was a big upset in sport generally,” reflected captain Mickey Walker later.

1996 – US Singles Rout Wales

This was the first year that we saw 28 points being played for and 12 players on each side. Walker would skipper Europe for a fourth and final time and, after two days, it appeared that she would sign off on a victorious note.

After trailing 3.5-1.5, the hosts turned it on in Wales and went into the singles with a two-point lead and Annika Sorenstam (4/5) would claim the opening point against Pat Bradley. But Judy Rankin's side then won nine and halved two of the 11 remaining singles for a whopping 17-11 triumph, the first victory overseas.

2000 – Play It Again, Stam

At Loch Lomond Europe was wiping the floor with the Americans. Come the day two fourballs the hosts would only lose one of the six fourballs but that will be the one that we all remember.

Annika Sorenstam and Janice Moodie were one down playing the 13th against Kelly Robbins and Pat Hurst when the Swede chipped in, only to be told by her opponents that she had played out of turn. Cue tears, a replayed shot but, eventually, a victory for Dale Reid's team.

"This is just a silly little episode that does the game no good at all. Shame on Robbins, Hurst and the referee in charge. That really is a disgraceful situation," said Sky's Ewen Murray at the time.

2011 – Laura Davies Sets New High

At Killeen Castle Davies became the leading all-time Solheim Cup points scorer, a record that still stands. Davies did it with fourball win alongside Mel Reid before halving her final ever Solheim match against Juli Inkster in the singles.

And, as you might expect, she played down her 25 points from 12 straight matches. "Obviously, the more you play in it, the more points you should have. So as I've played in all of them, if I didn't have the most points, it would be a bit embarrassing."

2013 – Hedwall’s Perfect Five

Caroline Hedwall was one of Neumann's captain's picks for the 2013 matches and she would play a leading part in Europe winning away for the very first time.

The Swede paired up with Anna Nordqvist in the foursomes and Caroline Masson in the fourballs and she would be involved in four winning matches, including a hole-in-one for Nordqvist to close out their match.

In her singles match Hedwall would birdie the last against Michelle Wie to retain the cup and cap the perfect week. Europe would run out 18-10 winners with Hedwall going where no player had ever been before, with five points.

2013 – Europe Break New Ground

Europe have won away twice in the history of the competition and the first came with Neumann at the helm. The Swede had six rookies in her side, one of them being Charley Hull, and it was the first time that Davies wouldn't be involved.

After a whitewash in the Saturday fourballs and a five-point lead it almost seemed all over. The 17-year-old Hull would thrash Paula Creamer and then ask for her opponent's ball as a memento and Catriona Matthew would provide the winning point.

All 12 Europeans contributed at least half a point to the unlikely rout in Colorado.

2015 – The Gimmegate Horror Show

The afternoon fourballs would spill over into the Sunday morning and it brought about one of the most unnecessary moments in Solheim Cup history. Rookie Alison Lee, playing with Brittany Lincicome, missed a putt to win the hole on 17 and scooped her ball up. Suzann Pettersen, playing with Hull, said it hadn't been conceded and claimed the hole.

They would then win the match for a 10-6 lead but it gave Juli Inkster's side more than enough incentive to turn things brilliantly around as they claimed 8.5 of the 12 singles. A day later Pettersen posted an apology on Instagram: "I've never felt more gutted and truly sad about what went down Sunday on the 17th at the Solheim Cup."

2019 – Pettersen Signs Off In Style

Suzann Pettersen was meant to be one of Matthew's assistants. Come Sunday afternoon she would be involved in the key singles with Marina Alex.

Gleneagles' par-5 18th had proved to be a treacherous closing hole, with the pin set on the edge of a slope, but Pettersen would judge her wedge perfectly before rolling in one of the greatest putts in the history of the game.

"I think this is a perfect closure – the end for my at least Solheim career, and also a nice 'the end' for my professional career. It doesn't get any better," Pettersen announced afterwards.

2021 – Captain Catriona Does It Again

As a player Catriona Matthew played on nine teams, contributing 22 points from 37 outings and always being a huge part of every European effort.

As a captain Matthew was maybe even more special, leading Europe to victory at Gleneagles before adding just Europe's second win on foreign soil. The 2021 victory at Inverness Club was built on a solid lead from the opening session and rookies such as Leona Maguire dazzling.

In the end, Emily Pedersen would go down in history as delivering the match-winning point. Matthew then became the Curtis Cup skipper and followed suit with a brilliant victory at Sunningdale in 2024.

2023 – The Queen Of Spain Comes Up Trumps

Carlota Ciganda didn't feature in the opening foursomes whitewash reversal as her home country of Spain played host to the Solheim Cup for the first time.

Then she would help lead the most almighty of comebacks and then be there right at the death to ensure Europe would retain the trophy with a tie, another Solheim first.

Come the singles Captain Pettersen's side were back on level terms, then she was required to beat Nelly Korda to tie the scores.

Ciganda's finish was extraordinary; she would shank one on 15, birdie 16 and then stuff it to two feet on 17 for a win in front of family, friends and even the King of Spain.

When the 20th edition of the Solheim Cup kicks off at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands, the battle for international supremacy, it won't just be fought through performance, it will be contested through two distinct, high-performance style statements.

Team USA: A Nostalgic Nod to Away Triumphs

When Captain Angela Stanford leads Team USA onto European soil, her squad will be wearing a literal blueprint of past American victories. Rather than sticking purely to modern aesthetics, Stanford worked alongside official outfitters B. Draddy and Zero Restriction to weave the visual identity of previous winning away teams directly into this year's lineup.

Three of the team's daily looks directly recreate throwback styles from the only times the American side has lifted the trophy on European soil: Monday’s practice round honors the dramatic 2015 win at St. Leon-Rot in Germany, Wednesday pays tribute to the 2007 squad in Halmstad, Sweden, and Thursday’s opening ceremony ensemble offers a nostalgic nod to the 1996 champions at St. Pierre in Wales.

Alison Root and Katie Dawkins highlight the 2026 women's golf fashion

To handle unpredictable Dutch autumn weather, the new Draddy Sport for Women line provides moisture-wicking stretch polos, skirts, quarter-zips, and technical vests on the course, alongside luxury cashmere sweaters from B. Draddy for off-course team appearances. Meanwhile, long-time supplier Zero Restriction equips the squad with waterproof rain jackets, pants, and thermal crewnecks to guard against coastal winds and rain.

Outfits available from B.Draddy and Zero Restriction

Team Europe: Host-Nation Pride and European Stars

Team Europe steps out at Bernardus in a look created in close collaboration between Ping Global Creative Director Fiona Reilly, Captain Anna Nordqvist, and Vice-Captain Mel Reid. Built using Ping’s Sensor technology platform, the collection balances a traditional aesthetic with modern athletic tailoring designed to keep players flexible and protected.

The three-day competition narrative relies on a classic blue, yellow, and white colorway packed with clever host-nation details. Friday’s opening matches feature a striking blue-and-white look with subtle orange detailing on the polo collars, zips, and star motifs as a direct nod to the Netherlands.

Saturday shifts to a vibrant yellow polo paired with crisp white bottoms and matching mid-layers, before closing out Sunday’s decisive singles sessions in a powerful blue outfit featuring prominent European stars across the sleeves and headwear.

To round out the kit, Ping introduced a matching line of accessories, including backpacks, shoe bags, and special-edition Moonlite carry bags, decorated with a custom Dutch tulip print.

Click here to purchase the Team Europe outfits

For the first time ever, the Solheim Cup lands in the Netherlands, taking the pinnacle of women’s golf to fresh ground at Bernardus Golf. Set in Noord-Brabant near historic Hertogenbosch, the venue opened its doors in 2018.

Designed by renowned American architect Kyle Phillips, the mind behind triumphs like Kingsbarns and The Grove, the pristine heathland layout covers 85 hectares of rolling terrain. It’s an arena built for high-stakes, amphitheatre-style drama, pairing meticulously sculpted bunkers and sprawling water hazards with a backdrop of dunes, gorse, and wild fescue.

Crucially, this championship setting was designed with an eye on tomorrow. Environmental care sits at its core: the entire course operates completely free of chemicals, tended naturally by a dedicated agronomy team. Building on those green credentials, this will mark the first car-free event in Solheim Cup history. Spectators will arrive solely via shuttle buses, bicycles, or on foot, supported by a smooth transport network spanning five regional hubs.

Bernardus is no stranger to major stages, having cemented its international status by hosting the DP World Tour’s KLM Open across 2021, 2022, and 2023. To accommodate extensive grandstands and guarantee matches build toward a thrilling crescendo before the crowds, a bespoke tournament routing is in play.

This setup will test both the European and US squads in the Solheim Cup as well as the PING Junior Solheim Cup, representing the first time the junior event runs immediately before the main spectacle on the exact same course.

The opening test (normally the 3rd) offers a sharp contrast to the closing stretch, providing a welcoming risk-and-reward hole designed to yield early birdies and rouse the gallery.

Given a helpful breeze, longer players can hit the green in one. Even into the wind, a sensible long-iron or hybrid short of the sand leaves a simple wedge approach. Still, precision is non-negotiable; missing the elevated green to the left is an absolute non-starter. A similar chance presents itself at the short par-4 8th, where aggressive drivers can again attack the green if conditions allow.

As competitors weave through the layout, imaginative shotmaking becomes vital. Head professional Roel Verdonschot notes that Bernardus doesn't favour brute force. Instead, sharp short game specialists should flourish, though firm, fast greens will discourage anyone from attempting overly ambitious flops.

The purple heather and tall fescue look stunning, but they lie ready to punish off-target shots, alongside cleverly placed bunkers and subtle water hazards seamlessly woven into the landscape.

Nowhere is this truer than the par-3 6th, which plays virtually like an island green thanks to clever shaping and surrounding hazards. With trouble guarding the front and right, and a large portion of the green spilling sharply away to the left, playing strictly for the centre is often the wisest move.

Tension will increase further at the gorgeous par-3 15th, widely regarded as one of the finest short holes in the country. It turns brutal when the pin is tucked left, as swirling winds are notoriously tough to read from the sheltered teeing ground. A slight over-draw quickly catches the water, making the middle of the central bunker the safest target line.

Matches surviving that challenge face a dramatic climax starting at the par-5 16th, where scores can easily swing from eagle to double-bogey. Usually playing downwind, tee shots catching the fairway get a big forward kick, putting the green within reach in two. That said, water guards the entire left side, and overshooting the green leaves a treacherous downhill bunker shot back toward the hazard.

If a match reaches the par-5 18th - the course’s standard 1st hole - players encounter the toughest test on the property, which played to an unforgiving 5.3 average during the KLM Open. The tee shot is nerve-wracking, with water hazarding the left and forcing players to risk pushing right into waiting bunkers. Laying up short of the sand leaves a long, demanding approach into a tight, elevated green flanked by a steep swale left and water right, making a found fairway essential to avoid a costly finish.

Beyond the physical test, Bernardus Golf delivers a world-class viewing experience for the thousands of fans set to flood the grounds. The natural topography provides fantastic natural vantage points to catch every moment and see how the world’s best handle the crucible of match play. The stage is set, the tension is rising, and a formidable test awaits to crown the winning team.

The waiting is over, the picks are locked in, and the 24 players who will define the 2026 Solheim Cup are officially ready for battle. Between September 11–13, US Captain Angela Stanford and European Captain Anna Nordqvist will lead their respective 12-player squads onto the fairways of Bernardus Golf Club in the Netherlands.

After a dramatic 15.5–12.5 victory for the Americans at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in 2024, Europe returns to home soil hungry to reclaim the cup. Both captains have assembled lineups that balance elite world-class anchors, proven match play specialists, and a fearless wave of debutantes.

Captain Angela Stanford finalised her team by naming Megan Khang, Rose Zhang, and 35-year-old rookie Lindy Duncan as her three captain's picks. They join a lineup with 3 Major champions and returning stars.

European Captain Anna Nordqvist rounded out her 12-player team by picking Solheim Cup stalwart Leona Maguire alongside a trio of rookies: Julia Lopez Ramirez, Nastasia Nadaud, and Mimi Rhodes.

When the action begins at Bernardus Golf, expect a tactical match defined by contrasting team dynamics and unpredictable early autumn weather in Cromvoirt.

Early momentum in the first 48 hours of foursomes and fourballs will be paramount, placing immense pressure on US Captain Angela Stanford to deploy her proven, high-percentage pairings, like Nelly Korda and Allisen Corpuz, to build an early cushion and neutralise Europe's home-crowd energy.

Yet, match play rarely follows a script, and the ultimate outcome will likely hinge on which side's breakouts and key stars rise to the occasion under intense pressure. Europe boasts the fearlessly aggressive spark of Charley Hull alongside a fiery wave of four Solheim Cup rookies, headlined by Lottie Woad.

Meanwhile, impressive American depth, anchored by Rose Zhang's clinical ball-striking, Lauren Coughlin's versatility, and the energy of Megan Khang, gives Team USA the punch to turn tight matches into crucial points when the Sunday singles dictate the final destination of the trophy.

Mini driver or 3-wood? That’s a question many golfers are asking: what will work best for them, especially as the mini driver craze continues to trend upward.

The mini, which sits somewhere between a traditional driver and a 3-wood, typically has a smaller head and a shorter shaft, and many top pros on the PGA Tour have had one in their setup recently.

In the Golf Monthly forums, our members have been having an in-depth discussion on which club might be best for their setup, with forum member ‘IanM’ getting the conversation started by asking:

“I've always been suspect with a driver in my hand! Played Ashburnham today and left it in the car. Used a 3-wood on all par 4s and 5s, hardly missed a fairway, and comfortably beat my handicap. Ok, the ground is baked, and the ball is running miles, so no issues with distance, but what happens when the rains come?'

“Should I be trying a mini driver? Anyone been through this thought process? What did you find?”

In response, our members have shared their opinions, with many users having tested a mini driver.

However, user ‘NickJDavis’ has weighed in on the topic with his belief that modern-day mini drivers are not 3-wood alternatives, saying:

“Modern mini-drivers are not 3-wood alternatives for me. Their faces are way too deep to be reasonably effective off the deck, unless your turf allows the ball to sit up a bit.”

“What I really want from a mini-driver is more like an extra-large 3-wood. Maybe only 8mm deeper in the face (my current Elyte 3-wood is 30mm deep; the Elyte Mini Driver is 46mm deep) and around 220-240cc. Something that would be a viable driver alternative off the tee, and a club that is versatile enough to play straight off the fairway.”

“Back in 2014, when TaylorMade, Callaway, and Ping originally released their mini drivers, they were more like a beefed-up three-wood. I'd love to see a return to this size of club.”

For context, face depth is the front-to-back size of the clubface. A deeper face can add stability and forgiveness on higher/lower strikes, while also influencing how the sole enters and moves through the turf.

Alternatively, another forum member, ‘Lucifer MorningStar,’ has described his mini driver as a “beast” off the deck, singling out PXG’s Secret Weapon for some high praise in particular:

“I use mine off the deck all the time, and it’s a beast of a club. But I don’t mind hitting a normal driver off the deck either.”

“That's why I went for the PXG Secret Weapon, shallower face than most other mini drivers I looked at. Phenomenal off both the tee and deck, including tight lies; just adjust the ball position a fraction, and you can hit either towering shots or low bullets off the deck depending on what’s needed. A beefed-up 3-wood is a good description of it.”

But as with most discussions when it comes to gear setup, those weren’t the only takes offered up, with one member, ISC, sharing that he carries neither a mini driver nor a 3-wood, instead opting for two drivers in the bag:

“I don’t carry either. The last 3-wood I owned was an Epic Flash 3+ and had a TM 11.5-degree BRNR for a time that I wasn’t enamoured with either.”

“Currently carrying two drivers, both Cobra 10K models with the same length Denali 60g black X/6.5 shafts. One a 9-degree head at C2 (+0.3*) and the other a 12-degree head at C8 (+1.7*). Both settings are slightly draw biased (Upright +0.7*). Distances vary by tee height, but even off the same tee, I’m seeing a 40-yard difference on average.”

So as you can see, there is no right or wrong answer when it comes to whether you should be carrying a mini driver over a 3-wood, or even two drivers.

A player’s unique characteristics will often decide which club suits your setup best, with face depth and turf interaction largely the biggest indicators of whether you will get the most benefit out of a mini driver. Personal preferences and aesthetics can also play a huge role.

Have your say and share your experiences by heading over to the Golf Monthly forums to get involved in the full discussion here or post a comment below.

Fortunately, I don't have to navigate the perilous terrain of the internet dating world as a happily married man, but I do still see value in a matchmaking service (of sorts).

As a golf club member, I tend to play with the same playing partners fairly regularly. That familiarity and camaraderie is great, but issues arise when that pool of players is, for whatever reason, unavailable.

There have been times in the busy summer months where holidays and other commitments have left me partnerless. As someone who really doesn't enjoy playing golf alone, this often means the opportunity to hit the fairways is squandered.

But, what if there was a golf matchmaking service that allowed you to be paired with other like-minded golfers for the odd round here or there?

I'll start filling out my information and working on my profile picture...

I Need A Golf Matchmaking Service

"Hi, I'm Baz.

"I am an 'improving' high-handicap golfer on the cusp of breaking 90 (loosely speaking).

"I like to enter competitions at the weekend, even though I have practically no chance of winning, and I tend to play fairly quickly as I can't stand slow play. Plodders need not apply.

"I'm in my mid-30s and I'd be willing to travel around the North of England for the right golf course".

I'm a catch, right? You can't honestly tell me you wouldn't swipe right for that profile.

Apologies for the poor attempt at sounding in touch with dating app lingo - I think it's right, but it could be left.

Anyway, we digress. The point I am trying to make is that this service could genuinely help other members in a similar position to find a partner for a round of golf when they need one.

By screening options before agreeing, you can, to an extent, limit the risk of having to spend four hours with someone you'd usually walk past with your head down to avoid.

We don't all, for whatever reason, have huge social circles within the club.

Perhaps there are little cliques that have formed over time, or maybe we don't spend enough time embracing the social scene there.

Some people are perfectly happy with their own social circle, but maybe they wouldn't mind the option of a brief rendezvous with a stranger on occasion. Get your mind out of the gutter!

I truly enjoy playing golf with new people. I do sometimes have reservations about booking on with any random two-ball and turning up on the first tee, partly due to unsavoury experiences in the past.

Lots of amateurs might think: What if they don't want me to join them? What if they are brilliant golfers and I slow them down? What if they are holding that space for someone else?

While I am certain most people would be very welcoming and encouraging, I have experienced scenarios before where a pair have cancelled their booking five minutes after I added myself and then rebooked 20 minutes later on a different slot. Rude.

I'm a grown man, so I wasn't emotionally wounded by this - but I'm also drama-averse and I like an easy life.

I can't be bothered with the uncertainty, which is why sorting all of this out with the matchmaking system above would simplify the whole process.

Perhaps you could add an Uber-like star rating option at the end of the round, to warn others about unsavoury playing partners or catfishing bandits (dating meets golf jargon - check me out).

That's taking the initial concept a step far, but the rationale is sound. Help golfers to connect and you will improve the experience for many at your club.

So, have I convinced you? Let me know what you think in the comments below and share the red flags you would be wary of in someone's matchmaking service profile... asking for a friend.

Golf manufacturers promise increased distance, accuracy, a better roll and increased turf interaction when they release the best golf clubs each year, but it's often hard to replace something you've grown very fond of.

So, with that in mind, I wanted to find out what the oldest club in the bag of my Golf Monthly colleagues was. We see tour players continue to use (and win with) old clubs, and it turns out it's the same with the GM team.

Some of us are lucky to test out all of the newest gear each year and, on the whole, we all do make good use of the most up-to-date technology. Just not in all 14 clubs, as I discovered.

From drivers and fairway woods we've grown to trust to irons we simply don't think can be beaten and perhaps a couple of older models that might be on their way out soon, here's a look inside our golf bags at the particular section we haven't upgraded in a long time.

And let us know what your oldest club in the bag is in the comments section below...

What's the oldest golf club still in your bag today?

Oldest club: Titleist Vokey SM7 wedge (2018)

My oldest club is my Titleist Vokey SM7 58˚.

I went through a wedge fitting for the first time a few years ago and was blown away by the difference the correct grind made in my short game.

This one has a V grind which is an option through the Vokey WedgeWorks platform.

It is now a few years old and, in truth, the grooves are past their best, but having struggled with my wedge game for so long, this was a real game-changer.

We've reached the point where there's almost an element of superstition about keeping it in the bag!

Oldest club: TaylorMade RBZ Stage 2 3-wood (2013)

The oldest club in my golf bag is the TaylorMade RocketBallz Stage 2 3-wood from 2013, and if I'm lucky I'll still be using it in 2033.

It's without question the sweetest club I've ever struck and, as the name suggests, it goes a country mile when you catch it out of the screws.

I've hit some modern fairway woods and none of them stack up to the RBZ 3-wood in my opinion.

I also love the white colour scheme with the grey and yellow accents on the crown - they all combine to frame the ball beautifully and offer contrast to the black face.

It's a trusty fairway finder and I'm so confident with it off the deck, too. I'm not a particularly long hitter, but I can carry it 220 yards if I really catch it, which brings many par 5 greens into play.

It's not in the best condition anymore, with chipped paintwork, various scratches and elements of rust, but it'll continue having pride of place in my bag until it completely gives up on me.

Oldest club: Ping i230 irons (2022)

Technically the oldest club in my bag right now is a 2012 TaylorMade RBZ 3-wood, but that's very new to me as I only bought it second hand this summer, so I'm not counting it.

The oldest and longest standing clubs in my bag right now are my Ping i230 irons, which I've had since late 2022.

Being positioned where I am in the industry, I get to test a lot of irons, but none have ticked all the boxes quite like these i230s for me.

As an 8-handicap golfer, they offer the perfect blend of 'player' looks without being too intimidating, a soft feel that still has a bit of pop to it that gives me a sense of power, and enough forgiveness off centre to not overly punish my poor strikes.

I've long admired Ping irons. They're cultured, hold their value well, and the i230 (or other irons in that lineage like the i210 and i240) have some tour validation too, which is always nice.

They age wonderfully thanks to the timeless design language they use and now I've paired them with Fujikura Axiom graphite shafts, I believe I found an iron head and shaft combination that will last me a long while yet.

Oldest club: Ping G400 Max driver (2018)

Finding the Ping G400 Max seemed to coincide with me working out how to properly drive the ball and my game really improved about that time.

Driving is now the strongest part of my game and it feels that change of driver played a major part.

I recently asked GM gear guru Joe Ferguson whether I should upgrade and he told me the G400 is still one of his favourite models from over the last 10 years.

I see no reason to tinker with the one part of the bag I can rely on!

Oldest club: Nike VRS Covert 2.0 Tour 5-wood (2014)

I don’t see myself ever getting rid of this golf club.

I know, some people hated the red and white finish on the head when it first came out back in 2014, but I love it.

It's especially good when playing in the sun as the red really pops without being distracting.

It is also my go-to club off the tee when fairways get narrow, it works when hitting into par 5s, and despite being a 5-wood it doesn’t fly too high for my liking.

Oldest club: Odyssey White Hot Tour #2 putter (2008)

My bag is fairly new throughout due to a brilliant custom fitting experience that I had in April and a set of new wedges that graced my bag in May, but there is still an old faithful that often sneaks its way in.

When my TaylorMade Tour Spider X putter misbehaves, which is fairly frequently, then I substitute in the veteran: my Odyssey White Hot Tour #2.

Some may wince at my flagrant switching between blade and mallet, but I've made peace with it.

Sometimes I roll it well with the newer model, and sometimes I feel empowered by the White Hot magic.

Oldest club: Srixon ZX 3-wood (2021)

My oldest club currently is a Srixon ZX 3-wood that I acquired at a GM test day in 2021.

The 3-wood is always a difficult club to nail down and this one has remained because I like the head size and face depth and feel equally comfortable hitting it off the tee and fairway.

Oldest club: Titleist TSR4 driver (2022)

My previous driver was too spinny and I was giving up yardage, so the Titleist TSR4 has been a true game-changer for me. I would comfortably say it is the best driver I have ever owned.

I've previously suffered with the driver 'yips' and my Titleist has turned driving from a weakness into a real strength.

It dramatically increased my distance thanks to the lower spin it produces, and the Tensei AV shaft it's fitted with works very well for my swing. It wasn't custom fit, so I have definitely been lucky.

Whether it's the swing weight or just the combination of the shaft weight and flex, while paired with the TSR4 head it is a driver I can trust that has become very predictable. It feels fantastic and, due to the smaller head size, it is also workable and easy to hit draws and fades.

I was custom fit for a new driver this year and it only managed five or six rounds before being replaced. It was very good at times, but on the whole it felt much harder to square up than my TSR4 that feels like it is made for me. If something works, keep it in the bag and my driver definitely does that.

Oldest club: Nike Method Converge S2-12 putter (2015)

The oldest club in my bag is my putter! The Nike Method Converge S2-12.

I bought it a few months after it was released in 2015 for my 21st birthday and I've used it ever since. I only bought it because I thought it looked cool!

At the time, I had very little to no idea about how different putters suited different people, but I may have accidentally stumbled across my ideal club.

Having said that, my putting 'ability' has slowly eroded over time, so maybe it wasn't so perfect after all!

What's the oldest club in your bag? Join the conversation below...

Walking through the historic centre of St Andrews recently, the song “I Feel Free” by Cream popped into my head. I couldn’t stop a line from circulating (don’t you hate it when that happens?).

The line was, “I can walk down the street, there’s no one there. But the pavements are one huge crowd.”

I was bobbing and weaving past the throngs of tourists, visitors and locals on Market Street, and I realised only I was changing my path. That was because almost everyone was either looking at, or speaking on, their mobile phones. They were oblivious to the mass of cheek by jowl humanity. They were in their own little worlds.

I mentioned it to a friend later who said his partner had been elbowed in the face earlier that week by a mobile phone-wielding pedestrian who hadn’t even stopped to check if she was okay… And this was in St Andrews! It’s supposed to be a civilised place.

There’s little we can do about this awful and dangerous change in society. Although I praise any government effort to try. But here we are right now - many people are currently more interested in what’s happening on social media than in what is happening right in front of them. I can’t stand it.

Golf, like most recreational activities, is undertaken by its participants to escape the unpleasantnesses of actual life. To spend a little time away from the turgid realities of the daily grind and the anxiety-inducing horrors of the modern world.

Why would you look at your phone mid-round to be reminded of them?

To give both sides, let’s quickly address reasons you might use your mobile phone on the golf course that are totally understandable.

Firstly, you could be using your mobile as a GPS distance measuring device and many people do. That’s a good invention and one that speeds up play and increases enjoyment of the game.

Many people also use their mobile phone for shot-tracking and inputting scores into programmes like England Golf's iGolf app.

You might be expecting, or receive, a crucial call that would drag you off the course if it came in: wife gone into labour, child fallen out of a tree, mum died, house burned down, cops are on to you... Those sorts of things.

Most things are not so urgent though. Did Francis Drake not finish his game of bowls at Plymouth Hoe saying the Spanish Armada could wait? Well, it's likely that was because of the winds and tides, but still, you take my point!

I check my phone a few times a round to make sure nothing terrible has happened. A discreet look on a walk between shots or holes is not antisocial or inappropriate.

Then… Well, of course there’s… Erm… I suppose you could be… No. Or, maybe you absolutely have to… Well, probably not.

No, I can’t really see the pressing need to use a mobile phone on the golf course for many reasons other than distance measuring or dealing with crucial situations that simply can’t wait.

When I’m playing golf, I’m out to enjoy the experience and to enjoy the company of my playing partners. I want to talk with them, enjoy the views, the fresh air, the surroundings, the sport, the challenge. There are so many little joys.

For four hours, I don’t want to think about emails piling up that I probably can’t answer properly from the 12^th tee.

I, and most people I play with, do (of course) use mobile phones sparingly while playing golf. We’ll check the time, take the odd photo, send the odd message, maybe even show the odd video that’s relevant to a conversation within the group.

When it doesn’t hold up play, and when not antisocial, then a mobile phone is a great tool.

What I object to is when people are glued to a mobile almost permanently throughout a round – those people who can “walk down a fairway and their eyes don’t see…”

I find it rather rude when someone I’m playing with pulls out a mobile on the first hole and doesn’t put it away again for the rest of the game, whether they’re filming, talking, browsing… whatever... It’s just not very cool.

I do think mobile phone usage has become too widespread on the golf course. Some might think I’m a luddite for saying it, but really consider it…

Imagine you’re out playing a tremendous course, Royal Dornoch for example. Would you prefer for playing partners to spend 50% of the experience with eyes on a screen and talking to people who aren’t there, or for them to be soaking in the rumpled fairways and stunning coastline while talking to you?

If you’d rather the former, then plug back in and return to your virtual insanity.

What do you think? Is phone usage getting out of hand? Let me know in the comments below...

There’s constant media hype around the driving distances that we see tour players hitting the ball, but what about the average club golfer? These distances are much more modest, although when you compare stats from last year on how far the average female club golfer hits their drive, improvement is impressive.

Driving distances have been gradually increasing over time due to the continuous improvements in golf equipment technology, custom-fitting and technique. Or so we are told.

Ask the women I play golf with week-in, week-out about what they need and they still complain about their lack of distance. So are advertised distance gains just a load of manufacturer hype? We consulted the leading data capture specialists Shot Scope for the statistical facts.

Shot Scope gathers the data from rounds measured by hundreds of thousands of amateur golfers around the world, male and female, young and old. They break down driving distance averages by handicap level, separating their findings into six bands that are staggered in five-shot increments.

According to their 2026 findings, women definitely are hitting the ball further than they ever have before. The average driving distance for a female handicap golfer is 185 yards which is eight yards longer than last year (177 yards).

Not surprisingly, there’s a direct correlation between driving distance and handicap. The longer the hitter, the lower their handicap. Among the scratch or better golfers and 1-5 handicappers, they average 237 and 222 yards off the tee respectively.

Driving Distance Average 2026 (Female)

Driving distance data from Shot Scope users (yards)

Average Driving Distance

Scratch golfer

237

5-handicap

222

10-handicap

204

15-handicap

185

20-handicap

174

25-handicap

167

30-handicap

152

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Average Driving Distance Data

Product	Value
Scratch golfer	237
5-handicap	222
10-handicap	204
15-handicap	185
20-handicap	174
25-handicap	167
30-handicap	152

The longest hitter on the LPGA Tour is Julia Ramirez, who averages 288 yards off the tee. In fact, the majority of the best women in the world all hit it more than 30 yards further than the lowest club handicapper with the big stick, including Charley Hull (266 yards) and world number one Nelly Korda (273 yards).

Distance steadily drops as the handicap level increases for female golfers, with those women playing off a handicap of 25+ hitting the ball an average total distance of 167 yards. Therefore it goes without saying that improving your length off the tee is an efficient way to shoot lower scores and cut your handicap.

Nevertheless some women still feel trapped in a short hitting cycle, believing that the possibility of huge distance gains claimed by manufacturers are beyond them.

I was among the sceptics who believed that I’d reached a plateau in my distance capabilities until I went for a club custom fit a few months ago. Now I know that it is possible to add 5, 10 or even 20 yards or more to your length off the tee through a combination of improving your swing technique (specially speed training) and investing in a modern driver that’s built bespoke with the right loft and a specialist shaft for you.

My PXG custom fit experience saw me gain an incredible 15 yards in distance off the tee, cranking my driving average up to 240 yards. I can vouch for the transformational effect of modern equipment - it’s amazing what can be achieved if you simply invest in one of the best women's drivers.

One of my favourite events of the year at my golf club is Captain's Day, with the whole membership coming together for a fun-filled event that has a relaxed atmosphere and involves plenty of fundraising for charity.

It stands out for many reasons and one of those is down to the addition of 'safari golf,' whereby a whole new course is constructed around the current layout.

I did some research online, but I couldn't find many who knew what safari golf was, unless others call it something different. However, I really think you should try it at your golf club.

Firstly, though, I should provide an explanation as to what safari golf actually is.

Essentially, it's where the golf course is rerouted to create an entirely different set-up, which can be done by using and creating tee boxes and greens, as well as placing flags in unusual locations around the course.

For example, with our safari day, the 3rd hole, normally a 430-yard par 4, became a 120-yard par 3, with the normal 7th green used as the location for the hole.

Instead of the par 5 13th staying at 510-yards, it was split into two holes measuring 205-yards and 280-yards, while the par 4 16th was also split in half, with the second hole requiring either a high cut or hook to get near the green.

There was even a greenkeeper's revenge element on a few holes, just to add even more to the drama...

I could go on with all of the changes made to the course, but I don't want to bore you and I don't want this article to be thousands of words long.

In essence, what I'm saying is that safari golf helps create a really fun and unique challenge that shows your course in a different light.

Yes, 18-hole stroke play is the traditional and proper way of playing, but this format brings in numerous shots that you never thought would be possible on your golf course.

Interestingly, it also made me think about golf course design as a whole, in terms of the skill and thought that goes into it, especially when it comes to visualization, routing and safety.

The visualization aspect came in the form of some pretty cool holes created by simply changing the teeing or green position, or by using other sections of land that would normally be forgotten about.

Instead of hitting the usual wedge into a wide area where the flag was, you could be standing 90-degrees right of where you'd normally be and striking a mid-iron to a slim green with danger lurking on both sides.

I will admit that the one downside to safari golf can be safety. If the routing isn't done properly then there are times when golf balls fly towards groups that wouldn't usually be there, but that can be the case with golf when it's being played normally.

When I first played safari golf, I was skeptical. Why would you change the whole look of a course that's been around for years?

However, if you want something completely different that is, in short, fun, I would highly recommend trying it out for a future golf event.

Playing the same course can be repetitive, so why not make the most of the space available and create something distinctive for one day of the year...

Something curious happened to me on Sunday. I was sitting at home with my other half after that day’s Premier League games had finished and pondering my next move. Normally around 6pm on a Sunday, I’m powering up my tablet to stream the golf or NFL, reluctantly aware that I can’t dominate the television all day.

However, on this occasion, taking out my iPad didn’t even cross my mind. With the NFL still in pre-season, golf was the only sporting escape from the monotony of reality television, but it took me until 8pm to realise the final round of the Tour Championship was happening.

While rare, this isn’t completely unheard of – sometimes you’re away with the fairies, on a different train of thought or simply engaged in whatever else you happen to be doing. What was unusual, however, was the fact I didn’t have any desire to stream the action once I’d looked at the scores, despite several players being within three shots of the lead.

This was the PGA Tour’s season-ending tournament and I was prepared to give all my attention to the Real Housewives of Beverley Hills, Selling Sunsets or whatever inane program I was obliged to endure as collateral for my earlier football watching. But why?

It’s a simple question without a simple answer, but the bottom line is I’m as apathetic towards non-Major/Ryder Cup golf as I’ve ever been. That’s a surprising reality for someone who’s historically been an avid watcher of the PGA Tour and works for a golf media brand. Here, I’m going to attempt to work out why that is.

You could certainly argue I’ve been overexposed to golf given what I do for a living, but I’d counter that by saying the fact I work where I work shows just how much I love the game.

I’m also not someone who loses interest in things I’m passionate about. I’ve been a staunch follower of Aston Villa, NFL and cricket for most of my life and I’m as engaged with those entities as I’ve ever been.

So, that points to the landscape, the players and the product, and that’s where I think the issues lie. Cultural factors – both within golf and wider society – have also played a role, too.

Let’s deal with the Tour Championship and the FedExCup play-offs first. I don’t want to be critical of a man who’s an absolute phenomenon and, in my eyes at least, enjoying a stretch of golf to rival peak Tiger Woods, but Scottie Scheffler does not set my pulse racing one bit.

Is he a nice man? I’ve never met him, but he seems to be. Golf Monthly columnist Wayne Riley speaks glowingly about him and he’s always come across well in interviews and interactions I’ve seen. Is he a great of the game? Absolutely and unequivocally. Does that mean I want to watch him? Not always. In fact, I’d probably revise that to ‘not often’.

That’s not his fault, of course, and I suspect he couldn’t care less. In his eyes, his job is doing everything he can to put himself in the best possible position to win.

There’s also a wider point here about the role of professional sportsmen in an entertainment industry, which is a nuanced discussion. How do we even define entertainment - is it solely based on on-course skill or is there more to the story?

Clearly, it’s impossible to force someone to show personality – either on or off the course – or wear their heart on their sleeve. But variety is the spice of life, and from my vantage point, the PGA Tour is underseasoned.

It certainly doesn’t help that collegiate programs have become so professionally run, and that players are media trained to within an inch of their lives. When I first started in the industry and was given time to interview players, I could take things in whatever direction I wanted and discussions were often more open, honest, free-flowing and tangential.

Now, it’s harder than ever to get time with players – social media is the main culprit there – and questions often have to be submitted in advance. It’s become overmanaged and inorganic, as things tend to when people see the potential to make money off something.

It doesn’t help players that mobile phones are constantly thrust into their faces and everything they do is being recorded – something Scheffler has spoken about.

In the cancellation-culture era and an age where negativity can spread across social media like wildfire, it’s no surprise most professionals don’t do anything out of the ordinary or stick their head above the parapet.

And those who do, like Rory McIlroy, often face plenty of scorn for speaking their mind. It’s not an environment conducive to producing the next Seve Ballesteros.

Similar and familiar

Overexposure is a factor, too. You could certainly make the case I'm being somewhat hypocritical given I'm a part of the golf media and Golf Monthly writes extensively about the tour and its players, but when I say overexposed, I predominantly mean in a visual sense.

Turn on the TV and you'll see press conference excerpts, interviews at the range, in-round chats facilitated by on-course reporters and post-round visits to the Sky Cart. PGA Tour Live delivers action from almost the first shot of the day.

Open any social media platform and you’ll see endless clips of the top players playing, practising, speaking and even just walking, a great number being recorded by fans at golf tournaments who would seemingly rather record the action than be a genuine part of it.

Watching a shot being played on TV with hundreds of people behind on their phones is genuinely off-putting to me.

I wish the PGA Tour would follow Augusta National’s example and ban mobile phones, but I don’t see tournament organisers signing up to something that would reduce reach on social media – sadly the name of the game these days.

This distasteful phenomenon was again apparent at East Lake, a golf course I struggle to get excited about. It’s clearly a good layout, but I’ve seen it all before.

It’s also succumbed to the modern trend of making some two-shotters 540 yards because of an obsession with having a par of 70. I know it’s arbitrary as it’s the total score that matters, but I still don’t like it; it feeds into the perception that courses are becoming too similar.

Part of the problem – and we saw it with the other play-off tournaments – is courses need be of a certain type to stage top-tier professional events. More specifically, they need to have enough space, so all too often we’re presented with layouts that boast similar characteristics.

This season, I even found myself struggling to get excited about places like Bay Hill, Riviera and Torrey Pines. At this point, you’d be forgiven for calling me a miserable curmudgeon, but I can't shake the feeling the PGA Tour has become a bit stale.

In 2026, events were played at the following familiar venues: Wailae Country Club, Pete Dye’s Stadium course at La Quinta, Torrey Pines, TPC Scottsdale, Riviera, PGA National, Bay Hill, TPC Sawgrass, Innisbrook, TPC San Antonio, Augusta National, Harbour Town, TPC Louisiana, Doral, Quail Hollow, Colonial, Muirfield Village… you get the idea.

Last month, I was transfixed by the Danish Golf Championship, which had a field far weaker than any PGA Tour event in 2026. But the course was exciting, novel and captivating, and it really drilled home the relationship between originality and interest. Many of the PGA Tour’s host venues have been the same for decades.

I’m not sure if the PGA Tour sees this familiarity as a good thing, if it’s commercially driven or if it’s a case of ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’, but some things are broken and do need fixing.

Change... but not for the better

There has been a lot of change since the introduction of LIV Golf, but, in my opinion, none of it has improved the experience for the golf fan. The PGA Tour’s reaction to the Saudi-backed circuit’s emergence revolved almost entirely around keeping its players happy. Somewhere along the way, they forgot to put the devoted viewer first.

They convinced themselves Designated and then Signature Events were a step forward for the tour and its followers, but I’m yet to find a single person who thinks their inauguration was a good thing.

In reality, the introduction of these enhanced tournaments only further lined the pockets of those who felt they should be rewarded for eschewing the advances of a nation state repeatedly accused of sportswashing.

Around the same time, in among the squabbling, bickering and lawsuits, players, administrators and broadcasters decided fans wanted to hear relentlessly about prize funds and professional wealth in a cost of living crisis.

Almost overnight, it was collectively decided money would become the new barometer for deciding if a tournament was prestigious. History, tradition and legacy started playing second fiddle and receiving less airtime than funding, the Player Impact Programme and the Aon Risk Reward Challenge.

Money is certainly linked to perceived excitement, too. Only Scheffler and Cameron Young – two of the biggest culprits in the 'unenthused celebrations' realm – know how they feel when they win a golf tournament, but it’s hard for me to get pumped up about their victories when they barely show any emotion themselves.

In Scheffler’s case, maybe it had something to do with the fact he’d already banked $33m in bonus money ahead of the Tour Championship – $10m for leading the regular season rankings and $23m for occupying top spot in the PGA Tour rankings after the BMW Championship. That’s in addition to his on-course earnings.

So, before East Lake, he’d already made more than $50 million dollars. Then, he earned an extra $10m for his victory. Previously, that was life-changing money. Now, it’s just a drop in the ocean. No wonder he doesn’t get particularly animated.

The PGA Tour really misses Bryson DeChambeau for many reasons, but I’d argue his maverick personality and heart-on-his-sleeve nature are top of the list. It’s a stark contrast to the current status quo on America’s biggest circuit.

His golfing prowess is clearly hard to replace, too. There’s no denying LIV Golf has taken away some quality players from the PGA Tour and weakened the latter in the process. Bryson, Jon Rahm, Dustin Johnson, Joaquin Niemann, Tyrrell Hatton, Cameron Smith and others are all world-class golfers with interesting and unique personalities.

The schedule makers also decided that having a ‘massive’ event seemingly every week between February and August was sensible. Every year, the NFL is a constant reminder that scarcity is a good thing.

Ironically, American Football is to blame for the schedule being far too congested. But the PGA Tour couldn’t possibly space things out a bit more and risk clashing with the NFL, could it? Well, it could, but its choices have been all about money for some time now.

Reasons for positivity

That said, I do think there’s hope for the future. I’ve been impressed with Brian Rolapp since he became the PGA Tour’s CEO – he seems prepared to mix things up, take risks, improve the fan experience and do what’s necessary to get the circuit back on track. I think he’s the shot in the arm the PGA Tour badly needed.

As an example, he’s been a key driver in the decision to end the season with a two-week match-play event from 2028, even though it’s no secret TV networks much prefer stroke play. He’s also talked about taking the tour to some iconic courses that might previously have been seen as unsuitable given modern requirements.

He’s also helped institute a two-tiered system from 2028 onwards – the Championship and Challenge Series – with sponsors’ invites removed for the former.

Seeing the likes of Rickie Fowler and Jordan Spieth repeatedly earn entry in the Signature Events off the strength of their past achievements helped make them feel more like exhibitions than merit-based competition.

Pleasingly, the Championship Series will feature 120-man fields and cuts. Another element of some Signature Events that had many fans shaking their heads was the guaranteed payday for everyone in the field – ironically making the PGA Tour more similar to the entity it was supposedly at odds with.

In 2026, there were 37 events on the PGA Tour up to the Tour Championship, including the four Majors and the Players Championship. From 2028, there will be 20. That’s a much more sensible change.

And those who enjoy wall-to-wall golf will be able to watch up-and-coming players, seasoned veterans and everyone in between on the Challenger Series, which will feature a minimum of 20 events. We don’t all want to see the same faces doing battle every week.

We’ll probably see the re-integration of some LIV players, too, although the mechanisms for return are unclear at this point. I suspect Jon Rahm, Cameron Smith and Bryson DeChambeau will be offered similar terms to Brooks Koepka, and I’m fully expecting other ex-LIV players to compete in either PGA Tour or DP World Tour Q-School.

I’m hoping the above will rekindle my excitement for the PGA Tour, because it’s currently at an all-time low. Pleasingly, it looks like Rolapp is the right man for the job. But history is instructive, and he mustn’t allow the circuit to fall into the same traps. If he does, I’ll be retiring my iPad for good.

Are too many men in managerial roles and on golf club boards making all the decisions? And is it possible to create an equal, balanced club environment when only around 12% of the membership is female?

This remains one of the biggest hurdles facing golf. There is a deep-rooted sense that members simply do not like change. Just because a venue has signed up to The R&A’s Women in Golf Charter does not automatically mean it creates an inclusive culture. I have visited clubs that proudly display their Charter credentials, yet have little genuine desire to attract female players because they already have queues of men waiting to join.

Even at clubs where women pay full seven-day membership fees, equality often ends at the transaction. Restrictions frequently remain regarding when women can play, alongside persistent barriers to taking on captaincies or committee positions.

Fiona Womack highlights the structural issue: “If women only make up 10-15% of the club, that equates to a token number on the board or on committees, creating a veneer of equality.” Her concern is that a small representation appears progressive without holding enough influence to drive decisions. “I’m fighting for change on the course; the boardroom is a bigger battle.”

Yet, when women do step into leadership, they bring the exact perspective needed to implement meaningful change. Creating clubs that genuinely welcome women and girls makes golf far more appealing to the next generation, growing membership overall.

Fortunately, some clubs are actively proving what is possible. Haverfordwest Golf Club in Wales achieved Gold Women in Golf Charter status by securing a 50% female management board and raising female membership above 20%.

Meanwhile, Henbury Golf Club in Bristol won the Women in Golf Charter Club Award at the 2026 England Golf Awards. Since signing the Charter in 2024, Henbury introduced equal weekend access, quadrupled weekend competitions open to all, and saw female board representation rise from 9% to 30%.

At Royal Birkdale, Sharon Eales was appointed Chair of the Greens during a period when the club hosted The Open Championship, an appointment based strictly on expertise. As Womack notes: “Diversity appointments should be welcomed, but women must be equally or more qualified than their male counterparts to avoid tokenism damaging progress.”

Birkdale’s forward-thinking approach also saw the appointment of its first female Treasurer, fostering a culture where members expect their educated daughters' skills to be valued both professionally and within their sports communities.

Internationally, New South Wales Golf Club in Australia has embraced female leadership with Melina McCarthy and Carolyn Tatley on the board and Kate Shanks as Executive Manager. This aligns with Golf NSW’s Driving the Game strategy, where CEO Stuart Fraser outlines a vision not just to boost participation, but to reimagine golf by strengthening communities, embracing innovation, and making the sport truly inclusive.

However, as these success stories show what can be done, progress is far from universal, and driving change from within can still be an uphill battle.

Debbie Rock, the first female Club Captain in High Post Golf Club’s 104-year history, fine-tuned the beginner-to-member pathway during her tenure, yet faced significant cultural friction. Her biggest challenge at the Wiltshire club was a lack of support from senior leadership, where greater consideration was often given to the men’s captain.

On Captain’s Day, the designated Club Captain’s Day was allocated to the Men’s Captain, leaving Debbie without one due to a "full diary." Even the honours board listed her alongside the Men’s Captain rather than simply as Club Captain.

As Rock points out: “There is only one Club Captain. The Men’s and Ladies' Captains are section captains; the Club Captain represents the whole club.” Her experience demonstrates that genuine inclusion requires changing structures, language, and traditions, not just numbers.

Nicole Wheatley, creator of the Women in Golf Awards, believes golf's deepest issue is cultural. "Golf club members don’t like change," she explains, noting that the most successful venues are often those built from scratch or transformed from failing facilities. She also points to a subtle form of resistance: accountability can temporarily alter male behaviour in the room, but male-centric banter returns the moment women leave.

Unless the people running clubs genuinely believe equality is the right thing to do, the result is lip service rather than lasting progress. Furthermore, many women are simply grateful to play and worry that challenging restrictions might make their experience harder, leaving pioneers like Womack and Eales still fighting for basics like appropriate, shorter tee boxes.

Tradition has value, and we shouldn't dismantle everything that makes golf special. But we must build accessible, modern versions of the game alongside it. At clubs I have coached where gender sections and restricted days have been removed, I see far more working women playing weekend competitions and enjoying a genuinely balanced experience.

Being a golf club member should not be dictated by gender. Equality must exist across the board, from course design and tee access to leadership opportunities.

If your club has adopted the Women in Golf Charter, ensure the leadership genuinely believes in what it stands for. Signing a document is easy; creating a welcoming environment takes real commitment. If your club is failing to deliver on its promises, speak up. In the UK, organisations like England Golf are there to support culture change. And if your club has yet to sign up, start the conversation.

The future of golf will not be created by ticking boxes. It will be built by people willing to challenge outdated structures, recognise talent wherever it comes from, and create clubs where men and women are simply members, with the exact same rights, opportunities, and respect.

When it comes to talking about golf equipment, we can sometimes be guilty of overusing the word ‘game-changing’.

Every year, it seems, we’re introduced to new models and designs that get labelled as ‘revolutionary’. A ‘breakthrough’ for the game. ‘Transformative’.

However, when it comes to genuine game-changing innovations and those eureka moments that have had a significant impact on the game we play today, we believe the list is actually rather short.

In fact, we’ve whittled the most important innovations in the history of golf equipment down to just seven.

Maybe we’ve missed one or two, or we’ve not given certain innovations the credit they deserve. If that’s the case, please let us know by leaving your comments in the box below.

1. Steel shafts

Perhaps the most obvious place to start. Hickory wood was the standard for golf club shafts in the mid-to-late 19th century. Stiffness and consistency were largely left to chance, as we simply relied on how a tree was growing.

Then came steel, and the ability to create steps in the shaft with specific bend profiles and stiffness - and you could argue that of all the important innovations in the history of the sport, this has been the most significant.

Earlier this year, on Kick Point: The Golf Gear Show, we asked asked whether steel shafts about to be phased out in favor of graphite in our irons. While there's certainly somewhat of a shift happening as graphite technology improves, steel shafts won't be going anywhere any time soon.

2. Perimeter Weighted Irons

There was a time when blades were the only options. Just imagine… or maybe we shouldn’t - it’s enough to make your hands and fingers feel a painful vibration.

The mass used to be evenly distributed across the clubhead, but perimeter weighting saw it moved from the center to the outer edges - a genuine game-changer.

So many benefits: more support on off-center hits, more ball speed, greater feel, greater distance… the list could go on, and you'll experience these from the best game-improvement irons but also the best compact mid-handicap irons too.

At this point, we must mention the legendary Karsten Solheim, an engineer who, in 1969, unveiled a set of perimeter-weighted irons called K1.

Made by investment casting rather than forging, they revolutionized the golf market, and golfers continue to reap the benefits today.

3. Rubber grips

Never mind the performance benefits of rubber; some evidence suggests that the old leather grips were responsible for many cases of golfer’s elbow and arthritis.

The early 1950s saw the introduction of the first molded rubber golf grips. Before then, sanding blocks were used to try and get grips to the correct size for individual players.

For this, we have Thomas Fawick to thank, for it was the founder of Golf Pride who instigated the move to molded rubber, therefore entirely re-shaping the golf grip industry.

Thankfully, that was the beginning of the end for the rather harsh-feeling leather golf grips to some of the best golf grips our hands now truly appreciate.

4. Metalwoods

It’s often said these days that driving the golf ball has become too easy, especially for the best players in the world.

Who would come out on top if players were made to use old wooden drivers? It would certainly be interesting to see who the best ball-strikers really were.

We digress. Metalwoods have undoubtedly made driving easier - and that can only be good for the club golfer/weekend hacker.

The turning point came in 1979 with the arrival of the TaylorMade Pittsburgh Persimmon, a 12-degree driver that was forged from stainless steel (a masterclass in psychological marketing).

Quite simply, the introduction of metal in woods completely redesigned the modern landscape of the big stick and now the best golf drivers are as user-friendly as ever.

5. Solid Core Golf Balls

The young golfers of today will never know what it was like to strike one of those wound core balls with the balata covers - they were soft, super spinny, and would go out of shape very quickly.

They were so inconsistent that even just a little cut spin could turn into a banana slice in a heartbeat. As for the construction, some of the liquid inside the golf balls was toxic!

There were solid-core golf balls on the market before a certain Pro V1 came along, but they felt like rocks.

It was the solid-core golf balls manufactured in a performance package that changed this equipment category forever, and the Titleist Pro V1, launched in October 2000, is arguably the most successful piece of golf equipment in the history of the game.

6. Distance Measuring Devices (DMDs)

Love them or hate them, DMDs (laser rangefinders, handhelds, GPS watches) have totally removed any guesswork on the course.

Before such technology existed, professional players used to send their caddies out onto the course to measure distances with a trundle wheel.

Now all we need to do is tap a button, and we get pinpoint yardages to pins and hazards; we can even track each shot we hit, which has given us a better understanding of our game.

Has this kind of technology taken away a certain skill from the game? Maybe, but many golfers would break into a cold sweat upon realizing they’d left their DMD at home.

7. Launch Monitors

To say that the impact launch monitors have had on the golf industry has been huge would be an understatement.

We’ve moved from subjective feel to precise, data-driven science - and it’s shaped how the game is taught.

The theory used to be that the golf ball would always start along the line of the club path and would subsequently end up where the clubface was pointing at impact.

A man called Fredrik Tuxen disproved this and established what we now know as the ball flight laws, with the face angle at impact being far more influential than previously thought.

Tuxen, co-founder of Trackman, has probably influenced your golf game without you even knowing about it.

Then there’s the impact launch monitors have had on manufacturers, retailers, PGA professionals, club fitters and driving ranges - be it radar like Trackman or photometric like the Foresight Sports GC3 (pictured above) and the GCQuad.

So there you have it, the 7 most important golf equipment innovations of all time. Do you disagree with our picks? Leave a comment in the box below.

Not so long ago, filling a golf bag was a wonderfully straightforward task. You had three fundamental categories: woods (typically purchased as a neat three-piece set of a 1-wood, 3-wood, and 5-wood), irons (where wedges weren't a separate entity, but simply the highest-lofted clubs in the set), and a putter.

In time, a few sub-categories emerged - cavity backs joined blades, and mallets challenged classic blade putters - but the structure remained remarkably simple.

Fast forward to the present day, and walking into a golf shop feels less like preparing for a Sunday morning round and more like attempting to decipher an aerospace engineering manual.

Today, our options span drivers, mini drivers, fairway woods, hybrids, utility woods, utility irons, hybrid irons, irons, specialized wedge lineups, and putters. Furthermore, within each category, the sub-classifications have multiplied exponentially. Drivers alone now come in low-spin, draw-biased, ‘core,’ and high-MOI 10K configurations, to name but a few.

Iron choices stretch across pure blades, cavity back, hollow-body players-distance, hybrid irons, HL (high launch), game improvement, and super game improvement heads. The putter rack is even wilder, featuring zero-torque, face-balanced, varied toe-hang, counter-balanced, arm-lock, broomstick, and modular designs.

Toss in golf balls engineered for every conceivable combination of spin, launch, and feel - plus shafts and grips offering every flex point, weight, torque profile, and texture imaginable - and the market becomes an endless labyrinth.

While innovation and choice are generally positive, we have to ask ourselves: when does choice become overwhelming?

As a PGA professional and former custom fitter, I have watched this explosion of options create genuine confusion on the ground. I routinely deal with golfers who are utterly bewildered by technical jargon and marketing hype surrounding variable center of gravity, MOI boosts, and torque variations.

It isn't just club golfers feeling the strain, either. During interviews with Tour professionals for "What’s In The Bag" content, I am constantly surprised by how many top-tier players haven't a clue how or why their equipment works. They simply hit what the tour reps hand them.

I understand the commercial reality. Manufacturers operate in a competitive market and must continually create excitement to sell the dream of lower scores. But by inventing brand-new equipment categories every season and backing them with hyperbolic promises of "unparalleled forgiveness" and "never-before-seen ball speed," brands risk driving a wedge of distrust between themselves and the end user. In fact, I would go further and suggest that the damage may already be done in that regard.

Golfers are not naive. We all know that strict governing rules cap what manufacturers can legally achieve regarding performance gains. We know (and have known for some time) we aren't going to see massive, game-changing leaps from a single club upgrade anymore - and that is completely fine, so please stop patronising us.

The truth is, golfers will always want shiny, new, beautifully crafted gear. We will always buy it, because it is fun!

Case in point: I didn't need the new T-shirt I bought online last night - I already have several - but I clicked pay because I liked the look of it and I wanted something new. I did not purchase it because an advertisement promised to make me thirty times stronger.

We don't need marketing hype videos that sound as if researchers discovered life on another planet and somehow forged it into the head of a utility wood - we're not idiots.

In my opinion, major manufacturers would curry immense favor with the golfing community by simplifying their product lineups and de-sensationalizing their marketing. Less is more.

Clear, honest, and straightforward communication will always beat artificial hype - and it’s time the equipment industry embraced that simple truth.

In life, things are rarely black and white. Interpretations on the same thing vary wildly across the board and uniformity of opinion is a rarity, especially in a golfing context. I found myself pondering this phenomenon after my most recent round.

Let me set the scene. I was sitting on the clubhouse terrace at Worplesdon Golf Club after shooting a 79 from the back tees, with my playing partners commending me for such a good round of golf.

I was appreciative of their praise and enthusiasm, and part of me was delighted, but I couldn’t help shake the feeling that I’d let myself down on the back nine and wasted a golden opportunity to shoot my best ever round.

I was genuinely conflicted. To some, it would have been an open-and-shut case. With a handicap index of 11.4, how could breaking 80 and recording 41 Stableford points be anything other than a roaring success? I can certainly see those arguments.

So much comes into the discussion: your normal standard of play, your play on that particular day, the conditions, the challenge of the back nine, typical front-nine versus back-nine scoring, fatigue, past experiences on certain holes, variations in pressure and expectation from one nine to the other, luck and so on.

Perhaps the most pertinent question is whether you define success based on your normal level or how you’re playing on a particular day. I think it’s probably a mixture of both.

When you have a handicap with two digits in it (not including the decimal point), you’re not going to play brilliantly for 18 holes. But should you play better than average on the back nine if you’ve played so well on the front nine? Yes, you probably should, because you’re in a great rhythm and confidence should be high.

I won’t bore you with details of my front nine, but it featured two bogeys, one birdie and six pars. I played so well, barely missed a shot and didn’t hole many putts, which is normally my strength. My driving was as good as it’s ever been. Since my friend pointed out I was hooding the big stick and aiming into the left trees on almost every hole, I’ve been in the zone off the tee.

I will, however, give a brief hole-by-hole from the back nine to help you make your mind up. Please, leave me a comment and let me know if I’m a decent golfer or a massive choker.

Back-nine decline

Hole 10, par 3: Pushed tee shot, good chip to 5ft, missed putt = bogey

Hole 11, par 5: Crunched drive, 7-wood to the right greenside rough, average chip, raced first putt, decent return = par

Hole 12, par 5: Pushed drive into heather on tough driving hole, clipped tree on recovery shot, 7-wood into bunker, ball over green after sand wedge bounced, good chip, tap in = bogey

Hole 13, par 3: forced to play a 5-iron owing to broken 6-iron, pulled tee shot into heather under a tree, duffed chip into bunker from tough lie, great bunker shot, 8-footer holed = bogey

Hole 14, par 4: great drive on SI1, a 470-yarder, horrible second pushed into trees, third snagged up short of green, tidy pitch to five feet, lip out = double

Hole 15, par 5: crunched drive, pulled 7-iron, average chip, two putts = par

Hole 16, par 3: again needed my 6-iron, pushed 5-iron into sand, good bunker shot, missed putt = bogey

Hole 17, par 4: good drive but slightly pushed into bunker, lay up, wedge onto green, two putts = bogey

Hole 18, par 4: decent drive but slightly pushed into heather, cracking 5-iron to green, two putts = par

Even though it has three par 5s, I’ve traditionally found the back nine at Worplesdon pretty tricky, especially the stretch from 11 to 14. I rarely make par on 11, sometimes make a mess of 12, generally bogey 13 and often struggle on 14.

However, this time I was in the middle of the fairway, even though I had 200 yards to the flag. I was nervous over my second, because it was so firm around the green, there are trees on both sides and I knew this was probably the last chance of a real disaster shot. Cue horrific push 50 yards right into the trees. That was a choke.

I also felt I’d choked on 15, because I had a 7-iron into a par-5 green and walked off with par. However, I didn’t hit a bad shot and just turned it over. It was very similar to the shot I’d hit on the par-5 6th, which I also parred. Interestingly, I wasn’t disappointed about that.

On 16, I had the wrong club, and we all know how difficult it is to commit when that’s the case. My drive on 17 wasn’t bad, I just missed in the wrong place, and I made a very good par up 18 to break 80.

There’s no question there’s more pressure on the back nine if you have a good score going, because you’re that much closer to a historic round every hole. In my experience, that tends to override the fact I’m playing really well.

Not an isolated incident

Something very similar happened to me the day before. I was playing at Centurion with Jonathan Smart, a Masters-winning caddie and one of the founders of Caddy Clubhouse, to see if having a bagman could help me put together a better score.

I was +3 after 13 holes, which included a triple-bogey on the 3rd, and playing so well. Walking off the 13th green, I said I’d be happy with an eight-over round. Jonathan admitted afterwards he thought that was a perplexing thing to communicate.

Over the next three holes, I went double-bogey, bogey, double-bogey, the latter when I was in the middle of the fairway with 130 yards to the hole. I did rally with a par-par finish, but by that point the prospect of my best ever score had disappeared, so it felt like there was no pressure again. It’s interesting I was then able to play the final two holes in level.

At Worpleson, I can’t help but feel my mind stopped me shooting my best ever round of golf. There were some mitigating factors – I normally play the back nine worse, I didn’t have a 6-iron (which I would have used on both par 3s) and I got a bit unlucky – but I wasn’t anywhere near as good as on the front nine.

Was that because I’m a low-mid handicapper, so a drop off is inevitable after a run of good holes, or because I started thinking too much about how well I was playing and what score I could shoot if I kept it going?

There are elements of both, but if I’m being honest, I think I choked away my chance of a 75 or 76. All the par 5s were reachable and I hit good drives on all the long holes bar one. As I was lying in bed that night, I couldn’t shake the feeling that it was a massive wasted opportunity.

Did I crumble? No. Did I hit any shocking shots? Only one. But, in my heart of hearts, would I say I let the pressure get to me? I think I would.

What do you think? Let me know in the comments below

Who are LIV Golf's best players? That was the question I wanted to answer.

We know Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau are the league's two biggest stars, and Joaquin Niemann has become a winning machine.

We can access their world rankings, Data Golf standings and positions in the season-long individual posts list, but they're all scattered about on different websites, so it has been hard to truly know who the circuit's top players are beyond the obvious ones.

That was the task I set myself, and after collating where they sit in the Official World Golf Ranking, Data Golf rankings and the 2026 LIV points list, I feel like I've now got a pretty good idea of who the top players are at this stage in time.

Their OWGR positions need to be taken with a slight pinch of salt, as the circuit only secured points this year and some players teed it up in just the 12 events, while others played global schedules away from LIV, including the Majors.

Evidence of this was seen in Data Golf's list, which has over 50 LIV players inside the top 500, whereas the OWGR has just 44.

It does give a fairly good idea, though, and combined with the Data Golf list and season standings, we get a clearer picture.

Here are some of the key takeaways from the list (my full top 40 ranking is at the bottom of the page)...

A clear top five

According to the stats, LIV Golf has a clear top five – and I'm sure most would agree.

Jon Rahm is the undisputed best player in the league, as seen by his three consecutive individual titles, and his standings with the OWGR and Data Golf back that up.

Some might say his Major form has slipped since joining the circuit, but there can't be any arguments that, upon LIV Golf 1.0's conclusion, the Spaniard is the tour's best player.

Bryson DeChambeau is LIV's number two, and you can argue between Joaquin Niemann and Tyrrell Hatton for third and fourth spots. That top four has probably been clear for a couple of years now, and Lucas Herbert has joined them this season to round out the big five.

They combined for nine wins from the 12 tournaments this season and all sit in the top five of the 2026 LIV Golf money list.

The Australian now has eight professional victories around the world on various global tours, including two LIV Golf titles won in 2026. He also finished T6th at The Open and is in the league's top five for OWGR, Data Golf and the individual standings.

From there, it is perhaps a little tougher to rank the league's players and I've made a number of subjective calls that I'm sure many will disagree with. If you do, I'd love to hear why in the comments section below.

Cameron Smith

After a clear-cut top five, the positions from six to 15 are a bit more subjective.

If you compile a list purely based on statistics, LIV's sixth-best player is probably Thomas Detry - but I have him in seventh behind Cameron Smith.

Smith makes the top 10 on data, but I have bumped him up to number six because of his standing in the game and perhaps a little bit of my own personal belief in him.

He has not had his best year and missed three Majors cuts, but a T7 at the PGA Championship after linking up with Claude Harmon showed that he isn't washed up or lacking motivation, like some might claim.

For me, he has the best short game in the world and I am semi-confident we'll see him have some big moments again as he's still only 33. He managed four top-10s in the LIV Golf League this year, highlighted by a fourth-place recently in the UK.

Vincent legitimately in the top 10

An interesting finding I discovered from my research was that Scott Vincent is undoubtedly one of the league's top 10 players as things stand.

The Zimbabwean made his way to LIV twice via the Asian Tour, and he has played on HyFlyers GC this season in place of the absent Phil Mickelson. He was comfortably the team's best player and sits 9th in my rankings.

It's a good success story from the league's link-up with the Asian Tour, and it's perhaps evidence that losing that to the PGA and DP World Tours is problematic.

LIV finally secured OWGR points for the 2026 campaign and its partnership with the Asian Tour, via the International Series, was a key factor in that.

Whether LIV 2.0 goes ahead or not, Vincent is certainly a player we can expect more of in the coming years. The 34-year-old has three Japan Golf Tour wins and two International Series titles, and he finished 10th in the individual standings this season thanks to four top-five finishes.

While some may say a number of LIV players have regressed, he is a clear example of a player who has grown in stature and improved on the tour.

Only three Americans

My top 20 features just three Americans: DeChambeau, Harold Varner III and Dustin Johnson.

This is a polar opposite of the OWGR top 20, which features nine USA players, and Data Golf's top 20 (11). The PGA Tour's regular season FedExCup top 20 also had 11 Americans.

This suggests the best American golfers do not play on LIV Golf, which is perhaps an obvious assessment, but it's a fact when you look down the list.

It also shows the international flavor to the league, as there are 11 different nationalities in my top 20.

Spaniards

Of the 11 nationalities, none is better represented in the top 20 than Spain.

Four of LIV's top 17 players in my rankings are Spanish (Jon Rahm, David Puig, Sergio Garcia and Josele Ballester), so does LIV have the world's best Spanish male golfers? Undoubtedly.

There hasn't been a Spanish winner on the PGA Tour since Rahm left three years ago, and there actually isn't a single Spanish golfer currently holding a PGA Tour card.

That will change next year when Eugenio Chacarra gets promoted from the DP World Tour. I'd certainly say Chacarra is among his country's top five players, which means LIV has the four, or at least four of the five, best Spanish male golfers on the planet.

You can see why the Valderrama stop has been a success.

Shout-outs

LIV's roster gets a lot of criticism, whether that's the age of the players, their lack of Major starts or claims they no longer have the drive due to the guaranteed money.

My research shows a number of players who some may think are past it certainly aren't. Marc Leishman ranks as the 8th-best LIV Golfer in Data Golf's list, while Branden Grace makes my top 15 despite being relegated in 2024 and winless since 2022.

Sergio Garcia, now 46, definitely still has it, while Abraham Ancer makes my top 10 even though he's played in just one Major over the last three years.

And in another success story for LIV's Asian Tour pathway, Richard T Lee was very close to my top 25 after earning his card via LIV Golf Promotions last year.

The Canadian-Korean, who has three Asian Tour titles and three Korean Tour wins, finished 16th in his debut LIV season. He lost out to Bryson DeChambeau in a play-off in Singapore and ended the year with a T5 in Indianapolis.

Like Vincent, he is another who we can expect to hear plenty more from, even if LIV 2.0 doesn't come to fruition.

So, what is my ranking? Let's take a look at the top 40:

Ranking LIV Golf's top 40 players:

What do you make of my findings? Let me know in the comments section below.

LIV Golf rankings: OWGR, Data Golf, Points standings averages

For those interested in the numbers that made up my methodology, here are LIV's top 43 players in order of their OWGR, Data Golf and 2026 points list averages.

Note: OWGR and Data Golf numbers are where they rank vs other LIV Golf League players, not their official rankings. So, for example, Jon Rahm is No.1 in OWGR as he is the highest-ranked LIV player. He is officially 12th at the time of writing.

Quite possibly. That’s what our Kick Point hosts believe - and we have listener Kenny James to thank for bringing this debate to our attention, one which Dan Parker and Joe Ferguson discuss in the episode below (Sir Nick Faldo joins us on this one, so it’s well worth a watch/listen).

Lots of golfers won’t even have considered the fact that they may be overspending, for buying full sets of irons is the norm - it’s pretty much an accepted thing that you just do, 4-PW, please… the whole kit and caboodle.

Right, so here’s the full question from our listener…

WATCH: Dan and Joe from Kick Point discuss the merits of half sets (from 37:02)

“Do players (mid or high handicap players) who get custom fitted overspend by filling every iron set? For example, their 6-iron and 7-iron might have significant overlapping dispersion?”

James continues… “Should these players be buying a half set instead? Why aren’t half sets more popular?

A good question/questions, Kenny. Joe salutes you.

“A thousand per cent,” says Joe, “I couldn’t agree with that more. You wouldn’t notice if the odd or the even set went in your bag”

And just to underline where he stands on this, Joe adds: “I could go and play a PGA tournament with just a set of evens or odds (basically three or four irons).

“You’re just in between clubs, so you just dolly one club or hit one harder.”

Simple. Maybe there's an idea for some new content. Can Joe win a PGA tournament with a half set? (unlikely).

Anyway, have you been out with your pencil bag and just a half set of clubs this summer? What did you notice? How did you play?

Perhaps it’s made you think more, get a little more creative… maybe, in the long run, playing with a half set more often will actually make you a better player.

We started with a discussion on overspending on custom-fitted irons (we’re all about trying to save you money) and it turned into a wider conversation on whether golf should actually be played with fewer irons.

And we have just the man on this podcast episode, the one and only Sir Nick Faldo - and you can probably guess where Sir Nick stands on this… yes, bring back creativity and give players a little more to think about on the course by reducing the number of clubs they’re allowed to carry.

“He’s a big advocate of reducing the number of clubs to create creativity because he feels players have become, at the elite level, one-dimensional,” says Joe.

“We get so caught up with what the best players in the world are doing. You think, ‘Well, I need a full set of clubs because that’s what they do.’

“But at certain speeds it only becomes relevant the quicker your speed gets, because the quicker you get, the more your distance gaps are created. It spreads out in your bag.

“If you’re swinging a 7-iron at 65-70 mph as opposed to 90 mph like some of the top players in the world, you’ve got far too many clubs in the golf bag for sure.”

What do you think? Let us know whether you agree with Dan and Joe - and do you share Sir Nick's views? Should the number of clubs players are allowed to carry be reduced from 14?

“For many players, I believe this abundance of choice does more harm than good,” Joe said when talking about this debate recently.

“Maximizing your club count can quietly stifle your natural feel, paralyze your decision-making, and strip away the very element that makes golf an art form: creativity.”

Let us know what you think by leaving your comments in the box below.

We're probably all bored of the heat by now. I think after four or five heatwaves in one summer, it's valid to say it's been a bit hot, not just for the usual one or two week period we're all complaining about.

And this isn't just happening here, golfers across Europe, the US, and beyond are watching their fairways suffer through identical scorching spells. It has definitely left golf courses in not great condition.

That affects quite a few things. Number one, it affects golfers playing when your ball bounces on a totally rock hard surface and it could end up literally anywhere.

But it's also hard for golf clubs, because they have to preserve the grass, preserve the fairways, and the playing conditions are almost like it would be on a frosty winter's day. Rock solid. So of course, there comes more considerations for golf clubs in terms of how they have to protect the golf course at this time of year.

However, as we come to the end of another relentless summer, I'm wondering: should golf clubs think about how they charge visitors in these conditions?

With climate change pointing toward hotter, drier summers becoming our new normal, this isn't just a one-off issue, it's something clubs worldwide will need to consider for the future.

I wouldn't expect to pay full price in winter, when the conditions aren't conducive to good golf. Right now I think we've tipped over from summer golfing conditions into something else.

We looked at some of the courses around where I live last weekend, and it just didn't seem worth it for the green fee. So we didn't play, but had the prices been more relative to the conditions we would have.

The question is: should golf courses consider charging a bit less for green fees when the conditions are kind of unplayable, and it's very hard to score well?

I've been a golf club member for most of my golfing life, which, honestly, has been quite short. But in the past couple of years, moving to Bristol and then back to London, I haven't actually been a member of any golf club, because we were going to move and it didn't make sense to join one.

The hardest thing about not being a member is that it puts parameters around how much you play. When you're paying each time, it makes you think much more about whether or not you want to play today.

Whereas when I was a member, I didn't think twice about going out for five holes, or nine, or walking off if I didn't fancy it, because I wasn't thinking about the money. I'd already paid it, upfront or monthly, and it puts you in a different mindset about the value of each round of golf.

As someone who isn't a golf club member, you might say that's my own fault. But when I rock up and pay a green fee, I'm paying for the golf course I'm experiencing on that day. Which means I'm probably not going to turn up in all weathers. Golf clubs understand this when it comes to winter conditions, but, what about when it's basically burnt earth out there?

Coming back to London, it's very hard to get a green fee at a decent time for anything less than sixty or seventy pounds, including on a daytime weekday. On a typical summer's day, I'll happily pay seventy quid, eighty quid, whatever. But when the conditions are like this, right now, no. It doesn't seem like value.

I know this will be controversial. I had exactly this conversation with a friend of mine who's a member. "No, no, no," he said, "you just have to pay the fee, and it is what it is." When I mentioned it to another friend, a member at another club, her reaction was different. "OMG," she said. "Guest fees are crazy given the conditions."

I understand why some disagree, but for members: you're paying across the whole year, so you're paying for the good, the bad, the indifferent, the days you can't play, the days when it's closed. But as a guest paying a green fee, you are literally just paying for the course as you find it on that day. And to pay seventy pounds to basically play on straw doesn't seem like a good deal.

What do you think? Have your say in the comments box below.

On Monday 27th 1996, a star was born into the game of golf.

Tiger Woods turned heads with a stellar amateur career, winning the Junior World Golf Championships six times, including four consecutively, as well as becoming the only three-time winner of the US Junior Amateur in history.

Before winning his first US Amateur title in 1994, Woods was already the name on everyone's lips - but he had also forged an alliance with one of the world's greatest coaches, Butch Harmon.

Upon meeting Tiger Woods, Butch Harmon said:

"When I first saw Tiger swing a club, standing there was a tremendous amount of natural, raw talent. He was like a trophy that needed to be polished.

"The natural ability needed to be brought along, but the raw talent and self-confidence of the young man were amazing,”

That relationship would propel Tiger to defending the US Amateur (and win a third) and appear at both the Masters (T41 - 1995) and the Open Championship (Silver Medal winner - 1996) before turning pro in August 1996.

The quote of the day celebrates that 30 year journey; one that would change the landscape of men's professional golf forever as one of the greatest players of all time emerged and dominated the sport for decades to come.

Tiger Woods Anniversary: 30 Years On From Turning Pro

After turning professional in August 1996, Tiger was swiftly rising to stardom.

Lucrative deals with Nike and Titleist showcased the commercial appeal of this exciting young talent, while his golf did the talking on the course as he claimed two PGA Tour titles in his inaugural season and a record-breaking first Major at The Masters a year later.

Tiger became the youngest ever winner of the Green Jacket in the process and became World No.1 in June of 1997 - less than a year after turning professional.

But, head back four years and it wasn't all sunshine and rainbows for Tiger Woods. In 1993, he lost in the second round of the US Amateur Championship - a result which prompted his father, Earl, to seek the services of Butch Harmon.

That first meeting, which included Harmon recording Tiger's raw talent on a camcorder, showcased just how good Tiger was for his age - but that didn't mean he didn't need help.

Butch added, "In those days, he did not have the ability to work the ball both ways. He just hit the ball and found it, hit it and found it and then made the putt. That was his theory and he was pretty damned good at it.”

Tiger's naturally aggressive style of play as a younger player had earned him the respect of his peers and plenty of accolades, but Butch saw the 'trophy that needed to be polished'... and man did he do a good job of that!

With 82 PGA Tour titles and 15 Major wins, Tiger Woods is not only one of the greatest golfers to ever play the game but also a legendary figure and icon in world sport.

The 10-year partnership with Harmon yielded 8 Major Championship wins and the historic Tiger Slam - the likes of which, I believe, we will never see again.

Question is, will we ever see him competing at the top level again? After years of debilitating injuries and incidents away from the course, it seems highly unlikely. But, as an obsessed Tiger fan boy, part of me still holds the smallest amount of hope.

Miracles can happen, right? Let's go, Tiger.

Isn’t it funny how our perspectives shift over time? Ten years ago, I wouldn’t have gone anywhere near a 7-wood. Now, I can’t imagine my life without one. In fact, I’d go so far as to say it’s comfortably the favourite club in my bag.

Given my current love affair, you’d be quite right to question why I had such an aversion to this club previously. I think there were probably three reasons.

As is often the case, amateur and club-golfer habits are influenced by what they see on the professional tours (not that they should be). And this doesn’t just relate to golf bag composition – think about elaborate pre-shot routines, slow play, AimPoint and more.

When I started watching professional golf religiously in the early 2000s, I can’t remember seeing many 7-woods in play. This clearly influenced me into thinking I shouldn’t put one in my bag, even though there’s no question I would have benefitted from one.

I assume this attitude also helped feed my perception that 5-wood was as high as a decent golfer should go. I don’t know where that viewpoint came from, but I suspect it was a combination of tour and a feeling that soldering on with a 3- and 4-iron was a right of passage; that giving up and moving to something easier to hit was defeatist.

I think I was also influenced by who I played with in my junior days. Most of my (average) golfing friends, as well as my dad, carried a 7-wood. Let’s just say they didn’t often set the world alight with their golfing ability.

Two summers ago, at the age of 35, I went for a Ping custom fitting at the brand’s national fitting centre in Lincolnshire. It was the first time I’d ever gone through such a process.

As part of it, I tried out the G430 Max 7-wood. It was so easy to hit and instantly instilled confidence. It went about the same distance as the i530 4-iron, but I was able to hit it much higher and create more draw and fade spin (and I’m not someone who is usually skilled enough to be able to produce different shot shapes on demand!)

Ever since then, it’s been a mainstay in my bag – one of those old reliables you just know will produce a solid strike when you need it to.

You can’t put a price on that pre-shot feeling. We all know how tough it is when you pull a club and start thinking ‘there’s no way this is going where I want it to’. It’s the exact opposite for me with my 7-wood.

Jack Of All Trades

It’s such a versatile club. In winter, when it’s all carry, I can use it on an 180-yard par 3 and know it has the stopping power to finish on the putting surface. In the summer, I can use it on one-shotters that are 200 yards or sometimes even slightly longer.

It really comes into its own on second shots into par 5s, too. If I have anywhere from 190-220 yards to the green, I won’t hesitate to pull it out, even if there’s trouble lurking ahead. I don’t feel like I need to hit the ball, either, like I sometimes do with a long-iron - a smooth swing will generally deliver the desired result.

It’s also useful on long par 5s. Historically, if I’ve had no chance of reaching the green, I’ve opted for the 8-iron, wedge approach – the logic being that I’m unlikely to really mess up either of those shots.

But now, I’m confident enough to hit 7-wood from 250-300 yards away, knowing I’ll be relatively near the green with a good strike. The stats tell us being closer to the hole is always better when it comes to getting the ball down in the fewest number of strokes.

Finally, it’s been a big help strategically on shorter par 4s. In the past, I’ve always pulled driver on these types of holes, even if they’re 320-350 yards. Why? Because I didn’t back myself to hit a clean 4-iron to put myself in position. There’s nothing more annoying in golf than taking the sensible option and then messing it up.

I don’t think like that anymore. I reach for my 7-wood and generally leave myself somewhere between an 8-iron and a wedge for my second shot. Of course, sometimes I will hit driver – golf is supposed to be fun, after all – but when it’s a tight drive, I now have a club I’m confident in. It allows me to make better decisions.

I’m not going to pretend I hit every shot perfectly – I’m a mid-handicapper after all – but every time I grab my 7-wood, I think I’m going to strike it well. In golf, that’s at least half the battle. If it’s good enough for Tommy Fleetwood, Scottie Scheffler and a host of other world-class golfers, it’s good enough for me.

The top golf brands release new drivers year after year and they hit the golf market with a promise of more clubhead speed, more distance and more forgiveness. So why have I been using a 2009 Mizuno MX700 for the last 17 years?

Mizuno has long been known for its forged iron ranges, carrying the iconic slogan ‘nothing feels like a Mizuno’, but when the MX700 driver was released almost two decades ago, it was considered one of the best golf drivers on the market.

The driver sports a plasma-welded face to increase ball speed and Mizuno’s ‘Ti9’ technology, which makes the metal grain run from sole to crown and expands the sweetspot. It also carries a loud thud at impact, similar to Ping’s G425, which divided opinion back in 2021.

Despite boasting many performance-boosting features, it still doesn’t explain why many drivers released since 2009 have, for me and my game, been unable to beat the MX700, which is fitted with a stiff Exsar DS4 shaft.

I have used other drivers over the years, the first being the TaylorMade R1 in 2015, which was the fastest to be replaced by the Mizuno.

The next came from of one of the most popular driver releases of all time, the 2017 M1 and M2 range, with the latter even having a PGA Tour win to its name in 2026 after Brandt Snedeker won the OneFlight Myrtle Beach Classic earlier this year.

The 460cc M1 head was the driver that I thought could finally move me away from the, at the time, eight-year-old club. It stayed in the bag for around a year, performing consistently. To this day is the best driver I’ve tried outside of the mainstay.

Despite gaining about 10 yards on the Mizuno, it just never felt as comfortable behind the ball and didn't achieve the same consistency with spin rates.

I couldn't resist putting the Mizuno back in and wasn’t able to part with it yet again. Despite this, it’s clear to see why the 2017 releases from TaylorMade were so popular and continue to be used on tour.

Having then worked in pro shops between 2020 and 2025, giving up my amateur status and starting my PGA Qualfication in 2023, I'd regularly test the new equipment out on the course, using trial and error to change shafts, settings and lofts.

While the newer models added between 10-20 yards, disparity between the shots and control of the ball flight was a little more out.

Being able to draw or fade the 2009 model on demand, as well as still getting it out to a 280-yard average carry, meant that ultimately nothing swayed me enough to ditch the somewhat now antique driver, still equipped with the original grip!

It's fair to say that it wont be going anywhere in the near future, and with it still on the second-hand market for under £100 from second hand websites like golfclubs4cash, it seems I'm not the only one still liking drivers like the MX700.

It's not just my driver that's a classic...

While the driver is the oldest club in my bag, it's not too far in front of the fairway wood, as I'm still sporting a battered TaylorMade R11s 3-wood I picked up from a second-hand bargain bin back in 2016, complete with half of the crown destroyed by sky marks.

Fairway woods tend to be the oldest club in many amateur or professional bags, so this may be a little bit less controversial than keeping an older model driver.

I haven't tried as many new fairway woods as I have drivers, and the R11s still works well enough for me that I haven't felt the need to.

I think it's fair to say that I'm not a tinkerer when it comes to equipment. It almost certainly comes down to so much of the game being how confident you are with both what's in your hand and what you are looking down at behind the ball.

That being said, having been fitted for my TaylorMade P730 irons back in 2017 and still adoring them to this day, every golfer should absolutely get custom fitted to ensure that they have the right club in their hand. But sometimes, if it isn't broken, it just doesn't need to be fixed.

PGA Tour Players Still Using Older Models

Matt Fitzpatrick, PING S55 Irons (2013)

The Englishman – currently second in the FedExCup standings – is expected to be a popular player of the year pick after the Tour Championship concludes

He has used Ping S55 irons from 5-iron to pitching wedge, a model that was released back in 2013. Despite experimenting with some others in recent years, he hasn’t been able to let them go long-term.

Brooks Koepka – Nike Vapor-Fly 3-Iron (2016)

Kopeka has had the Nike Vapor-Fly 3-iron in his bag for all five of his Major Championship wins. He has previously said “Once I get equipment that I like, I stick with it – I’m not a tinkerer.” The club is a popular one, as Tony Finau also still uses the decade-old model.

Aaron Rai – TaylorMade M6 Driver (2019)

The 2026 PGA Championship winner grabbed headlines for his choice of driver during his impressive win earlier this year at Aronimink Golf Club.

He still uses the TaylorMade M6 driver that was released in 2019 and although he may not be the longest hitter on the PGA Tour, ranking 156^th in driving distance this season, he sits 4^th in driving accuracy.

In an era where modern golf culture is actively grappling with its past, striving for genuine equality, dismantling outdated barriers, and encouraging female participation, it is easy to assume that women’s integration into the sport is a relatively recent campaign. But when I happened upon my own club’s history, I was rather delighted with what I found.

The history of women’s golf is far richer and more deeply woven into the game's fabric than many realise. There are records of ladies playing a tournament in Musselburgh as far back as 1811. By 1867, the St Andrews Ladies’ Golf Club was established as the world's first women's club, and the home of golf followed this in 1893 with the landmark formation of the Ladies Golf Union.

That very same year, Royal Lytham & St Annes wrote its own name into the pioneering chapters of the women's game by hosting the inaugural British Ladies Amateur Championship. Lytham’s early embrace of female competition set a precedent that echoes through its legacy.

Exactly one hundred years later, on the centenary of that 1893 tournament, Catriona Matthew announced herself to the world by lifting the Women's Amateur Championship title on those Lancashire links.

This spirit of early inclusivity wasn't confined to the Lancashire coast. I am a member at Aldeburgh Golf Club in Suffolk, a classic coastal retreat whose club was formed in 1884. We are a traditional club in every sense - proud of our place in the Top 100 courses across Britain and Ireland, perched above the Alde Estuary - yet we are far from stuffy.

When the layout was recently updated for the first time since 1922, I was charged with diving into our archives for the new website. Beneath the surface of our traditional reputation, I discovered generations of remarkable stories that put modern debates into fascinating context.

We believe Aldeburgh to be the oldest club in Britain, possibly even the world, to offer equal rights to men and women from the outset. At a time when many historic venues are navigating the transition toward full equal-access membership and modernising their bylaws, Aldeburgh didn't need a modern equality act to catch up. Inclusivity wasn't a modern addition or an afterthought; it was woven into the fabric of the club from day one.

Club founder Skelton Anderson came to Aldeburgh because his wife inherited a house here. The Scot decided the town needed golf and the club was born above the Alde Estuary and two miles from the coast.

Anderson’s wife and founding member Elizabeth Garrett Anderson was the first British female physician and surgeon, co-founder of the first hospital staffed by women, and later became Britain’s first female Mayor.

Garrett Anderson wasn’t an anomaly in her family either, as sister Millicent Fawcett was a well-known suffragette (the first woman to be honoured with a statue in parliament square). Her husband, Henry Fawcett fought for equality for women in parliament in his role as a politician.

From what I understand, the women of the founding families were treated as equals and so the club followed suit. Our incredible photo archive uncovered in 2011 and published by our club historian Stephen Barnard plots this tradition in photographs.

The importance of young women being not only accomplished but physically active seems to be one of the reasons golf is so ingrained in generations of women in Aldeburgh and this year's Lady Captain is a perfect example. Susie Manson-Bahr’s family have been here for ever; her great grandmother Mina Vertue was one of the early lady members.

Grandmother Peggy Wilson (née Vertue) was also a revered member who was pregnant with Manson-Bahr’s father when she was a young Lady Captain in 1929. While the late 1920s were certainly a time of unbuttoning of shirts and slight loosening of ties, it’s almost inconceivable to think that would have been considered acceptable anywhere except a place where women were, in their own right, seen as equals.

Manson-Bahr also tells a wonderful tale of how grandmother Peggy took part in the 1930 English Ladies Amateur Championship that was hosted at Aldeburgh just 8 months after giving birth to her father and by now a mother of three children under 5!

Today, golf discussions frequently centre on making the game more family-friendly, accessible, and accommodating to women at every stage of life. Looking at Peggy's story, it strikes me that Aldeburgh was quietly fostering that exact environment nearly a century ago, normalising female athleticism and participation long before it became an industry soundbite.

Manson-Bahr’s father’s godmother was Joy Winn; our club’s greatest ever female player - her photo has pride of place in the lobby of the club along with other historical figures of importance. Other early players Mabel Potterton and Suzette Pettit also wrote their names into the club history with the standard of golf they played. (The English Ladies Amateur Championship has been played at Aldeburgh five times).

Until last September our track played as a tough par 68 for men. Now, thanks to the advent of four new holes, we have two par 5s. Mackenzie & Ebert carried out the changes, which have gone down really well. As I stand on the tee on the new 7th par-5 or our risk-reward drivable par 4 8th with a view of the estuary and the clubhouse, I wonder what Joy Winn would think of the changes we have made to this historic place. I hope she would have approved.

Our ladies section ages from juniors to 95 (and still playing at least twice a week) and our Septuagenarian-and-over competitions are some of our busiest, so I am pleased to report that women living in active good health continues to be a theme at Aldeburgh. Having never been part of a ladies section before I joined in 2018, I feel I chose well - although I continually get beaten by women 30 years older than me and could never live up to the standards set by some of our greatest.

As golf globally continues its journey toward inclusivity, Aldeburgh stands as a gentle reminder that tradition and equality don't have to be mutually exclusive. We didn't have to break down walls to let women in; those walls were never built here in the first place. Standing on the tee today, I don't just feel part of a golf club, I feel part of a legacy that was ahead of its time, and one that still feels wonderfully alive.

When Team Europe steps out at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands for the 20th edition of the Solheim Cup, they will do so in a look that blends high-performance engineering with serious European pride.

Ping has officially revealed its 2026 European Solheim Cup uniform, giving fans the chance to wear the exact piece-for-piece designs that will be on display.

Created in close collaboration with Ping's Global Creative Director Fiona Reilly, European Captain Anna Nordqvist, and Vice-Captain Mel Reid, the collection balances a traditional aesthetic with modern athletic tailoring.

Alison Root and Katie Dawkins showcase the 2026 women's golf fashion

Built using Ping’s proven Sensor technology platform, each piece ensures the team remains comfortable, flexible, and fully protected against whatever unpredictable Dutch autumn weather may bring.

"Designing team apparel for the Solheim Cup is always incredibly special," says Fiona Reilly, Global Creative Director for PING. "We're working closely with European Team Captain Anna Nordqvist to ensure the team uniform makes the players feel empowered, unified and able to play their best.”

The three-day apparel narrative relies on a classic blue, yellow, and white colourway with clever host-nation details.

Friday’s opening matches will see the team step out in a striking blue and white combination, featuring subtle orange detailing on the polo collars, zips, and star motifs as a tribute to the Netherlands.

Saturday shifts to a vibrant yellow polo paired with crisp white bottoms and matching mid-layers, before closing out Sunday’s singles in a powerful blue outfit featuring prominent European stars across the sleeves and headwear.

To round out the release, Ping has introduced a matching line of Team Europe accessories including a backpack, shoe bag, valuables pouch, and a special-edition Moonlite carry bag.

Each accessory features a custom tulip-inspired print, offering a final nod to the host nation while giving supporters a complete head-to-toe look for Solheim Cup week.

The full 2026 European Solheim Cup Team uniform and accessory collection is available here.

When the social media backlash erupted over the recent Good Good and Callaway driver ad where Garrett Clark shoves Alexis Miestowski to the ground simply for reaching into his golf bag, I completely understood why it hit such a raw nerve. As a woman in golf, seeing physical violence against a female player used as a sexist and disrespectful punchline to sell a golf club was deeply uncomfortable to watch.

What surprised me most, however, was realising who the female golfer in the video actually was. Alexis Miestowski isn't just a video extra. She is a professional golfer playing on the Epson Tour, so I wonder if she saw the funny side of it during filming, or if it was just framed as harmless banter on set.

On screen, it felt like a massive step backward. In modern golf, we talk constantly about the bigger picture - how far women's golf has come, the barriers broken daily, and the fight for equal respect on and off the course.

Alison Root and Katie Dawkins highlight 2026 women's golf fashion including layering, themes and budget comparisons

Digital media brand Good Good commands a massive, predominantly male audience of young men and boys who consume their content religiously. Even if intended purely in jest, what does an ad like that teach young male golfers about how to treat female players on the course, or anywhere else for that matter?

To put the broader context into perspective, the statistics surrounding violence against women remain staggering. In the United States alone, national data from the CDC shows that nearly 1 in 4 women experience severe physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime, and an average of 24 people per minute are victims of physical abuse or contact sexual violence.

Now, I recognise that looking at this through the lens of real-world statistics might sound extreme when we're simply talking about a golf commercial. The ad was clearly intended as light-hearted, slapstick humour, and I'm sure plenty of viewers saw it as nothing more than a harmless joke. But even as a joke, it completely misses the mark. It’s bad advertising, profoundly unfunny on many levels, and out of step with where the game is trying to go.

At the same time, I can also understand how the online keyboard warrior machine takes over. In today's digital climate, nuance is quickly lost, outrage escalates in seconds, and calls for total cancellation echo across every feed. But we also have to look at this with a level head.

*It is ridiculous to suggest a company like Callaway intentionally signed off on an ad promoting violence against women. Callaway proactively champions women's golf, produces dedicated women's equipment lines, and invests heavily in tour players. I'd be gobsmacked if Callaway executives had sat in a boardroom, reviewed that clip, and given it an official green light.

What this blunder actually exposes is a massive operational lesson for legacy brands collaborating with digital creators. Content groups move fast and rely on quick, bro-centric humour, and somewhere in the rush to post viral social clips, normal corporate checks and balances failed entirely.

Good Good made a major error in judgment and apologised, while Callaway rightfully expressed their disappointment and the content was pulled immediately. Where I believe the online frenzy goes way too far, however, is the knee-jerk demand for extreme retaliation, such as calls for the PGA Tour to strip Good Good of their title sponsorship for the upcoming tournament in November.

Come on. Cancelling events and tearing down partnerships doesn't solve anything. Good Good brings millions of enthusiastic young people into golf, and Callaway provides the backing that helps to grow the game.

Rather than burning bridges, this needs to be a firm, permanent lesson in accountability and process. Creators must learn that disrespectful skits have no place in golf marketing, and major brands must ensure proper oversight stays intact when working with influencers. Hold them accountable, learn from the mistake, and let's focus on moving the game forward together.

*This article was written before Callaway released a statement to confirm the video was approved by Callaway prior to posting. It is shocking this was given approval and only underlines the importance for better corporate governance.

If you have spent any time scrolling through golf content on Instagram or TikTok recently, you may have noticed a rapidly expanding, wildly obsessive subculture: putter art.

What can often come across as a utilitarian realm of mass-produced flatsticks has evolved into a bespoke, high-end gallery space, and amidst this exploding digital renaissance of torched finishes and custom milling, one figure is quietly separating himself from the pack.

Meet Rush Kane - known online as "Kane Kid" - a man who is taking existing putters and forging them into bespoke masterpieces through a fascinating combination of welding, sculpting, and refinishing. He is, without hyperbole, one of the world’s most skilled metalworkers turned golf obsessives.

When I sat down to interview him, I half expected the brash, loud energy typical of many of the social media personalities I speak to. Instead, I found a man who is captivatingly softly spoken and deeply considered. In an industry full of salesmen, Kane speaks with the deliberate, quiet cadence of a monk who has finally found his religion.

I was immediately blown away by his authenticity. I have never heard anyone as totally engrossed, as relentlessly obsessed with his craft, as Rush Kane. This is a man who once locked himself away for 4 days to learn and master every nuance and facet of paintfill.

When he talks putters, you believe every single word.

Being a highly skilled welder is one thing - there are lots of those in the world. But to possess the architectural vision, the microscopic attention to detail, and the sheer artistry to create what Kane does? That is exceptionally rare. If you don’t believe me, just go and take a look at his Instagram page.

His love affair with metal began at 14, when he built a custom low-rider pedal bike after becoming fascinated by something similar that featured in an MTV music video while indulging in one of his other great passions - music.

"I just dove into metal and loved crafting with metal, and it just felt like the ultimate medium," he tells me, his eyes lighting up as he reflects on his origins. "There was just like such a divine power that you could bring out of yourself to create."

That passion translated into a serious, highly technical career.

For nearly 12 years, he worked for a corporation fabricating high-precision instrumentation for temperature and high-pressure calibration - systems that literally establish worldwide factory standards. In this role, Kane mastered aerospace-level TIG welding, manipulating exotic and unforgiving alloys, all while balancing this technical expertise with his love of all things art.

From there, he pivoted to automotive performance, serving as the lead welder for Diesel Brothers on the popular Discovery Channel show for four seasons, all while teaching community welding classes in his hometown.

But it was a single, visceral moment that altered the trajectory of his life: striking a perfectly pure five-iron while playing a round of golf with his younger brother. Kane says that single strike awakened a dormant obsession, redirecting his metallurgical genius toward the most agonizingly precise instrument in sports: the putter.

What makes Kane a true savant is his staggering understanding of the materials themselves. Listening to him discuss the various types and grades of metal is like listening to a sommelier discuss the terroir of a grand cru Burgundy.

He exclusively takes on projects involving high-tier raw metals - frequently Scotty Cameron putters, which generally utilize premium 303 stainless steel without synthetic coatings. He flat-out declines to work on cast 303 metals or putters with polymer inserts, passionately explaining how cast metals weld unpredictably and become brittle.

Don't be fooled, however: he doesn’t just make putters look pretty; he reverse-engineers them for elite performance.

Kane approaches each customization case-by-case, meticulously matching hosel geometry and balance points to a player’s physical structure, eye position, and natural stroke arc. For him, the art works hand in hand with the science.

"It's not just a weld. It's not just metal," he explains. "It's all of the dynamics, all of those angles compounding to create a functional piece of high-performance artwork."

His ability to articulately express this incredibly dense information makes him a marketing dream. He seamlessly breaks down complex torque profiles, hosel types, and face milling with an ease and a passion that has you hanging on every word.

Ask him about the face of a putter, and he’ll give you a detailed masterclass: explaining how smooth faces offer direct energy transfer and precise feedback but are highly sensitive to moisture and debris, whereas milled faces dampen the feel and use channels - "like tire treads" - to displace moisture for environmental forgiveness.

To see this philosophy realized, you only need to look at his personal "gamer" - a custom-built, left-handed (he’s actually right-handed, but that is another story of expression and creativity of its own!) GSS (German Stainless Steel) putter crafted in collaboration with local Utah maker Weston Maughan. It is a masterpiece featuring a smooth, triple-pass micromilled face, freehand engravings, and a hand-shaped, hand-torched steel neck extension that fades beautifully from blue to purple, all dialed in to a minimal 7-degree toe hang.

It is very Rush Kane.

Yet, for all his technical brilliance, Kane’s greatest asset might be his profound patience and lack of ego when delivering the crucial finishing touches such as paintfill. "It's really about your patience as an individual, letting the paint flow and do what it naturally does... When you try to force it, everything goes wrong," he notes.

Alongside wrenching designs out of his own brain, Kane is equally enthusiastic about bringing other people's concepts to life.

"I have some players that are like, 'This is my dream, and that's what I want.' And so it's really exciting for me to kind of mesh with that vision and be the engine that creates it for them."

But Kane isn't just catering to high-end collectors - he is actively targeting a glaring structural void within elite competitive golf.

"We have so many professionals and tour players, and if you're not in the top 15 or the top five in the world, you generally don't have access - exclusive access - to that tour department to readily deliver you and build you exactly what you need," Kane explains. "And there's a big gap in that market, and I've placed myself here to help fulfill those needs for those players that really are seeking that access."

Currently, Kane handles all disassembly, welding, finishing, and final assembly entirely by himself, while a team manages his booming social media and order inquiries. He is even developing a "Metal Master Class" to pass on his knowledge of material recognition and metal sciences to the next generation of craftsmen.

Looking at the landscape of golf equipment, one thing is glaringly obvious. With absolute legends of the craft like Scotty Cameron inevitably coming toward the twilight of their storied careers, massive brands need to be looking to the future.

If I were sitting in the boardroom at Titleist, I would be breaking the bank right now to secure the services of Rush Kane as my new flagship craftsman. I don’t know if you’d get him (he seems pretty content with his work right now), but he has the pedigree, the vision, and the undeniable on-camera presence to carry the torch for the next decade.

As for me? I’m not waiting for the corporate giants to make their move. I will be putting my hand firmly into my own pocket to commission an early Rush Kane piece. Because after spending just an hour with the man, I am absolutely convinced he is going to ‘blow up’ as the kids say.

Securing a Kane Kid putter right now might not be just buying a golf club; it feels to me exactly like getting your hands on an early Banksy.

Do you score better on par 3s, par 4s or par 5s? If you are not sure, it's time to start collecting and utilising that data.

Comparing your scoring on the course against previous rounds is a great way to get started, but you could also benchmark yourself against the average amateur golfer at your handicap index.

This is a useful exercise to help you shoot lower scores and cut your handicap in 2026, as it allows you to identify areas for development and create a robust plan for practice sessions at the driving range.

Well, we've done the hard work for you... or, at least, Shot Scope has.

After crunching the numbers from the latest 2026 Shot Scope data, we can now reveal how golfers at different handicap indexes perform on par 3s, par 4s and par 5s - and the scoring patterns of the average amateur golfer!

Average Amateur Golfer Scores On A Par 3, Par 4 And Par 5

According to data provided by Shot Scope, collected via measured rounds from its registered users, the average amateur golfer scores 3.7 on par 3 holes.

On par 4s, the average score is 4.9 and on par 5s the average sits at 5.8.

Interestingly, if you round those averages up to the nearest whole number - the average amateur golfer is playing bogey golf.

So, the next time you walk off disappointed with a bogey - perhaps it's time for a reality check.

Clearly, not all golfers score in line with the average player.

High-handicap golfers are almost always scoring at least one shot over par on each type of hole, whereas low handicap players average less than half a shot over par.

You can see a full breakdown on scoring by handicap index and hole type below.