Golf – Ultra Golfing

What’s OK to Wear (and What Not to Wear) to a Golf Lesson

admin — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 18:49:50 +0000

If you are new to golf, you may be surprised to learn that appropriate attire is required. Most golf courses have a dress code that must be adhered to, even if you are simply showing up for a golf lesson.

Not knowing what to wear to your first golf lesson can be stressful. Our goal with this article is to help you with that. Here’s a look at what to wear and avoid at your golf lessons.

What’s Acceptable to Wear to a Golf Lesson

Men

If you’re a guy who’s taking your first golf lesson, you must make sure you are wearing some type of collared shirt. This is because most golf courses have a dress code that requires collared shirts for men. A short-sleeved polo shirt or a standard golf shirt are excellent choices for your first lesson.

As far as bottoms, men can decide between long pants or shorts. If the weather is on the cooler side, consider wearing either khakis or some type of slacks. If it’s in the heat of summer, any type of golf shorts are perfectly acceptable at most clubs.

As far as footwear goes, things are pretty flexible. Some golfers like to wear tennis shoes while on the driving range while others will opt for golf shoes. If you choose to wear golf shoes to your first lesson, opt for ones with soft spikes because metal spikes aren’t allowed at some courses.

Women

Women golfers have a few more options as far as the top goes. At most clubs, ladies can wear sleeveless tops as long as the shirt has a collar. Women can also choose to wear a turtleneck or crew-neck top if it has sleeves.

As far as the bottoms, ladies can choose from golfing pants, golf shorts, or a skirt. Another option is skorts, which is a combination between a skirt and shorts. As a general rule, skirts or shorts must come down to around the knee.

Footwear choices for women golfers are the same as men’s. Any type of golf shoes or tennis shoes is acceptable, as long as they are spikeless or have soft spikes. Socks that are about ankle high are also a good idea.

What You Should Never Wear to a Golf Lesson

Men

While some golf courses have relaxed their respective dress codes over the last few years, the large majority of them don’t allow any type of denim. So, unfortunately, this means no blue jeans or blue jean shorts. It’s also a good idea not to show up in workout shorts (aka basketball shorts).

As far as the top goes, men should never show up to a golf lesson in t-shirts or tank tops. While both of these are very comfortable, neither one is considered to be proper golfing attire. Remember, golf is a gentleman’s game and you aren’t at the gym.

For footwear, never show up to your lesson in flip-flops or sandals. If you do, make sure you have golf shoes to change into before meeting your instructor. It’s also smart to wear socks to prevent blisters from getting on your feet.

Women

While stylish off the course, women shouldn’t wear capris to a golf lesson. They also should avoid denim shorts and denim skirts, even though a few courses may allow them. They also should avoid shorts or skirts that are too short.

As far as the top goes, ladies should never show up wearing only a sports bra. While this is perfectly fine at almost any gym, it’s not considered proper golf etiquette.

To avoid footwear faux pas, don’t show up to your lesson in boots or heels. This is basic common sense, but as they say, common sense ain’t common these days.

Other Things to Bring to a Lesson

Like a lot of other sports, golf requires lots of accessories. Let’s go over some of the most important accessories to bring with you to your golf lessons.

1. Visor or Baseball Cap

While no headgear is required at a golf lesson, it’s not a bad idea to wear a baseball cap or a visor. This is especially true if your lesson is going to be outdoors. A quality cap or visor will keep both the sun and sweat out of your eyes.

2. Sunglasses

Again, sunglasses aren’t essential but they are nice to have on extremely sunny days at the driving range. I don’t wear sunglasses during my golf lessons because I feel it messes with my depth perception when looking at the ball. That said, a countless number of golfers wear sunglasses both on the course and during their golf lessons.

3. Golf Glove

This one is an essential item because you want to have a good grip on the golf club. During a golf lesson, your golf instructor will be asking you to make several swings. Without a quality golf glove, you’ll likely get an uncomfortable blister or two.

4. Sunscreen

It always pays to have sunscreen in your golf bag, especially during the warmer months. A nasty sunburn is not only incredibly painful but it’s also unhealthy for your skin.

5. Sweaters or Jackets

Either of these will come in handy during the winter months. You don’t want to get too cold on the driving range during your golf lesson. Just make sure that your sweater or jacket fits loosely and doesn’t restrict your golf swing in any way.

6. Bottle of Water

Most golf lessons range from 30 minutes to an hour. You’ll want to have water on hand to stay hydrated during your breaks. The last thing you want is to start cramping up during your golf lesson because of dehydration.

7. A Couple of Golf Towels

It’s nice to keep a couple of golf towels on hand for your golf lessons. You can use one to wipe sweat from your head and arms and the other to clean off your irons after using them.

Mike Noblin

Mike has been involved with sports for over 30 years. He’s been an avid golfer for more than 10 years and is obsessed with watching the Golf Channel and taking notes on a daily basis. He also holds a degree in Sports Psychology.

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Kristoffer Reitan golf equipment at the Truist Championship 2026

admin — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 02:36:00 +0000

A complete list of the golf equipment Kristoffer Reitan used to win the PGA Tour’s 2026 Trist Championship

A complete list of the golf equipment Kristoffer Reitan used to win the PGA Tour’s 2026 Truist Championship:

DRIVER: Driver: Ping G440 K (9 degrees), with Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 60 TX shaft

FAIRWAY WOODS: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees), with Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 80 TX shaft, (21 degrees), with Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Black 85 TX

IRONS: Ping Blueprint S (4-9), with KBS Tour X shafts

WEDGES: Ping S259 (46, 50, 54, 58 degrees), with True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 shafts

PUTTER: Ping PLD Custom Ally Blue H

BALL: Titleist Pro V1

GRIPS: Golf Pride MCC

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To shoot lower scores, you need to do these 2 types of golf practice

admin — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 18:34:46 +0000

Do you feel like you are practicing a lot but not playing better on the course? I hear this from quite a few players that come to see me. But it’s not what they are practicing but how they are practicing that is keeping them from getting better.

There are two types of practice, and both are important in becoming a better golfer. However, you must understand the difference between them and know when to use each one. The first is block practice, and the second is random (or variable) practice.

Here’s how each works.

Block practice

Block practice is when you are working on your technique and trying to change or make permanent a specific position or motion in your swing. An example would be working on making your backswing more upright. This type of practice should focus completely on the process of making that change, concentrating on the feel, the thought, or the image of the movement you are trying to create.

During block practice, you should be less concerned with the outcome or where the ball goes and instead focus on the process and mechanics of the swing change. This type of practice is most effective when making a technical change to your swing.

Variable practice

Random, or variable, practice is when you are hitting shots with a target in mind, and the goal is to get the ball as close to that target as possible. This practice involves changing targets with each shot, just as you do on the course. The emphasis is on selecting a target, visualizing the ball flight, and executing the shot. This type of practice should happen when you feel confident in your technique and want to sharpen your touch, feel, and performance.

Where I see players struggle is when they try to work on their technique and achieving a great result at the same time. This type of practice is frustrating because they end up doing neither particularly well. Improvement takes longer because they are trying to accomplish too much at once, which limits success in either area.

The best way to practice is to focus on one thing at a time and stay fully committed to that specific objective. If you are working on technique, stay focused on the process and place less importance on the outcome. This means hitting the same club and the same shot repeatedly while working on the technical change.

Once that change is improved and under control, shift your focus to the target and your ability to execute shots toward that target. Don’t mix the two types of practice. Make it one or the other, and you will see the quality of your practice improve — and your improvement on the course come much faster.

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Wedge History, Reimagined: Cleveland Golf Introduces the Limited Edition 588 Tour Action Wedge

admin — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 12:13:22 +0000

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif., – Cleveland Golf is bringing back one of the most influential wedges ever designed with the release of the Limited Edition 588 Tour Action Wedge. Originally introduced in May 1988, the 588 set the standard for tour-caliber wedge design. Now, that legendary shape returns, crafted once again to original specifications and enhanced with Cleveland Golf’s most advanced wedge technologies.

“From the very beginning, the 588 was built around feedback from the best players in the world,” said Roger Cleveland. “For this release, we stayed true to the original shaping and turf interaction that made it special, while integrating modern materials and technologies inside the club. It’s the same trusted look and performance, refined for today’s game.”

Few club designers have shaped the short game like Roger Cleveland. The 588 established a new standard for shaping, turf interaction, and control, going on to earn hundreds of professional victories and dozens of major championships. More than a successful product, the 588 became the blueprint for tour-caliber wedge design that still influences the category today.

Combining heritage craftsmanship with modern precision, the Limited Edition 588 Tour Action Wedges are built with Cleveland Golf’s proprietary Z-Alloy and equipped with ZipCore, HydraZip, UltiZip grooves, and Rotex Face Milling, blending the soul of the original with the best Cleveland Golf technology available today. The result is a wedge that honors the past while delivering the consistency, spin, and control demanded by today’s players.

The Limited Edition 588 Tour Action Wedge is offered as a three-club set: Gap (52°), Sand (56°), and Lob (60°), each ground to Roger Cleveland’s original specifications. Finished in a classic chrome, every set is presented in a premium collector’s box and includes a brushed brass plaque. Only 588 sets will be available nationwide.

“The 588 has always meant something special to me because of how golfers embraced it,” Cleveland continued. “Seeing players build real trust in that wedge, leaning on it in the moments that matter most was unforgettable. And now a new generation will have a chance to experience that too.”

The Limited Edition 588 Tour Action Wedge stands as a tribute to one of the biggest pioneers in golf history Roger Cleveland and faithfully recreated with modern performance technology for today’s player.

To shop for the limited edition release, visit us.dunlopsports.com/cleveland-golf.

Pricing & Availability

Pricing: Limited Edition 588 Tour Action 3-pack box set: $588.00

Availability:

Loft/Bounce: 52°/10°, 56°/12°, 60°/8°

Shaft: Limited Edition True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

Grip: Limited Edition Golf Pride Victory

Finish: Classic Chrome

Availability: Limited to 588 sets nationwide

Packaging: Premium collector’s box with brushed brass plaque

**ABOUT Dunlop Sports Americas:**

Based in Huntington Beach, CA and Greenville, SC, Dunlop Sports Americas (DSA) is the North American subsidiary of Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. We manufacture and sell premium golf and racket sports equipment to players of all skill levels under a portfolio of brands: Dunlop, Srixon, Cleveland Golf, and XXIO. DSA is also a licensed exclusive distributor of ASICS golf footwear. Our unique global sales network and infrastructure in R&D, manufacturing, and material science elevates our brands onto a global stage where we encourage players from around the world to experience our incredible products. For more information, please contact Noelle Zavaleta at noellezavaleta@srixon.com.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
DUNLOP SPORTS AMERICAS
Noelle Zavaleta
noellezavaleta@srixon.com

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16 Great Golf Trophy Ideas for Your Next Tournament

admin — Sun, 31 May 2026 18:32:44 +0000

Local golf tournaments and company golf days – these events are a ton of fun and they’re even more enjoyable if a wide range of golf trophies are handed out.

Not sure what type of individual awards to hand out at your next golf tournament? You’ve come to the right place!

Here are 16 great golf trophy ideas to add a little more spice to your next golf tournament.

1. Tournament Winner

We’ll get the most obvious award out of the way right out of the gate. Depending on the type of tournament you are running, you may need a golf trophy for just one person or an entire foursome of golfers.

Just a simple trophy or plaque with some special engraving on it is a nice touch for the person or group with the lowest score. It’ll give them a memento that they can keep on their desks at work or on their mantles at home.

2. Water Hazard Award

Have a certain golfer that just keeps losing balls in the water?

Consider giving them a fishing pole or a ball finder as a funny award. You could also give them some goggles to help them find all of the balls they hit in the water.

Humor goes a long way to having an enjoyable round of golf.

3. Chipping Award

A lot of golf tournaments have a chipping contest either before or after the event.

Whoever gets closest to the pin from a long distance is declared the winner. A nice award idea for this person would be a new pitching wedge or sand wedge.

4. Bunker Award

Have someone that spends way too much time in the bunkers?

If so, consider giving them a little plastic shovel and a bucket to help them deal with all of their time in the sand. Maybe they can build a sand castle or two while they’re at it.

5. Longest Drive Award

This is a common award but you can decide how to handle it.

A funny award idea would be a Superman t-shirt for the person with the longest drive of the day. If you’re wanting something more formal, trophy cups, plaques, or medallions are always nice.

6. Shortest Drive Award

If you’re giving out an award for the longest drive, you might as well give one out for the shortest drive off the tee.

As a funny gesture, you could give this person a container of protein powder to help them bulk up before the next tournament. Hopefully, they’ll take the fun humor in stride and everyone will get a good laugh out of it.

7. Worst Putter Award

Have someone in your tournament that couldn’t sink even a three-foot putt if their life depended on it?

Think about giving them a gift certificate to play miniature golf. This will not only be a funny gag gift but a way for them to work on their putting.

8. Putting Contest Winner

Just as with the chipping contest, a lot of tournaments also offer a putting contest for all players to enter. The winner could receive a new putter or a free case of new golf balls.

9. Tarzan Award

This is for the golfer that seems to always hit his tee shot into the trees.

You could try to find them a Tarzan t-shirt or even give them a small tree as a memento of their hilarious performance on the golf course. They shouldn’t be left out of the awards ceremony just because they can’t stay in the fairway!

10. Dirtiest Clubs Award

Here’s a fun award that may take a bit of investigating to figure out. Try to find the golfer with the dirtiest golf clubs and golf bag. Get them a golf towel and a bottle of Windex as a hint for them to scrub up their clubs.

11. Closest to the Pin Award

In most golf tournaments, the sponsor will select a certain Par 3 hole on the golf course to hold a closest to the pin contest.

As the name implies, the golfer who hits the ball closest to the hole wins. A good gift could be a small engraved trophy or maybe a couple of new golf gloves.

12. Prize for Last Place Team

Who says that the first place team should get all the love?

How about a funny gift for the team that comes in last place? You could give away tennis rackets to all of the golfers on the last place team as a hint that they should maybe try a new sport.

If you want to go with a more serious gift, maybe give them each a free half-hour golf lesson with the club pro. That would help them perform better at next year’s tournament. Just don’t be shocked if they get some sweet revenge and beat everybody.

13. Best Dressed Award

Here’s an award that isn’t typically given out at golf tournaments but it’s still a neat idea.

Is there a golfer in your tournament that is dressed really sharp? Reward them with a brand new golf shirt.

14. Ugliest Swing Award

Here’s another gag award that may be worth handing out. Look for the person with the most atrocious golf swing and give them a small trophy or medallion for adding some much-needed humor to the golf tournament.

15. Best Beer Drinker Award

Have someone who averages one beer per hole? Give them a handy golf bag cooler and declare them the best beer drinker of the tournament. They’ll definitely appreciate this gift!

16. Raffle Award Winner

At most company golf scrambles, they will give out raffle tickets to each player in the tournament. Gather three to five nice prizes and hand them out to the winners. Here are some good ideas for raffle winners:

Golf Umbrella: Any serious golfer will appreciate this prize! It’ll come in handy when those nasty popup showers strike during a round on the golf course. You can usually get a good golf umbrella for somewhere in the $20 to $30 range.
Yeti 20 oz Tumbler: Anyone can use a good tumbler and Yeti is the best brand in the business. Golfers will love that they can keep their favorite beverage ice cold no matter how hot it gets on the course. They’ll also be able to keep their coffee warm for those early morning rounds of golf.
Golf Shoe Bag: Here’s another practical raffle prize that most golfers will love. Golf shoe bags are fairly inexpensive and will not only hold shoes but accessories like golf balls and tees as well.
Golf Hat: Since most golfers wear a hat or a visor, this would make a good raffle prize as well. Consider raffling off one for a man and one for a woman.

Mike Noblin

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Bettinardi Golf Introduces Two New Putter Models Developed In Collaboration with Matt Fitzpatrick

admin — Sun, 31 May 2026 00:04:25 +0000

The putters Fitzpatrick trusts on Tour, now available to golfers worldwide for the first time.

Tinley Park, Ill., — Bettinardi Golf announced the release of the BB1 Fitz Flow (BB1 FF) and the BB48 Fitz (BB48-F), two new putters based on the models Matt Fitzpatrick trusts on Tour, now making their way from the Tour truck to your bag for the first time.

Known for his meticulous approach to the game, Fitzpatrick has long prioritized face milling and roll characteristics in his putters. Earlier in his career, he relied on a specific groove profile that was no longer in production, leading him to search for a long-term solution that would meet his standards. Through a mutual connection, Sam Bettinardi reached out to Fitzpatrick’s camp to offer Bettinardi’s precision milling capabilities out of Tinley Park, Illinois. What followed was an extensive development process, with Bettinardi producing more than 30 prototypes until they achieved the exact look, feel, and face milling Fitzpatrick demanded.

The result is the Fitz Face, a semi-circular milling pattern engineered at the optimal tool size and depth to deliver his preferred feel and roll.

A 5-time PGA Tour winner and Major Champion, Fitzpatrick has also won the Valspar Championship, the RBC Heritage, and the Zurich Classic team event this season with his Bettinardi Tour putter in play. For the first time, golfers worldwide can access Fitzpatrick’s Tour-proven models and experience the setup behind one of the most dominant performances in the game.

Each model is one-piece milled from 303 Stainless Steel just outside Chicago, Ill. to 350 grams. Both incorporate Fitzpatrick’s preferred rolled topline and TourTone finish, a dual Black Armor and Diamond Blast combination paired with a thin sightline that provides contrast and a precise alignment reference at address.

The BB1 Fitz Flow (BB1 FF) is built on a classic blade profile with a thinner flange line and a flow neck, delivering moderate toe hang for players with a moderate arc in their stroke. The BB48 Fitz (BB48-F) applies those same standards to a symmetrical, face balanced mallet profile, featuring a spud neck with a double bend shaft that’s best suited to players with a straight-back, straight-through, or slight arc in their putting stroke.

“Fitzpatrick holds his equipment to an exceptionally high standard, and that’s exactly the standard we already work to every day in Tinley Park,” said Sam Bettinardi, President of Bettinardi Golf. “We’re proud that our craftsmanship is what he trusts on Tour, and now golfers everywhere get to experience putters built to reflect his standards.”

Both the BB1 Fitz Flow (BB1 FF) and the BB48 Fitz (BB48-F) will be available to order on Friday, May 8, 2026, at Bettinardi.com, Studio B Oak Brook, and select Authorized Retailers, with an MSRP of $550 each.

About Bettinardi Golf

Founded in 1998, Bettinardi Golf is a family-owned manufacturer of precision golf equipment headquartered in Tinley Park, Illinois. Built on a commitment to craftsmanship and American manufacturing, Bettinardi designs, mills, and assembles every putter domestically, a standard that extends to its headcovers and metal accessories as well. The company’s forged irons and wedges are designed and assembled in the United States. With a family legacy rooted in feel, precision, and performance, Bettinardi Golf has earned more than 100 professional victories worldwide.

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8 Stats That Prove Golf Isn’t Dying

admin — Thu, 28 May 2026 18:18:25 +0000

Golf is truly my favorite thing to do and after close to 30 years in the game, to think that the game may be dying is mind-boggling.

Who couldn’t learn to love golf?

Recently when I heard it mentioned that golf is a dying game, I decided to do a bit of research and find out the truth. Luckily, this is not what the statistics have to say. Golf is still going strong, and here is some excellent evidence to back that up.

1. PGA Tour Purses

Golfers that play on the PGA Tour are sometimes considered underpaid athletes. After all, golf is an individual sport, and there is no safety net to fall back on should you have a bad round. However, in the last few years, we have seen some major gains in the PGA Tour total purse payouts that have helped with showing us this sport is still going strong.

In 2022 the PGA Tour set up a 427 million dollar tournament prize purse. This was about a 15% increase in each event. The golfers don’t play for money; they play to win, but it can’t hurt to win some extra money in the process.

The 2023 schedule shows another strong improvement in total purse money. In addition, stay tuned for more of these special matches like Tiger and Rory vs. Justin and Jordan. Amateur golfers still love to see the pros play, it’s just a matter of making the viewing opportunities a bit more unique.

In addition, the LPGA Tour is starting to pay closer attention to the payouts, and this is only done as the popularity of the sport increases. With more people playing, the LPGA Tour can pay out about 12% more pre-tournament, some of the highest payouts this tour has ever seen.

2. COVID Boomers Are Still Around

When we were in the thick of the pandemic, and everything was shut down, many golf courses and clubhouses remained open. After all, participation in a round of golf was relatively safe if you stayed outside, didn’t touch the flag, and even walked without riding with your friends.

Golf saw increased equipment sales, longer waits for a decent tee time, increased viewership of golf tournaments on television, and much more. It’s truly something that the game hadn’t seen since the years when Tiger Woods was keeping us glued to our television with his red shirt on Sundays.

During the COVID golf boom, more than 60 million rounds of golf were played. A number like this had not been seen since the late 1990s. Not only did golfers feel as though playing golf was a release from the stress of dealing with the pandemic it was also a great way to increase exercise and movement.

The only thing that worried some skeptics was whether or not this surge in popularity was just a fluke.

Of course rounds of golf have decreased slightly since the Covid boom but this was to be expected. After all, many golfers are back to full time work in the office and there is certainly not as much time to be spent on the golf course.

The number of rounds of golf played from 2021 to 2022 declined a bit in the early spring months, but by the summer the numbers were pretty close to recovering. Again, the world is a different place than it was a few years ago, but those that really got the golf bug have certainly not given up.

3. Golfers are Resourceful

Golf equipment may not be priced nearly as well as it once was. In fact many golfers would be delighted to tell you that they are spending a ridiculous amount of money on new clubs and equipment. However, golfers are resourceful.

Even when the economy starts to struggle a bit and you think that players will stop buying equipment, they don’t.

Used golf club sellers and experts have learned that they can capitalize on the economy not being entirely as strong and have golfers purchase used golf clubs. In the end, sometimes golfers are just looking for the right fit for their game, they don’t necessarily care if the equipment is perfectly new.

Some independent retailers of golf equipment saw gains of close to 40% in the year 2022. This is just another supporting fact in the concept that the Covid golfers are still around; they just may need to adjust their spending habits a bit in the years to come.

4. Expanding Off The Course

Avid golfers often think about the game on the golf course, but there is an entire world of golf that has nothing to do with golf courses, and it continues to become more popular. So many golfers are learning that indoor golf simulators, golf entertainment venues, and driving ranges can be fun without even a round of golf played.

We all have friends that would never think to head out onto a golf course, but they love Top Golf, Drive Shack, or an indoor golf simulator with friends. These venues and golf experiences do not require much skill, and they are designed to make the game a little less stuffy and a bit more fun.

Even if it’s not for you, it’s working to grow the game.

The National Golf Foundation found that there are a total of 37.5 million Americans over six years of age that played some kind of on or off-course golf in 2021. Millennials are finding that even if they don’t have time for a five-hour round of golf on the course, they will be happy to meet friends at Top Golf and enjoy a great round.

Drive Shack and other independent facilities are starting to pop up and make alternatives to golf even more fun. In fact there are bar restaurant type facilities that are incorporating golf into their customer sexperience, essentially even if you don’t take the game seriously you won’t be left out.

5. PGA Tour SUPERstore

Another great place to look to see how golf is not dying is equipment sales. Many individual companies like Callaway and Titleist reported higher numbers in 2020 and 2021 than they have ever seen before. However, we thought it would be interesting to look at a store that sells from several manufacturers.

PGA Tour Superstore, at one point, reported that business was up almost 70% from the prior year. This store sells gear to new golfers and those that have been around the golf game their entire lives.

New brands even have a chance to enter the market to be able to keep up with this demand for equipment sales. The golf business side of things is stronger than it has been in many years. If this popularity continues, get ready to see even more new brands come to market.

One of the issues that stores like PGA Superstore were facing was supply chain problems. The access to the gear that people were purchasing was undoubtedly taking longer than usual to put together. Although this created some frustrated golfers, things have started to move faster, and players are getting equipment at a more normal pace at this point.

Final numbers for 2022 sales are not in quite yet, but we can tell you that there were some strong growths in women’s involvement in the game from 2019 to 2022. In addition, PGA Tour Superstore decided to add 7 more physical stores to its lineup.

You don’t have to be in business too long to know that opening more physical stores is a big financial undertaking. This is something you would only do if you saw a tremendous benefit for yourself and your company.

6. More Beginners Than Ever

One of the key indicators as to the direction of golf is how many new people are picking up the game. For many years golf was considered an old man’s sport, and this unfortunate perception has made it difficult for skeptics to look at the future of golf in a favorable light.

However, in 2021 there were more than 3.2 million new golfers that took up the game. This is an incredible number of people, and when you consider the fact that the record before this was 2.4 million in a year, the sport is really showing some strong gains.

In the past, it was Tiger Woods that was bringing people into golf. Tiger did a tremendous job of grabbing the audience, bringing them in, and helping them feel as though they were somehow involved in the creation of golf history.

What we love about this new growth in 2020, 2021, and 2022 is that it has more to do with the love of the game. Golfers aren’t following a single player only to be at some point disappointed in their decision-making or golfing ability. Instead, people are playing the game of golf because they like it, it’s good for you, and it’s a way to be outside with friends.

7. More Females and Younger Golfers

Women have never played as much golf as men. The sport has done a great job of accommodating women golfers through the years, with proper equipment, clothing, and even tee boxes on the golf course. However, it has taken a while for the game to catch on.

In 2020 the average number of rounds of golf played by golfers was 20.2 a year. However, the largest increases were found among female players and younger golfers. We can attribute some of the growth in the younger golfer’s rounds to the remote work situation, flexible hours, and junior golf memberships at clubs around the country.

Women golfers are starting to look at the fitness side of the game and realize that a walk around the golf course with friends is a great way to spend your time. Although it is doubtful that the number of women golfers will ever surpass men, it’s essential to consider the importance of more women taking up the game.

8. Keeping The Doors Open

Last but certainly not least is one of the most important indicators of what the game of golf is doing, and that is the number of golf courses that are closing or opening. For many years, we watched golf courses closed, houses were built, and people had to find alternative places to play.

So in 2021, when we heard that the number of golf course closures was down 53% from previous years, that was a huge indicator that golf is not dying. Golf courses close doors when they can no longer afford to keep them open. However, when they are making money and people are playing, they are more than happy to stay open!

There are currently just over 16,000 golf courses in the United States, and although that number does not grow all that often, the fact that it is not declining is a tremendous benefit and piece of positive news to those that love the game of golf.

In 2022 we saw less than 50 golf courses close. This could have to do with the strength of the United States real estate market, yet whatever reason it is, its a positive for golf. Players are using the courses available to them and don’t want to see them close.

The golf course market industry size was just over 26 billion in 2021 and although that dropped a bit in 2022, it still sits at 26.1 billion. Any industry of this size is going to see ups and downs. However, golf is still up 2 billion dollars since 2012.

Brittany Olizarowicz

Britt O has been playing golf since the age of 7. Almost 30 years later, she still loves the game, has played competitively on every level, and spent a good portion of her life as a Class A PGA Professional. Britt currently resides in Savannah, GA, with her husband and two young children. Current Handicap: 1

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This travel bag has me adding golf to every trip I take

admin — Thu, 28 May 2026 15:49:28 +0000

Welcome to I Tried It, a GOLF.com series about golf items — apparel, gear, accessories, etc. — that we’ve recently taken out for a spin. We’re here to give our honest, no-frills takes on the latest and greatest golf or golf-adjacent items. So, scroll down to read about what we love about golf’s newest (or new to us) products.

As a frequent traveler, the allure of Golf on the Road always exists. I wonder what the San Francisco munis are like? What courses can I sneak on in Austin? I have that open invite in Philly — should I take it?

And in my 20s, I chased it. I lugged clubs through every airport, on every trip — you name it. But before long, my very basic travel bag took a beating. I’d cringe as airline employees dragged and dropped it on the barrage carousel, the thin canvas surrounding my irons fraying in numerous spots. I had received the travel bag for free from an industry pal, and it lived up to one of life’s truisms: you get what you pay for. In this instance, I owned a cheap travel bag, and it made traveling with clubs worse.

I had to hold its handle a certain way for the bag to roll straight. I had to be on linoleum floors, not sidewalks, for its wheels to keep from catching and dragging. Golf on the Road was less attractive with my travel setup. It was time for a change.

I waited until the very last minute — visiting a PGA TOUR Superstore en route to the airport — but I landed in the right spot: the Club Glove Club Traveler.

Club Glove Club Traveler

The Club Traveler is a standard-sized, lightweight golf travel case, that will stand up to the rigors of airline travel. Formerly known as the “College” Traveler, this premium, padded and collapsible golf travel bag is equipped with a padded clubhead area, scratch-resistant interior lining, and shock-absorbing wheelbase to keep your clubs safe during transit. Arrive at your next destination with confidence.

This is an extremely anecdotal observation, but in my experience, the proper golfers I see at oversized baggage claim are always carrying their weapons in this bag. The slimming, padded nature of the Club Traveler makes it seem like your sticks are zipped up tightly in their own little sleeping bag. The base of it is rigid, providing protection, but also a sturdiness to keep form as you bob and weave between other travelers in ground transportation. It feels like an extension of my arm as I race from baggage claim to whatever ride-share driver is waiting for me.

The Club Traveler comes with a “Stiff Arm” extender to make sure your longest clubs aren’t feeling any undue pressure, and its wheels glide smoothly, regardless of the surface. In the most simple terms, I no longer feel any angst about how schleppy it’ll feel to Golf on the Road. I’m back to adding golf to most of my travels, even if there’s no golf at the center of the trip. It may cost a decent penny up front — $350-400 or so, tax included — but it’s a purchase that feels more and more efficient each time you use it.

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Cameron Young’s golf ball may expose rollback’s biggest flaw

admin — Thu, 28 May 2026 01:31:25 +0000

Cameron Young’s Pro V1x Double Dot is raising uncomfortable questions about whether golf’s rollback can work as intended.

NEWTOWN SQUARE, Penn. — There are moments when a piece of gear stops being just equipment and transforms into something like a glimpse into where the game might be headed.

At this year’s PGA Championship, one of those objects has suddenly appeared, and it’s a golf ball. Specifically, the Titleist Pro V1x Double Dot being used by Cameron Young. The 29-year-old started using the ball last season at the 2025 Wyndham Championship, where he won his first PGA Tour event. This season, he’s used the ball to win the Players Championship and the Cadillac Championship,

Before Tuesday, that was only interesting to equipment lovers, not the golf world at large. Then, as Adam Schupak reported, word spread at Aronimink Golf Club yesterday that the Pro V1x Double Dot would pass the USGA and R&A’s proposed golf ball rule changes that are designed to reduce distance. Suddenly, in the eyes of people who see distance as a problem in elite men’s golf, the Double Dot and what it represents became a warning flare.

When Golfweek spoke with representatives from Titleist, the brand would neither confirm nor deny that the Pro V1x Double Dot would pass the USGA and R&A’s new testing protocols, and the company would not comment on the ball this week.

As much as any company, and more than most, Titleist prides itself on its relationship with the PGA of America and the PGA professionals. The brand does not want to draw attention away from the PGA Championship or Cameron Young, who is one of the contenders for the Wannamaker trophy this week.

To be clear, Young is not testing the Pro V1x Double Dot. The ball is not available at retail, but it has been on the current USGA Conforming Golf Ball list since last August. Young has been playing it all season. It’s the ball he used on the 18th hole at TPC Sawgrass when he hit a 375-yard drive, the longest in tournament history, to set up his win at the Players. It’s the ball that is helping him average 312 yards per tee shot on the PGA Tour this season.

That’s the part that has people who believe distance is a serious problem sounding alarm bells.

Supporters of the rollback have argued that the proposed golf ball testing changes represented a surgical solution. The governing bodies repeatedly emphasized that recreational golfers would see little to no meaningful change in golf ball performance or distance, while the fastest and most elite players would lose the most yards off the tee. The idea was elegant, but Cameron Young has launched drives into another ZIP code with a ball that, according to the PGA Tour’s testing, would be legal after the rollback, which dramatically complicates that narrative.

Now, a very uncomfortable question enters the conversation: What if the rollback doesn’t reduce distance nearly as evenly as people have been led to believe? What if some elite golfers see a reduction in distance, which the USGA and R&A wanted, but some of the biggest hitters can optimize their conditions and not experience a reduction in distance at all?

That, in a nutshell, is a nightmare scenario for the USGA and R&A. Distance goes down for everyone except the biggest hitters.

This week’s Double Dot debate has some pundits already thinking about the need to go farther, beyond golf balls, to rein in distance. But if the goal is to reduce distance at the elite level without changing the game or taking distance away from club players, changing the rules that govern clubs, especially drivers, would make that hard.

Currently, the USGA and R&A rules limit driver length to 46 inches. If a change reduced the maximum length down to 43 inches (like a standard 3-wood), pros would lose club head speed and some distance. Sounds good, but most pros don’t use a 46-inch driver. In fact, the average length of a driver on the PGA Tour is just under 45 inches. Rickie Fowler’s is just over 43 inches. Forcing everyone to swing 460cc 3-wood would not meaningfully reduce distance at the elite level, but recreational golfers, who are less fit and already swing slower than pros, would absolutely experience a decrease in clubhead speed, ball speed and distance.

What about making drivers smaller by shrinking the maximum head size down from 460cc to 300 or 350cc? Effectively, that would turn today’s drivers into mini drivers. They would have a lower moment of inertia (MOI) and twist more on off-center hits, but pros find the center of the face a lot more than club players. Assuming driver length was not changed, this would not reduce driver distance at the elite level, but would make it harder for mid- and higher-handicap golfers who rely on high MOI and forgiveness.

How about thickening faces, reducing characteristic time (CT) and making the hitting area less springy? Again, everyone would lose speed, including the recreational golfers the USGA and R&A didn’t want to target. Plus, thicker driver faces are heavier, so the MOI would decrease and the clubs would be less forgiving.

In each of those scenarios, the players regulators are trying to slow down are the golfers most capable of adapting, while the golfers who struggle could be most impacted.

That’s the paradox sitting quietly underneath this entire debate. Pros benefit from modern technology, but it also makes the game more playable and enjoyable for everybody else.

The Cameron Youngs of the world will always be able to move a golf ball differently than the rest of us. The danger for the governing bodies is that the farther they move beyond the golf ball itself in search of meaningful distance reduction, the harder it becomes to isolate the effects to elite players alone.

At some point, science stops cooperating with policy goals. The biggest thing Cameron Young’s Pro V1x Double Dot may reveal is not that the rollback is doomed or can’t succeed. But, under a single set of rules, there may not be many realistic equipment changes, to either balls or clubs, that can achieve the USGA and R&A’s stated goals.

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MGI Golf Launches MGI Custom Studio, First-of-Its-Kind Personalization to Electric Caddies

admin — Wed, 27 May 2026 23:36:32 +0000

New digital experience enables over 800 unique configurations of the Zip Navigator All Terrain

Las Vegas, Nev. – MGI Golf, global leader in technology for the walking golfer and maker of America’s No. 1 electric golf caddy, proudly introduces MGI Custom Studio, an industry-first color customization experience that allows golfers to fully personalize their electric caddy.

Exclusively available on the Zip Navigator All Terrain, MGI Custom Studio offers a breakthrough in a category previously defined by uniform designs. Golfers can now move beyond the standard electric caddy design to create a caddy that reflects their individual style and personality.

The MGI Custom Studio provides an intuitive, real-time online builder that allows for over 800 unique configurations. Golfers can mix and match components across seven distinct colorways to create a “one-of-one” caddy.

Customization Highlights:

5 Frame Colorways: Vegas Gold, Navy Blue, Pearl White, Passion Pink, Matte Black
6 Wheel Insert Colorways: Vegas Gold, Navy Blue, Woodland Camo, Pearl White, Passion Pink, Matte Black
4 Wheel Rim Colorways: Vegas Gold, Passion Pink, Matte Black, X5 Green
6 Speed Dial Colorways: Vegas Gold, Navy Blue, Ranger Green, Pearl White, Passion Pink, Matte Black
4 Customizable Components: Frame, Speed Dials, Wheel Rims, and Wheel Inserts
Seamless Ordering: Design and purchase directly through com

“Golfers today want performance and score improving equipment, however they want products that reflect who they are,” said Miranda Turner, CEO of MGI Golf Inc. “With MGI Custom Studio, we are giving players the freedom to express their individuality without compromising on the best-in-class technology that defines our MGI brand. This is more than customization – it’s about standing out, owning your style, and redefining what it means to walk the course.”

MGI Custom Studio enables golfers to design a caddy that reflects their personal style without sacrificing performance. Through an intuitive online builder, users can mix and match colors across multiple components to create a one-of-one product.

The platform is built upon the Zip Navigator All Terrain, the best-selling electric caddy in the U.S. market. This model is renowned for its rugged reliability and advanced features, including:

Patented Gyroscope Straight Tracker: Automatically keeps the caddy on track across any terrain.
Downhill Speed Control: Maintains a constant speed on steep descents for effortless control.
Twin 230-Watt Motors: Provides the torque needed for the toughest climbs.
36-Hole Lithium Battery: High-capacity power to outlast even the longest days on the course.

The launch of MGI Custom Studio signals a strategic evolution for the brand, expanding beyond performance-driven innovation into lifestyle-led product experiences. This initiative positions the company at the intersection of technology, design, and personalization to meet the expectations of today’s golfer.

The Zip Navigator All Terrain with MGI Custom Studio starts at $1,799 and is available now exclusively at mgigolf.com.

About MGI Golf

MGI Golf is the premier global authority in electric golf caddies, integrating cutting-edge technology with ergonomic design. Since its inception in 1993, the Australian-owned and operated company has a formidable reputation built on experience, innovation, and quality of design. MGI Golf revolutionized the electric caddy industry through patented Gyroscope Straight Tracker technology, automatic downhill speed control, and durable lithium-ion batteries. MGI Golf successfully expanded into the North American market, beginning with the U.S. in 2018 and followed by Canada in 2023, and became the best-selling electric caddy brand in both countries by 2024. For more information, visit mgigolf.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Olivia Prentice
Buffalo Groupe
210.739.3784
oprentice@buffalogroupe.com

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