TPC stands for “Tournament Players Club.” The TPC network spans North America, and includes some courses in the Caribbean, Latin America, and Asia. Over half of them are private, many more are exclusive resort courses, and a handful have hosted PGA Tour events.
TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois, is the long-time venue of the John Deere Classic, traditional PGA Tour stop the week before The Open (British). It is unique among TPC courses not only because it is a regular Tour host that is fully open to the public, but also because it is easily the most affordable of all TPC courses.
And when I say “affordable,” I mean it. Rates at Deere Run top out at $119 – that’s peak time, inclusive of cart and unlimited use of practice facilities. But savvy and flexible players who are non-local residents can find rates as low as $59. Local residents never have to pay more than $69, and they can play for as little as $49.
Let me repeat that for the readers who just joined us: You can play the self-same course where the pros play every year for less than $60.
The tournament that is today The John Deere Classic was born in 1971 as The Quad Cities Open, at a local private course. The ensuing years as a Tour event were tenuous, to say the least, but after Tiger Woods turned pro and made a splash at the 1996 playing, Illinois native D.A. Weibring negotiated with John Deere and the Tour to design and build a TPC on the banks of the Rock River. When TPC Deere Run opened in 2000, the 7,213-yard par-71 layout was ranked as the 8th Best New Public Golf Course by “Golf Digest.” And it’s been hosting the Tour event ever since.
Playing TPC Deere Run
If you watch the pros on TV, they can make it look like a pushover. Paul Goydos carded a 59 here in 2010—and didn’t win, because several other players went ultra-low, too.
But don’t let the super-humans on Tour fool you: TPC Deere Run is all the course amateur players will ever want. Conditions are impeccable, and the variety of holes is outstanding: Long and short par 3s, 4s, and 5s. Some open fairways, some tight fairways. Over 70 bunkers, and plenty of water. Opportunities for both greatness and disaster.
The variety of holes will allow you to hit – or try to hit – a full array of shots off the tees, though most par 4s on the front set up best for fades. There are seven sets of tees, including two sets of blended tees to allow players of all skill level and all lengths to find a fit for their games, from 5,179 yards up to 7,213 yards. Generous landing areas provide opportunities to approach greens from multiple angles, only a few of which are truly optimal.
The 561-yard 2nd is one of the favorites of anyone whose played here before. From the elevated tees, the vista is expansive. The Rock River flows serenely in the distance beyond the huge fairway, which bends gently to the right on the second shot. The green is protected by a small desert’s worth of sand, and a small barn behind it harks back to the agricultural roots of the area and the sponsor of the tournament played here.
The tee shot on the par-5 2nd at TPC Deere Run is a beauty, and all about position and length.The green on the 2nd hole is a Midwestern classic.
At the 454-yard 4th, you realize that you are in for a day of one gorgeous golf hole after another. The sentinel oak in the center of the fairway makes the tee shot thrilling, and form the fairway, it feels like the river lurks just beyond the putting surface.
The green at the par-4 4th looks from the fairway like it’s ready to fall into the river.
The 158-yard 16th is one of the prettiest short par 3s in the entire Midwest. The green is cut into the bluff overlooking the river. A rock wall runs in front of the green, and the bluff drops away precipitously to the left, making the entire left side a very penal hazard. When the tournament bleachers are still up behind the green, this is a hole that gives anyone the chance to hit a good shot and feel like a pro.
The 158-yard 16th: Can you say, “Aim right?”
The 17th and 18th are two fun closers – the stuff that memories are made of. The 557-yard 17th is a reachable par 5 that plays out of a chute of trees to a wide-open fairway and green complex that allows for run-up fairway woods. The 463-yard 18th has seen its share of drama during the tournament, and amateurs can feel some degree of the same exhilaration by carving in a slight draw to the front of the green and watching their ball trundle back toward the pin. Over-cook it, though, and you’ll find the pond that borders the entire left side of the green; fade it instead, and a tricky pitch or sand save will be required, á la Jordan Spieth’s first PGA win.
The par-5 17th is reachable with two good shots.Experience the thrill of hitting it stiff on a PGA Tour closing hole.
The word on TPC Deere Run
The front side of the TPC at Deere Run is tighter than the back, with nearly every hole framed by trees on all sides. The back nine is more open, with some room along the fairways, but there are many more fairway bunkers in play on the back. There is not an awkward tee shot on the entire course; all the trouble is laid out clearly before you on the tees and approaches (with the exception of the approach on No. 4).
The greens are ideal – receptive but fast – and many are basically pear-shaped, with narrow fronts that make for some devilish pin positions. Despite some tiers and undulations, though, putts within seven feet are generally flat. Most greens are also surrounded by closely shaved run-off areas that will test all the short shots in your bag.
The clubhouse is a grand fieldstone structure, and houses a first-class restaurant and bar, with a lovely shaded patio overlooking the 18th green. The pro shop is consistently rated one of the best in the country, so take some time to browse. The walls are filled with memorabilia from the PGA Tour event that has been played in one form or another in the Quad Cities area since 1971. It is well worth coming early and staying late not only to avail yourself of the luxury of a TPC, but also to bathe in golf history. After all, how often do you get to play where the best in the world play?
The 14th at TPC Deere Run is a short, lovely, and vexing par 4.
(Photos by Andrew Hollingworth & Kiel Christianson)
There are a number of iron categories: “tour,” “player,” “game improvement,” “super game improvement.” Then of course there is the distinction between “forged” and “cast” irons.
Another new category has gained steam and fans over the last few years: the “players distance” iron. The target audience for this category is low double-digit handicappers, and maybe even high single-digit players, who find themselves losing distance either on off-center hits or with – ahem – advancing age.
One of the real class acts in this category is the Wilson D7 Iron. The D7s are packed with technology, including progressive “power holes” and progressively thin, very “hot” faces. Best of all, they maintain a more sleek, traditional profile than many irons that straddle the “game improvement” line.
The D7s come in both forged and cast versions. The former, new for 2020, list for $1000 (GW-5), and the latter for a very reasonable $600). It has been many seasons since I switched to forged irons, so I thought I’d take the “working man” version out for a test to see what all the engineering and materials advances over the past decade or so have done to improve feel and performance of more budget-friendly clubs.
Playing the Wilson D7 Irons
I played a set of the Wilson D7s with stock KBS regular flex shafts. I was concerned about that shaft choice, as I normally play stiff shafts. But I have noticed no increase in tendency to hook (which I do at times) or slice (which I almost never do with my irons). The tips of these KBS seem somewhat stiff, so perhaps that’s the reason. To be honest, though, sometimes I wonder whether the differences in stiffness in steel iron shafts is even a thing.
So how did they perform? Let’s cut straight to the chase: I put them in my bag for what I thought would be one test round. Seven rounds later—including a semi-final win in my course’s Match-Play Tournament and my low round of the year just yesterday (75)—they’re still in the bag.
Compared to my usual forged irons (by a major and universally respected iron maker), the Wilson D7s bring several benefits. Tops among these, is their incredible forgiveness. I have mishit a dozen or more shots – fat, thin, toe, high on the face – and on well over half of those misbegotten swings, the ball has ended up on the green (or near it, anyway).
Along with forgiveness, these irons are long. This is expected, given that the lofts are jacked up, averaging 1.5-clubs stronger than “traditional.” In fact, the lofts are even stronger in the D7s than those in the Wilson Launch Pad Irons, which are in the super game-improvement category. This ratcheting up of lofts doesn’t make it harder to get the ball in the air, though, as the center of gravity is as low and as far back as can be managed without sacrificing a somewhat more “players iron” look.
Length isn’t always a plus, though. I was pretty dialed in on my yardages with my old irons. Well, to be honest I was last year. This year, I was feeling like I needed to step on some swings to get them to their “normal” yardages. I blamed lack of practice. I blamed swing changes. I blamed COVID-19. But frankly, it’s probably because (a) I’m getting old, and (b) I wasn’t striking the ball very consistently. The D7s allow me to pull my “usual” club for the “typical” yardage. If I really stripe a shot, it may go long, but aside from on greens that are very hard, this isn’t usually much of a penalty.
The only drawback to the D7 design, as far as I can tell, is their rounded sole (where you’ll find the progressive power holes, configured specifically for each iron). The leading edge of the face is protected from digging in by this sole, which adds a small bit of extra bounce angle to the clubs. Like the Launch Pads, I’m sure the D7s incorporate this design in order to help players avoid fat shots. And, when the turf is soft, it is a useful feature, indeed. But when the turf is baked out, and your swing is a little too shallow, the club tends to deflect off the ground and up into the ball, resulting in thin shots. In dry conditions, you really need to focus on descending into the ball; however, doing so will deloft the face even more and likely add yards. The rounded soles also require some practice with punch shots—a typical strength of mine, thanks to lots of practice—which don’t come out quite as clean as with irons whose leading edges are sharper.
Long story short: “players distance” irons might require some adjustment because they do, in fact, give you extra distance.
Finally, let’s talk about feel. I can’t compare the standard D7s to the Forged D7s, as I haven’t tested the latter. But to be honest, the standard D7s feel plenty soft to me. I can draw and fade them well enough, and I can feel quite clearly when I pure a shot, compared to off-center strikes.
Scorecard
The Wilson D7 Irons are ideal for players who are seeking to maintain distance without sacrificing feel or looks. They’re stable and powerful – so much so that you may find your best shots going a little too far until you recalibrate. Golfers who play well-manicured, softer courses will find the sole design particularly forgiving.
If you’re looking to buy, see below!
Discount Code: WilsonGolf15-8
A few rules to mention:
The codes give 15% off all full-priced Golf Items, including Custom. However, outlet items are excluded.
Golf is a lot harder than it looks on TV. Upon hearing of my affection for the game, a friend of mine told me that he had gone to a driving range just one time. I asked him why only once. He said, “I hit a large bucket of balls. Didn’t get one in the air. It just seemed like way too much work.”
It was several decades ago that this friend of mine had tried his hand at golf. Try as I might, I couldn’t convince him to give it another go, with more modern, more forgiving equipment. It was just too late for him.
But it’s not too late for your buddy, or you, for that matter. There is a whole new generation of golf clubs – often called “super game-improvement” clubs – whose sole purpose is to help high-handicapper recreational golfers enjoy themselves more. To help them get the ball in the air.
This is the sole purpose of the new generation of the Wilson Launch Pad Irons ($700 steel shafts; $800 graphite shafts), and their sole is their purpose. Let me clarify.
The irons’ moniker refers to the Launch Pad sole, featured throughout the set, from 4i to PW (and other wedges, which you can buy separately to match). The sole of the club is wide, wider in longer irons and narrower in shorter irons, which keeps turf interaction to a minimum. The idea is for the sole design to reduce chunked shots, while the hollow composite heads allow for a thinner, “hotter” face and move the center of gravity away from the face, which will get the ball in the air faster and with more “pop.” Along with the wide soles, the bounce angle serves to “float” the leading edge above the turf, which, according to Wilson, reduces chunked shots by 73% among testers.
Playing the Wilson Launch Pad Irons
All of this sounds great in theory, but how do they play?
Two of the more common mishits by occasional or high-handicappers are the chunk and the blade. After several range sessions with the Launch Pad Irons, it is very clear how they protect against the chunk: those wide soles and leading-edge bounce mimic hitting regular clubs off a mat. If you hit a little behind the ball, the club tends to “bounce” up off the turf, especially if the ground is firm. If you’re hitting off carpet-like bent grass, you can still chunk the occasional shot, but you almost have to try to do it.
Conversely, if you tend to blade shots – hitting them so thin that they don’t get into the air – you’ll still need to work on your swing to impart a descending—or at least level—blow with the Launch Pad Irons. However, even a more “sweeping” swing produces much higher, much longer trajectories than standard clubs.
My son, a high school player who hits the ball a mile high with his regular clubs, found the short irons in the Launch Pad set to be TOO helpful: shots just skied into the stratosphere. But once he worked into the 6i-4i range, he admitted his surprise at the consistency of the Launch Pads, in terms of both trajectory and dispersal. This made me think that for a lot of players, a blended set of more traditional shorter irons and Launch Pad mid- to long-irons would be worth considering.
As for me, I noticed an immediate increase in the height of my shots: about 5 feet higher across the set compared to my normal irons. As for distance, the Launch Pads may have increased center-struck shots just a bit, but any gain was negligible. Off-center shots were improved by several yards, though—noticeably longer.
Are the Wilson Launch Pad Irons all rainbows and unicorn farts? Not exactly, but no club is. The extra “pop” you experience in distance comes with a literal “pop” in sound. It’s sort of a hollow pop, which takes a little getting used to. The sound matches the heads in a way, whose somewhat rotund profile also takes a short while to grow accustomed to.
And if you do struggle with bladed shots, they won’t fix that flaw; however, you’ll be able to work on swinging exactly the same with your PW as you do with a fairway wood – a shallow, sweeping swing will still get the ball in the air.
One final note: it is true that “game-improvement” irons tend to decrease lofts so recreational golfers will think they’re getting more distance. The Launch Pad Iron lofts are a touch stronger than “normal,” but only by 3-4 degrees (i.e., a club stronger). So your 4i is 21 degrees, which is a typical 3i loft. That’s less than many competitor sets, and even less than many “regular” iron sets these days.
And a final, FINAL note: The stock steel KBS 80 shafts are excellent. I normally play stiff shafts, but requested to test regular shafts, as they seemed to fit the overall goals and design of the Launch Pad heads better. To be completely honest, I have noticed no adverse effects from the change in stiffness – I don’t hook the KBS shafts (in the Launch Pads or the new D7s, which I’ve also reviewed), or find them hard to control, even on full-bore swings.
Scorecard
Altogether, if you’re looking for irons to help you enjoy the game, and work less on hitting the “perfect” shot, the Wilson Launch Pad Irons are a solid bet.
If you’re looking to buy, see below!
Discount Code: WilsonGolf15-8
A few rules to mention:
The codes give 15% off all full-priced Golf Items, including Custom. However, outlet items are excluded.
Some amateur golfers are just afraid certain clubs. High on the list for most amateurs is the lob wedge. Visions of chunked and bladed shots skitter across the gyri and hide in the sulci of their brains as they address those delicate touch shots over bunkers to tucked pins. And then, well, sometimes that’s exactly what happens.
My son, a high-school junior who plays on his school’s golf team, was a victim of those waking nightmares last year. He was missing greens and having to hit mini-flops to try to get close to save par or bogey. But he just didn’t have a club he felt good about: the sand wedge had too much oomph—and bounce—but the lob wedge he was using (one of my old ones) was digging into the turf.
Enter Cleveland Golf and their legendary wedge designers. I ordered a new 60-degree CBX Full-Face wedge ($150) for my son, and when it arrived, I regaled him with the design features that I thought would engender some confidence in him and fit his short game.
First, as the name implies, the Rotex and laser-milled Tour Zip Grooves on these wedges go all the way across the face—all the way to the edge of the toe. This is a brilliant feature, as it ensures spin even on toe-hits (which my son tends to do). These keep the ball from knuckling out of the rough if contact is widely off-center.
The second feature is the half-cavity design, which moves the center of gravity a bit more toward the toe and also provides rock-solid stability no matter the contact.
The third is the high-toe face, which stretches the toe-end of the club higher than normal, in case the club slides a bit too far under the ball. Even if this happens, you can still make decent contact.
Finally, the range of bounces can fit anyone’s game. On my son’s, we went with a 10-degree bounce, which is around 2 degrees more than most lob wedges. This bounce keeps him from digging into the turf and works well for bunker shots, but still allows him to get the club under the ball on those flop shots.
The skinny on the Cleveland Full-Face Wedges
So how did all this engineering work out for my son? After just one round, the quote that sums it up is, “I really like this lob wedge!”
Almost immediately, confidence grew in the quality of the contact he was making, and he was able to swing more freely, even on those more delicate shots. No more fear.
And the joy of telling my son, “Nice up and down!” is, as they say, priceless.
I don’t carry my clubs too often anymore—maybe just for a quick evening 9. I walk most of the time, though, using a push cart. So I’ve been looking for a golf bag that is light but spacious enough for me to stow all my extraneous gear—cigar holder, range finder, lots of extra souvenir ball markers and divot repair tools, rain jacket, beverage or two, etc. The Sun Mountain line-up of golf bags is pretty fertile hunting ground for just such a golf bag.
The new 4.5 LS 14-Way Stand Bag ($230) weights just 4.5 lbs. and has 14 full-length club silos, as the name implies. There are 9 spacious pockets and, best of all, the fiberglass legs are amazingly sturdy. The bottom is cart-friendly as well, including pushcart-friendly. There are elastic cords to keep the legs in place when not using them. This bag allows me to carry 9, walk 18, or hop on a cart for a luxurious round now and then.
The best features of the 4.5 LS is the legs: wide feet, sturdy graphite fiber, and a springy retraction action. If something is going to go wrong with a stand bag, it’s the legs. These feel rock-solid, and the springy retraction ensures you don’t have a floppy leg hanging down to catch on your own leg as you’re putting it on your shoulder or your car trunk as you’re loading or unloading it.
Another critical feature of a stand bag is accessible, well-placed pockets. You want to be able to reach some pockets while the bag is still on your shoulders. You also want to make sure that storage space isn’t sacrificed in pursuit of lightness. The bag has, happily, plenty of room for all the necessities and some extras. I can get a rain suit to the big side bag, loads of balls and tees, various cigar paraphernalia, and valuables in a felt-lined, water-resistant pocket. At first, I was skeptical of the efficacy of the cooler sleeve – as opposed to a cooler pocket (with a zipper) – but the open-top sleeve is quite capable of keeping most drinks cool for most of a side even on 90-degree days with 90-degree humidity.
The Skinny on the Sun Mountain 4.5 LS 14-Way Stand Bag
This is a workhorse of a golf bag. It’s suitable for all forms of on-course locomotion, and constructed well enough to last for many, many years. The straps are nicely padded and perfectly positioned, the handles are well positioned and rock-solid. The silos keep club grips from getting jammed up, and those legs won’t collapse on you. In short, however you like to get around the course, this bag will work like a charm.
Press releases for Cobra’s SpeedZone drivers, new for 2020, tout six different performance “zones” which they claim are based on design features of the world’s best sports cars. I’m not totally sure what that is supposed to mean, but these zones are listed as Power Zone, Strength Zone, Light Zone, Low CG Zone, Aero Zone, and Stability Zone.
That is, indeed, quite a lot of zones. Conspicuously lacking is the namesake “Speed Zone.” But never mind that now. As they say, “the proof is in the pounding.” (Well, no one has said that before now. If you like it, it’s mine. If you don’t, forget you read it here.)
Playing the Cobra King SpeedZone Xtreme Driver
Golf Magazine’s Clubtest 2020 spotlighted the tour-model King SpeedZone ($450) and the SpeedZone Xtreme ($449), focusing on one specific aspect in which both of them performed better than the competition: ball speed. Specifically, when tested with the swing robot, off-center strikes retained more ball speed than any other driver, displaying nearly no decrement on to-hits compared to center strikes.
When I took the King SpeedZone Xtreme—which is the model geared toward average golfers—out to the practice tee, the feel was what stood out to me first. In particular, the feel was incredibly solid and the sound was remarkable consistent. One thing I really liked about my current driver (at the time) was how well I could tell where I’d struck the ball with it – toe, heel, low, high, center all felt and sounded (and behaved) very distinctly. The King SpeedZone, on the other hand, felt practically the same no matter where I made contact with the ball, and the sound barely fluctuated, either.
So, the question is: do you consider this a good or bad trait? At first, I wasn’t sure. My contact is pretty inconsistent, so the feedback I get from sound and feel help me figure out what my swing flaw du jour is. The SpeedZone Xtreme is SO solid, the differences in sound, feel, and distance are extremely subtle. During my first couple of rounds with it, this sort of threw me off a little.
After playing it six rounds though, I have learned the minute differences between a slight toe-hit and a slightly thin strike. And when I do find the sweetspot, it feels like a perfect hammer strike driving a nail in with one swing. I cannot recall any driver I’ve tested (close to 100) that has felt more rock-solid heel to toe, crown to sole.
What does this solid feel get you, distance-wise? My best swings are rewarded with distances as long or slightly longer than any driver I’ve tested. Honestly though, improvement in overall distance on “good swings” is not dramatic. This said, however, distance on off-center contact—which, much to my chagrin, is a large percentage of my swings—is considerably improved. Where before I’d occasionally toe-hook my driver 200 yards, now even those ugly shots consistently end up 20 yards farther than before. My less tragically awful “bad” swings produce even better results.
The SpeedZone Xtreme has just one extra tungsten weight (compared to two in the SpeedZone), deep in the sole, and it comes in 9.0, 10.5, and 12.0 degree base lofts, with each of these lofts adjustable +/- 1.5 degrees and in draw, fade, or standard bias. My 10.5 degree standard loft really launches the ball high, even when I tee it down a bit. The 458-cc clubhead sets up beautifully behind the ball, without any hint of feeling “oversized” (which it isn’t, but some drivers just look bulkier than others; this one’s sleek). Finally, the stock 60g HZRDOUS Smoke shaft is a powerful, consistent, low-spin engine driving the power.
Cobra King SpeedZone Xtreme Driver: The verdict
I thought I had found a driver last year that would be in my bag for many seasons to come. Well, I was wrong. The King SpeedZone Xtreme is my new go-to, especially on those days when I’m not sure what kind of contact the next swing will deliver (which is, frankly, most days). It’s nice to know that even poor contact will not be penalized as much, and mistakes off the tee will generally be minimized.
Extra Features
The 2020 King SpeedZone Drivers (along with all King SpeedZone irons, fairway woods, and hybrids) include COBRA CONNECT™ Powered by Arccos, the award-winning smart golf system that helps players of all skill levels make smarter, data-driven decisions. Electronically enabled sensors are embedded into the grip, automatically recording the distance and accuracy of every shot so golfers can track performance round-to-round and use analysis to improve practice sessions. Golfers also have access to Arccos Caddie, which utilizes Artificial Intelligence to make better on-course decisions for lower scores.
When I was a boy, my dad was always busy working. So busy that he didn’t have time for golf – had never even set foot on a course until he was well into his 70s, when he rode along in the cart with my daughter and me once. He said he really enjoyed that, and it was one of my best later memories of him.
When I was a teenager, one of my strongest memories of Dad was of him growing uncharacteristically sad once and saying how much he envied me for having so much of my life yet in front of me. “There’s so much I still want to do,” he said softly, looking out the car window, “and so little time left.”
Point is, us guys are always chasing something, be it an allegorical giant fish or a literal hole-in-one. We golfers catch our bliss, if perhaps only fleetingly, chasing a little white ball around a verdant pasture for a few hours, spending time with friends or family, pursuing fictional perfection. Really, we’d do about anything just to get back to “even.”
Here are a few gift ideas for the Old Man in your life as he heads out onto the roiling greens and casts his eyes down the fairway in eternal hope.
Good Walk Coffee
Good Walk Coffee is a new coffee company that is specially blended and named for golfers. Does Dad need a tasty, rich pick-me-up to get him out for that first tee time? Try Good Walk’s Dew Sweeper French Roast ($18). If you’re like me, and happy to take a tee time slightly later in the morning, Breakfast Ball Columbia Medium Roast ($15) is ideal. Good walk has other blends, as well as 3-month subscriptions and a nice little shop of swag (hats, tees, ball markers, clubhead covers), all of which is great for decking Dad out in style and taste.
Volvik Marvel and Bridgestone Tour B Golf Balls
One of my favorite activities with my son, besides golf, is seeing superhero movies together. For dads who are fans of the Marvel Universe, Volvik has followed up last year’s wildly popular offering of Marvel Avengers balls with a 5-hero pack, featuring Thor, Black Panther, Captain America, Iron Man, and the Hulk ($22/set). These matte-finish balls are engineered with Volvik’s new oversized high-energy core and are incredibly soft around the green. The colors also really pop against the sky and turf. And he’ll never get confused about which ball is his.
For more traditional dads, Bridgestone’s Tour B line for 2020 ($45/doz.) has been redesigned with the company’s proprietary REACTIV cover to maximize both feel and distance. The Tour B X is played by the likes of Matt Kuchar and Lexi Thompson. The Tour B RX and Tour B RXS are designed for players with swing speeds under 105 mph, which tends to be most amateur dads. You simply won’t find better all-around performance in a golf ball.
Tattoo Golf
Now that Dad is awake and has new golf balls, let’s get him dressed. It’s still chilly in some places, and the absolute best full-zip golf jacket I have ever worn is the new Tattoo Golf Men’s Clubhouse Full-Zip Jacket in black and gray ($70), complete with Tattoo’s distinctive dimpled golf-ball-skull and cross-irons logo. I’ve worn mine for several rounds now, and I have never had a golf jacket that maintained the exact level of comfortable warmth and breathed so well. The price is right, too! Seriously, I cannot overstate how good this jacket is. If Dad would rather have a new pair of shorts, Tattoo has a new line out for 2020 that will ensure Dad looks good no matter how his game is.
Royal Albartross, ASICS, and ECCO Golf Shoes
Next, shoes – because shoes make the man!
ASICS DUAL-COURSE Duo BOA
The growing juggernaut Srixon/Cleveland Golf/XXIO has recently announced a partnership with athletic shoe manufacturer ASICS and the joint development of their flagship golf shoes, the GEL-COURSE Duo BOA ($180) and GEL-COURSE Glide ($130). Both models look and feel like ASICS gym shoes. The BOA features its namesake lacing system, which consists of wire laces that tighten and loosen with a dial on the side of the shoe, and also have softspikes. The Glides are spikeless with traditional laces. Both models are also waterproof. I took my pair of Duos out of the box to walk 18 holes with my son. Conditions were extremely soggy, but my feet stayed dry. Equally impressive, my feet experienced no fatigue or hotspots despite it being only my second round walking of the season. The arch support and padding are what you’d expect from the best athletic shoes. The BOA lacing system seemed to work a little loose during the first 4 holes, but a quick turn of the dial re-tightened them. And after those first holes, they stayed snug throughout the remainder of the round.
ECCO BIOM COOL PRO
Although all golf shoes are becoming more comfortable, ECCO still holds the Number One spot in “Most Comfortable Right Out of the Box.” ECCO doesn’t make the lightest golf shoes, nor the cheapest, but sliding on a pair of ECCOs is one of the great pleasures of the game. The new BIOM COOL PRO shoe ($230) is no exception: it has a wrap-around Gore-Tex design that actively ventilates your feet as you walk. The yak-leather outer is amazingly soft, and the sole features little tunnels running all the way through which make them lighter and “springier” than any previous ECCO model I’ve ever tried (and that’s a lot of them). I wore my BIOM COOL PROS during a hot but beautiful round in the Bahamas in January (before the world shut down) and several times since (walking all the way), and I cannot believe how cool and dry my feet stayed.
Royal Albartross
When the name Royal Albartross appeared in my inbox, I had to admit that I’d never heard of it before. Wow, was I missing out! Royal Albartross is a premium golf and lifestyle brand from London that offers handmade golf shoes, belts, and bags. And when they say “handmade,” they mean it. Their products are constructed of the finest Italian leathers and stitched together by craftsmen in Italy and Portugal. The results are exquisite. When I got my peasant paws on a pair of Cutler Greys ($230), I literally ran around my house and showed my wife and two kids how gorgeous they are—they even came with their own cloth shoe bag! With leather outsole, insole, and trim, The Cutler represents a brilliant blend of fashion sneaker and spikeless golf shoe fit for the fairways and grill rooms of even the poshest private club. I have taken to wearing them on walks around my neighborhood during this time of social distancing, because they honestly make me feel better about myself. I will wait to wear them on the course until the vernal pools dry up and, I hope, fellow golfers can get close enough to admire the workmanship. In the meantime, I’ve got my eyes on the Saxon Claret model ($259), new for 2020—absolutely beautiful. I guess I’m a shoe person now.
Dune Jewelry Divot Repair Tool
Time to get a little sentimental. Do you and Dad have a favorite course? Or maybe a special beach? Dune Jewelry has an ever-expanding “bank”of sands from around the world, including golf course bunker sand, that they use to fill all manner of gorgeous women’s jewelry. The Hamptons Rope collection, a co-collaboration between Ann Liguori and Dune’s founder Holly Daniels Christensen, make great Father’s Day gifts. Dune even has some treasures just for golfers. The new Divot Repair Tool ($30) is both sleek and functional. Fill it with sand from St. Andrews Beach to commemorate a trip to The Birthplace of Golf. Or with sand from Hawai’i to remember a wedding or honeymoon. Or even send in your own from the beach at a family cabin. There are ball markers ($30) and wine stoppers ($40) too, which are all also very cool. Speaking of weddings in Hawai’i, I have a ball marker with sand from the beach where I got married over 25 years ago. Reminds me to keep things in perspective on both good and bad days.
Sun Mountain 4.5 LS 14-Way Stand Bag
Lots of states are limiting playing groups to twosomes. And some are not allowing carts. What better time for Dad to start getting more exercise and walking 9 or 18 holes? The Sun Mountain line-up of golf bags is tough to beat. You can find something for pretty much any golfer’s needs. My new 4.5 LS 14-Way Stand Bag ($230) weights just 4.5 lbs. and has 14 full-length club silos, as the name implies. There are 9 spacious pockets and, best of all, the fiberglass legs are amazingly sturdy. The bottom is cart-friendly as well, including pushcart-friendly. There are elastic cords to keep the legs in place when not using them. I love carrying 9 for exercise and walking 18 with a pushcart. This bag allows me to do both without undue burden on my back or shoulders.
Arnold Palmer Framed USPS Stamp
What better way to tell day that he’s “The King” in your eyes than with the Arnold Palmer Framed Stamp ($40)? The USPS introduced Arnold Palmer stamps this year, and this framed artwork features an enlarged version of the stamp along with an insert of one of the actual stamps. It also includes day-of-issue information. I’ve got mine hanging in my office to remind me to “Swing my swing.”
Flying Dog Night Putting Pale Ale
This year is the 40th anniversary of the release of “Caddyshack,” a movie that taught us how integral wise cracks, obscene amounts of cash, and a cart full of C4 are to golf. Also integral to the game is a nice, cold adult beverage. Flying Dog, America’s most disobedient brewery, has introduced Night Putting Pale Ale in honor of this monumental anniversary. Night Putting is a medium-hopped ale with a 5.5% alcohol content. It’s crisp and light and easy to drink by itself or with a hot dog at the turn. Dad will thank you after every delicious sip.
Mr. Wizard by Jeff Wallach
For rainy days—or as a companion to Night Putting Pale Ale on a quite evening at home—how about a great golf read for Dad? Golf fiction can be hit or miss, but the debut novel by veteran golf and travel writer Jeff Wallach is a definite hit. It interweaves a story of two brothers trying to unravel their genetic history, deal with their wild mother, and figure out who they are along the way. Lots of twists and turns along a rich golf backdrop (Open Books, $18, paperback).
I hope by the time it’s Father’s Day, we’re finding ourselves and our nation to be safer and progressively more widely opened. After all, there’s a lot of golf to play in this world, and precious little time. My golf rounds with my own kids are one of the few things keeping me sane over the past months. I wish nothing less than that sort of joy for every one of my fellow fathers out there as we chase the sun, trying to stay as close to even as we can.
We’ve been stuck inside for a while. And for the good of everyone, we should largely remain inside for some time to come. But golf is one of the few social activities that lends itself to social distancing. Stand apart at the tees, hit your tee shots, walk after them, see you at the green. Maintain distance putting. Simple.
Now that courses are opening up in a majority of states, Mom deserves some time away from you—some time with her friends on a nice walk under the late-spring sunshine. And she deserves a little thank you from you for holding the realm together during this pandemic.
Here’s a list of our favorite golf gifts for Mom this Mother’s Day.
Good Walk Coffee
There’s a foursome of ladies at my home course that usually get the first tee time of the day on weekends. They always walk. We call them The Borg, after the inexorable, unstoppable alien foe on “Star Trek: Next Generation.” Heaven help you if you’re in front of them, because if you dawdle to look for a lost ball, they will catch you, and you will be assimilated.
These fast-walking, straight-hitting, never-stopping women always have their coffee travel mugs with them. Good Walk Coffee is a new coffee company that seems to be specially made for golfers like The Borg. You want that tasty, rich pick-me-up to get you out for that first tee time? Try Good Walk’s Dew Sweeper French Roast ($18). If you’re like me, and happy to take a tee time safely behind The Borg, Breakfast Ball Columbia Medium Roast ($15) is ideal. Good walk has other blends, as well as 3-month subscriptions and a nice little shop of swag (hats, tees, ball markers, clubhead covers), all of which is great for decking mom out in style and taste.
Volvik and Bridgestone Golf Balls
Is Mom a fan of the Marvel Universe? Maybe she just likes seeing some of the actors all heated up? In any case, Volvik has followed up last year’s wildly popular offering of Marvel Avengers balls with a 5-hero pack, featuring Thor, Black Panther, Captain America, Iron Man, and the Hulk ($22/set). These matte-finish balls are engineered with Volvik’s new oversized high-energy core and are incredibly soft around the green. The colors also really pop against the sky and turf.
For more traditional Moms, Bridgestone’s Tour B line for 2020 ($45/doz.) has been redesigned with the company’s proprietary REACTIV cover to maximize both feel and distance. The Tour B X is played by the likes of Matt Kuchar and Lexi Thompson. The Tour B RX and Tour B RXS are designed for players with swing speeds under 105 mph, which tends to be most moms AND dads. You simply won’t find better all-around performance in a golf ball.
TecTecTec ULT-X Rangefinder
Rangefinders have really grown on me over the years. I used to love the thrill of the guess, but now I enjoy verifying the yardage with laser precision. One of the more advanced rangefinders on the market is the ULT-X by TecTecTec ($250). It’s lightweight, uber-precise, and has an elevation mode that is easy to turn on and off. Doing so is accomplished by pulling the lens housing out or pushing it in. When the elevation mode is engaged, a bright yellow band is revealed, so players like my son, who play in tournaments in which measuring elevation is not allowed, will be less likely to forget to turn it off. I’ve also recently found that another handy use of the ULT-X is keeping an eye on other golfers around the course to maintain social distancing. You can ID friends from 100+ yards away and wave – that’ll have to do for now.
Royal Albartross Golf Shoes
So I received a pair of Royal Albartross golf shoes earlier this year, and I literally ran around the house showing everyone. I mean, they are hand-made in Italy of the finest leather – seriously the nicest shoes I own of any kind. Now, I don’t want to play into stereotypes, but if I get this excited about Royal Albartross golf shoes, Mom is going to go crazy.
Royal Albartross of London has three new styles for this Mother’s Day. The Amalfi ($299) is a laced sneaker with perforated upper leather. The soft, breathable leather lining and the lightweight Apex sole is designed for multi-directional traction. Available in white, black and navy, the Amalfi is handmade in Portugal.
The Chelsea ($199) is a slip-on loafer with tassel fringe available in tri-color patterns with white and black base colors. The ergonomic insole is designed to provide support and breathability, and is extremely resistant to lateral slipping.
The Sahara ($299) features a snake print, leather upper with gold/rose eyelets. Its ultra-cushioned insole unit and lightweight VIBRAM® Pro Golf out-sole provide excellent stability.
Swiftwick Golf Socks
Mom’s going to need some socks under those posh shoes. The best golf socks on the market are by Swiftwick, and my favorites (which also come in women’s sizes) are the new Maxus Zero-Tab golf socks ($12), but the ASPIRE and FLITE XT (pictured) are pretty sweet, too. Swiftwick’s offerings are all compression socks that wick moisture, improve circulation, and promise no blisters.
AHEAD’s Kate Lord Line for 2020
Well, shoot. Now that Mom’s going to need a couple of new golf outfits to wear with her posh kicks and comfy socks. AHEAD’s Kate Lord Line introduced a number of new styles for 2020 at the PGA Show in Orlando. “Our Kate Lord styling is perfect for the customer who wants great, easy-to-wear pieces for both on and off the course,” said Scott Stone, National Sales Manager, Golf. Colors include Iris, Limelight, and Poppy, and styles include sleeveless and sleeved polos, skorts, quarter-zips, and shorts. It’s pretty easy to mix-n-match an entire month’s worth of outfits on their website.
Dune Jewelry by Ann Liguori
I’ve written about Dune Jewelry before, and it’s still the most innovative line of keepsake jewelry I know of. Dune has a massive and ever-increasing Sandbank from which they draw sand and stone and crushed shell from beaches, lakes, and other landforms all over the world and incorporate into their fine jewelry. This year, there’s also a Dune Golf Collection, which includes ball markers and divot repair tools also filled with sand. You can search their giant repository for locations or send in your own sample (you know, that little vile you snuck out of Augusta National that one year?) and have it used in Dune’s stunning creations. In the past, I’ve gotten a ball marker for me and a necklace for my wife (The Hamptons Rope Collection) with sand from the beach where we were married. This year, I’m getting her the new Luxe Marquis earrings ($180) filled with sand from Japan, where we used to live. Seriously, there is nothing more meaningful than giving her not only beautiful jewelry, but jewelry filled with a little piece of a place that the two of you have shared.
Mr. Wizard by Jeff Wallach
Golf fiction can be hit or miss, but the debut novel by veteran golf and travel writer looks intriguing. It interweaves a story of two brothers trying to unravel their genetic history, deal with their wild mother, and figure out who they are along the way. Lots of twists and turns along a rich golf backdrop (Open Books, $18, paperback).
They you have it. Gifts to pamper the Queen of the Pandemic from the time she wakes up until the time she goes to sleep. This is the least you can do for her.
Ask avid golfers in the US for opinions about “dream golf trips” – you know, those bucket-list destinations dotted with bucket-list courses – and Scotland and Ireland will naturally be mentioned first. Beyond those iconic venues, it’s hard to predict responses. The savviest of sticks might surprise you by casting their covetous eyes southward – like, way southward – to New Zealand.
Cape Kidnappers in the morning fog. [Courtesy Cape Kidnappers]
The land of kiwis and the Māori culture is also probably the most under-appreciated golf destination in the world, with so much more to offer beyond golf. The only catch: If you’re going to travel to literally the ends of the earth, be sure to plan plenty of time to both play golf AND fully enjoy unsurpassed scenery, food, and hospitality.
Golf in New Zealand
Even most golf fanatics might be surprised to know that New Zealand is home to nearly 400 golf courses, scattered across the North and South islands. Equally surprising is that the nation’s first course, Manawatu Golf Club, opened in 1895. In 1896, the second course, Napier Golf Club, opened on land gifted by the local Māori tribe.
Fast-forward over a hundred years, when American developer Julian Robertson realized there was plenty of room to build golf courses on his vast sheep- and cattle-ranch lands both north and south of Auckland, the North Island’s largest city. To the north at Matauri Bay, in the late 1990s, he enlisted course architect David Harmon to design Kauri Cliffs. To the south, near Hawke’s Bay, a stern competition between course designers resulted in one of Tom Doak’s earliest international masterpieces – Cape Kidnappers Golf Course.
Holes 12-13 & 15 [Courtesy Cape Kidnappers]
Cape Kidnappers
Located just south of Napier – which is itself a 5-hour drive or 1-hour flight south of Auckland – in the wine region of Hawke’s Bay (more on that later), Cape Kidnappers opened in 2004 to universally rave reviews. According to Golf Magazine’s 2026 ranking of the World’s 100 Best Golf Courses, it is currently #65. The par-71 layout teeters for 7,187-yards along 140-meter (500-foot) cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean, covering 600 acres of the 6,177-acre property, which is still largely a working sheep and cattle station. Equally impressive as the dimensions and location is the 10-kilometer, 2-meter-high anti-predator fence that surrounds the entire property. Thanks to this fence, the Cape Sanctuary preserve was founded in 2006. The Sanctuary is home to over 1,000 kiwis (the birds, not the people) and 15 of the 550 total takahē left in the wild today (see below for a photo).
A section of Cape Kidnappers’ predator fence [Courtesy Cape Kidnappers]
As for the course itself, the first thing visitors will notice is that just driving from the entrance gate to the clubhouse takes about 20 minutes – so don’t cut your arrival too close to your tee time! As you wind your way up a narrow, twisting road to 200 meters above sea level, your anticipation builds as you imagine the breathtaking vistas to come. Arriving at the rustic clubhouse and gazing out across the practice range and final holes toward Hawke’s Bay, you realize your imagination wasn’t sufficient to capture the awesome realization that out beyond the fairways, past the cliffs along Hawke’s Bay and Napier, lies nothing but thousands of miles of open, roiling ocean.
Hole 3, with plenty of bunkers to avoid
The tee shot on Hole 4 is the only truly blind shot on the entire course — and finding your drive on the other side of that aiming state is not a given.
Some Front 9 holes are on the ocean, too, like the 6th green here.
The 8th green — the ravine that must be crossed to get here is no joke.
According to Tom Doak, a great course routing “should have a rhythm and a flow, with holes that vary in length, difficulty, and direction.” At Cape Kidnappers, this philosophy is gorgeously executed. The front 9 is mostly inland, but still with some view of the ocean in the distance. The holes run back and forth, generally angled toward the shoreline. The back 9, which plays considerably harder than the front, darts out to and back away from the cliffsides. Whether from tee boxes or greens, holes 10-17 are so visually stunning, that I frankly found it hard to remember that I was playing golf. Even on a somewhat overcast day, I could see snow-capped mountain tops in the distance and clouds of gannets swooping and diving over their nearby nesting grounds.
The infinity green on Hole 12 makes for an intimidating approach.
If you ball goes off the back of the 15th green, don’t try to retrieve it!
View from the 16th green
View from the 17th green
I played my round with Peter Clark, who had grown up not far from where the course now sits, but who had emigrated to France long before it was built. As he walked and I drove (GPS carts are included, but the course is walkable), he pointed out dozens of local landmarks. What was most telling, however, were the reactions of this local boy, who had hiked and ridden dirt bikes all over these shorelines in his youth. On every green and tee box on the back 9, he just kept saying, over and over, “Wow! Just, wow!” Doak’s masterful routing opened vistas even Clark had never seen.
Picking a favorite hole here would be like picking your favorite child. Not a single one feels repetitive or like a “filler hole.” The first of many times Kidnappers takes your breath away is on the 6th Hole, a long par-3 over a yawning ravine to a green perched above the bay. Left here is dead, as is long, and short, so club selection is critical.
The tee shot on the par-3 6th is…daunting.
The fairway on Hole 7 is a thrill ride hurtling down toward an equally unlevel green.
If there’s one aspect of Kidnappers’ design that might be criticized, it’s that the backside is much harder than the front. After a scrappy 41 on the front (with quality rented clubs), I was feeling pretty good about myself, felt like I was just warming up. Then the back 9 kicked me in the teeth. I didn’t have a single par on the back. Fortunately, the golf is so amazing, and the surroundings are so majestic, that I didn’t really mind. For first-timers, the best advice is to take your time and soak it all in: The infinity green on the par-4 12th Hole (aptly named “Infinity”), the short 13th (just 130 yards) dangling over the cliffside to the left, or the back-to-back par 5s on the 15th and 16th, where you not only feel like you’re walking on the edge of the world, you literally are.
On the edge of the world on the 17th tee
There have been two golf courses in my life when I’ve gotten emotional at the 18th hole, dearly wishing there were 18 more to play. One was Royal County Down. The other, right here. After I hit perhaps the best drive of my day from the awkward 18th tee, I had to fight back tears.
The 18th green and clubhouse — I have never been so sad to see the final green!
I can’t guarantee such an emotional experience for everyone, but I can guarantee that you will never forget your round at Cape Kidnappers. Many fairways and greens are rollercoaster rides, echoing the waves crashing on the beaches 100 feet below the course. The fescue rough is much denser than it looks – balls that you see bounce in the rough will often be difficult to find, so mark their positions carefully. Blessedly, New Zealand has no venomous snakes, so you can safely search for golf balls that have gone astray, unlike in Australia, where no golf ball is worth an encounter with a viper.
Playing Cape Kidnappers is not cheap, however. $950NZ is the rate for non-Kiwis (which account for 3/4 of play; $450NZ for Kiwis), including a GPS cart and range balls. Caddies are available for another $150NZ (plus gratuity), but must be booked in advance. Excellent rental clubs are available for $75NZ.
Getting There, Staying, and Exploring
For visitors arriving in Auckland, Hawke’s Bay is a bit of a drive – at least 5 hours. The Napier airport, however, is just a short hop in a turbo-prop, leaving more time for golf and exploration. If you’re wanting to play rounds at other courses in this mystical, mythical country—such as Kidnappers’ sister-course, Kauri Cliffs, to the north of Auckland—and have limited time to do so, air travel is a must.
Hawke’s Bay has so much more than just golf. Napier itself is called the Art Deco Capital of the World because nearly the entire city was rebuilt in Art Deco style after a devastating earthquake and fire in 1931. The National Tobacco Company Building is a prime example of Art Deco architecture, and is one of the most-photographed buildings in the Southern Hemisphere. Private walking or driving tours in classic cars can be booked through the Art Deco Trust – well worth the time!
The National Tobacco Company Building is one of the most photographed in the Southern Hemisphere. There’s a gin distillery in the building now. A tour around town in a 1938 Packard is an unforgettable treat!
Hawke’s Bay is also one of only 11 recognized Great Wine Capitals of the world. 90% of New Zealand Syrah comes from Hawke’s Bay. One of the most awarded vineyards in the area is the family-owned Craggy Range, whose restaurant is the recipient of three “hats” (the NZ equivalent of Michelin Stars). Every dish here utilizes the dazzling bounty of Hawke’s Bay produce, seafood, and meats. There is a reason why Hawke’s Bay is called the “Food and Wine Country of New Zealand.” Other must-try restaurants include Mission Restaurant at Mission Estate Winery (the oldest winery in New Zealand) and Cellar 495 in nearby Hastings, which gets its name from owner Michael Henley being the 495th Master of Wine in the world. Also in Hastings is the newly opened Restaurant Ari, where the desserts are the stars of the menu.
The pãua (abalone) at the Craggy Range restaurant was exquisite!
The view from the restaurant at Craggy Range — you can see where they got the name!
The bar at Cellar 495 — just what you’d expect from the 495th Master of Wine in the world!
Multiple wine tastings are mandatory. Americans likely associate New Zealand with Sauvignon Blanc, but to be honest, I tasted at least 30 different wines while touring the area, and none was a sauv blanc. The depth and variety of reds in the area were unexpected and sumptuous. (This is where I kept muttering, “Wow!”) And if white wine is your thing, the Chardonnay and Pinot Gris will pair with every seafood dish you try. What makes Hawke’s Bay so ideal for viticulture? The climate and surrounding micro-climates, the variety of volcanic soils, including the legendary Gimlet Gravels region, and the hole in the ozone layer, which is bad for people but fantastic for grapes.
The Smith & Sheth Wine Studio — like no other wine tasting you will ever experience!
Tastings can be scheduled at all vineyards in the area. Black Barn is a friendly, laid-back vineyard in the heart of wine country with a great staff. For a tasting experience unlike any other, though, visit Smith & Sheth’s Heretaunga Wine Studio, located just behind Porters Boutique Hotel in Havelock North, Hawke’s Bay. Here, wine guides like Sean Burns will take you on a journey through time and place as you learn about the volcanic eruption in 232 AD that provided the unique terroir of Hawke’s Bay and taste a mind-blowing array of delicious wines (including, if you’re lucky, some right out of the aging barrels).
As for accommodations, options are plentiful. The above-mentioned Porters Boutique Hotel is centrally located near wineries, shops and restaurants, including its own lovely Malo and a charming breakfast place called Maina Café. The rooms are large and impeccably appointed, and the front-desk staff are the friendliest I’ve ever encountered. For something completely different, check out Te Aratipi Station. This is a sprawling family sheep and cattle ranch that occupies some of the highest ground in the entire region. The farm has been in Ed Palmer’s family for over 100 years, and today he and his wife Ro have renovated several cozy, stylish cottages ideal for groups and families. Ro and Ed can arrange a wide variety of experiences for you, including actual farm work with the 1,000-head of cattle and 5,000 sheep. Other options include wine tastings, ATV tours of the property, yoga and wellness retreats, a bush/farm restaurant (launching soon), and even a “rough and ready” 9-hole golf course that Ed has mowed into the hillsides of the farm. He’ll take you out on his Can-Am ATV and serve as caddie and guide while you and your group have the whole course – and what feels like the entire country – all to yourself. You can even “look down” on Cape Kidnappers off in the distance from the heights of the Te Aratipi expanse. You will never have another golf experience quite like this one!
The Young Mr. Palmer takes a healthy lash on the “rough and ready” Te Aratipi Station golf course.
The views around the golf course atop Te Aratipi Station are phenomenal.
And, of course, if you just want to cocoon yourself in the Cape Kidnappers experience, there is Rosewood Cape Kidnappers, a 26-room luxury resort right on the property, with multiple dining options and sweeping vistas of the Hawke’s Bay Shoreline.
Time and space limit the details about Cape Kidnappers and Hawke’s Bay that I can provide here – and this is just one corner of the North Island. In the words of my Kidnappers playing partner Peter Clark, the North Island is “the waiting room for paradise,” by which he meant that until you get to the South Island, you haven’t seen anything yet. So, as I said at the outset, if you are fortunate enough to take the trip of a lifetime to New Zealand, go for as long as you possibly can – because however long you stay, it won’t be enough.
A group of 7 takahē on the 1st fairway of Cape Kidnappers. There are only 550 of these left in the wild, and 15 live on the course grounds. This photo is a birder’s dream.
Over the years, I have tested and reviewed hundreds of putters. A substantial number of those putters have subsequently stayed in my bag for a time – from a month to a full season, sometimes longer. Every time I think I have found my “forever putter,” a new one comes along and…fireworks!
Am I a putter slut?
Last year, when I reviewed L.A.B. Golf’s OZ.1i HS putter – the first heel-shafted putter released by the hottest putter maker in the business today – I was certain that I had – once again – discovered my soulmate. That more classically beautiful babe with the nerdy name and curvy hosel and I were going to be together for life.
But golf, like life, is long and full of surprises.
Meet-Cute
Around the start of 2026, a press release landed in my inbox about L.A.B.’s newest creation: The DF3.i. The DF3 has been the company’s most successful putter to date, despite its unconventional shape (like someone welded a circle behind a blade) and its center-shafting (which had not been an industry “standard” for some time). This is where the OZ.1i HS came in. Even the L.A.B. skeptics whom I know were intrigued: “This is the best-looking one I’ve seen,” said one club pro. It offered the company’s trademark lie-angle balancing without the atypical design.
So what’s the big deal about the DF3.i, I thought? But, my eye wandered through the press release – I couldn’t help myself. The DF3.i is styled like the stand-out DF3, but with a stainless steel insert that imparts 2% more speed to the ball off the face and provides a firmer feel. To be honest, my initial testing of the original DF3 in several golf superstores did leave me somewhat confused: a lot of putts were online, but speed was an issue.
A firmer feel, they say? That sounds sexy.
Next thing you know, I’d unboxed my new DF3.i and taken it to my indoor golf league for testing. Now, I consider myself a pretty good putter on actual greens. But on the simulator, putting is largely a mystery. There is a reason that the league has an 8-foot gimme circle. I lined up my first putt (a 12-footer) of the evening with the DF3.i, commenting to my partner that I hadn’t hit a single putt with it yet, but it couldn’t be any worse.
And then…lighting struck! That quirky-beautiful DF3.i dropped the ball right into the hole. And I retrieved it for her. “Hi,” it said. “Well, hi yourself,” said I.
The original DF3 on the left. That firmer, younger, hotter DF3.i on the right.
L.A.B. Golf DF3.i – The Verdict
Don’t let Hollywood fool you: Most meet-cutes don’t last. And I was under no illusion that a brief, simulated fling would turn into true love. My OZ.1i HS stayed in my bag alongside the DF3.i throughout indoor league season, but I could tell it wasn’t happy about being relegated to side-piece.
So, I waited until the first outdoor round of the season, just two days ago. Please indulge me for a moment:
Hole 1 – 7’ par putt, holed
Hole 2 – 6’ par putt, holed
I stopped keeping track after that (aside from the 12’ birdie putt on 15). All I know was I had just 23 total putts, with no 3-putts and never a 2nd putt longer than 2 feet — on bumpy, uneven, early-season greens. The DF3.i is now in my bag and…
I grew up on a horse-boarding farm in Minnesota. Winters could be brutal – back in the day (yeah, I’m old), -20F was typical even without windchill. And always so much snow! But to be honest, aside from the physical discomfort, there were plusses. First of all, horse manure doesn’t smell when it’s frozen. Second, winter means no baling hay, no planting, weeding, and picking vegetables, etc. The “off season” on a northern farm is sort of restful.
Now that I do not live on a farm, winter means exclusively one thing to me: No golf. And life without my weekly rounds is more brutal than -20F.
Thank goodness for golf simulators. About 12 years ago, my local muni invested in their first golf simulator and started a winter indoor golf league. To be honest, the original technology wasn’t overwhelming, and the hitting bay felt claustrophobic. (A tall buddy of mine once caught an overhead light with his driver follow-through, dramatically shattering the light bulb.)
Like all technology, though, golf simulators have improved, and my home course stuck with the indoor golf league. Now they have two Foresight simulators in the facility’s high-ceilinged event space. And us regulars lean heavily on weekly league play as we limp through the winter, waiting for the fairways to green.
Foresight Golf
Foresight Sports, headquartered in San Diego, CA, introduced their first golf launch monitor in 2010. Within six years, it was the best-selling professional-grade launch monitor in the U.S. In 2017, Foresight introduced their GCQuad monitor, and the technology has been improved every subsequent year. Today, Foresight is the industry leader in golf monitors and simulators, with over 15,000 units installed around the country.
At Lake of the Woods Golf Course in Mahomet, IL – my home course – there are two Foresight simulators with GC3 launch monitors ($6,999). General Manager Chris Edmondson says, “We moved to Foresight (from TruGolf) in 2022. This allowed us to switch from a sensor and light-based simulator (TruGolf) to launch monitors.” The course uses the Foresight Simulator-in-a-Box (starting at $16,000) with the Birdie Package, which includes 28 courses (such as Pebble Beach and The Old Course at St. Andrews).
The 18th tee at Pebble Beach Golf Links, thanks to Foresight Sports
According to Edmondson, the reason for the change in simulator provider was performance. “With the [previous] sensor-based systems, we had constant issues with light bulbs burning out or not functioning, sensors not reading or reading incorrectly, and often the sensor board would just stop functioning,” he recalls. “We were constantly working through issues just to keep two simulators running.” (I remember the previous system badly misreading some of my shots several times a round.)
Now with Foresight, he says, “There is the very rare misread that will be software related.” Although I must admit that the system occasionally fails to read one of my putters with a matte-black finish. I had to hit one putt 11 times before it registered (though I did make that 11th putt).
One real perk of Foresight is its precision. The resident clubfitter uses the system for clubfitting, too, and the teaching pros use it all winter long for lessons. Other great features are the putting alignment and green-reading aids built into the software. With a few clicks on the keyboard, you can line up your putt, and, if you hit it straight with the right pace, the system projects the correct break. Also, because the software is cloud-based, you can play against people around the world.
Playing Foresight
Of the three or four simulator systems I’ve played during winter golf league, Foresight provides the most life-like experience. Granted, without the 3D visual cues that exist in “the real world,” distance judgement can be challenging, especially with short shots. In “real life,” I don’t need to know my yardage from 100 yards and in – I just feel it. It’s hard to “see” shots on a 2D screen.
Sometimes yardages can be a puzzle, too. Sometimes it feels like you crush a drive, and it barely goes 200 yards. Next hole, you hit what feels like a knock-down 9-iron, and it goes 20 yards longer than a full 9 normally would. This seems quite idiosyncratic, but part of the issue is that any slight contact with the mat before hitting the ball can dramatically change the ball flight and yardage. The trick to enjoying simulator golf, and scoring well, is to think of it as a different game – like playing beach volleyball rather than volleyball in a gym. They’re just different games.
Me: “Don’t hit the mat! Don’t hit the mat!” (And yes, I know, I’m swaying a bit off the ball, and I have a cupped left wrist. I’m working on correcting the former. The latter is just how my wrists work.)
Nit-picking aside, Foresight does provide numerous “real life” features, like sand bunkers that simulate play from actual sand more realistically than previous systems. And trees, bushes, and tall grass really play more “solid” than other systems. I’m counting this as a plus, rather than a minus – which feels sort of masochistic.
But hey, no matter how you score, or how far your driver goes, as my simulator-league partner Karl says, “We’re playing golf in February in Illinois.” In this way, the simulator offers some real-life perspective, after all.
In last year’s Holiday Gift Guide, I fretted about prices increasing. According to The Budget Lab at Yale University, the concern was warranted. The lab’s research shows that leather products, wearing apparel, and metal products – categories central to the golf industry – are three of the top four that have been hit hardest by tariffs.
But hey, if little Cindy-Lou Who taught us anything, it’s to not let the Grinch steal your holiday spirit. So let’s circle around the 18th green, join hands, sing a joyful song, and dream of a feast of roast beast.
Srixon Ryder Cup Golf Balls
Ok, sure. The U.S. Ryder Cup Team once again double-bogeyed. But something good came out of it: The Keegan Bradley Signature Series Z-Star Diamond Ball ($50/doz.). I’ve been playing these since I received a dozen just before the Ryder Cup teed off. They perform beautifully, and to be honest, the somewhat campy logo of Captain Bradley in profile (porn-stache and all) makes them super-easy to identify, even in neighboring fairways (where I often find myself).
“Anybody order a pizza?” –Keegan Bradley (if golf hadn’t worked out for him, maybe)
Maxfli Tour Golf Balls
One of the surprises in the golf ball market in recent years has been the consistently high ratings earned by the Maxfli Tour family of golf balls. The 2023 models were widely praised when they first came out, and the 2025 versions have for the most part maintained the adulation. I’ve enjoyed playing the Maxfli Tour balls, but the Maxfli Tour X balls tend to receive the highest ratings of the three available models, often ranking near the top of distance and quality measures by multiple testing labs. The best part, perhaps, is the pricepoint: if you buy a few dozen at Dick’s Sporting Goods, you can get them for as low as $30/doz.
TRUE Linkswear
If you’re never heard of TRUE Linkswear, you’re missing out. I have five pairs of TRUE golf shoes, and I get more compliments on them than any shoes I’ve ever worn (golf or otherwise). The combination of styling, attention to detail, and comfort are tough to beat. All of them have excellent padding and, importantly, a nice, wide toe-box. Prices range from low $100s to low $300s. TRUE Linkswear also offers a large line of polos, hoodies, shorts, pants – pretty much any accessory you need to look like a Tour pro on the course, no matter how you play.
Bushnell
The Bushnell A1-Slope Laser Rangefinder ($300), which debuted in February 2025, embodies the precision and quality one associates with the name “Bushnell.” It is by far the smallest and lightest rangefinder I have ever used. Pinseeker and JOLT technology provides instant tactile feedback when the target is locked, the slope yardage is easy to see and read, and the BITE magnetic skin is great if you don’t want to take it in and out of the sturdy case. A final innovation that is rare in the market is the rechargeable battery (cord included), though one charge has carried me through an entire golf season(!). This might be the last rangefinder I ever use.
Sub70 Golf JB Sugar Skull Wedges
The Sycamore, Illinois-based boutique clubmaker Sub70 Golf is without question one of golf’s most-respected companies. Sub70 doesn’t release any new clubs or lines without ensuring through scrupulous testing that the new clubs are improvements over their previous models. They don’t pay any tour pros to play their sticks, but several pros do. Sub70 also offers free fittings at their homey HQ in Sycamore. (They’ll even mix you a cocktail!) And if the fitting results show your clubs work as well or better than theirs for your swing, they tell you that. Integrity, honest, quality – what more could you ask for?
The Sub70 JB line of wedges ($125) include the iconic Sugar Skull wedge. Designed for golfers with a variety of techniques and who play in a range of conditions, the Sugar Skull maximizes versatility and feel. Finishes include black and “natural,” and lofts run from 46 to 64 degrees. Laser engraving is available, which can be customized if you don’t want the original Sugar Skull. But if you do, you can also get a matching Sugar Skull cap ($35).
L.A.B. OZ.1i HS Putter
L.A.B. Putters have taken golf by storm, from the PGA Tour all the way to your local muni. If you aren’t familiar with the name, you have nonetheless likely seen their large, rather unconventional putter heads and wondered what the big deal is. What sets L.A.B. Putters apart is their balancing. Putters can be “balanced” several ways. If you balance your putter on your finger, lying the shaft perpendicular across your outstretched digit, you can determine its weighting scheme. If the face points upward, it’s “face-balanced.” If the toe hangs straight down, it’s “toe-balanced.” If the toe hangs down at an angle, there is some degree of “toe-hang.” L.A.B. stands for Lie Angle Balanced. Company founder and L.A.B. inventor, Bill Presse, was a mini-tour player who wanted to simplify his putting stroke. He reasoned that lie-angle balancing would most easily allow the putter to balance such that the face is dead-square with the target line, promoting a consistently square face at impact.
The first L.A.B. models were all center-shafted, which can take some getting used to. In 2025, they came out with the OZ.1i HS, the first heal-shafted L.A.B. offering. At $499, this putter is not for the budget-conscious golfer. But when I began playing it and rolling the rock exactly where I was aimed over and over again, the value became immediately clear. If you can, you NEED to give a L.A.B. putter a try!
REVL Grips by SuperStroke
The off-season is a great time to get your clubs re-gripped. And when you re-grip, there’s some big news in the equipment world that you should consider: SuperStroke, the maker of the most widely-used putter grips on Tour, purchased the legendary Lamkin Grips in May of 2024. In 2025, they combined SuperStroke’s Tour-proven design principles with Lamkin’s tried-and-true engineering to produce the REVL line of grips. You may have seen commercials for these grips during recent golf broadcasts. Let me say that the hype is completely well-deserved. I regripped my entire set with the REVL Comfort, one of three distinct models in the flagship line, half-way through the 2025 season. The Comfort is an all-rubber, quasi-wrap design that seems to just guide me to putting my hands in the right positions. This is the first time I’ve had the same grips on all my clubs at the same time in maybe 30 years, and I carded more sub-80 rounds with them than ever before. I don’t know if it’s the grips, or if by some miracle I’ve figured something out about my swing. But either way, I have never felt more confident when I take my grip and stance, so I don’t foresee playing any other grips in the near future.
Fuzzy’s Ultra-Premium Vodka
The day before Thanksgiving, we lost 2-time major champion and all-time character Fuzzy Zoeller. He was just 74 years old. In 1979 Fuzzy Zoeller burst onto the scene with his surprise win at the Masters. He won the U.S. Open in 1984. If you feel like reminiscing about Fuzzy, you could give his eponymous Fuzzy’s Vodka a taste. It is made from 100% American corn, five times distilled and ten times filtered, and a portion of each batch is rested in new American oak barrels. The result is crisp, smooth, and incredibly clean – far better in my view than any Russian vodka. (Get Russia out of Ukraine and out of your liquor cabinet!)
My bottle of Fuzzy’s Vodka, autographed by the legend himself. It will never be opened.
Not gonna lie – 2025 has been challenging in many ways. But let’s try to make Cindy-Lou Who proud and find some joy and brotherhood this holiday season. Giving the gift of golf always makes me feel better. I hope some of the items above will help you feel better, too. Happy Holidays, and bring on the roast beast!
Columbia, Missouri, is known as the location of the state’s flagship public university. And to its faithful fans and alumni, The University of Missouri is known as MIZZOU. During the Tigers’ sold-out SEC football games at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium, you can hear half the avid fans cheering “M-I-Z” and answered by the other half responding “Z-O-U!” one-third of a mile away at the A. L. Gustin, Jr. Golf Course. Despite its proximity to the stadium, and to the heart of campus itself, the course is surprising to many, even to many university community members.
Gustin Golf Course occupies 127 acres just off Stadium Boulevard. The land was donated by A. L. Gustin, Jr. in 1959 and specifically earmarked for a golf course. Golf course architect Floyd Farley laid out a 6,508-yard, par-70 course that relies on blind landing areas and narrow driving corridors to challenge players of all levels. A number of sharp doglegs, hidden hazards, and dense woods take driver out of the hands of most of today’s long-hitters, placing a premium on accuracy and local knowledge. In short, Gustin reveals surprises at every turn – and there are a LOT of turns.
The development of Gustin Golf Course into an SEC-worthy university course has been, shall we say, deliberate. Although the course opened in 1959, the clubhouse dates only from 1997. According to Aaron Wier, Director of Golf Operations, much of the irrigation system still dates from the 1970s-80s. Wier also notes that many students who play often don’t realize the course, with its well-conditioned Bermuda grass tees, fairways, and greens, is in their backyard. “I’ve proposed that students be granted access to the course as part of their recreation facility fees,” says Wier. “I’d love it if students could come play for free with just their IDs.”
When he heard that my son and his buddy, both seniors and avid golfers, were visiting for the first time, he shook his head and said, “See? Many students don’t know we’re right here. Better late than never, though!”
Playing A. L. Gustin Golf Course
Given the course’s modest 6,508-yard length from the back tees (rating 71.4, slope 125), Gustin doesn’t overwhelm with length. There are just two par 5s, and only one of those is barely over 500 yards. There are, however, four 400+ yard par 4s if you play from the tips, which first-time visitors absolutely should not do. Why? Well, even from the 6,024 gold tees, players unfamiliar with the course will find themselves asking over and over, “What’s the line from here? Where’s the green?” In fact, the first non-par-3 green players can see from the tees comes on the 18th hole, where the blessedly open tee shot still has to contend with the thickest rough on the entire layout.
Some hallmarks of the Gustin Golf Course are visible from the par-3 2nd Hole’s tee: a table-top green and a pollinator patch.
There is a 500+ yard gap between the back tees and the next-most forward (gold) tees, which results in a half-dozen par-4s of about 350 yards or less from the gold tees. One might think, then, that long-hitters would be launching their drivers like howitzers. But all these shortish par 4s feature sharp doglegs, sloping fairways, and blind hazards, making shorter clubs the wiser choice for nearly everyone.
The layout opens with one of the two par 5s, which tumbles down from an elevated tee and then climbs gently back uphill to a table-top green. This putting surface, like most of the others, does not break as much as it appears it should. The fairways, on the other hand, break plenty. The 400+ yard par-4 3rd Hole is the first introduction to the devilish fairway contouring. This is the #1 handicap hole because of the convex fairway that bends right and drops severely off into the underbrush to the right. Tee shots should hang left, but even these tend to wander into the rough if too far left. This was the first of many holes where one or more of our foursome thought we had hit perfect drives, only to crest a hill or round a bend and discover that our balls had ricocheted into trouble.
There are a few unique holes – quirky, even – on the front and on the back. On the front side, the par-3 5th Hole actually has two greens, which can be put into play on alternating days to lend a radically different angle and feel to the tee shot. Rather unintuitively, the farther green makes for the easier shot, as the pond right of the shorter green is taken mostly out of play.
The dual greens on the par-3 5th Hole provide flexibility in course set-up.
The short par-4 7th Hole is perhaps the quirkiest on the course. Here, the black and gold tee boxes are located back in the woods, raised above the fairway on a wooden platform. That’s right, players drive out of a narrow chute through the trees off of mats. To the uninitiated, this feels rather claustrophobic.
Teeing off from mats through the woods on Hole 7 is certainly a unique feature of Gustin.
The highlight of the back nine is the “Tiger’s Den” – holes 14-17, which a sign on the course touts as “arguably the hardest 4-hole stretch in Missouri.” Whether or not that description is accurate, it is noteworthy that only one of these (the 15th Hole is 467 yards from the tips) is considered “long” by today’s standards. The 14th and 16th holes are both quite “short” for longer hitters, but, as we found out, they are still plenty hard.
The claim is certainly worth a discussion!
The difficulty comes from the old-school design philosophy. The 14th Hole is a dogleg left, but the fairway cants steeply to the right, which makes it hard to hold the fairway and also makes the second shot to the elevated green tougher than expected. At the longer 15th Hole, the tee shot is up and over a hill to a completely blind landing area that is much farther left than is apparent from the tee. Three “solid” drives in our group were found to have scampered into the woods on the right. At the short 16th Hole, with its sharp dogleg right, the green lies less than 300 yards away as the crow flies. But big hitters who want to go for it must first elevate their drive quickly to carry massive trees and then not hit it too far, as balls that go through the fairway may be lost.
The tee shot on the par-4 15th Hole is one of many where first-timers will ask, “Where am I supposed to aim?”
Finally, the par-4 17th Hole punishes with one last totally blind tee shot. There is even a defunct periscope at the tee that was once used to check whether the group ahead was still in the landing zone. After a round of blind shots like this—and escaping the Tiger’s Den—it is a relief to get to the 18th and finally be able to see where you need to hit it.
A.L. Gustin Golf Course: The Verdict
Mizzou’s Gustin Golf Course presents players with plenty of surprises. From Stadium Boulevard, you can hardly tell it’s a golf course. The 127 acres are far more than just a place to play golf, too. Gustin was the first collegiate golf course in the nation to be named an Audubon International Cooperative Sanctuary in 1997. Director of Golf Wier reports that the rolling, pristine prairieland is the birthplace of some 3,700 fledgling bluebirds annually. There are also nine pollinator plots (the course is a member of Monarchs Forever) and four bee hives on the land (with plans for more). At times, it feels like you’re playing golf through a nature preserve just on the edge of campus.
With public weekend green fees topping out at around $35, rates are extremely affordable, even for many students (who receive a discount). Carts are $20, but walking is allowed. (The numerous hills, though, would make for a challenging walk!) The course does just over 25,000 rounds a year, but if you play on a football game day, when most of the city is at the game or watching it at the numerous college bars, you might have the links mostly to yourself – and you will be able to hear the cheers from the fans drifting through the trees: “M-I-Z…!”
One of only two par 5s on Gustin, the approach to the 12th green is also one of the few that is wide open and inviting.
Since the mid-1990s, golf has witnessed the widespread development of far-flung golf resorts constructed according to a “build it and they will come” philosophy. The idea is that dedicated golfers will travel to the ends of the earth to play great layouts. Today’s golfing public sometimes forgets, however, that the best courses are often within easy reach of major population centers, allowing even players of modest means to hop in a car or bus or train and access world-class golf. This latter philosophy was held by Joe Jemsek, the “Patriarch of Chicago Public Golf” when he purchased the two existing courses at Cog Hill in Palos Park, Illinois, and embarked on a lifetime mission to turn the facility into the pinnacle of Midwestern public golf.
The first course at Cog Hill was opened in 1927 by the three Coghill brothers, John, Martin, and Bert. The original David McIntosh design was joined in 1929 by a second course, also by McIntosh (with Bert Coghill). In 1951, Joe Jemsek purchased Cog Hill, and he hired famed golf architect Dick Wilson to renovated Cog Hill #1 in 1963. Cog Hill #2 received a facelift in 1995 from Joe Lee and Rocky Roquemore. Also in 1963, Jemsek contracted Dick Wilson to construct Cog Hill #3, often called “The Ravines” in recognition of the numerous forced carries. Despite the burgeoning success of these three courses, Jemsek dreamt of a public-access layout to rival the famed private clubs in golf-rich Chicagoland. This dream came to fruition in 1964, with the opening of Cog Hill #4, nicknamed Dubsdread. The Dick Wilson and Joe Lee design soon became host of multiple prestigious amateur and professional tournaments. In 2008, Rees Jones thoroughly renovated “Dubs,” and it hosted the BMW Championship on the PGA Tour several years thereafter, cementing Cog Hill’s legacy as a Tour-quality public-access facility, with Dubsdread perennially ranked as the top public course in Illinois and one of the best public courses in the entire nation.
The tee of the par-4 4th Hole on Dubsdread is typical of many holes here: The course is all in front of you, and even semi-straight hitters will find safe harbor off the tees. But the second shot — that’s where the challenge lies.
Playing Dubsdread
Chicago’s blue-collar bona fides were perhaps most succinctly captured by poet Carl Sandberg, who called the city “Toolmaker, Stacker of Wheat…City of the Big Shoulders.” Pulling into the parking lot at Cog Hill, this working-class ethos was visceral – a dozen high school busses crowded the lot, as a day-long boys’ and girls’ golf meet was underway on Courses #1 and #3. Despite Cog Hill being one of the most storied and respected public golf facilities in the nation, the place is distinctly unpretentious. Although the facility boasts an august, historical clubhouse, heated year-round practice bays with Top-Tracer technology, and the top-ranked courses, no one puts on airs. The staff were unfailingly friendly, patient, helpful, and down to earth. Even the prices for apparel and gear in the well-stocked proshop in the “2-4 building” (there is a separate proshop for courses #1 and #3) were reasonable.
The moniker of Cog Hill #4, “Dubsdread,” stands as a warning to “dubs” – players with limited skills (a.k.a. duffers) – that they might be in for a long day. This is 100% true if players don’t choose the appropriate tees for their skillset. From the champaionship Black tees, “Dubs” stretches to 7,554 yards with a rating of 78.0 and a slope rating of 153. I frankly don’t think I’ve ever played a course with ratings this severe. Fortunately, the yardages of the remaining 6 sets of tees (including a Blue-White Combo of 6,564 yards) shrinks down to 5,422 at the forward-most tees.
We played the Combo set, which was perfect for my own 9-handicap and my buddy’s 2-handicap. What became immediate apparent is that Dubs is very much a “second-shot course.” For me, keeping the ball in play off the tee usually leads to low-scoring rounds. Remarkably, I didn’t lose a single ball off the tee on Dubs. Yet I did not score terribly well, as most of my approach shots failed to find the greens, or, when they did, they left massive putts over dramatic undulations.
The tee shot on the par-5 15th Hole is one of the few on Dubsdread to inspire real dread on your drive.
There are 89 bunkers on Dubs, all of which have recently been rebuilt and filled with snowy-white sand from Ohio (where the best bunker sand in the world is found). According to Troy Newport, General Manager of Cog Hill, the granular structure of this sand is such that it sort of locks together and doesn’t wash down the faces of the bunkers, even during midwestern gutter-washers. I can attest to the bunkering’s impeccable grooming, given that I found myself in greenside bunkers on at least half of the holes. The bunker design throughout is epitomized by the one fronting the 5th green – steep faced craters that usually leave you with little to no view of the putting surface.
This bunker on the par-5 5th Hole epitomizes the bunker design. (And yes, I did end up in it.)
One of the striking features of Dubsdread is the brutish collection of par 3s. From the Black tees, these measure 224, 240, 216, and 215 yards. From the Combo tees, they are a much more reasonable 161, 173, 178, and 174 – still, none are pushovers.
The 216-yard, par-3 12th Hole
Another memorable feature are the greens, with their amorphous shaping and vexing contouring. Consider the par-4 7th, where deep bunkers nestle into the “crooks” of the cruciform putting surface. We played on a Monday, yet it seemed nearly every pin was in a “Sunday” position, tucked behind traps and set into slopes. Two lessons were learned, though not as quickly as they should have been: Keep the ball below the hole and ALWAYS take an extra club to make sure you clear the sand.
The par-4 7th Hole — typical of the heavy bunkering and unique green shaping on Dubsdread
If there is one hole on Dubsdread that symbolizes the idyllic nature of Cog Hill, despite its location on the outskirts of America’s third-largest city, it is the par-5 11th. From the back tees, this 607-yard monster is a test for even the best players in the world. No matter which tees you start from, though, everyone ends at the remarkable green, which is perched high above the surrounding county, presenting an endless vista across the brilliant green tops of hardwood trees. The atmosphere is diametrically opposite the gritty Chicago that Sandberg described.
The view over Cook County from the 1tth green looks more like northern Michigan than northern Illinois. (After you extract yourself from one of those bunkers, take a moment to enjoy the view!)
Dubsdread: The Verdict
Dubsdread is the unrivaled king of Chicagoland public golf, and Cog Hill is the archetype for multi-course facilities in major metropolitan areas. When asked whether there are plans to bring more Tour events to Cog Hill #4, GM Newport says management is open to it. But the planning would need to take into account the Jemsek family’s dedication to providing the highest-caliber public golf in the state for the residents of the Chicago area.
Green fees range widely across the four courses, with Dubsdread running between $149-$204 in 2025. The other courses, however, are more budget-friendly. The Ravines (#3) maxes out at $92, and the other two range between $40 and $80.
If Cog Hill were a remote boutique destination, these rates would all be considerably higher. As it is, their accessibility and laid-back atmosphere invite players of all levels to step out of Carl Sandberg’s “stormy, husky, brawling” city, roll up their sleeves, and flex their broad shoulders to play a round in a literal urban golfing paradise.
The approach on the bruising par-4 16th Hole varies tremendously in difficulty depending on pin position.
The 18th green threatens you with water, but also beckons you with food and drink in the historic clubhouse just behind it.
I’ve been writing about golf equipment for almost 30 years. In that time, I have tested and reviewed close to 100 putters, ranging from household name brands to boutique start-ups. Many – by which I mean most – new putter companies fail within a few years. But every now and then, one of these plucky newcomers really moves the needle and shakes up the market. L.A.B. Golf is one of these movers and shakers. L.A.B.’s radical designs and precision engineering are creating tsunami-like waves through all levels of the game, from weekend warriors to the PGA Tour.
What sets L.A.B. Putters apart is their balancing. Putters can be “balanced” several ways. If you balance your putter on your finger, lying the shaft perpendicular across your outstretched digit, you can determine its weighting scheme. If the face points upward, it’s “face-balanced.” If the toe hangs straight down, it’s “toe-balanced.” If the toe hangs down at an angle, there is some degree of “toe-hang.” L.A.B. stands for Lie Angle Balanced. Company founder and L.A.B. inventor, Bill Presse, was a mini-tour player who wanted to simplify his putting stroke. He reasoned that lie-angle balancing would most easily allow the putter to balance such that the face is dead-square with the target line, promoting a consistently square face at impact.
A number of design features combine to create this lie-angle balancing. In L.A.B.’s first models, a key feature – along with numerous adjustable weights and an aluminum chassis wrapped around a steel putterhead and insert – was center-shafting. In other words, the straight shaft was inserted into the center of the putterhead. Combined with some radical head shapes (think branding irons – big branding irons), the initial L.A.B. putters were easy to recognize.
The unique profile of the original L.A.B. offering was polarizing, however. Even golfers who appreciated the consistency with which they stroked their putts were sometimes put off by the head shape or size. The center-shafting, too, if you’re not used to it, can make alignment tricky. In 2025, L.A.B. introduced its first non-center-shafted model, the OZ.1i HS ($499), where “HS” stands for “heel-shafted.”
Playing the L.A.B. OZ.1i HS
I recently played the undisputed king of public golf in Illinois, Cog Hill #4, a.k.a. Dubsdread, where the greens are fast and dramatically contoured. Before the round, I met up with an old buddy of mine who is currently a 2-handicap. When he arrived, he couldn’t wait to show me his L.A.B. DF3 Putter, a smaller, slightly less radical version of the original L.A.B. DF2.1. “This putter shaved two strokes off my score,” he said. “I feel like I’m cheating!”
I then pulled the L.A.B. OZ.1i HS out of my bag and asked, “Have you seen their new heel-shafted model?” (OK, so I can be a little smug sometimes. But this situation called for smugness!) He took it to the practice green and proceeded to run in 3 6-foot putts in a row. We both just smiled and shook our heads at the consistency. And he had to admit that the heel-shafted design fits the eye more naturally than the center-shafted version.
The ball comes off the steel insert incredibly softly, allowing for confident, even aggressive, strokes. Within 8 feet of the cup, the OZ.1i HS instills incredible confidence: I just set the putter behind the ball on the line I want it to begin on, take my stance, and swing – as long as I don’t get handsy, the ball rolls exactly on-line. Even my misses go where I want them to – can’t blame a misread on the putter!
Between the exquisite lie-angle balancing, the Press pistol grip, and the premium steel shaft, I’m not sure I’ve ever tested a putter that immediately fit my eye so well. During the last few rounds with the OZ.1i HS, I feel like everything inside 10 feet should drop, and 3-putting is basically a foreign concept.
For players with exacting standards, L.A.B. offers myriad custom-fitting options on their website and a variety of putterhead shapes (including an Anser-style blade) and colors (the purple ones are back!). There are even shaft options that can add close to $400 to the price tag. Although it is true that L.A.B. Putters aren’t cheap, developing supreme confidence on the green is nearly priceless.
If you’ve never heard of Sub70 Golf, you’re in for a treat. This boutique clubmaker based in Sycamore, Illinois, has been producing clubs that are of the highest quality, but at a very reasonable price-point. As I detailed in the profile linked above, the philosophy at Sub70 is “If it isn’t better, don’t release it.” In other words, unlike the big-name companies that pump out “new and improved” models once or even twice a year, Sub70 only releases new clubs when their own testing confirms that the new designs are actually better than the previous ones.
Although golf season is most of the Midwest is winding down, Spooky Season is here. Leave it to Sub70 to offer wedges that both play and look scary-good. The JB Sugar Skull Wedges ($125) feature a laser-etched Sugar Skull and boast exquisite feel and control. The Sugar Skull logo depicts “la calvera,” the traditional symbol of Mexico’s Day of the Dead.
Aside from the unique artwork, these wedges are deadly around the greens, too. They are forged from 1020 carbon steel with milled grooves. The JB Wedges are designed for versatility and creativity, accommodating the most skilled shot-makers.
Sub70 offers several model options to fit any player’s preferences. All wedges come in a “straight” or “taper” shaft version, the JB 2 Wedges have a more squared leading edge, and the Full Groove versions feature grooves stretching the entire clubface from heel to toe. There are also multiple finish options, including black, raw, and satin.
Playing the Sub70 JB Sugar Skull Wedges
Before putting the JB Wedges into my bag, I was pretty comfortable with my wedge spacing, which consisted of a 52-degree, 56-degree, and a 59-degree. When I received the 60-degree and 50-degree Sub70s, I worried about their fit.
As it turns out, adding a couple degrees on either side of the 56-degree was what I needed. With my PW handling shots 130 to 140 yards, I needed something to cover 120 yards comfortably. My 52-degree had been coming up a bit short and I was choking down on the PW with inconsistent results. The 50-degree filled that gap perfectly. And the rusted “raw” finish makes it look like a real battler.
On the other side, the black-finish 60-degree has taught me to truly love the flop-shot. I have hit more flops since putting the Sugar Skulls in my bag than in the previous year combined, saving strokes every round.
My short game is key to my scoring – the rounds where I get up and down from everywhere are the ones where I go low. After putting the Sub70 JB Sugar Skull Wedges into play, I strung together three rounds in a row in the 70s – something I’ve never done before in my life. Maybe I can’t give the wedges all the credit, but they deserve a bunch of it.
So if you’re looking to strike some fear into the hearts of your opponents, Sub70’s Sugar Skull Wedges might just do the trick.
The Ryder Cup rolls around every two years, and golf fans anticipate it as eagerly as Olympians await the Olympics or soccer fans crave the World Cup. With the Ryder Cup being held at Bethpage Black this year, and Keegan Bradley representing a new generation of US team captains, golf equipment and apparel companies are rolling out a cornucopia of Ryder Cup merch to commemorate the revered trans-Atlantic spectacle.
Here are some hand-picked treats from the bounty of gear and apparel commemorating the 2025 Ryder Cup.
Keegan Bradley Signature Series Golf Balls by Srixon
Captain Bradley stands as a transition in US Ryder Cup Team captaincy. Unlike most of the more “senior” captains in recent history, he’s been playing so well this year on Tour, many pundits said he should pick himself for the team and be a playing captain. In a move that was typical of the integrity he has always shown on the course, Keegan did not put himself on the team, so that he could focus on just being the captain. In order to support Team USA, and to honor Keegan as a long-time Srixon Staff Member, the company is releasing the limited-edition Keegan Bradley Signature Series Z-STAR DIAMOND Golf Balls ($50/doz.). Each commemorative ball showcases a captain-inspired logo wrapped in a red, white, and blue motif reflecting Keegan’s patriotic spirit. Complementing this is the limited-edition packaging that pays homage to Bradley’s Boston roots, complete with a detailed skyline illustration celebrating the city’s rich history and character.
Bridgestone Golf Limited Edition PBR Kit
For the 2025 Ryder Cup, Bridgestone golf is re-releasing a collaborative golf kit with Pabst Blue Ribbon. Available exclusively online ($100), the kit includes 1 dozen limited edition TOUR B RX golf balls with PBR logo, custom PBR towel, and a custom PBR putter cover (blade-style). The “King of Beers” is all-in for Team Red White and Blue!
AHEAD Headwear
Maybe special-edition golf balls aren’t for you because you’ll “just lose them anyway.” Maybe a cap or some other commemorative headwear is more your thing – you know, a keepsake that won’t end up at the bottom of a pond? AHEAD has you (and your scalp) covered with an entire line of Ryder Cup caps ($38).
SuperStroke Ryder Cup Putter Grips
SuperStroke, the winningest putter grips on Tour, are introducing the commemorative, limited-edition Zenergy 2025 Ryder Cup putter grips ($35), with red-and-blue graphics for Team USA, and gold-and-blue graphics for Team Europe. The grips come in 5 styles/sizes, to fit most, if not all, players.
Just one week until the fireworks at Bethpage Black. Grab some limited-edition gear before it runs out, and enjoy the spectacle that is The Ryder Cup!
It’s been a hot summer, but my golf game has been hot and cold. Those of us doggedly pursuing lower scores through the heat and humidity deserve some treats in these waning dogdays, don’t you think?
I’ve rounded up some of my favorite golf gift ideas to help pull you out of the doldrums, celebrate a late-summer birthday (like mine), or just pamper yourself a little before the season ends.
Bushnell
The Bushnell A1-Slope Laser Rangefinder ($300), which debuted just this past February, embodies the precision and quality one associates with the name “Bushnell.” It is by far the smallest and lightest rangefinder I have ever used. Pinseeker and JOLT technology provides instant tactile feedback when the target is locked, the slope yardage is easy to see and read, and the BITE magnetic skin is great if you don’t want to take it in and out of the sturdy case. A final innovation that is rare in the market is the rechargeable battery (cord included). This might be the last rangefinder I ever use.
TRUE Linkswear
If you’re never heard of TRUE Linkswear, you’re missing out. I have five pairs of TRUE golf shoes, and I get more compliments on them than any shoes I’ve ever worn (golf or otherwise). The combination of styling, attention to detail, and comfort are tough to beat. Some of my TRUE shoes have metal aglets. Others have eye-catching sole designs that also provide outstanding traction. All of them have excellent padding and support and, importantly, a nice, wide toe-box. Prices range from low $100s to low $300s. An unexpected luxury of TRUE shoes is that every pair comes in its own mesh and canvas carrying case, which is great for golf trips. Now TRUE Linkswear also offers a large line of polos, hoodies, shorts, pants – pretty much any accessory you need to look like a Tour pro on the course, no matter how you play.
Arcade belts
Speaking as a dad myself, I can attest to an odd fact of male aging: Even as our waistlines expand, our need for belts increases. I don’t know why. I don’t make the rules. All I know is that if you don’t want to flash plumber’s butt every time you get your ball out of the hole, a nice snug belt is a must. My recent favorite belts are Arcade Belts. These elastic, fabric belts with a unique buckling mechanism are super-comfortable and even machine-washable, as the buckles on most models are plastic. (This also means they’re excellent for air travel, as you can leave them on going through TSA.) Arcade has three styles specifically designed with golf in mind: Motion, Futureweave, and Momentum. The only note is that the plastic buckles are slightly chunky, so if your belt loops are narrow, it might be a chore to guide the belt through.
Sub70 Golf JB Sugar Skull Wedges
If you’ve never heard of Sub70 Golf, you’re missing out. The Sycamore, Illinois-based boutique clubmaker is without question one of golf’s most-respected companies. Sub70 doesn’t release any new clubs or lines without ensuring through scrupulous testing that the new clubs are improvements over their previous models. They don’t pay any tour pros to play their sticks, but several pros do. Sub70 also offers free fittings at their homey HQ in Sycamore. (They’ll even mix you a cocktail!) And if the fitting results show your clubs work as well or better than theirs for your swing, they tell you that. Integrity, honest, quality – what more could you ask for?
The Sub70 JB line of wedges ($125) include the iconic Sugar Skull wedge. Designed for golfers with a variety of techniques and who play in a range of conditions, the Sugar Skull maximizes versatility and feel. Finishes include black and “natural,” and lofts run from 46 to 64 degrees. Laser engraving is available, which can be customized if you don’t want the original Sugar Skull. But if you do, you can also get a matching Sugar Skull cap ($35).
REVL Grips by SuperStroke
Conservatively, 60% of players I meet need new grips on their clubs. People tend to put off re-gripping their set like they’re putting off getting their teeth cleaned. I’m hear to tell you right now that the single best thing you can do for your game is to check your grips and re-grip them if they’re even the slightest bit slick.
And when you re-grip, there’s some big news in the equipment world that you should consider: SuperStroke, the maker of the most widely-used putter grips on Tour, purchased the legendary Lamkin Grips in May of 2024. This year, they’ve combined SuperStroke’s Tour-proven design principles with Lamkin’s tried-and-true engineering to produce the REVL line of grips. You may have seen commercials for these grips during recent golf broadcasts. Let me say that the hype is completely well-deserved. I regripped my entire set with the REVL Comfort, one of three distinct models in the flagship line, a couple weeks ago. The Comfort is an all-rubber, quasi-wrap design that seems to just guide me to putting my hands in the right positions. This is the first time I’ve had the same grips on all my clubs at the same time in maybe 30 years, and I’ve played three rounds with them, carding 77, 78, and 78. I’ve never shot three consecutive rounds in the 70s before. I don’t know if it’s the grips, or if by some miracle I’ve figured something out about my swing. But either way, I have never felt more confident when I take my grip and stance, so I don’t foresee playing any grips other than SuperStroke’s in the future (including the SuperStroke Incredible Hulk putter grip I just put on!)
Wilding Brands Beverages for On and Off the Course
My daughter lives in Colorado, and every time we visit her, my wife and I are blown away by the sheer variety, not the mention the quality, of Colorado-brewed libations. Wilding Brands was founded in 2024 by Colorado craft beverage veterans Eric Foster (Stem Ciders), Charlie Berger (Denver Beer Co.), and Brad Lincoln (Funkwerks), and they’re bringing fresh energy and innovation to the craft beverage space. With the recent acquisition of Great Divide and a growing lineup of tasty, refreshing products, they’re quickly becoming a go-to name in modern craft beverages.
A recent sampling from the Wilding Brands’ catalog includes these highlights:
Howdy Beer – This is a crisp, easy-drinking Western Pilsner brewed with American barley and Liberty hops. Howdy is a canonical beer that is ideal for sunny rounds or post-game hangouts. It goes down really smooth, yet it’s far more flavorful than your typical big-brand suds. (Available online via Total Wine.)
Great Divide’s Yeti Series – Flavor-forward IPAs and the iconic Imperial Stout, made for golfers who like bold taste in their bag. The Imperial Stout is rich and flavorful. It’s a bit heavy for my tastes on the course, but pair it with a hearty meal after your round. <Chef’s kiss!>
Stem Ciders – I’m big on ciders, partly because they feel lighter and brighter than beers, anf are therefore perfect for hot days. I’ve tasted the hibiscus, dry, and pear ciders by Stem, and they’re all excellent. The pear is my personal favorite.
Easy Livin’ Hop Water – If you love IPAs, but either can’t or don’t want to drink beer (on or off the course), these hop-forward, zero-proof refreshers deliver the taste of craft beer without the alcohol. They’re ideal for staying sharp and hydrated through all 18 holes.
So wet your whistle and enjoy. There’s still a little summer left!
Midwestern Golf 