I prefer to walk when I play golf. Since at least 2009 when my lower back began balking at the weight of my golf bag, I have been a staunch proponent of push carts. I review a lot of gadgets, balls, clubs, drinks, snacks, etc., etc. nearly every round, so my bag is often stuffed with extras. When I was sent my first push cart to review, it was a revelation: so much space for my excess gear, and a drink holder for a beverage, and a spot to clip a cigar holder, convenient access to my scorecard…the benefits were too many to list.
Since then, I’ve reviewed at least a dozen push carts, and all work more or less similarly – and more or less well. One issue that does arise, however, is the way my bag sits on some carts: sometimes they twist, or the straps slip off, or the build of the cart fits a cart bag better than a stand bag (I still carry for 9 holes, sometimes). Sun Mountain’s new Ridgeline 3 push cart ($350) addresses this irritation by introducing the first-ever fully-adjustable 3-wheel push cart. It fits any bag, from junior stand bag to full staff bag with just a few adjustments.
The Ridgeline 3 opens and folds easily, with just one lever and one latch. The fully adjustable part is the bracket on the main vertical handle support. The bracket has a lever that can be loosened or tightened to adjust the height of the bracket. Personally, I like to leave it tight enough to keep from slipping, but loose enough to allow me to slide it up and down without messing with the lever. When I unfold the cart, I slide it all the way up. Then I slide the adjustable top strap through the front handle of my bag to keep the bracket from sliding down. After finding the appropriate length for the straps, my bag is held snugly. The bottom strap stays snug on the bottom of my bag. Best of all, I can set the bag on the bottom bracket without popping the stand legs out.
The handle is rather radically adjustable – ranging from too high for me (I’m 6’1”) to below my waist level. What is particularly nice is the angle at which your bag sits: it’s pretty upright, so your clubs aren’t crowded by the handle and console no matter where you set the handle height. This upright carriage also means that normal-length golf towels don’t get caught underneath the cart wheel. (Does this happen to anyone else? It always seems to happen to me after I hit a bad shot, compounding the irritation. Seriously, is it just me?)
Speaking of the console, it is perhaps a titch shallow. But even so, it has room for a couple extra balls, your keys, wallet, lighter, etc. on the inside. Outside, there is a scorecard holder and a clever cell phone bay with a small bungee to keep the device secure and facing you. At the front of the console is a spacious net to hold larger items.
All in all, the Ridgeline 3 is an outstanding push cart. If there are weaknesses to the design, it is the overall weight, which is slightly heavy. But the ease with which it rolls helps counteract the few extra pounds. Another small quibble is the size of the cart when it is folded: it’s got a fairly high profile—it doesn’t fold particularly small. However, it does fit well enough in the trunk of my mid-sized sedan, even with the 20 pairs of golf shoes and my golf bag. So it’s not that large, and the plusses far, far outnumber the negatives. The Ridgeline 3 is an excellent choice for the walking golfer.
Each Hawai’ian island has its own vibe. The Big Island, Hawai’i, is my favorite. It is the biggest and ecologically most diverse, with 11 of the planet’s 13 climate zones represented on the island. (Yes, you can even ski on Mauna Kea.) Also thanks to its size, it is the one island that doesn’t feel totally overrun by tourists, even during high season.
The Kona Country Club, located six miles from downtown Kona in Keauhou, harkens back to an even less touristy time. The 6,657-yard course was designed by William Bell in 1966, at a time when prime ocean-front land was still abundant. Thankfully, despite rampant development, this Big Island gem retains its charm and ocean vistas today.
You’re never far from the Pacific Ocean while playing the Kona Country Club.
Several holes of the Kona Country Club run directly along the ocean, which proshop staff refer to as “the biggest water hazard in the world,” and just about every hole offers some view of the crystalline blue Hawai’ian waters. Lava outcroppings line the shore and run through sections of the course, forming blowholes (“puka”) when the waves are high. From November through March, players are also likely to spot humpback whales breaching just offshore. Onshore, there are views of Mt. Hualālai, as well as the most curiously shaped palm tree you’re likely to find anywhere.
Mt. Hualālai, as viewed from the course.
Sure, you expect natural beauty in Hawai’i. But is it a good course? The LPGA played a tournament here for a couple of years, so the layout is championship quality. Impressively, it is also an excellent resort course, which is convenient, since it is surrounded by condos and resorts, including the Kona Coast Resort, which boarders the course (whose guests receive a $24 discount on green fees). It is the type of layout that allows first-timers to enjoy the round and play well even without any local knowledge.
Playing the Kona Country Club
When William Bell laid out the course in 1966, there was little development between it and the ocean. Amazingly, despite rampant building all around, nearly every hole boasts at least a glimpse of the sea. Straight out from the first tee, players gaze down on Keauhou Bay and marina, where dozens of snorkeling and sightseeing tours set sail throughout the day.
That’s Keauhou Bay down the hill from the first hole of Kona Country Club. You can catch a boat for a night-dive with manta rays from there.
Four sets of tees allow players of all skill levels to not only enjoy the memorable views, but also the superb golf. For many, the 6,263-yard blue tees will feel comfortable. The downhill 1st hole is a nice, gentle opener that doesn’t require driver. A solid hybrid or fairway metal will trundle down into a large gathering area where the fairway turns 90-degrees to the left, back up toward the green.
The collection of par 3s is outstanding, but choosing the correct set of tees for your round will make all the difference. On the front 9, both par 3s are over 200 yards from the tips but drop down to about 140 yards from the forward tees. The one-shotters on the back are shorter, with the 17 maxing out at just 149 from the championship tees. The first of these great short holes is the 3rd, which plays 195 from the blues with the ocean all along the right-hand side.
The par-3 3rd Hole is one of the longer one-shotters at Kona Country Club.The par-3 12th Hole is a bad place for your hook to pop up (trust me).The 17th Hole is the only par 3 without the ocean nearby — but you have to carry an old lava flow.
The fairways are quite generous, but several holes are lined by houses built very close to the edge of the course. Worse yet, many have terrifyingly large windows, raising the stress level on the tees. Rather incredibly, though, lucky bounces do occur – on the par-4 8th, one of the worst drives I hit all day caromed off a roof and back into the fairway. (Whew!)
The real Big Island magic starts on the 405-yard par-4 9th, which plays uphill to a green situated at one of the highest points on the property. Even if you’re putting out for a double-bogey, take a moment and soak in the endless expanse of the Pacific.
View from the 9th greenThe par-4 10th Hole plays all the way uphill.
The stretch from 12 to 15 presents one postcard-worthy shot after another. The 12th is a mid-length par-3 with lava rocks and the ocean tight on the left. The 13th is a longish par-4 where, if the surf is up, you might get sprayed by one of the aforementioned blowholes. Between the 13th green and 14th tee you’ll find the famed “corkscrew palm,” which looks like some child’s crazy drawing came to life.
The 14th greenThe famous corkscrew palm (and the far less famous screwy author)
The single weak hole on the course is the steeply uphill, left-to-right par-4 16th, where the only job is to hit the ball straight off the tee, as houses are definitely in play in the elbow of the dogleg (be wary of trying to cut the corner). “Everybody hates this hole,” said the regular I played with. After struggling to make a rather miraculous bogey putt, I understood why.
The short par-3 17th is nevertheless somewhat intimidating as your tee shot has to carry an ancient lava flow and a deep ravine to find the steeply canted green. And finally, the uphill par-5 18th taunts you with a row of condos on the left just FULL of big windows. Avoid having to file an insurance claim, though, and you’re treated to one last lovely view from a severely back-to-front tilted green that can ruin your round if you end up above the hole.
The 18th green at Kona Country Club provides a picture-perfect backdrop to end your round.
The Kona Country Club: The verdict
The Kona Country Club is a Golden Age classic that, despite surrounding development, has maintained its hang-loose vibe and dozens of memorable ocean vistas. The visitor rack rate of $189 is perhaps a bit steep, but guests at surrounding resorts are discounted to $165, and the “twilight” rate of $125 begins after 1pm, which is both pretty early for a twilight rate and pretty reasonable for authentic Hawai’ian golf. Quality rental clubs are available.
After your round, enjoy a cold beverage at The View Restaurant in the clubhouse. It’s not just a clever name – the view is fantastic. Just as impressively, the prices for the excellent sandwiches and full entrees are some of the best you’ll find in the Keauhou area. Seriously, the restaurant is as much of a gem as the beautifully maintained course.
The Big Island is the final Hawai’ian frontier. It’s still possible to find spots that feel “local” and “real.” The Kona Country Club is definitely one of them.
Sightseeing Tip
There’s lots of unforgettable adventures on the Big Island, from helicopter flights over active volcanoes to whale-watching to cliff-diving off the southernmost tip of the United States, but according to many locals, the coolest is taking a night snorkel with manta rays. These prehistoric behemoths are up to 23 feet across their wingspans, weighing up to 6,600 lbs. Night snorkels put you in the water with them, and as they scoop up the plankton drawn by the lighted board that divers hang onto, they come within inches of you – like graceful, slightly terrifying aquatic archangels. The tour I’d recommend is run by Eka Canoe, which donates a portion of their profits to teach local Hawai’ian kids sailing and ocean stewardship.
Imagine jumping off this (Eka Canoe) at night, into the black ocean, for a chance to watch 6,500-lb. manta rays up close! It’s an amazing rush!
I just finished playing 18 with a nice young man – 30 years old, struck his woods fairly well. But he gave away at least 12 shots around the greens – full wedges off the toe or high on the face, chunks, duffs, lack of spin. Sometimes technique was to blame. Others, though, I would attribute to the cut-rate wedges in his bag.
Most amateurs miss their wedges in one of three ways: 1) on the toe, 2) high on the face, 3) chunk. So that young man’s misses were textbook.
Wedges that tour pros play are not very good for amateurs with these misses. The top of the face is too thin, so there’s no mass if the ball rolls up the face. MOI is limited, so anything off-center tends to twist the face and kill distance. And if you hit it on the toe, there’s no grooves to provide spin and control.
Cleveland’s new CBX 4 Zipcore Wedges ($170) address every one of these design faults in one fell swoop.
The CBX 4 design is reminiscent of cavity-back irons, with perimeter weighting increasing heel-toe MOI by 7% and high-low MOI by 5.8%. Believe it or not, most of the spin on wedge shots comes from clubhead mass distribution, rather than the grooves. So putting some weight at the top of the clubhead not only increases stability, but also spin.
Not that grooves aren’t important. Cleveland’s Zipcore technology combines deeper, closer-together grooves with HydraZip technology. This one-of-a-kind face blast and laser line pattern boost friction off the face for improved spin consistency from any lie. There is also texturing all the way to the edge of the toe, so even contact totally out on the toe will still get some spin.
Finally, to fight the chunky shots, the CBX 4 wedges all come in three different Dynamic Sole Grind selections, each optimized by loft. All three sole grinds (V-Shaped, S-Shaped, C-Shaped) feature a leading edge design that promotes smoother turf interaction and helps prevent chunking. My old wedges were real gamers, but the leading edges were very sharp. So if I contacted the ground just a fraction before the ball – especially playing on courses with sticky Bermuda turf – they would dig in…chunk! Since putting a couple of CBX 4 wedges in my bag months ago, I can count on one hand the number of chunky chips I’ve hit. Literally, maybe just two, now that I think about it. To maximize your performance, however, I’d recommend researching those three sole grinds and even getting fit for your swing (picker? digger? gouger? – you know who you are).
Cleveland CBX 4 Wedges: The verdict
Bottom line on the Cleveland CBX 4 Wedges is that they will improve your bottom line, i.e., your score. Stop wasting shots around the green, and you’ll be amazed how much lower you shoot. These aren’t “one-hit wonders,” either. They’re designed to help reduce poor shots, but they let you get creative, too. In short, the CBX 4 Zipcore Wedges feature the masterful engineering we’ve come to expect from Cleveland, targeting a wide range of recreational golfers at a very reasonable price point.
Indiana is perhaps the most under-the-radar great golf state in the nation. Avid golfers can find top-notch courses not only at the state’s best universities and luxury resorts, but also scattered across the rolling countryside. North to south, east to west, you can tee it up at these hidden gems for a fraction of the cost of more well-known facilities.
Take, for example, the course that was recently chosen by the Golf Channel’s GolfPass membership as the 4th Best Public Course in America: Sultan’s Run. Located in quaint Jasper, Indiana, the 6,859-yard Sultan’s Run is a thrilling rollercoaster-ride of a course that culminates with a closing hole that is billed as “The Most Dramatic Signature Hole in Indiana.” (More on that later…)
Sultan’s Run, Hole 18 tee box…but this isn’t the most dramatic part…
In 1992, a local consortium opened Sultan’s Run on the sprawling acreage that used to be a horse farm (hence the course’s name and logo). In 1996, one of Pete Dye’s accomplished protégés, Tim Liddy, undertook a renovation that included rebuilding some greens and bunkers and slight tweaks to the routing. Today, the zoysia fairways and bentgrass greens deliver outstanding playing conditions in the often extreme southern Indiana climate.
Conditions, layout, and challenge are of such high quality, in fact, that Sultan’s Run was chosen to host the 2023 Senior LPGA Championship, adding to a long list of high-profile tournaments held here. The day we visited, the vexingly contoured greens were running about 12 on the Stimp meter. The day after we were there, an Indiana high school sectional was played, and the scores ranged from 68 (-4) to 142 (+70) from the gold tees (6,429 yards).
The course itself isn’t the only notable feature of Sultan’s Run, however. Co-owner Chris Tretter reports that he and his partner have poured $6-$7 million into the facilities over the past five years. “And we’re just getting started,” says Tretter. “Our goal is to not just have a great golf course, but to be a premier entertainment and hospitality provider in southern Indiana.” Soon there will even be a closed-circuit live-stream of the 18th fairway and green in the clubhouse so people can watch groups coming in and maybe lay down a bet or two on their performance.
The clubhouse itself was just doubled in size, and on-site lodging has been added. Bordering the final few holes, up to 20 guests can stay in the King of Siam Chalet (12) and the adjoining cottage (8) with gorgeous views of the course. We stayed in the cottage during our visit and were highly impressed with the attention to detail and quality of every single aspect. “I could live here!” my son kept exclaiming.
View from the King of Siam Chalet of the 16th green at Sultan’s RunThe King of Siam Chalet Sleeps up to 14. The Cabin, behind it, sleeps up to 6.Sultan’s Run’s Cottage has two bedrooms, three baths, a loft, and full kitchen — and it’s brand new!Cottage loft
Greens fees at Sultan’s Run max out during peak season weekends at $105, and they often can be considerably lower. (They would easily be double that in the Indianapolis area.) As for pricing of stay-and-play packages, Tretter says, “We do custom pricing for everyone. Just call, and we’ll work something out.” A true example of Hoosier hospitality!
Playing Sultan’s Run
There is simply no space here to describe all the memorable holes at Sultan’s Run. Before the round, I asked for advice from one of the exceedingly friendly workers in the well-stocked proshop. Aside from keeping the ball out of the woods and beneath the hole, he said, “There aren’t a lot of blind shots. It’s all out in front of you.”
This description, however, turned out to be total fiction. We counted easily a dozen holes with some sort of blind or semi-blind shot – tee shot, approach, lay-up – especially if we happened to be coming in from a less-than-ideal angle. Fortunately, the golf carts come with precision GPS, which helped a little. (If you’re a masochist and want to walk up and down the substantial hills, buy a yardage book!)
Sultan’s Run, Hole 1 approach — where you can’t see the putting surface…Sultan’s Run, Hole 4, where the putting surface is also partially occluded…Sultan’s Run, Hole 9 tee — an intimidating forced carry and a blind landing area over the top of the rise.
One of the features of the layout that is most difficult for first-timers is the change in elevations you experience from hole to hole. For example, the 194-yard, par-3 2nd could play up to 3 clubs less due to the steep drop (over water) to the green. Unless there’s wind, in which case you need at least a masters degree in engineering to pull the right stick. In fact, the entire collection of exquisite par 3s requires some expert surveyor skill.
Sultan’s Run, Hole 2 — the first of an exquisite quadruplet of par 3s
The par-3 12th Hole is maybe the hardest hole on the entire course to choose a club for.
There’s a brilliant mix of short and long par 4s, and I don’t think my notes for any course have included more uses of the words “wild” and “crazy.” The 347-yard 7th is, according to said notes, the wildest short par-4 I’ve ever seen. The fairway heaves and then falls off, and the green itself drops off on the left and back 90 degrees, so even the perfect drive over the blind hill then requires a deft touch for your second shot to hold the putting surface.
But it’s not just the short holes that are crazy-fun. The 409-yard 14th presents another blind tee shot to a fairway that tumbles dangerously downhill (seriously – we lost count of the number of signs warning against cart rollovers). A good drive is equally likely to stick high on the slope for a long, tricky second as it is to roll all the way to the bottom of the valley for a flip-wedge in.
Sultan’s Run, Hole 14 — get over the hill just in front of this position, and you’ll have a flip-wedge in.
And then there’s the 429-yard, par-4 18th. The GPS lets you know it’s “The Most Dramatic Signature Hole in Indiana.” When you stand on the tee to address the forced, downhill carry over a ravine, you think, “OK, but the carry on the 9th was longer.” (And it was—that was an intimidating tee shot!) But then, if you’re lucky, you get to your ball in the middle of the left-to-right dogleg, and you look uphill toward the green, and you see a 20-foot waterfall ringing the backside of the putting surface. The GPS wasn’t lying!
Sultan’s Run, Hole 18 — a definite “Wow!” moment from the fairway
Sultan’s Run: The Verdict
I’ve played a lot of golf in Indiana, including nationally-ranked bucket-listers like The Dye Course at French Lick. But I am being completely honest when I say that none of them have been more fun – nor more challenging first time out – than Sultan’s Run. In fact, the final five holes here rank as one of the best extended stretches of closing holes I have seen on any course.
Sultan’s Run, Hole 15 behind the green — this fairway looks like a narrow ribbon from the tee, running between woods and lake.Sultan’s Run, Hole 17, where all kinds of trouble left and right off the tee is invisible to the player. (We watched a half-dozen groups come through one evening, and every one of them found trouble!)
My recommendation is to give Chris Tretter a call, book the chalet or cottage for a night or two, and play Sultan’s Run at least a couple times. After your first round, you will DEFINITELY want to take another crack at it. The greens were inscrutable to us, and intimidating in their speed, but smooth and true. The zoysia fairway grass sort of teed up the ball for you on every shot. Just about every shot looked and felt longer than the GPS said, which took real mental discipline to get used to. And the staff were without exception as friendly as we have ever found anywhere. This Hoosier hospitality extends to the rest of Jasper, too – take the time to treat yourself to the famed tenderloin sandwich or an alligator tail platter at the historic Snaps restaurant in town. (Snaps is on Indiana’s “Tenderloin Trail.”)
So saddle up and gallop down to Jasper for a golf experience you won’t soon forget!
Sultan’s Run, Hole 16 — part of the best closing stretch of 5 holes you will find anywhere
It’s Father’s Day again! Seems like the last one was just a year ago. Time flies like a McIlroy drive, as they (should) say.
Let’s get right to the point: The best gift you can give to old Dad – or any father-figure or mentor in your life who happens to love golf – is to play a round with them. But if time or opportunity don’t allow, here are a few of the best Father’s Day gifts I’ve run across this year.
Upper Deck Golf Trading Cards
I’ve been collecting sports trading cards since I was 10 years old. I’ve just recently gotten back into the hobby, and based on the prices of cards on eBay and the thousands of “card twitter” accounts, it appears I’m not alone. I’m a much bigger golf fan than I am baseball fan these days, so I was thrilled to find sleek tins of Upper Deck Golf Cards ($35) on the shelves of my local card hot-spot. They’re printed on high-quality stock and the photography is excellent; however I was somewhat disappointed with the inserts and parallels. For example, the tin touts “Young Gun” inserts, one of which in my tin was…Billy Horschel. Huh? Guy’s been on tour for 15 years. And the “Dazzlers” inserts are shiny and sparkly, but Joel Dahmen and Ashleigh Buhai are “Dazzlers” (despite Buhai’s 2022 Women’s Open victory)? Nevertheless, it’s cool to have a few Tiger Woods and Annika Sorenstam cards, and I appreciate the inclusion of plenty of LPGA players. If your dad finds himself reliving the childhood thrill of opening packs of trading cards, this is a fun gift.
Arcade Belts
At a certain age, belts become a “must” for men. Weight redistributes, backsides turn into bellies. I don’t know why. It’s just a thing. But belts can be a pain: wrong size, metal buckles that set off airport metal detectors, expensive leather that stains and warps. Arcade Belts ($35-$40) are revolutionary, futuristic belts that solve these problems. These fabric belts are woven from 85% post-consumer polyester. They stretch and are adjustable precisely to any size. The buckle is plastic, so you can leave it on for TSA. They’re so light, you don’t even know they’re on. The only caveat is that the plastic hardware is slightly bulky, and if your beltloops are narrow, it’s tough to thread the Arcade through while your shorts are on. It works better to put the belt through before you put the shorts on. And once the belt is threaded through the loops, you can leave it in your pants when you do laundry, as it’s machine-washable!
GolfLogix Green Books
GolfLogix has custom green books for over 15,000 courses worldwide. Books ($50) contain hole overviews and heatmaps of greens with directional arrow for the breaks. Dad will feel like a Tour Pro pulling out one of these…until he misses the 5-footer for par anyway. Seriously, every time I show these to people at my home course, they all want one. Your Dad will, too!
adidas Sport SP0070 Sunglasses
Is Dad looking to elevate his game on the greens? Adidas Sport eyewear has sunglasses tailored specifically for golf enthusiasts. The adidas Sport SP0070 sunglasses ($78) boast advanced lens technology that enhances clarity, color, contrast, and surrounding light, allowing you to read the greens with unparalleled precision. The impact resistant, ultra-lightweight frames ensure maximum comfort throughout your round, while the ergonomic design guarantees a secure fit, even during your most powerful swings. I don’t wear a lot of sunglasses, but these light and aerodynamic frames with aeration slots contoured to my head, and the flexible temples with a rubberized inside stayed snug without sacrificing comfort. And adjustable nose pads with sweat draining lines stayed put on my (usually sweaty) nose, too.
Balls, glorious balls!
If there’s anything you can get Dad that he will (a) use, and (b) lose, and (c) need plenty of replacements for (aside from sunglasses), it’s golf balls. Just last week, I was playing with a guy who sliced a brand-new pearl into the pond on the first hole and said, “There goes $5.50 in one swing.” And he was a 3-handicap.
The trick is finding balls that work for ol’ Pops. What does he like? What fits his game? There are more and more choices every year!
Srixon Q-Star Tour Divide
The Srixon Q-Star Tour Divide ($40/doz) are the half-and-half colored balls you have likely seen around and thought, “Why?” Well, I’ll give you three good reasons: One, they are EASY to see in the air, even with old-man eyes on overcast days. Two, they have a built-in alignment line for putting. If Dad is one of those players who draws a line on his ball to line it up with the hole when he putts – just skip the Sharpie. Three, even if Dad doesn’t want to play them, they are AMAZING for practice: the split-color design provides immediate feedback in putting and chipping – line, rotation, spin. (And then he can play with the white version, also $40).
Honma TW-S and TW-X
Honma, the biggest golf equipment company in Japan, has introduced a pair of Tour-quality golf balls to the US market in 2024: The TW-X and TW-S ($36/doz). Both sport a premium cast urethane cover that provides amazing spin performance on short irons, increased durability, and an extremely scratch-resistant surface. The TW-X and TW-S deliver exceptional feel shot after shot. Honma’s 326 Dimple construction was developed over a rigorous three-year design process. The 326 dimples are intentionally aligned with a certain size to withstand strong winds with mid/high trajectory. I’ve tested both of these extensively this year and love them. The S is softer and spinnier around the greens, with a higher ball-flight. The X has lower spin off the driver, and a more piercing ball-flight. Both are very responsive around the greens, but if I had to pick one for my game, it would be the X.
Bridgestone – so many options!
There is one golf ball company that is sort of the current heavyweight champion of the world. We all know its name, and we all know why. Its balls are outstanding. But there are plenty of challengers, including Srixon (above) and upstarts like Honma. If this were boxing, though, there would be one ball maker that would be ready to enter the ring for a title shot: Bridgestone. Bridgestone has multiple offerings at all price points for golfers looking for all sorts of features: Tour-grade performance, softness, distance, fun, budget, ladies – you name it, there’s a Bridgestone. I was able to test out all the 2024 Tour B ($50/doz) prototypes this year and was impressed by every one. Spin, control, distance – almost hard to tell them apart. Another big favorite of mine is the e12 Contact ($30/doz), whose dimples are designed to allow more clubface to contact the ball at impact. I can’t say for sure it’s not a gimmick, but I can say that every time I play the e12, I hit nearly every fairway. Could be coincidence, but it does build confidence!
TRUE Golf Shoes and Apparel
I’ll be honest: Golf apparel is really the best clothing and accessories I own. More thought goes into what I’m going to play golf in than into what I’m going to wear for a nice dinner out (much to my wife’s dismay). In fact, if I can wear the same clothes for golf AND for everywhere else, that’s ideal. TRUE Linkswear caters to golfers like me. From finely crafted shoes to hoodies to pants to flip-flops, TRUE carries just about everything for both men and women who want to look stylish on the links AND out and about before or after a round. I’ve got two pair of TRUE shoes (LUX OG Tour ($143-$205), LUX G ($175)), and I get more compliments on both than any other shoes I have. The detailing, down to the metal-capped aglets on one pair, is impeccable. The website has a shoe sizer for ease of reference, but they do run a tad small, so I’d recommend going up ½ a size. The Limited Edition Members Only collection includes a range of on- and off-course apparel and accessories that mix and match seamlessly no matter the occasion – perfect for that anniversary dinner! (Right, honey?)
Dead Golfer Bourbon
Just this year, TRUE Linkswear has partnered with Washington state’s Pursuit Distilling Co. in creating a hand-selected, limited-edition, bottled-in-bond, 100-proof bourbon called Dead Golfer Bourbon. They’ll make just 438 bottles of this wonderful elixir, aged carefully for more than six years in American White Oak barrels. The Mash Bill is 72% yellow corn, 24% rye, and 4% specialty malt barley. You can order it directly at the link above for $105 a bottle.
The Payne Stewart Collection
Golf has its share of style icons, but few can match the late, great Payne Stewart. A new eponymous apparel line, the Payne Stewart Collection, will be debuting June 8, 2024, just in time for the U.S. Open at Pinehurst #2 (where Stewart won 25 years ago). Polos, quarter-zips, wind shirts, shorts and slacks, and, of course, the ubiquitous plus-fours and Hogan cap are part of the new collection. This line will be featured in the merch tents at the U.S. Open, but you can order yours online earlier!
SuperStroke Putter Grips
Perhaps the best feeling in golf is feeling comfortable – and confident – on the greens. An essential part of achieving this blessed nirvana-like state is your putter grip. Your putter should feel so natural in your hands, that it’s like an extension of your body. SuperStroke Putter Grips ($30-$40) have in a very short time become ubiquitous on greens everywhere from local municipal courses to the PGA Tour, where it seems like the winner every week plays them. (By the way, SuperStroke just acquired the illustrious Lamkin Grips company, so if you play Lamkins, look for more innovation from that line, too.)
Bushnell Wingman View
If Dad likes music on the course, there is one accessory that has become essential: The Bushnell Wingman. Bushnell’s newest version of the their revolutionary yardage-provider and speaker, the Bushnell Wingman, is the Wingman View ($200). The View incorporates visual yardages and music information on an integrated LCD screen, so if you want to play in silent mode, you can still get your yardages. And even if you don’t want music (or yardages) on the course, the Wingman serves as an excellent Bluetooth speaker anywhere (it’s not just for golf!).
Life on the Green by Ann Liguori
Iconic sports and golf broadcaster Ann Liguori works in the medium of the long-form interview like van Gogh worked in oil paints. Her award-winning cable series is called Sports Innerview precisely because of her ability to delve deep into the hearts and minds of athletes. Golf, being the mental game that it is, produces many deep thinkers, and Liguori’s interviews of golfers are some of her very best. In her new book, Life on the Green: Lessons and Wisdom from Legends of Golf (Hatherleigh Press, $18), she shares 12 interviews with some of golf’s all-time greats, from Jack Nicklaus to Annika Sorenstam. Each chapter is distilled down to a central lesson in the table of contents (e.g., Nancy Lopez: Stay positive and play happy golf), and the contents of each one make you appreciate both the interviewee and golf itself even more with every page.
You know, my kids give me a hard time because I tend to turn everything into a lesson. I love Liguori’s book because it reminds readers that, in fact, everything can be a lesson. And after individual memories and names fade, we can all hope that the lessons, at least, remain.
So happy Father’s Day, and may your lessons be passed on for many generations to come!
Golfers’ single-minded pursuit of distance at the expense of control reminds me of the way some people – mostly young people – drink the strongest booze possible, flavor be damned, just to “get there” faster. With age, one realizes that savoring a fine bourbon is more enjoyable than slamming shots of swill. And on the golf course, one learns that second shots from the middle of your fairway are more conducive to low scores than from rough, woods, and other fairways.
This is all to say that there is virtue in control. If your golf game is predicated on this axiom – or if your game could perhaps stand a skosh more virtue – the new Cleveland Golf Launcher XL2 Driver is worth a look.
Cleveland has long been known as a top-tier wedge- and putter-maker. In 2024, Cleveland has also debuted outstanding irons, with their ZipCore XL Irons and hybrids, with their XL Hy-Woods. Rounding out the XL line, the Launcher XL2 ($450) brings AI-assisted technology to the tee. The high-tech approach allowed Cleveland’s engineers to identify the spots on the face where amateurs tend to contact the ball (i.e., high/low, and heel/toe), and increase MOI in those regions of the face. This made for a 2% heel/toe MOI boost and a whopping 12% MOI boost on high/low contact. These numbers translate into less yardage lost on off-center hits.
Playing the Cleveland Launcher XL2 Driver
What does this AI-driven design look like on the golf course? I took the Launcher XL2 out for several rounds early this season, when my swing usually feels rusty and fairways feel like foreign lands. Much to my surprise, and delight, I found myself hitting my second shots from short grass at a far higher rate than normal for the time of the season. In fact, I would have been very pleased with the number of fairways hit in every one of these test rounds mid-season. Was it that my swing had somehow weathered the winter better than usual? I don’t think so, because several swings felt cringingly awkward. Still, off went the ball into the fairway.
Don’t get me wrong, there were still a few pulls and pushes – the Launcher XL2 isn’t a cure-all. It must also be said that when it came to “pop” resulting from my best swings and contact, the results were somewhat less than anticipated. Several drives – in admittedly cooler and wetter conditions than normal – ended up about 10 yards shorter than I would have otherwise expected. The XL2’s Rebound Frame technology produces two flex zones for concentrated power, so power wasn’t lacking, per se, but it felt like contact was just a bit soft. This said, the off-center hits ended up about where I would have expected them to. So it was overall a reasonable trade-off.
Here’s where we return to the opening reflection on distance and control: Despite often being first to hit in the foursomes of much younger players than me, I was also often the only one in the fairway, the only one to hit the green, and the one with the lowest score. Ah, the joys of sipping over taking shots.
The verdict on the Cleveland Launcher XL2 Driver
My testing of the Cleveland Launcher XL2 left me extremely impressed with the control it provides. The cool, wet, early-season conditions (and my advancing age) may have been detrimental to its distance performance in my rounds. However, even if there is any lack of “pop,” the ultimate value of a dependable fairway-finder cannot be overstated. If you happen to struggle with a slice, there is also a draw version, and if you REALLY want to go all-in for control, there is a custom control version with a shorter custom shaft.
In short, if you pair this solid big-stick with Cleveland’s excellent irons, hybrids, wedges, and putter, you’ll have a bag top-to-bottom that will allow you to savor every hole, tee to green.
Tucson, Arizona, is a long-time PGA Tour and Champions Tour stop. The Tucson Open was played (under various monikers) from 1945 to 2006. From 2015 onward, the Cologuard Classic (again, under multiple names) has been played against the backdrop of the lovely Santa Catalina Mountains. For around 35 years, the venue for these prestigious events was the Tucson National Golf Club, renamed in 1997 as Omni Tucson National Golf Resort and Spa. Golf history runs deep here.
The opening hole on The Catalina Course eases you into the round, but it does present players with decisions off the tee.
In 2006, Tom Lehman and his golf course design firm were brought into Omni Tucson National to revamp the 27 Bruce Devlin and Robert von Hagge designed-holes and create another 9, expanding the playing options at the Omni to two 18-hole courses. And you’d be hard-pressed to find any golf resort in the Southwest that has two courses with more divergent feels and looks.
The Catalina Course is the more traditional design, with wider fairways, plenty of trees, and nary a cactus in sight. The most radical feature of the Catalina is its 5 par-5s, making for a par of 73. The Sonoran Course, on the other hand, is shorter – at par 70 – narrower, and replete with dry washes and all manner of prickly plants. This variety sets Omni Tucson National apart from most other golf resorts in the Southwest, where “multiple courses” means “multiple desert-style courses.”
Given the dramatically different vibes of the two courses, I asked Omni Tucson National Resort’s Direct of Golf, Brent Newcomb, which one is more popular with guests and visitors. “Well,” he replied thoughtfully, “if they’re interested in 35-plus years of PGA Tour history, then the Catalina. If they’re from the North or Midwest, and they want to play ‘desert golf,’ then the Sonoran.”
What sort of player tends to play well on one versus the other, I asked. “The Sonoran is a desert-style course,” explained Newcomb. “There’s not a premium on distance – more on accuracy. It’s not ‘target golf,’ exactly, though, but there are elevation changes and waste areas. On the Catalina, there are five par-5s, so there are good scoring opportunities for longer hitters.”
The downhill par-3 3rd Hole on The Sonoran Course brings elevation, wind, and precision into play.
Playing the Catalina and Sonoran Courses at Omni Tucson National
I had the good fortune to play both the Catalina and Sonoran Courses during my visit, along with 13 other avid golfers who were in my group. Every one of us commented on the vastly different natures of the two layouts. From the back tees, the Catalina stretches to a tour-worthy 7,262 yards. The next-furthest back tees are 6,610, which then jump rather abruptly down to 5,717. Wisely, both courses offer both longer and shorter sets of combo tees. Most first-timers on the Catalina will find the “Medium Combo” (6,145) a comfortable compromise.
The par-3 4th on The Catalina Course feels less like a desert course and more like a resort course.
The Sonoran maxes out at 6,529 yards, but given the numerous blind landing areas and fair amount of local knowledge you need to plot your way around the course, the starter recommended the 5,995-yard white tees to me (a 10-handicap). Despite Newcomb’s claim that the Sonoran isn’t “target golf,” I found it quite targety indeed. A couple of my group members reported feeling awkward throughout the round, as did I, due to both the yardages and the placement of hazards. One colleague drove his ball over the green on the downhill 304-yard 1st hole, for example, and there’s no coming back from the drop-off behind that green. So longer hitters need to take club selection into account on nearly every hole, if the starters’ advice is followed.
Back to the Catalina, the first few holes ease you into the round. From the opening hole – where bunkering, water, and a slight dogleg right conspire to constrict the fairway – you realize that here, too, choices will have to be made off the tee. Lehman does a nice job of placing bunkers and pinching fairways at multiple points, ensuring that players of all skill levels will need to pay attention, and none will be able to just blast their ball over them without considering what else lies beyond.
Plentiful bunkering, strategically placed, characterizes both The Catalina and Sonoran Courses. (Here, the 5th Hole on the Catalina Course)
A fine example of this strategic plan is the par-4 9th, which plays between 436 yards from the tips to 300 yards from the forward tees (where some of the combo tees play). Water juts in from the right edge of the fairway, making a narrow landing area for a driver from the back tees or for a hybrid from the more forward tees. Alternatively, just a 200-yard carry will clear the water from the more forward tees. A long drive, however, makes for a delicate flip wedge over the yawning bunker with a 10-foot face that fronts the elevated green, and, if not placed correctly, may have some tree trouble.
How good is your wedge game? A long drive on the 9th Hole of The Catalina Course leaves a flip-wedge over this cavernous bunker fronting the green.
The back nine of the Catalina features several shorter par-4s (depending on your tees), along with three of the five par-5s. So there’s great variety and new challenges on nearly every hole. The 443-yard 18th was long-known as one of the toughest closing holes on the PGA Tour, with more water testing both distance and directional control off the tee.
The Legacy Grill is located right behind the 18th green of The Catalina Course. From there, you can watch at least one player each group looking for their ball in that pond on the right of the photo.
The Sonoran looks, feels, and plays completely different from the Catalina from tee to green. Consider, for example, that I three-putted a grand total of one time on the Catalina, but three-putted 6 times on just the front side of the Sonoran. (I stopped counting after that.) I hit every single par-3 on the Sonoran in regulation but didn’t par any of them. Whereas the Catalina greens are generally large, gently cantilevered, and quick, the Sonoran greens are variable in size, dramatically contoured, and, given the contouring, seem much faster.
Despite the desert nature of The Sonoran Course, there’s still some water to be found, er. avoided, like here on the par-3 5th Hole.
The Sonoran’s fairways also felt firmer, so shots really ran, especially with some of the elevation off the tees. This is great for gaining distance, but not so great if you don’t know where, exactly, you’re going. The carts all have GPS, fortunately, but sometimes yardages don’t tell quite the whole story. Holes 4, 8, and 16, for example, all have cross-hazards of waste areas. On the downhill-then-uphill par-4 16th, for example, my best drive of the day ran down into the center of a gravelly waste area, from which I had to shoot back uphill toward a completely blind green.
9th green, Sonoran Course — notice the pronounced false front.
The signature hole of the Sonoran is the daunting par-5 15th. From the very tips, it only plays 515 yards, but it is 100% uphill. On the day we played, it (along with all but two holes, somehow) played straight into the wind as well, so it felt more like 715 yards. In addition to the elevation, the fairway is littered with bunkers and OB runs along both sides, so a bogey here feels like a hard-earned par.
“You sure there’s a green up there?” A common question on the tee of the par-5 15th on The Sonoran Course.
Unlike the Catalina, the Sonoran has almost no parallel holes, so wayward tee shots will likely end up in the desert or in the yard of one of the many homes lining most of the fairways. If I were to play the Sonoran again, I would play from a slightly longer set of tees (“long combo”) and would also pull driver less often, choosing instead to keep the ball in play. And, I hope, I would learn how to putt those greens.
The verdict: Omni Tucson National
Omni Tucson National is steeped in golf history. It is a must-visit for northern golfers looking to escape winter’s cold. During peak season – basically spring and fall, before the hot desert summer and then, later, the winter monsoons – rack rate is $220, including cart, range balls and water, with a 20% discount for resort guests. March and April are really the height of peak season. In the summer, that rate drops all the way down to $80 ($60 for guests), and Brent Newcomb notes that the summers in Tucson, while still hot, are cooler than Phoenix. (I’ve played summer golf in the desert, and it can be done if you plan accordingly.)
Visitors really should avail themselves of the vastly different experiences that the Catalina and Sonoran offer. Average golfers have a chance to score well first time out on the Catalina – it may be a Tour stop, but it’s also a classic resort course, where, aside from ponds on about seven holes, recovery from wayward shots is possible.
First-timers on the Sonoran, however, should probably temper expectations for low scores. Local knowledge is critical here for club selection, tee selection, and line selection, so the layout doesn’t really lend itself to typical “resort” play. The uninitiated are encouraged to bring both extra balls and extra patience, along with the requisite extra water needed on all the courses in the golf-rich Tucson area.
This is NOT the angle you want to approach the green from on the short par-4 13th on The Catalina Course.
Twenty-five years ago, I could really bomb my fairway woods. I didn’t know where they were going, but I knew they were going far in some direction. The rare occasions they went straight were the rare occasions I scored well.
Then something happened. Slowly, sort of like how you gain weight. Doesn’t seem bad at first. But while the rest of my game improved, my fairway woods deteriorated so badly two years ago, I took them out of my bag completely. What’s the point in risking a top or a pull-hook OB? Lay up with a mid-iron and trust the wedge game, right?
Then I read the quotes below from Casey Shultz, Sr. Product Manager at Cleveland Golf, about the company’s new HALO XL Hy-Wood line ($240), and it was like he was talking directly to me:
“Picture this – You’re in the middle of the fairway on a par-5 with a chance to get on the green in regulation. You pull out a long-game option in your bag because it’s the one you always use, and proceed to duff it 20 yards in front of you and now you’re struggling to save par. This new system and our unique lineup will fill in those gaps where the mishits tend to happen and help golfers love their long-game again instead of dreading it.”
“Golf’s unique that way. What fits one player doesn’t fit all. If the Fairway Wood isn’t cutting it and you feel it’s hurting your game, why is it still in the bag? Finding the right Wood type for your swing, whether it’s using Hybrids instead of Fairways, or something new like our Hy-Wood, will ultimately lead to better results.”
I don’t think Casey and I have ever played together, but holy hell, it’s like he was watching my struggles with my 3-wood.
What, pray tell, is this magic wand he’s describing? I had to get my hands on a Hy-Wood. When my 3+ Hy-Wood showed up, I couldn’t wait to test it out, first on a simulator and then on the course.
Playing the Cleveland Golf HALO XL Hy-Wood
The HALO XL Hy-Wood 3+ is 17 degrees, exactly between the lofts of my 15-degree 3-wood and 19-degree 5-wood, both of which have been collecting dust in my basement since their banishment form my bag. Removing them left quite a gap between my 4 hybrid and driver. The 3+ Hy-Wood fills that gap.
The first thing you notice about the Hy-Wood out of the box is that the head is larger than a typical hybrid, but smaller than most fairway woods, and the Aldila Ascent 40gr shaft is a bit shorter than most fairway woods but a bit longer than most hybrids. So not only does the loft fill a gap, but the clubhead sort of fills a mental gap in confidence – “Not a fairway wood. I can hit this!”
My very first swing in the simulator reinforced this confidence – right down the center line of the virtual range, 225 yards – a yardage I had sorely missed in my bag these past seasons!
When winter decided to take a break and suddenly it was 50 degrees in Illinois in February, I headed out to a sloppy, windy, yet still open course for some real golf. In the cool, wet conditions, my drives came up much shorter than usual, so there were plenty of opportunities to hit the Hy-Wood. And where my 3-wood would have come off low and left (based on recent history), the Hy-Wood sailed high and true. I cleared trees, I shaped a butter-cut, I carried it past a new “pond” (blind, flooded area filled with confused ducks) right of a par-5 green and got up and down for the first birdie of the year.
Casey Shultz was not lying.
Nearly 30 years ago, I reviewed some of the first hybrid or “rescue clubs” (as they were often called) when they started to go mainstream. Back then, they didn’t really fit into my bag, as my fairway woods were dependable and I hit everything longer than I do today. But time and tide wait for no man, and neither do swings or strength. Things change, needs change, and equipment changes.
Cleveland has blurred the lines between fairway woods and hybrids. Frankly, who cares what you call any given club? The Hy-Wood fills the gap between traditional hybrids and my driver, both in terms of yardage and reliability. I don’t need a 3-wood to go 270 anymore (in some direction) – just not going to happen. What I do need is a dependable 220-230 club that’s going to go straight and carry trouble. In the Hy-Wood, that’s exactly what I’ve found.
Shultz said he wanted to, “help golfers love their long game again instead of dreading it.” Mission accomplished. Maybe I’m just suffering a sappy Valentine’s Day hangover, but “love” doesn’t seem like too strong a word.
Over 3.5 years ago, I reviewed my first set of “players distance” irons. I admitted in that review that I had reached a certain age when I needed a little assistance from club-making engineers to maintain distance and accuracy, even on mis-hits, while preserving some semblance of shot-making control.
I have been playing with those irons ever since, and have done some of my best ball-striking ever with them. To be honest, I suspected that I might never change my irons again.
Then I opened a shipment of the 2024 Cleveland Golf ZipCoreXL Irons ($900, PW-4i steel; $100 graphite). My heart fluttered a little. My wife, who was standing next to me at the time, said, “Oh, calm down.” I think she was jealous.
Why did I get so worked up? Well, because Cleveland’s new version of “players distance” irons are sexier than most in the category, not just in profile, but also in their technology. The ZipCoreXLs are the first irons to incorporate the groove system found in Cleveland’s award-winning wedges. The 4i-7i feature a rougher HydraZip blast with wider, flatter grooves to protect against excessive spin. The 8i-PW have deeper, narrower grooves to provide extra spin. The MainFrame technology provides the face flex and weighting scheme that combine to give these “players distance” irons maximum pop. And finally, the V-sole design promotes a cleaner strike and more workability.
Playing the Cleveland ZipCoreXL Irons
How does all this technological wizardry manifest on the course, you ask? Well, it’s February in Illinois, so I thought my testing would be limited to the indoor simulator at my local course. On Simulator League night, I swapped out my usual 5, 7, and 9-irons for the newer, sexier ZipCoreXLs. That night, we were playing 18 holes, and all the par 3s were around either 150 or 170 yards, within a few yards either way. My 9-iron is my go-to 150 club, and my 7 is my go-to 170 club. Perfect.
After the fourth par 3, my playing partner (who currently carries a +8 handicap in the league) exclaimed, “I have never seen anyone hit their irons – much less brand-new irons they’ve never swung before – to exactly the yardage on every hole!” And sure enough, if the hole was 173, I hit the 7i 173. If it was 148, I hit the 9i 148. Unfortunately, I was closing the face that night a touch early, so I missed all the greens slightly to the left. But the yardages were impeccable.
Then winter unexpectedly buggered off, and on a sunny 47-degree day, I found an open course nearby and decided to test the irons out under real (and really soggy) conditions. In the chilly wind, my distance control was not at the level of the indoor simulator, but every shot I hit with the three ZipCoreXLs I was sent for testing were like lasers at the pin. Best of all, the V-soles never dug into the saturated, rich black soil underlying courses here in Central Illinois, unlike the sharper leading edges of my usual irons.
The verdict on the Cleveland ZipCoreXL Irons
Ever since I shoved my ego aside a few years ago and started playing “players distance” irons, I have resigned myself to the fact that even though my shots can be, at times, admirable, my clubs were destined to be somewhat less than flashy. Rather, they’ve been workmanlike. The golf club equivalent of the dad-bod. Then the ZipCoreXLs walked into my life (well, were carried into it by a UPS driver, but whatever), and suddenly forgiveness and distance-enhancement doesn’t seem so dowdy.
These sticks are sexy, darn it. And I can’t wait for golf season to start in earnest, because can’t wait to show off my new trophy-clubs. I just have to fill the gaps…
Another year is coming to a close, and for golfers in many places, another golf season is ending as well. I’m writing this a few hours after what might be my final round of the year, played on my local municipal course with two good golf buddies and my son, home from his sophomore year in college. This will be one of the best memories of the season for me, not only because of the company, but because I somehow shot my best score of the year, a 76.
Golf is all about these memories and experiences – and because golf can be played for a lifetime, there are many to be gathered along the way. Hopefully, far, far more good than bad. Here’s a list of holiday golf gift ideas that will, I hope, add to the enjoyment of the greatest game on earth.
SuperStroke Grips
After every professional tournament ends, I get a string of emails from companies touting the winners who’ve played their balls or clubs. The senders of these emails vary week to week, depending on who wins and their various sponsorship agreements. But there is one company who sends out emails almost every week. SuperStroke, the No. 1 putter-grip maker in all of golf. It feels like everyone on tour (every tour) plays SuperStroke grips. Some even play them on their irons and woods. Early this year, I put a Pistol Tour version on my favorite putter, and it felt amazing from the very first day. Yesterday, en route to my best score of the season, I had just 27 putts, including a snaking, downhill 30-footer for birdie on the 5th hole and a par-saving 7-footer on 6. My son said, “Automatic.” Give someone the gift of memories like these!
Bushnell Wingman View
If the golfer on your holiday shopping list likes music on the course, there is one accessory that has become essential: The Bushnell Wingman. In 2023, Bushnell introduced the newest version of the revolutionary yardage-provider and speaker, the Bushnell Wingman View ($200). The View incorporates visual yardages and music information on an integrated LCD screen, so if you want to play in silent mode, you can get your yardages. And even if you don’t want music (or yardages) on the course, the Wingman serves as an excellent Bluetooth speaker anywhere (it’s not just for golf!).
Bushmills Irish Whiskey & Fuzzy’s Vodka
Some memories are meant to be cherished. Some, you’d rather forget. The wonder of alcohol is that it can be both a memory enhancer and a memory eraser, depending on dosage. This summer, PGA Tour fan favorite Joel Dahmen teamed up with Bushmills Irish Whiskey to develop his own signature cocktail, Joel’s Juicy Lie. It’s made with Bushmills 10 Year Old, grapefruit soda, pineapple juice, and a squeeze of lime. The original Bushmills works great though, too. And if you’re lucky enough to get out for some winter golf in colder climes, either one works perfectly for a warming nip throughout your round.
If whiskey isn’t your libation of choice, perhaps Fuzzy’s Vodka is more to your taste. In 1979 Fuzzy Zoeller, one of golf’s biggest personalities, burst onto the scene with his surprise win at the Masters. Today, his eponymous Fuzzy’s Vodka 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.
Bridgestone e9 and e12 Balls
Losing a golf ball is never a good memory. But you know what makes it less bad? Having a bunch more to take its place. So stock up! Bridgestone Golf has for years applied technological innovations developed first in the realm of tire design to golf equipment, especially their golf balls. The e12 Contact ball ($35/doz) is in its fourth generation and better than ever. The genius of these balls is the dimple pattern that allows for 46% more contact between clubhead and ball at impact, imparting more spin and better control. This newest iteration combines this racing-tire-inspired engineering feat with a FLEXATIV cover material that acts like a firmer material when struck with longer clubs, and a softer material when struck with shorter irons and wedges. Whoa.
The Bridgestone e9 Long Drive ball ($30/doz) does what the box says: Long Drive. But don’t let the moniker scare you – it’s a solid all-around ball. I’ve played a few rounds with the e9, and besides a slightly firmer feel off the putter, I noticed no real difference in performance between it and softer and/or more “high-end” balls. It’s especially great in wetter, slower conditions, when you need all the pop you can get.
Sun Mountain Eco-Lite Golf Bags
Like I said, golf provides a lifetime of memories for those who love it. And I want my kids to have a lifetime of memories in golf, too, and their kids someday, and theirs…hopefully for many generations to come. But if we don’t take care of our planet, I worry the opportunity for wonderful outdoor memories will eventually be limited. In the spirit of stewardship of this great game and our only planet, Sun Mountain has developed the Eco-Lite Golf Bag line ($250-$280). Eco-Lite Bags are made with Repreve® Fabric, which is woven from recycled plastic bottles. Approximately 25 20-ounce bottles go into the construction of each Eco-Lite golf bag. Sun Mountain has also partnered with 1% for the Planet, a global network of businesses, individuals, and environmental organizations tackling our planet’s biggest environmental issues. They donate a percentage of Eco-Lite sales to Montana Rivers, Inc., an organization dedicated to conserving and protecting rivers through outreach, restoration, and advocacy. These bags are super light-weight, extremely durable, and packed with clever, useful design features.
Edison Wedges
Ask my regular playing partners what they remember of my golf game, and they’ll say, “Recovery shots.” You see, I hit the ball crooked sometimes (well, pretty regularly). Yesterday, my tee shot on 7 landed on the 12th fairway. Then my second turned into an inexplicable shank that ended up next to the 11th green. So my third shot needed to be a 60-yard full flop shot uphill and over several fairly large trees. My Edison 59-degree wedge delivered the ball directly over the 7th flag to the front of the green. I sank the putt for a “textbook” par. Memories.
Haven’t heard of Edison wedges? Well, read about them here, and then shop their new Gen 2 wedges and enjoy a 25% holiday discount here. These magnificent boutique wedges are guaranteed to give you some great memories.
Golf Simulators
You know the saying, “Go big or stay home”? Well, how about you go big AND stay home? If you’re really looking to make memories this holiday season, and have the space and cash to go big, check out the golf simulator packages at The Indoor Golf Shop. The Indoor Golf Shop has simulator packages by all the top makers – SkyTrak, Garmin, Uneekor, and more. You’ll also find an enormous selection of golf nets, mats, rangefinders, and pretty much anything else you need to dial in your swing and dial up the memories.
Well, that’s it for this season, folks. May you remember your good shots, forget your bad, and cherish every minute playing the game we all love. Happy Holidays!
I like to take a towel to the green with me to wipe off my golf ball and wedges or putter. But I usually forget to grab one before I walk to the green, and frankly, I’m too lazy to walk back — even when my pushcart is parked just off the edge of the green. The MagnetOwl magnetic towel ($35) is a super-cool, super convenient solution to my combined forgetfulness and sloth. The microfiber towel has a powerful screw-in magnet that’ll lock tight to your wedge or (ferrous) putter. The magnet will also hold a ballmarker in place for easy access. Just toss it on the ground and, when done putting, pick it up with your clubhead. The MagnetOwl 7-in-1 divot repair tool ($20) (aka ‘pitchfork’, for our British readers) is also a great stocking stuffer — divot repair, groove cleaner, brush, cigar/club holder, ballmarker, bottle opener, belt/bag clip. It’s like a Swiss Army Knife for golf!
Last-minute Gift — because we all forget sometimes
Hey, we all forget sometimes. Maybe you forgot to get something for that one golfer on your list. But you want to do something special anyway, and who cares if it won’t arrive by Christmas? If this describes your situation, let me recommend the new book “Caddie Tales” by Mark Milatz (available here). Mark (aka @markthecaddie on Twitter/X) is a caddie at one of the best courses in the US, and he’s learned a lot along the way about golf, people, himself, and life. Great stories and lessons here, including how one of his favorite loops ever was with a guy who shot 176. Seriously. If you’ve never played with a caddie before, this is super-important to remember: They don’t care what you shoot. They care that you’re a pleasant person and not a total jerk. This book is well worth the read, even if you’re not a golf nut!
Midwestern Golf 