4 Things Golfers Can Learn From Patrick Cantlay's Playoff Run

What can we learn from Patrick Cantlay's incredible FedEx Cup Playoff Run?
 

 

During the 2021 FedEx Cup Playoffs, we watched Patrick Cantlay go on a superb golfing run, showcasing an incredible displaying of golfing skill under the toughest of circumstances. It started with his performance at the BMW Championship and then at the Tour Championship, resulting in him winning the FedEx Cup.

But what was most interesting was the way he won. First at the BMW, via an epic playoff between Bryson DeChambeau and himself, in which Cantlay did not falter at all and dominated with his putter. Then at the Tour Championship, where he overcame small bouts of trouble to win by one shot over Jon Rahm.

It has been a few weeks since Cantlay hoisted the FedEx Cup and we've all had time to reflect on it. I believe that there are a few things we can learn from Cantlay and what we saw him accomplish.

 

 

1) The Importance of Putting

Putting is what won Patrick Cantlay the FedEx Cup. Period.

 

It started at the BMW Championship, where he made a clutch putt after clutch putt all while going toe-to-toe against the long-hitting Bryson DeChambeau in an epic six-hole playoff. DeChambeau was able to outdo Cantlay off the tee, but once they were on the green, Cantlay dominated. It brought truth to the phrase "drive for show, putt for dough".

Learning the game today, I think there is a huge emphasis on gaining distance. Don't get me wrong, I think that's a good thing; everyone loves hitting a long drive and its a real confidence booster. But what Cantlay showed us is that an equal emphasis should be placed on putting. The ability to save par or two-putt a tricky green can have a huge effect on lowering your scores and making you a better golfer. 

To be fair, putting is probably the hardest thing to practice, because you actually need to be on a golf course to develop it fully (i.e. learn how to read greens, slopes, etc.). At a driving range though, you can practice chipping, driving, approach shots, etc., and I think we can all agree that its easier to get in some range time as opposed to a round of golf. There are numerous off-course putting aids out there, however, that can help you with your stroke or weighting and these are all great things. 

The bottom line is that its worth practicing putting and considering it on par to driving and shot-making, etc.

2) How To Play One Hole at a Time

Cantlay rarely made a mistake during both the BMW Championship and the Tour Championship. But when he did, he was able to recover from it and not make the situation worse. For instance, at the Tour Championship, he made 3 bogeys, but immediately followed two of those up with birdies on the next hole. His ability to completely disregard on hole from the next was quite remarkable.

The is something that I think takes quite a bit of work to accomplish, because it's not a physical skill, rather a mental one. Often times, when I finish a bad hole, my first instinct is to ponder on it and see how and where I went wrong. While this is a good thing, sometimes I dwell on certain things. I begin to question my golfing abilities and start letting this dictate what I should do on the next hole. 

 

Cantlay showed us that being able to separate one hole from the next mentally is extremely beneficial. It's like wiping the slate clean or hitting the reset button at the start of each hole. New hole, new opportunities to score low. 

 

On a similar note, we recently wrote an article about how not to compound errors on a golf course, in our "How to Play Smart Golf" series, that preaches the same message we heard from Cantlay.

3) Developing the Correct Mindset for Golf

In his post round interviews, Cantlay often mentioned that on the course, he tries to tune everything out and enter what he calls a trace-like mindset. This was on full display during the playoff at the BMW Championship, where Cantlay did not even realize that DeChambeau had hit his tee shot into the water, despite teeing off after him. 

Adapting this for the everyday golfer requires some adjustment. Normally us golfers aren't playing with crowds of people or TV cameras watching us, but the idea is similar: have a positive mindset and keep your focus on golf. The golf course should feel like a place where you can get away to, somewhere to escape the stresses and requirements of everyday life. 

It's also a great skill to develop if you do feel pressure on the golf course. For example, when paired at a golf course with a golfer who is better skilled than me, I often feel slightly pressured to perform well. Or when I'm about to hit a shot in front of the course marshal. Having the ability to completely tune out the sources creating the pressure is an immensely useful skill to have.

4) Play at Your Pace

There were many scenarios throughout the FedEx Cup Playoffs where Cantlay may have been tempted to speed up his shot process. For instance, when full of adrenaline after sinking one of his numerous clutch putts. Or when he was grouped with Bryson DeChambeau. But no matter the situation, Cantlay's speed never changed; he always assessed each shot the same way, always wiggled his feet when putting the same way, and always took time to make sure things were exactly the way he wanted them to be.

It's a matter of comfort in my opinion. Most players have a "routine" which they go through prior to taking a shot. This routine takes a certain amount of time and speeding up any of the steps in your routine can throw everything else off. 

Again, this is a skill that can always be developed. For newer golfers, your routine, on the whole, may take longer than others. There's nothing wrong with that, but you'll eventually notice that as you become more confident in the various aspects of your game, your overall routine will speed up. The key to remember is to just do what you do and not change it in either way, regardless of what your speed is. 

 

 

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Patrick Cantlay's playoff run was exciting to watch, in terms of entertainment, but equally interesting in terms of what us everyday golfers can learn from it. This ability to learn and be entertained at the same time is something that I think we see very little off when watching professional golf. In the end, we all want to become better golfers.

What else do you think can be learned from Cantlay? What was your favorite Cantlay moment this year? Let us know in the comments below.

-Nick

Toronto Golf Reviews

Don't Compound Errors: How to Play Smart Golf #1

This is the first article in a new series here at Toronto Golf Reviews called "How to Play Smart Golf". The goal of these articles is to educate golfers of all skill level about the mental side of the game and, in a way, show them how to think about golf. 

 

The mental side of the game is perhaps the most important. A golfer can drive the ball super far, or be super accurate with their irons, but if they make bad golfing decisions, their score and ultimately their confidence level, will suffer. 

 

I should preface these articles by saying that I'm not an expert golfer; I currently play to a 15 handicap. But I have been around the game for long time and know what to do and what not to do in certain situations (even if I do find difficulty in the execution).

 

With further ado, the first topic in this series is how to not compound errors on the golf course.

 

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Making a mistake on a golf course is very common. Nobody's perfect, it's as simple as that. Even at the professional level, we see week after week players making mistakes. The main difference between us everyday golfers and the pros, is how we deal with our mistakes.

 

If a golfer hits a wayward tee shot that finds a fairway bunker, often times they are left with two decisions: a chip back onto the fairway or an attempt to go for the green, say on a par 4. There are risks and rewards to both decisions but the key is knowing your skill level and using this to make an informed decision about what to do. 

This brings us to the topic at hand: do not compound errors on a golf course. It's a relatively straightforward idea, in principle. When faced with trouble on a golf course, don't make a decision that will make your situation worse. 

 

Going back to our scenario above, suppose the golfer decides to go for the green. They have a mid to long iron in hand and take their shot. Unfortunately, it hits the front edge of the bunker and stays inside, closer to the edge, in a worse position. They have just made their situation, and ultimately their score, exponentially worse. 

On the other hand, they could have chipped out with a wedge or short iron, onto the fairway, leaving them a chance to save the hole.

So how do we as golfers know what the right decision is and when to make it? It's a two part thought process, I believe, that involves first assessing the situation you are in, then making a decision based on your physical skill level. Let's explore this a bit more.

 

 

STEP 1: ASSESS THE SITUATION

Let's talk about risk assessment first. For better understanding I'll keep using our example above. Our golfer arrives at the bunker that their tee shot landed in. Immediately, they should being assessing. Is the ball plugged in the bunker? Is it close to an edge? How is the quality of the sand? Will I have an awkward stance? These are the types of questions golfers should be asking themselves when they find trouble. Doing this will allow you to establish if the shot you want to attempt (going for the green in this case) is a high or low risk shot.

 

 

STEP 2: BE HONEST ABOUT YOUR SKILLS AND MAKE A DECISION BASED ON THEM

So the golfer has now established the risk level of going for the green, now they need to make a decision based on their skill level. Golfers must use their judgement of their skill and be honest with themselves, can I really get out of this bunker and make it to the green? If I need my 4-iron to get to the green, will I get enough height at the beginning of the shot to make it out? Can I alter my shot to add more height? Is this long-iron bunker shot something I have confidence in? 

 

This is where things get tricky, as ego may come into play. As golfers, we always want to hit the "hero" shot. Maybe it's because we see so many of them in professional golf and think its easy, or maybe it's something else. But the bottom line is that we need to be honest when we assess our skill level. If a golfer knows that they cannot execute a particular shot or has trouble doing so, don't hit that kind of shot. Don't compound the error and make things worse by going for the "hero" shot. 

 

The best part about this thought process is that it scales with skill level. As you get better as a golfer, you will be able to more accurately assess the risks of a shot and you will be able to hit tougher shots with more confidence. This all adds up to being able to take riskier shots, with less chance of making another mistake and compounding the errors.

A CLASSIC CASE STUDY: JEAN VAN DE VELDE

Even on the professional tours today, we see players struggle with this type of decision-making. A player who currently gets ridiculed for this is Bryson DeChambeau, who has made many interesting decisions in tournaments past. To be fair to Bryson however, a good portion of these decisions have actually paid off and led to much success for him.

Perhaps the most famous case study though is Jean Van de Velde at the 1999 British Open at Carnoustie. 

 

Jean walked onto the 18th tee box with three shot lead. After landing his tee shot in the fairway, he decided to go for the green. His shot was wayward, hitting the grandstands then a stone wall bordering a water hazard, before landing 50 yards back in deep rough. 

 

Things would get worse for Jean though. Deep in the rough and with a water hazard in front of him, as well as a large greenside bunker, Jean decided to go for the green for his third shot. But, his club got tangled in the rough on his downswing, causing him to mis-hit the ball, directly into the water hazard. Luckily, he decided against playing the shot from the hazard and dropped. His next shot landed in the greenside bunker. A chip and a great putt later, he finished with a triple-bogey. He would go on to lose to Peter Lawrie in the ensuing playoff.

 

It's tough to say exactly what the best decision in that situation would have been, but its clear that his decision to go for the green with his third shot was super high-risk, given the rough he was in, obstacles he needed to go over and his three-shot lead. In an alternate reality, suppose Jean decided not to go over the water hazard with his third shot and instead chip it back to the fairway. He would have been left with an easier approach into the green and have a putt for par. Even a two or three putt would have still resulted in a win. Jean's collapse is a lesson to all golfers about the struggles of accurate decision-making in the toughest of moments.

Jean Van de Velde assessing his fourth shot on the 18th hole at Carnoustie during the 1999 British Opem

FINAL THOUGHTS

Developing the ability to assess the condition of your ball after you have hit an errant or off-target shot is an asset to all golfers. It allows you to make an informed decision as to what your next shot should be. Likewise, being honest about your skill level and ability to hit certain shots with confidence can have numerous rewards. Combining these abilities can ultimately allow you to make less errors on the golf course and not compound errors when you do make one; one more step towards playing smarter golf and lowering your scores. 

Like this article? Check out some of our other golfing tips too.

Also, let us know in the comments below about crazy golf situations you have been in,

-Nick

Toronto Golf Reviews

First Time Going to a Golf Course? Here's What You Need To Know...

So you recently decided to take up golf and you're loving it so far. You've been to the range a few times, practicing hard at your new sport, and maybe even had a lesson or two from a local pro. But one thing is certain, you're hooked and you want to step it up one level. You want to try out a real golf course. First impressions are a huge thing, especially in the golfing world,  so here are a few tips that can make your first time at a golf course as rewarding as it can be.

 

 

 

First time heading out to a golf course? Check out these tips below (image: wallpaperswide.com)

 

 

1) Start out with an easy course 

This is probably the best tip I can give to newcomers. For your first time, it is wise to play a course that is both shorter in length and easy in difficulty. This was the mistake I made. The first course I played was pretty tough. In fact, it's still one of the more difficult courses I've played (for those curious, it was Mill Run Golf Club's Championship Course). I had gone with a few friends and while I had a great time with them socially, I did play pretty poorly. I was able to hit a few good shots here and there, but most of my shots were short tops, slices or overshots. And most of my time was spent searching for my ball in either the rough, hazards, or OB areas. Easier courses, in general, are usually more forgiving in terms of hazards and OB areas. Bad shots can usually be found and there's a lot less risk on each hole.

But you're a new golfer, so how exactly do you tell if a course is easy or tough. Well luckily, the various golfing associations around the world have thought of this and developed the "Slope and Course Rating" evaluation. In layman's terms, these are numbers that represent what a scratch (course rating) and bogey golfer (slope) would shoot at said course. It's a bit more detailed than that, but all you really need to know is, in most cases, the lower the numbers, the easier the course. You'll also find that depending on what tee box you play from, the slope and course ratings will change. This brings us to our next tip.

2) Don't play from the long tees! 

Most people will naively think that playing from the longer tees just makes the hole longer. While this is true in most cases, longer tee boxes can also introduce new features/hazards into a hole, or make them more pronounced. For example, a dogleg par 4 might introduce fairways bunkers when played from the longer tees, or make your second shot a lot tougher. Don't feel pressured to start from the longer tees, even if you can hit it far. The requirements equally for both accuracy and distance increase the farther back the tee boxes are. Often times, accuracy is the harder of the two to control. At most courses, the red or white tees are a great place to start. Golf is a tricky sport even for the best players, so there's no need to make it any harder than it has to be, especially for a newcomer learning the game.

3) Book a 9-hole twilight round

I've said this a few times before, most recently in my "Why Don't More People Golf" article, but I am a huge fan of the 9-hole twilight (after 5pm) round. From a time perspective, nine holes of golf will probably take a new golfer about 2-3 hours, a much more manageable and easier to work with time-slot, compared to a full round.

In terms of vibes, I've often found that the atmosphere at a golf course during the twilight time is much more relaxed, compared to earlier times. People seem to be more easy-going and less uptight. It's a great environment for a new golfer and its usually less busy. You can re-take a shot or play two balls without having others complaining. Plus the prices are usually cheaper, which always help. 

4) Don't feel intimidated

There's absolutely no need to feel intimidated playing a golf course. Every golfer at some point was a beginner. That being said, there's a few things you can do to feel less intimidated. For example, if the group behind you is playing quicker or putting pressure on you, feel free to let them through. Don't let them ruin your golfing experience and they'll almost always willingly go ahead when offered. If you're worried that you won't play well on the course, a quick bucket at the driving range before your round is an excellent way to get dialed in. 

 

Another thing newcomers might not realize is that a course is much different from a driving range. Your shots now have meaning and distance isn't everything. But this shouldn't intimidate you at all. Your shot routine will still be the same as on the driving range (something to note though, playing off plastic tee mats at a driving range is vastly different than playing on real grass at a course, as we wrote about years ago). On a course, what's changing now is your mindset before your short; you're thinking about club selection, wind, what to avoid, etc.

5) Alone vs with others 

For years now, I've been hearing mixed opinions about going at it along or with a group of golfers for your first time on a golf course. I can see both sides of the argument and to be fair, there are pros and cons to both. 

Let's start with going alone. You do have the benefit of not feeling like you are the worst in the group or that you are holding up your playing partners. It's just you and the course, similar to a driving range experience. But it does come at a price, some may feel intimidated to go at it alone and may get caught up with things like course expectations, rules and so on. Plus, unless you're going to a quieter course or at a less busy time, you will most likely be paired up with another person or two. 

Going with a group can be a positive experience. Like I said earlier, this was what my first time was like. In my case, my group of friends were okay golfers, but knew the ropes. They weren't competitive and just enjoyed being on the course. Even though my golf wasn't the best that day, it was fun to watch how my friends approached each hole and I felt that I learned a lot from them. They didn't just give me some generic swings tips, but showed me what your mindset should be like for different holes. For example, playing away from the hazards, how to set up an approach shot. I couldn't quite execute it all at the time, but I learned what to do.

6) Relax and have fun

Yes its a bit cliche, but sometimes it just has to be said. There's no need to be stressed or worried about anything. That's exactly the opposite of what golfing is supposed to be about. Sure, you'll hit bad shots, you'll lose a few balls, you might play slow, but that's all part of the experience. All golfers, regardless of skill level, still do this from time to time. But I can guarantee at some point during your round, you'll do something great, something that makes you want to keep coming back. So there's no need to stress out. Eventually, you'll find that the golf course can be a place to relax, catch up with your friends and even have some friendly battles between them.

 

 

***

 

 

So there you have it! Six basic tips for newcomers heading out to the course for the first time. I hope you learned something from this and, more importantly, that you enjoy yourself. The game of golf is truly a sport like no other and it's great to see that more and more people are getting into it.

If you have some tips that you would like to share with us, drop them in the comments below. Or feel free to share your first golf course experience with us!

-Nick

Toronto Golf Reviews

What New Golfers Can Learn From Watching Senior Tour Golf

What Can New Golfers Learn From Watching Senior Tour Golf? (image: NY Times)

 

This past week, the 2021 Senior Open was played at Sunningdale Old Course in England. I was lucky enough to catch the last round on TV, even through a hectic Olympics schedule. I don't typically watch Senior tour events, but I am glad I watched this one. It was a great display of golf, as Welshman Stephen Dodd, fought off attacks from the likes of golfing legends Miguel Angel Jimenez, Darren Clarke and Bernhard Langer, to win his first major. Even sweeter perhaps is that Dodd is now eligible for PGA Tour Champions events.

 

For those that do not know, the PGA Tour Champions and its European counterpart, the European Senior Tour, are senior professional tours featuring older golfers. Typically these are players that have found success on either the PGA Tour or European Tour, but want to continue their careers in a less-stressed fashion. There are fewer events on senior tours and the ones played are only three rounds in length, except for majors. 

 

As I watched the final round of the Senior Open, I started thinking a bit more about senior golf and the players in general. I realized that average golfers, especially those new to the game, can learn a great deal about golf by watching senior tour events, even more so than regular PGA Tour events, in my opinion. 

 

 

So what exactly do I think can be learned? Well, I think it can be boiled down to two things: how to approach the game mentally and learning through experience

 

 

1) How to approach the game mentally

Let's face it, most of us golfers do not have aspirations to play professional golf. We play because we enjoy the game and enjoy playing it with others. Now that isn't to say that we don't want to get better; we all do. We all want to hit that perfect iron shot or sink that clutch putt. One way players can improve their game is to examine how they approach it from a mental aspect. 

Here is where watching senior golf comes into play. From the events that I've seen, there is a more relaxed and calm atmosphere that seems to be present at these events. We see senior players having a good time while playing their rounds, talking to their playing partners, the fans, etc. It just feels more relaxed than when you compare it to a normal PGA Tour event. And it's for good reason. To be fair, most of the senior players have already had successful careers and may not necessarily have the same worries as a standard PGA tour player, such as trying to make a name for themselves or breaking through to win, etc.

This is the correct mindset us players should have towards the game, in my opinion. We shouldn't beat ourselves up over a bad shot, or let negative thoughts about a previous shot influence the next. I think any golfer, but new golfers in particular, can look to these senior players as an example of how to implement this correct mindset, in a tried and tested manner.

2) Learning through experience

The motto of the PGA Tour Champions is "Where Legends Play". This pretty much sums up the golfers that play on the senior tours. We're seeing experienced veterans, giants of the game, playing these events, outright legends in some cases. These are golfers who have been a part of professional golf for a long time and know how to play the game the right way. It's analogous to a master artisan, who has perfected their craft over time.

And who better to learn from than the masters themselves. What average players can learn from these veterans are things like shot-selection, game-plans for hole shapes/styles, how to recover when you find trouble, and overall golfing knowledge. Sure, the players are older, their swings are more restricted and they don't bomb it like the regular tour pros. But the vast wealth of knowledge that they possess is invaluable to learn from. Imagine being able to pick the mind of some of golf's greatest players. This is a pipe dream for most of us, but the closest we can get right now is watching senior golf in action. 

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Bernhard Langer is a perfect example of someone who newer golfers can learn from; the poster boy for senior tour golf, hands down. I love watching Langer golf, because to me at least, he appears to be having a genuinely good time while playing, regardless of if he's playing well or not. He's no stranger to winning, having won 42 times on the European Tour, twice at the Masters and 42 times on the PGA Tour Champions. And he brings all that experience to the table every time he plays. It really is something special and Langer is just one of dozens of senior players with similar pedigree. 

 

If you're still not convinced at what you're getting when you watch a senior tour event and the influence it can have on you, give it a try. You may be surprised at what you see.

-Nick

Toronto Golf Reviews

What Can New Golfers Learn From Watching Senior Tour Golf? (image: NY Times)

How COVID-19 Has Grown the Game of Golf

 

It goes without saying that we are currently living in uncertain times. It seems that everywhere you look, every industry or facet of life, has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, golf being no exception. 

To say the golf industry has been on a rollercoaster ride for the past year is an understatement. But from what seemed like the darkest depths of the industry and in the unlikeliest of situations, golf appears to have emerged stronger than ever. In this article, I explore the reasons why I think the COVID-19 pandemic has ultimately grown the game of golf, at least here in Canada.

 

To accurately analyze this perspective, let's go back to the beginning of this ride, about a year ago. I had written an article outlining a concern I had for the golf industry; in particular, reasons why I thought more people weren't golfing and what we could do to fix it. It was an article born out of confusion I had on my part, or perhaps necessity. At the time, some considered golf a fading local industry. Naturally I was skeptical, but as I watched course after course close down and sold for land, city officials lobby for the removal of municipal courses based on viability and so on, it was difficult to ignore.

Fast forward to March of this year. As many of us golfers and courses were preparing for the upcoming season, the entire world was shaken by the COVID-19 pandemic. At first, I thought it would have a minimal effect on the industry, keep in mind the Ontario golf season usually kicks off in mid-April. I thought surely it would pass by then. But, as the delays and closures were extended, things began to look grim. Like in many other industries, we had no idea what impact closures of this length would have on the already "fading" golf industry. 

 

So, in these dark times, how did the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, in my opinion, ultimately lead to positive growth in golf? Let's examine this in detail.

I'll look at it from the perspective of Ontario, as that's the only perspective I can speak from. Outbreaks of COVID-19 resulted in the province going into a state of lockdown at the end of March, with non-essential services and businesses forced to close down or, in the case of golf courses, delay their opening. This resulted in a large portion of the population having to work from home or stay home all together. At the beginning of May, it was announced that golf courses could open up for business, to the joy of many golfers but concern to others. I had mixed feelings about this, mainly what the ramifications would be if outbreaks began occurring at courses.

But it was here, during the most uncertain of times, where golf began to grow. On one hand you have people suddenly having more time to themselves, but unable to do the things they want with that time, as a result of the lockdown. On the other hand, you have golf courses being one of the first things to open up. Add these together and you have the perfect situation for growth and a means for introducing new people to the game. In my "Why Don't More People Golf?" article, I noted that time was a major issue as to why more people weren't golfing. My solution was to promote the 9-hole round. A different approach was inadvertently taken as a result of COVID-19; people were given more time.

Perhaps more importantly was the psychological side of things. Adults and children wanted to get out. When you live in a small, crammed city apartment, where you've spent the last month or so, the vast openness of a golf course, that feeling of being immersed in nature, amongst the trees, seems very appealing. If fact, it was reported by TSN's Bob Weeks recently that rounds at the City of Toronto's municipal courses are up by 5,000 over last year.

Credit for this growth must also be given to the courses themselves. While golf is a relatively safe sport compared to others, in terms of contact and distancing (My slices have been social distancing me from my playing partners for years!), many courses have implemented additional measures to reduce risks, such as disinfecting carts, touchless ball retrieval systems, patio-only dining, etc. Had these measures not been in place and outbreaks began occurring at courses, the golf industry would be in serious, most likely irreparable, trouble. 

Golf courses have also cut down on the number of tee times they offer per day, in an attempt to lessen the amount of people on the course at any given time. In my experience so far, this appears to have the added effect of reducing the time it takes to finish a round. So now not only do people have more time for golf, the act of golfing could take less time. 

 

For years, golf has struggled to get people to try it out, to get them over that initial hurdle, for various reasons. COVID-19 has inadvertently set off a sequence of events that has ultimately led to people having more time and a desire to get out, with golf being available to meet that desire. And as I noted prior, it's a very addicting game, once you're in and you like it, it's difficult to shake off. 

We've spoken thus far about the positive impacts of COVID-19 on golf, but there are no doubt unavoidable consequences. In particular, the off-course social aspect of the game has been completely minimized,  as courses attempt to reduce contact between players and staff. The entire act of checking in before a round seems robotic, assembly line-like. To many golfers this is a concern or possible deterrent from the game. But we should all recognize that this is for the better and necessary, at the moment. 

Something must be said as well for how COVID-19 has affected professional golf. Like many other sports, professional tours began to cancel events once the pandemic began. Their return, however, was earlier compared to most other major sports (for example, the PGA Tour returned with the Charles Schwab Challenge on June 8th). With no other professional sports to fill the TV time slots during this time, golf tournaments began to receive more coverage, hence more exposure to kids and adults who may not have otherwise seen a tournament before (although online-only streaming for some tournaments has taken place).

When the fan-less tournaments did return, they were different; there's no other way of putting it. From what I've seen, it looks like we're seeing more laid-back versions of golfers and tournaments, but I don't necessarily think this is a bad thing. We're seeing a different but more personal side of golfers. The golfers appear to be relaxed and making the most of the situation, by interacting with each other, reporters and the camera more often. I personally think this is a form of the professional golfer that is more relatable to. Could this encourage more people to pursue the game, either locally or professionally? It's hard to say but it doesn't seem out of the question.

But fans are missed by the pros, as many have said, and can you blame them? Imagine walking down the 18th hole on a Sunday, just a putt away from winning your first tournament. That atmosphere cannot be recreated without fans, especially for events such as the Ryder Cup, which thrive on fan energy and presence.

 

I would like to end off with a few messages. This article isn't meant to be a "COVID-19 was a good thing" type deal, because it isn't, and it should not be looked at that way. Many people have died from this virus, loved ones lost in the worst of circumstances and conditions. This article is simply an attempt to explain what has been happening in the golf industry here in Canada. It's something I've found rather interesting and the point of this article was to piece it all together.

While the article may appear to be written from the perspective of hindsight, this is still an ongoing situation, both in terms of golf growth and the virus itself. We are currently at a pivotal point in these series of events. We must all do our part to prevent the spread of the virus. As I mentioned above, it is very easy for me to envision a scenario where outbreaks begin to occur at courses, with drastic consequences. We cannot let our guard down. It would be irresponsible of me to write this article and not encourage each and every one of you to follow course and government rules concerning the virus. Golf Canada has a webpage dedicated to this.

 

What's more important than the state of the golf industry however is the lives of each golfer. If we all play our cards right though, we will emerge from the pandemic healthy, with a flourishing golf industry to return to. 

 

Stay safe and remember to follow the rules, 

-Nick

Toronto Golf Reviews

 

I've given you my perspective of the issue, but what's yours? Leave a comment below with your thoughts and lets start a dialogue.

 

COVID-19's effect on the game of golf is ultimately dictated by our discretion towards the virus (Photo: PEI Golf Association)

Why Don't More People Golf?

 

 Golf is a funny sport.

It's funny in the sense that it's not like any other sport really. On one hand, we live currently in the era of eight-figure tournament purses and increasing stardom on the professional level. On the other hand, many critics of the game will tell you that golf is a dying sport on the local level.

I think it's hard to say at this moment if the game is trending upwards or downwards. What we can say for sure is that, at least in Canada, golf is certainly not in the same league as hockey, baseball or basketball in terms of popularity. Golf should be more popular though; there are many factors going for it: the aforementioned lucrative yet attractive professional level of the game, the amount of golf courses that exist (especially in the GTA), its close relationship with the professional world, just to name a few. 

But why isn't this the case? Why don't more people golf? To answer this question, I've compiled a list of reasons as to why this may be, as well as proposed solutions. Let's take a look at this in more detail.

Time Constraints

One of the most common complaints I hear about golf is that it takes too long. On average, a round of 18 holes takes a foursome of mid-handicappers like myself about four and a half hours, not including a break or grabbing something to eat between nines. It is a commitment no doubt; a day off work for most people playing during the week or a good portion of people's prized weekend.

As people today continue to get busier and busier in their daily lives, asking them to commit over four hours for a single activity is tough. I personally have been finding it harder and harder to plan a foursome with friends and I'm sure most golfers have experienced the same thing in one form or another. On a side note, we can of course talk about why a round of golf takes this long, but I think I'll save that discussion for another post.


Cost
I conducted a Twitter poll recently, asking our followers the same question we are asking ourselves here. The overwhelming response was that more people aren't golfing because they can't afford it.

Historically, golf has held the stigma of being perceived as a "rich man's sport", only played by those who need not worry about money. Today, this stigma is mostly a thing of the past, however there are some parts of the golf industry that are still expensive.

Among all sports, golf equipment is without a doubt at or near the top of the list in terms of price. New golf equipment is expensive. Pay a visit to your local golf store and you'll find the latest drivers costing upwards of $600, iron sets in excess of $1000, and so on and so forth. Although that high-priced equipment isn't, for the most part, tailored to new golfers, it can be a bit intimidating. For reference, an entry level set of golf clubs will cost you about $500. But as us golfers know, golf equipment is notorious for its depreciation value. This season's newest driver will easily drop $200 before the start of the next season, once the next "newest" driver is released. It's simply not with it, from a cost perspective, to buy the latest equipment.

The costs don't stop there, as green fees and memberships add to the overall bill (although they have been decreasing over the years, for some courses). This is another feature that is unique to golf; you are required to pay simply to play the sport, no matter what level. Don't get me wrong, these are necessary fees as they go towards the preparation and maintenance of the course, but nevertheless it still adds to the bill.


Difficulty
Ask a group of people to shoot a hockey puck, kick a soccer ball or shoot a basketball and most of them will understand how to do it. Ask them to swing a golf club and strike a golf ball, however, and most of them will not succeed. The mechanics of the golf swing are inherently more difficult than most sports. Even most golfers don't have a full understanding of it. It's what attracts us to the game though, this inherent difficulty. It gives us something to strive for. What's the one thing a golfer wants to do after they've played a great round, one where everything just seemed to click? Play another.

But this difficulty should not intimidate those who are new to the game. Rick Young (@YoungerGolf) of SCOREGolf brought up a very good point when I asked him about this topic on Twitter. He said, on the topic of difficulty, that "the game is only as hard as you allow it to be." And I think Rick is absolutely right about this. Golf is a mental game, a battle between you and your mind. You push yourself as hard as you want, you set your own goals. There is absolutely no need to become a scratch golfer to enjoy the game.

"The game is only as hard as you allow it to be."

-Rick Young on the difficulty of golf

How To Get More People Playing Golf
I've gone into much detail about why I think more people aren't golfing. Now let's look at some of the ways I think we can fix that.

Concerning time constraints, I think the key to overcoming this barrier is to promote the 9-hole round. Nine holes typically take about a couple of hours, which now puts it in a "reasonable" time frame for most people. In addition to this, golf courses need to have a great twilight special. In my experience, twilight rounds always have a much more relaxed feel to them; excellent for a new golfer. Plus the after-work/after-school time slot is much more accessible to the average person.

Concerning equipment costs, golf equipment manufacturers as well as retailers should be promoting more entry-level, less expensive equipment to attract new golfers. This is the best case scenario, but I understand that it isn't the most feasible option. In lieu of this, the new golfer can take things into their own hands and there is much help for this. Many deals on golf equipment are available, whether its in the form of used clubs or clubs on clearance. And new golfers please, speaking from experience here, do not feel the need to have the latest equipment! In my golf bag currently, I have a Ping G15 Fairway Wood and a 56 degree Paradise sand wedge, both outdated and cheap even when I bought them a few years ago. But they are hands down my favourite clubs in my bag; clubs that I have confidence with and clubs that are reliable. What's important to remember here is that buying golf equipment is a slippery slope that can get out of hand quickly. And for those who are concerned about high green fees, I encourage everyone to sign up for as many golf course newsletters and e-clubs as possible. Many times courses offer unique deals that may appeal to you. In essence, let the deals come to you.

Concerning difficulty, for those who are completely new to the game, a few introductions lessons wouldn't hurt, just to learn the basics. In fact, many courses in the GTA (and most likely all over Canada) have great lesson programs and are staffed by PGA of Canada members. On a more personal level, going out to your local driving range for a few hours can do wonders. Golfers need to figure out what works for them; each golf swing is different from the next. The driving range is where a golfer can test things out, without feeling the pressures that course-play brings.

One thing that I haven't talked about yet are the health benefits of golf. This was something that was also brought up by Rick Young and frankly, something that I was not fully aware of. According to Rick, walking 18 holes while carrying your clubs will burn about 1800-2000 calories, riding for 18 holes about 1200-1300 calories; impressive numbers considering the fact that it is "low impact" exercise. There's also the social side of the game. Meeting new people, being outside, spending time with friends; some of my best memories with my friends have been on the course. We need to be promoting this aspect of the sport.

I'll end on this statement. If you are reading this post and you are new to golf or have some interest in it but have never played, here's my advice to you. Golf is the only true individual sport in my opinion. It's one of the only sports that you can just go out and play; just you, your clubs, a ball and a course. I believe also that it is one of the most satisfying sports, on both a physical and mental level. So try it out, go to your local driving range, rent some clubs and give it a shot (no pun intended). You may like the game or you may not, but what I can guarantee you is that it'll be like nothing you've ever tried before.




-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews



The discussion doesn't end here. What are your thoughts on why more people don't golf? Do you agree or disagree with anything I wrote? Let us know in the comments below.  

With professional golf becoming more and more lucrative, why aren't more people golfing at the local level?
(Butch Dill/USA TODAY Sports)

Golfing Forums

In today's technology-forward world, it seems that there's a website for pretty much everyone and everything. Given this, it's only natural that golfers should have their place on the Internet too and this comes in the form of golfing forums.

To start, a forum is a member-oriented website where members can post freely to one another in a topic-response format. Golfing forums in particular are a great way for a person to connect to a larger community of golfers. They are places where you can talk about pretty much everything related to golf, things such as swing tips, professional golf news, equipment reviews, etc. although this varies from forum to forum.

There's dozens of golfing forums (if not more) on the Internet today and given this large number, most times its hard to find the perfect one to join. Here are two forums in particular that I've found to be helpful to me over the years:

1) TheSandTrap.com: one of the best and most informative golf websites on the Internet I think, yet it's forum still feels like a small community of golfers. This site has everything from product reviews to tour talk and much more. It also has a section on it's forum where members can post a video of their golf swing and have various members of the forum (some who are PGA professionals) critique it and offer feedback on how to improve it. The forum also organizes golf outings for members who are close to one another. Another interesting feature of the website is that users can submit their own reviews of courses, equipment, etc., reviews which I find more honest that most other ones. The best part of the website is if you have a question or need help with anything, just simply create a thread and people will respond with advice quickly. Overall the site is very focused on being community-oriented and focused on helping its members too.

2) TorontoGolfNuts.com: a smaller/Toronto-oriented version of The Sand Trap I find, with the same "golfing community" idea behind it (perhaps a stronger sense of community if you're from Toronto). As a Toronto golfer, I've found this forum very helpful in regards to golf courses. Since most of the members are from Toronto/GTA, they've played most of the courses I've played. It's nice to talk to other golfers who play where you play and discuss the courses. I find that it's a good place to find out about a new course, new specials at other courses, which courses are being run well, and what others liked/disliked about a course. It's also a great place to meet some new golf buddies and a great place to find that 4th person for that Sunday foursome. Overall if you golf in Toronto, then this is the site for you.

So if you're interested in joining a golfing forum, be sure to give these ones a thought,

-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews

NOTE: Remember that these are forums that I personally think are pretty good and beneficial to golfers, hence my reason for sharing them here. I am in no way being endorsed by these websites or being forced to post about them. 

Lightning Strikes Golfers at Rolling Hills Golf Club

Yesterday, just before a major storm rolled over much of the Greater Toronto Area, four golfers were struck by lightning at Rolling Hills Golf Club, a public course located in Stouffville, Ontario, north of Toronto. The strike left three of the golfers in serious condition and one in critical condition.

The strike happened shortly after course marshals sounded a horn, signaling that bad weather was approaching, and while the foursome was finishing up their round on the 18th hole. For those who don't know, in the golfing world, from your local course to PGA tournaments, the sound of a horn/siren is the universal signal that bad weather (usually lightning) is approaching and almost always involves the stopping of play.

Unfortunately stories like this occur much more often than we'd all like.

There are ways we can stay safe from lightning strikes on the golf course though, and as a blog dealing with golf-related issues, we feel it makes sense to share some ways we think you can stay safe on the course. (Note the disclaimer below):

1) Plan Ahead: It seems like common sense, but always check the weather before you plan on golfing or booking a tee time. Mainly check for things like thunderstorm possibilities or storm activity in general. Simply put, don't go if there's a good chance for bad weather.

2) Use Your Judgement: If you're on the course and you notice dark clouds/bad weather in the distance (even if no horn/before the horn sounds), decide whether or not its a good idea to be out on the course. Consider heading in to the clubhouse early. Take into account factors such as if you're walking or riding, how far roughly you are from the clubhouse, etc.. Make sure you are prepared just in case the horn/siren does sound.

3) Respect The Horn/Siren: If you hear the horn/siren, go back to the clubhouse or safe place, again use your common sense. The horn/siren is there for the safety of the golfers and if it rings, it implies that the conditions for golfing are no longer safe. Don't think that the horn/siren is just a "warning" or "reminder" (although it might be on some courses. We can't be certain that all courses follow the same rules) but take it seriously and act accordingly. Why risk it?

To sum it all up, when it comes to lightning, it's best not to take any chances. I hope golfers find this information useful and feel free to comment on other lightning safety tips you've come across over the years.

-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews 

**On a final note and disclaimer, remember that what is mentioned above are just suggestions and that we here at Toronto Golf Reviews are not responsible for your safety on the golf course. Take what you want from the information above. We are not saying that you have to follow these suggestions and we are not responsible for the results of having followed these suggestions. Use your own discretion. I am also not a lightning expert, I am just offering some suggestions that I've picked up on and used as a golfer over the years. Use your own common sense and own judgement!**

 When it comes to lightning, it's best not to take any chances

Driving Range Mats Vs Grass Tees

If you've been to any decent driving range, you'll notice that most offer two options when it comes to playing surfaces: real grass, which is basically golf-course-maintained grass that you can hit off of, and plastic mats, which are made up of artificial grass for non-driver shots with a rubber tee for driving. Naturally if the option is available, it always makes sense to choose the grass tees, in order to simulate hitting/ground conditions as much as you can and make practicing more realistic.

However, if you have no choice but to play off plastic mats, here are a few things that I've noticed over the years about how playing off of mats compares to playing off of real grass and how your golf game changes from playing on one to another.

Let's start with driving, which is probably the most common thing you'll do at the driving range. Since you tee up your ball when you hit a drive, the surface under the ball doesn't affect the shot all that much. However, the rubber tees on plastic mats will. These tees are usually made out of tough rubber and are at a preset height, and can only be placed in a couple positions on either side of the mat. Aside from the tee position, what I've noticed is that if you hit under the ball, even slightly, with your driver, the rubber tee slows down your club a lot and you feel the impact you make with the tee. On grass tees, you tee up with your own wooden/plastic tees which if this were to happen, you wouldn't feel the tee impact as much (or not at all) since these tees have freedom to move about and out of the ground. This isn't the case for the rubber tees, which are firmly set in the mat and only movable by lifting the actual mat.

Now for the rest of the clubs, that is, the clubs that make contact with the ground surface (woods, hybrid, irons, and wedges). The main thing I've noticed is that hitting irons off of plastic mats gives you a false impression of your iron game, making you think that you're making good clean contact, when you might not actually be. This is probably because you can't take divots on plastic mats. Plus, if you hit a bad iron shot, you'll feel the impact you make with the ground a lot more compared to hitting off of fairway grass, again maybe because you can't take a divot. As for the plastic mat surface itself, this will probably vary from one driving range to the next, but most usually have a rougher strip of grass and a harder fairway-like area beside it (see image below). What's common among most, if not all, plastic mat surfaces is that they leave a thin green film on your irons, which is a nuisance to clean off after.

To sum up, it's in your best interest to always choose to practice off of real grass compared to plastic driving range mats. But if you're left with no choice, just remember that playing off of the mats could have an affect on your game, to some degree.

 

-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews

Toronto Golf Reviews©

The Best Golf Ball for High Handicappers?

 Toronto Golf Reviews©

There's no doubting that there's a very large variety of golf balls on the market today for golfers of all skill level. Many of these balls feature technology that's designed to increase this or decrease that and so on.

For high-handicappers, the process of choosing the best ball for their game is made even tougher due to the fact that some golf ball manufacturers, such as Titleist, claim that high-handicappers can play the same golf ball as tour professionals, whereas brands such as Bridgestone claim that the ball you play should relate to your swing speed and ultimately how good you are. Given this, it's almost impossible to choose a ball without getting torn between several options.

Let's look at this from a realistic perspective however. If you're a high handicapper (maybe 20+), then the odds are that aspects of your golf game like your swing fundamentals and strike aren't really too consistent. So, the golf ball you play isn't really going to make too much difference, at least, this is what I've noticed from experience. And if it does, how would you know for sure if it was the ball making the difference or you making the difference in your swing? Ultimately, your swing has a greater influence on your shot result than any ball ever will.

For example, say I'm a high-handicapper who slices shots often and I tee up a new top-of-the-line golf ball for the first time. I hit the ball and it's dead straight. How would I be able to tell if it was the ball that made me hit it that straight, or if it was because by chance I hit the sweet spot on my driver with the correct swing path? The bottom line is, while golf balls do make a difference in your golf game, I've found over the years that these differences are overshadowed by differences due to inconsistencies in your golf game; a consequence of being a high-handicapper.

Personally, I found that the major inconsistency in my golf game was not being able to hit the ball straight. I'd used to end up with at least 5+ lost balls during a round of 18 holes, on a good day. I'd keep buying brand-name golf balls from the golf stores like Golf Town and end up losing them all. From a financial sense, it was a waste of money, and it was also frustrating.

So if golf balls don't matter that much for high-handicappers, then wouldn't it make sense to buy cheaper golf balls, ones the won't make a dent in your wallet if you lose a few (or more)? That's exactly what I've started doing, even though I'm getter better and not losing as many balls. I've ditched the high-end brand name golf balls and have started to buy recycled golf balls in bulk. Walmart sells a bag of 60 assorted and recycled balls for $20 and that's what I've been buying. This way, I don't feel too bad about losing a few balls at the course and I won't get hung up over losing any, which is less than I can say when I was using high-end balls. Plus you'll find the occasional high-end ball in the bag.

So if you're a high-handicapper frustrated about losing money on golf balls or frustrated about which ball to buy, consider saving your money and buying in bulk.

This is just my opinion, but I am speaking from experience. Feel free to comment below on what you think the best balls for high handicappers are.

-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews

 

(Mesh Bags 60 Golf Balls available at Walmart Canada)

What is the PGA Tour All-Around Ranking?

If you've watched a few golf tournaments on Tv before, then you may have noticed that during the commercials, a quick caption will pop up telling you what the All-Around Rankings for the PGA Tour as of this week are. But what is the PGA Tour All-Around Ranking? What does this mean? Here is a brief summary of what an All-Around Ranking is.

In short, the All-Around Ranking is basically a measure of how well players rank in several stats (Scoring Leaders, Putting Leaders, Eagle Leaders, Birdie Leaders, Sand Saves, Greens in Regulation, Driving Distance and Driving Accuracy) with respect to the number of events they've played. In essence, it ranks players by how well they've been playing over the season.

The rank is based on points, the lower number of points, the higher you rank in the All-Around Ranking. It is also updated weekly, much like the FedEx Cup and World Golf Rankings.

-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews