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Old Tom Morris: The Grand Old Man of Golf - His Life, Legacy, and Power Off the Tee Born June 16, 1821, in a modest weaver’s cottage in St Andrews, Fife, Thomas Mitchell Morris—known to history as Old Tom Morris. Old Tom would come to shape the game of golf in ways no one then could imagine. From swinging crude gutta balls on muddy links to designing courses that endure still today. From battling Allan Robertson to raising Young Tom Morris, his life is woven into the very fabric of golf’s origins. This is the story of Old Tom—not just the championships, but the man, the maker, and how far... Read More »
Allan Robertson: Golf’s First Pro (and the Man Nobody Could Beat) - Meet Allan Robertson Before there were shiny trophies, TV cameras, or golfers in neon pants, there was Allan Robertson—the man many call the first professional golfer. Born in 1815 in St. Andrews, Robertson came from a long line of golf ball makers. His family’s specialty was the feathery ball—leather stuffed with goose feathers. (Imagine plucking a goose for your weekend four-ball. Not quite as simple as ordering a dozen Pro V1s.) His balls were so good that he stamped them simply with “ALLAN.” If you find one today, it’s worth more than your driver, irons, and putter combined. The Man... Read More »
The Ultimate Guide to Golf Penalties (And How to Avoid Them) - Golf Penalties: The Hazards Aren’t Your Only Problem Golf is a game of skill, patience, and, let’s be honest, a whole lot of rules. If you’ve ever found yourself scratching your head over a penalty stroke (or three), you’re not alone. Some golf penalties make perfect sense; others feel like they were invented by someone who really enjoys watching golfers suffer. Either way, knowing the most common infractions can save you strokes—and possibly some dignity—the next time you hit the links. Common Golf Penalties (And How to Avoid Them) Grounding Your Club in a Hazard – Two-Stroke Penalty If you’re... Read More »
Golf Lingo: Advanced and Fun Terms to Impress Your Golf Buddies - Every sport has its quirks, but golf takes the cake when it comes to colorful language. Whether you’re bragging about a “turkey” or suffering from the dreaded “yips,” knowing the right terms adds to the fun. Here are some unique, funny, and advanced golf phrases to impress your golf buddies. Fun & Unusual Golf Terms Turkey – Making three birdies in a row. Snowman – Scoring an 8 on a hole (it looks like a snowman!). Worm Burner – A low shot that skims the ground. Tour Sauce – Over-the-top gestures like a pro, including club twirls and intense green... Read More »
Essential Golf Terms Every Golfer Should Know - Golf comes with its own language, and if you’re new to the game, the jargon can be just as challenging as the sport itself. Whether you’re trying to understand what a “bogey” is or why someone just shouted “mulligan,” we’ve got you covered. Here’s a breakdown of essential golf terms to help you navigate the fairways like a pro. Scoring Terms Ace – A hole-in-one, the ultimate golf achievement. Albatross (Double Eagle) – Completing a par-5 hole in just two shots. Eagle – Finishing a hole two strokes under par. Birdie – Completing a hole one stroke under par. Condor... Read More »
When Scotland Banned Golf - Scotland vs. Golf: The 1400s Turf War Scotland may be the birthplace of golf, but in the 1400s, the government wasn’t exactly a fan. In fact, they banned it—three times! That’s right, between 1457 and 1491, Scottish kings tried their best to put an end to the beloved game. They believed it was distracting people from something far more important: archery practice. Because, you know, fending off invasions mattered a tiny bit more than perfecting your swing. Golf vs. the Kings The first strike against golf came in 1457, when King James II issued a royal decree banning both golf... Read More »
The Ups and Downs of Golf Ball Lies - A Swingin’ Guide to the Slopes So, you think golf is just about swinging a club and hitting a ball? Think again! The lie of a golf ball is a sneaky little detail that can totally mess with your game. And no, we’re not talking about your buddy claiming he once got a hole-in-one on a par 5. We mean the position and orientation of the ball when it’s just chilling on the ground, waiting for you to take your shot. Here’s the deal with those tricky golf ball lies: Uphill Lie: When your ball is sitting above your feet... Read More »
10 Golf Tips That Might Actually Help - Confessions of a 20+ Handicapper Okay, I know what you’re thinking: “Why is a 20+ handicapper dishing out golf advice?” But hear me out—when you’re struggling to break 100, you pick up a few tricks along the way. I’m always on the lookout for ways to up my game, even if most of my golf tips come from YouTube, better golfers around me (which is, well, most of them), and the occasional deep dive into the Google rabbit hole. Below is a collection of golf tips I’ve gathered through a mix of observation, reading, and some good old-fashioned trial and... Read More »
Northern Michigan Dominates GolfPass’ Top 25 Public Courses in Michigan - A little-known golf fact: Michigan has more public golf courses than any other state in the country. That makes choosing the top 25 an impressive challenge! Every March, GolfPass releases its Top 25 Public Golf Courses in Michigan, based entirely on reviews from everyday golfers. Using their Ratings Index logic—which gives more weight to recent reviews—they compile a list of the best courses open to the public. To qualify, a course needed at least two reviews and some level of public access. Notably, a few big names—like The Loop and the Dunes Course at Forest Dunes Golf Club, American Dunes... Read More »
How Women Are Driving Change in Golf - Golf may have started as a boys’ club, but women have been quietly (and sometimes not-so-quietly) making their mark on the sport for centuries. From the early days of being shuffled off to smaller, less challenging courses, to now dominating their own professional tours, women in golf are proving that they can swing with the best of them—sometimes better! The Rise of Women’s Golf: More Than Just a Boys’ Club Back in the day, women in golf were about as common as a hole-in-one. They were often told to stick to the easier courses, while the men took on the... Read More »