Unfortunately, those qualities have a habit of disappearing when a player three-putts for par or sends his approach shot into the middle of a lake.

Professional golfers are supposed to be masters of controlling their emotions and, to be fair, most of the time they do. They’ve spent thousands of hours practicing, competing under enormous pressure and developing skills that most amateurs can only dream of possessing.

And yet, every so often, they behave like children who have just been told they can’t have dessert.

Over the years, we’ve seen golfers throw shoes, destroy equipment, deliberately break rules and even abandon tournaments altogether. Some of these tantrums have resulted in disqualifications or fines. Others have produced moments so ridiculous that they’re still being discussed decades later.

This isn’t a ranking of the biggest competitive collapses in golf history (you can find that one here). It’s a celebration (can we call it a celebration?) of extraordinary moments when otherwise accomplished golfers completely lost their composure.

Here are 10 of the most ridiculous temper tantrums the game has ever witnessed.

10. Gene Sarazen saws another golfer’s putter into pieces

Yep, you read that correctly.

Long before modern professionals started snapping clubs over their knees, Gene Sarazen apparently found a more, let’s say, methodical way to express his frustration.

Early in his career, the seven-time major champion was having a miserable day on the greens when he decided his putter had become the source of his problems. Rather than simply placing it in storage, Sarazen put the offending club into a vise and sawed it into three pieces.

That would have been an impressive overreaction under any circumstances but what makes the story even better is that the putter reportedly belonged to a member of the club.

Imagine lending a major champion your putter, only to discover that he decided to perform surgery on it with a saw.

Sarazen’s reputation was considerably more dignified than that of some of golf’s other famous hotheads but he acknowledged having a temper earlier in his career. This particular incident suggests that even one of the game’s greatest champions wasn’t above blaming his equipment for his own mistakes. 

Hey, it happens to the best of us.

9. Hennie Otto turns one missed putt into a complete disaster

We’ve all been here at some point.

There’s a particular kind of frustration that occurs when a golfer misses a short putt and becomes so annoyed that the next putt barely receives any attention. Pretty soon, you are playing ping-pong.

Hennie Otto took this concept to an entirely different level.

During the 2005 Nashua Masters in South Africa, Otto faced a par putt on the par-5 12th hole. He missed it, became visibly irritated and started swatting at subsequent putts with increasingly little care.

Otto needed five more putts to get the ball into the hole, eventually recording a 10.

While we’ve seen golfers have breakdowns from short range (remember the Ernie Els six-putt on the first hole at the 2016 Masters?), Otto’s body language and expressions make this unforgettable.

The footage is extraordinary because you can practically watch his patience evaporate with every stroke. At a certain point, making the putt seems to become less important than expressing just how angry he is about missing the previous one.

It’s the professional golf equivalent of angrily pressing the elevator button 15 times.

8. Woody Austin repeatedly hits himself with his putter

Golfers have invented countless ways to punish their equipment after a bad shot. Quite frankly, club snapping and bending is pretty boring given the number of incidents over the years. This article largely ignores that kind of milquetoast behavior.

But Woody Austin’s self-punishment while bending a club? That is impressive.

During the 1997 Heritage at Harbour Town, Austin became so frustrated with his putting that he repeatedly struck himself in the head with the shaft of his putter.

Not once. Not twice. Five times.

He hit himself hard enough to bend the shaft, producing one of the most bizarre scenes ever captured during a Tour event.

Years later, Austin explained that he wasn’t trying to damage the club. He was directing his anger at himself. That was commonplace for Austin over the years—the man was known for sarcastically fist-pumping after missing putts (a move Scottie Scheffler has adopted every now and then).

Of all the incidents on this list, this is the most cartoonish.

Somehow, it actually happened on Tour. 

7. Sergio Garcia throws (then kicks) his shoe

There are plenty of examples of professional golfers throwing clubs in frustration but Sergio Garcia throwing his shoe is a clip that still makes me laugh harder than any club throw.

During the 1999 World Match Play Championship at Wentworth, the 19-year-old Spaniard slipped while hitting a tee shot and sent his ball into trouble.

His response was to remove his shoe and hurl it toward an advertising board (this was before George W. Bush had a shoe thrown at him so maybe Sergio was a trendsetter).

That’s already a pretty spectacular reaction to a bad golf shot but the immediate aftermath to the shoe throw is what makes this a virtuoso tantrum. When the shoe was returned to him, he kicked it away again, reportedly nearly striking an official.

It’s difficult to imagine what Garcia hoped to accomplish. The shoe hadn’t caused the bad shot and throwing it certainly wasn’t going to improve his lie.

But that’s the beauty of a proper golf tantrum—logic has absolutely nothing to do with it.

Garcia would go on to become perhaps the foremost temper tantrum golfer in history. He even claimed another spot on this list.

6. Dave Hill turns a bunker tantrum into a multimillion-dollar lawsuit

Most of these tantrums are harmless but Dave Hill’s meltdown involves actual money.

Hill was enduring a miserable week at the 1971 Colonial National Invitation when his ball finished in a greenside bunker on his final hole.

Instead of playing a conventional bunker shot, Hill simply picked up his ball and yeeted it onto the green, where he then finished the hole.

No matter the circumstance, that’s the ultimate cardinal sin in golf.

He was subsequently disqualified after signing an incorrect scorecard (fair enough).

The PGA Tour fined him $500 for conduct unbecoming a professional. Remember, $500 was a pretty penny back then, especially because the prize pool was miniscule.

You might imagine that would be the end of the matter. Not with Hill.

He paid the fine, then filed a $1-million antitrust lawsuit against the Tour because he believed he was unfairly disciplined without an opportunity to defend his move. When the Tour placed him on a year-long probation, he increased his demand to $3 million (ballsy move).

The dispute was eventually settled out of court but the whole episode remains almost impossible to believe.

Hill became so frustrated with a bunker shot that he effectively invented a new golf technique, received a fine and responded by taking the organization running the tournament to court.

That’s quite an escalation from a bad lie in the sand. 

5. Rory McIlroy helicopters his 3-iron into a lake

Every golfer has probably wanted to throw a club after a terrible shot. It’s incredibly satisfying, even if the walk of shame that follows is tough to swallow.

Rory McIlroy did it early in his career and his effort was impressive enough to become one of the most famous club throws in golf history.

During the second round of the 2015 WGC-Cadillac Championship at Doral, McIlroy sent an approach shot into the water on the par-5 eighth hole.

Without much hesitation, he launched his 3-iron into the same lake.

This wasn’t a casual toss a few feet away. McIlroy sent the club sailing about 60 to 70 yards, making it abundantly clear that he had no immediate plans to use it again.

The throw was memorable enough but what happened afterward elevated the incident into something truly ridiculous.

Donald Trump, owner of the Trump Doral property, arranged for a scuba diver to retrieve the club. Trump then personally returned it to McIlroy on the driving range before the final round, joking that 13 clubs was an unlucky number.

McIlroy put the club back in his bag, only to hit another shot into the water with a 3-iron during that final round. This time, he jokingly pretended to throw the club before deciding to keep it.

Few golf tantrums have ever required an underwater recovery mission and a ceremonial presentation from a future U.S. president. 

4. John Daly runs out of golf balls and quits

John Daly has produced his share of outrageous moments but his appearance at the 2011 Australian Open might be the most spectacular example of his frustration getting the better of him.

Daly’s problems began on the 10th hole at The Lakes in Sydney where he received a two-stroke penalty for playing the wrong ball from a bunker. OK, things like that happen.

But things deteriorated considerably on the next hole.

Daly proceeded to hit six balls into the water on the par-5 11th. Eventually, he announced that he had run out of golf balls, shook hands with his playing partners and walked off the course.

Yes, a two-time major champion withdrew from a professional golf tournament because he no longer had any golf balls. This is a tantrum on par with the ending of Tin Cup—a protest by refusing to do anything except trying to hit a low-percentage shot that clearly isn’t working.

Tournament officials were furious with Australian PGA officials subsequently withdrawing his invitation to another event later that month.

Daly, however, seemed to think his explanation was perfectly reasonable. He later defended himself on social media, essentially arguing that once you’ve run out of golf balls, you’ve run out of golf balls.

While technically true, tournament officials pointed out that additional balls could have been provided.

Every golfer has “taken their ball and gone home” at some point but it’s hard to imagine a pro doing it.

Daly just managed to lose all of his balls before going home. 

3. Phil Mickelson deliberately hits a moving ball

What Phil Mickelson did during the third round of the 2018 U.S. Open is still hard to believe.

Playing on his 48th birthday, Mickelson was already enduring a frustrating afternoon when he reached the par-4 13th hole.

After sending a putt past the cup, he watched the ball continue rolling down the severely sloped green. Rather than allowing it to come to rest, Mickelson jogged after the ball and struck it while it was still moving.

No, it wasn’t a club throw or taking off his shoe—but such a defiant act in a major championship is essentially unheard of.

The resulting two-stroke penalty contributed to a score of 10 on the hole.

It was an astonishing moment from one of the most accomplished golfers in history, particularly because Mickelson had spent decades trying to win the one major championship missing from his resume.

But the aftermath might have been even more memorable.

Rather than simply admitting that he lost his composure, Mickelson defended the decision as a calculated move. He explained that he understood the penalty and preferred taking two additional strokes to repeatedly playing shots around the difficult green.

This didn’t make a whole lot of sense. Mickelson could have taken the two-stroke penalty and replayed his putt which would have been the simpler option. Not sure what he was thinking.

Whether it was an act of protest, a strategic decision or a moment of frustration, the sight of a six-time major champion chasing down his golf ball and hitting it before it stopped was almost impossible to comprehend.

It looked more like someone deciding the rules of mini golf no longer applied to them.

2. Sergio Garcia gets disqualified for damaging greens

Look, tantrums generally don’t affect anyone else in the field. They are isolated incidents and then we all move on.

What Sergio did at the 2019 Saudi International did impact his playing competitors.

Competing at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club, Garcia became increasingly frustrated with his performance during the tournament. At one point, television cameras captured him angrily hacking at the sand in a bunker.

But that was only part of the problem.

During the third round, Garcia deliberately damaged multiple greens, reportedly striking the surfaces with his putter in frustration.

The damage was serious enough that players following behind him complained to tournament officials.

After reviewing the situation, the European Tour disqualified Garcia for serious misconduct under Rule 1.2a.

Garcia subsequently apologized and acknowledged that he damaged the greens out of frustration.

Most golfers occasionally blame a green for a missed putt. Garcia apparently decided the greens needed to suffer the consequences.

This is just a line you absolutely never cross as a golfer. It’s the height of tantrums in our game.

1. Bobby Jones tears up his scorecard at St Andrews

Long before he became one of the most revered figures in golf history, Bobby Jones was a talented teenager with a famously combustible temper.

And during the 1921 Open Championship at St Andrews, that temper produced one of the most extraordinary moments the game has ever witnessed.

Jones was just 19 years old and competing in his first Open Championship when he arrived at the famous par-3 11th hole during the third round.

His ball found the Hill bunker, one of the Old Course’s most notorious hazards.

What followed was a nightmare.

Jones needed four strokes just to escape the bunker, becoming increasingly furious with his predicament. Eventually, he had enough.

He picked up his ball and tore up his scorecard, effectively disqualifying himself from the championship.

Why does this tantrum take the top spot? Consider the circumstances.

This was one of the most talented young golfers in the world, playing in the game’s most prestigious championship, on its most famous course.

And he became so angry that he decided he simply wasn’t going to complete the hole or the tournament.

He later described the episode as one of the most embarrassing failures of his golfing career.

Jones returned to St Andrews in 1927 and won the Open Championship. Three years later, he won the British Amateur there during his historic Grand Slam season.

The same course that once reduced him to tearing up his scorecard eventually became one of the places most closely associated with his greatness.

Jones would go on to become a symbol of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct, making his youthful outburst all the more extraordinary.

Nearly a century before golf tantrums became viral videos, one of the game’s greatest figures demonstrated that even the most talented players are occasionally capable of behaving like frustrated children.

And he did it at the Home of Golf.

So that is the list of golf’s greatest meltdowns. What did I miss? Let me know below in the comments.

The post The 10 Most Ridiculous Temper Tantrums In Golf History appeared first on MyGolfSpy.

Not every memorable round comes at a nationally ranked resort or a course designed by a famous architect. Sometimes it’s a $50 public layout in a small town, a forgotten municipal course with terrific greens or an isolated facility that would be a destination if it happened to be located somewhere more convenient.

Those places are part of what makes American golf so interesting.

We’ve already explored the best municipal golf course in every state and the best course you can play for under $75 in each state. This time, we’re looking for something a little different.

The best hidden gem in every state.

For this list, I wanted courses that deserve more attention than they receive. 

The criteria are fairly straightforward. Every selection must be open to the public, offer a full 18-hole round and possess something that makes it worth seeking out. That might be interesting architecture, exceptional scenery, unusual terrain, strong conditioning, tremendous value or simply a memorable experience that doesn’t receive much national attention.

I also tried to avoid the obvious choices. A course doesn’t need to be completely unknown, particularly within its home state, but it shouldn’t be one of the first names that comes to mind when discussing that state’s best public golf, or even one of the first names that come up when discussing hidden gems. It shouldn’t be highly ranked or highly touted on a national level. 

For example, Pacific Grove in California is so widely known as a hidden gem nationally that it no longer qualifies for this type of list. I would say the same for a place like Pilgrim’s Run in Michigan. A hidden gem has to be, well, hidden (I’m sure we’ll have plenty of debate over just how hidden a place needs to be). 

Some of these places will be more obvious to local residents, but they shouldn’t be obvious to visitors. 

There are no strict green-fee limits this time. Hidden gems aren’t necessarily cheap, although many of the courses on this list are affordable.

As with our previous state-by-state lists, these are subjective selections based mainly on reader feedback, Google reviews and course rankings (as in courses that are not mentioned near the top of popular rankings). 

I purposely looked to find courses that were not included on the previous two lists I referenced. There are so many amazing facilities in each state—and there was overlap on the municipal/afforable lists—so I wanted to highlight as many as possible. 

Please leave your recommendations in the comments so other golfers can seek out additional hidden gems in your area. 

Please send any corrections, suggestions or verbal abuse to sean.fairholm@mygolfspy.com.

Without further delay, here is the best hidden gem golf course in every state.

Alabama

Peninsula Golf & Racquet Club (Gulf Shores)

• Google Rating: 4.8 (692 reviews)
• Weekend Green Fee: $149

Peninsula Golf & Racquet Club has 27 holes winding through coastal marshlands, towering pines and the natural beauty of the Alabama Gulf Coast. Golfers rave about the conditioning and design. Overshadowed by better-known destinations like Kiva Dunes and the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, Peninsula delivers a memorable golf experience without the national recognition it deserves.

Alaska

Chena Bend Golf Course (Fort Wainwright)

• Google Rating: 4.6 (91 reviews)
• Weekend Green Fee: $50

Chena Bend in Fairbanks offers one of the more unusual public-golf experiences in the country, with a scenic layout winding alongside the Chena River on Fort Wainwright. The par-72 course stretches more than 7,000 yards from the back tees, featuring tree-lined fairways, water hazards and plenty of opportunities to enjoy Alaska’s spectacular summer scenery. With its remote setting and relatively short playing season, Chena Bend is an overlooked destination that deserves more attention from golfers visiting the Last Frontier.

Arizona

Emerald Canyon Golf Course (Parker)

• Google Rating: 4.6 (211 reviews)
• Weekend Green Fee: $80

Emerald Canyon is carved through rugged desert canyons near the Colorado River, with dramatic elevation changes and a setting that’s very different from the typical Scottsdale resort experience. Its remote location and distinctive terrain make it a particularly compelling hidden-gem candidate.

Arkansas

The Ridges at Village Creek (Wynne)

• Google Rating: 4.7 (93 reviews)
• Weekend Green Fee: $55

Located within Village Creek State Park, this Andy Dye design uses the natural ridges and wooded terrain of eastern Arkansas to create a demanding, distinctive public course. The Ridges at Village Creek has dramatic elevation changes, bold bunkering and secluded surroundings to make it feel considerably more ambitious than a typical state-park facility. Arkansas has several excellent public courses, but this one deserves more attention from golfers traveling through the region.

California

Plumas Pines Golf Course (Blairsden-Graeagle)

• Google Rating: 4.7 (167 reviews)
• Weekend Green Fee: $144

Plumas Pines is tucked into the Sierra Nevada mountains, where towering pines, the nearby Feather River and beautiful mountain views make for a memorable round. The Homer Flint design isn’t particularly long at just over 6,500 yards, but narrow fairways and tricky approaches mean you’ll need more than distance to score well. 

Colorado

Four Mile Ranch Golf Club (Cañon City)

• Google Rating: 4.6 (443 reviews)
• Weekend Green Fee: $64

Jim Engh designed Four Mile Ranch across an unusual landscape of rolling hills, exposed rock and wild elevation changes. The course features blind shots, unconventional contours and an adventurous routing that bears little resemblance to conventional residential golf. Its location away from Colorado’s major golf markets helps explain why more traveling golfers haven’t experienced it.

Connecticut

Simsbury Farms Golf Course (Simsbury)

• Google Rating: 4.7 (175 reviews)
• Weekend Green Fee: $52

Simsbury Farms is a scenic municipal layout featuring rolling hills, tree-lined fairways and picturesque views of the surrounding New England countryside. Designed by Geoffrey Cornish, the course uses its natural elevation changes and strategically placed hazards to challenge golfers without overwhelming less experienced players. Despite its attractive setting, affordable green fees and enjoyable design, Simsbury Farms receives relatively little attention compared to Connecticut’s more celebrated public courses.

Delaware

Plantation Lakes Golf & Country Club (Millsboro)

• Google Rating: 4.5 (443 reviews)
• Weekend Green Fee: $162

Plantation Lakes is an Arthur Hills design that opened its full 18-hole layout in 2020, making it a relatively new addition to the state’s golf scene. The course features rolling fairways, wetlands, strategically placed bunkers and fast greens, with several holes offering interesting risk-reward decisions. 

Florida

Juliette Falls Golf Club (Dunnellon)

• Google Rating: 4.6 (677 reviews)
• Weekend Green Fee: $105

Florida is filled with expensive resort courses and heavily developed residential layouts, making Juliette Falls an interesting alternative. The John Sanford design features rolling terrain, substantial bunkering and elevation changes that distinguish it from the stereotypical flat Florida course. Located west of Ocala, it offers a strong public-golf experience without the name recognition of the state’s most famous destinations.

Georgia

Southern Hills Golf & Country Club (Hawkinsville)

• Google Rating: 4.6 (209 reviews)
• Weekend Green Fee: $54

Southern Hills is a pleasant surprise, with rolling terrain and elevation changes you might not expect to find in this part of the state. The course features plenty of water hazards, interesting approach shots and a layout that asks you to use more than just your driver. It doesn’t get much attention outside central Georgia, but Southern Hills offers the kind of quality and value that makes discovering an overlooked public course so rewarding.

Hawaii

Waiehu Municipal Golf Course (Wailuku)

• Google Rating: 4.5 (507 reviews)
• Weekend Green Fee: $86

See the views without paying resort prices. Waiehu Municipal Golf Course on Maui offers one of Hawaii’s most affordable oceanfront golf experiences, with several holes playing directly alongside the Pacific Ocean. The 18-hole layout combines coastal breezes, mountain views and a relaxed atmosphere that feels worlds away from the island’s expensive resort courses. 

Idaho

TimberStone Golf Club (Caldwell) 

• Google Rating: 4.7 (657 reviews)
• Weekend Green Fee: $66

This is near the top of the list for value. TimberStone offers a scenic public-golf experience with rolling fairways, mature trees and views of the surrounding Owyhee Mountains. The course has generous landing areas but plenty of bite, creating an enjoyable challenge for golfers of varying skill levels. Located west of Boise, TimberStone provides a quieter, more affordable alternative to the area’s better-known golf destinations.

Illinois

PrairieView Golf Club (Byron)

• Google Rating: 4.7 (203 reviews)
• Weekend Green Fee: $63

PrairieView offers a distinctive combination of prairie-style golf and northern Illinois scenery. The course moves through rolling ground overlooking the Rock River, with exposed stretches that bring wind into play, mixed with more sheltered holes that require precision. It doesn’t have the profile of Chicago’s leading public facilities, but its setting and variety make it worth seeking out.

Indiana

Rock Hollow Golf Club (Peru)

• Google Rating: 4.6 (119 reviews)
• Weekend Green Fee: $75

Rock Hollow is one of those courses that seems more substantial than its relatively modest national reputation suggests. The Tim Liddy design uses wooded corridors, rolling terrain and water hazards to create a challenging layout with considerable variety. Its more remote location in north-central Indiana keeps it largely hidden when discussing the state’s top courses. 

Iowa

The Preserve on Rathbun Lake (Moravia)

• Google Rating: 4.5 (125 reviews)
• Weekend Green Fee: $83

Located near Rathbun Lake in southern Iowa, The Preserve offers an upscale public-golf experience in a relatively remote setting. The Raymond Hearn design moves across rolling terrain with broad views, wetlands and substantial elevation changes. Iowa isn’t generally associated with destination resort golf, which makes this course an especially interesting discovery.

Kansas

Hesston Golf Course (Hesston)

• Google Rating: 4.6 (143 reviews)
• Weekend Green Fee: $44

Hesston in central Kansas is a small-town municipal layout that delivers a lot more than you might expect, with beautiful zoysia fairways and consistently well-kept greens. The Frank Hummel design stretches nearly 6,900 yards from the back tees, offering plenty of challenge while remaining enjoyable for golfers of different abilities. It’s affordable, welcoming and largely unknown outside the region, which is exactly what makes it such a good hidden-gem candidate.

Kentucky

Heritage Hill Golf Club (Shepherdsville)

• Google Rating: 4.7 (387 reviews)
• Weekend Green Fee: $60

Heritage Hill uses the wooded, rolling terrain south of Louisville to create a demanding public layout with substantial elevation changes. The Doug Beach design features memorable tee shots, challenging green complexes and relatively little surrounding development. It’s the type of course that could attract considerably more attention if it were located in a major golf destination.

Louisiana

LaTour Golf Club (Mathews)

• Google Rating: 4.6 (92 reviews)
• Weekend Green Fee: $75

LaTour flies under the radar despite offering a challenging layout and a lot of enjoyable golf. Water comes into play throughout the round, while five sets of tees make the course manageable for higher handicappers and plenty demanding for better players. Located in the heart of Louisiana’s bayou country, LaTour offers a relaxed public-golf experience without the recognition of the state’s better-known destinations.

Maine

The Meadows Golf Club (Litchfield)

• Google Rating: 4.6 (329 reviews)
• Weekend Green Fee: Dynamic

The Meadows is the kind of small-town public course that doesn’t attract much attention outside the local golf community, but that’s part of its appeal. The 18-hole layout winds through rolling countryside, with tree-lined holes, interesting elevation changes and well-kept greens that make for an enjoyable round. It’s an affordable, unpretentious alternative to Maine’s more famous resort courses. 

Maryland

Musket Ridge Golf Club (Myersville)

• Google Rating: 4.6 (484 reviews)
• Weekend Green Fee: $90

Joe Lee designed Musket Ridge across rolling farmland near the Catoctin Mountains, creating a scenic public course with considerable elevation change. The layout combines open views, wooded holes and challenging greens without relying on the heavy residential development common at many suburban facilities. Its location west of Frederick makes it a particularly attractive option for golfers willing to travel beyond the Baltimore-Washington corridor.

Massachusetts

Crumpin-Fox Club (Bernardston)

• Google Rating: 4.6 (287 reviews)
• Weekend Green Fee: $99

Crumpin-Fox has long been respected by New England golfers but remains relatively obscure nationally. The Roger Rulewich design uses the wooded, hilly terrain of western Massachusetts to create a challenging course with strong visual variety. Its rural location is a major part of the experience, offering a quieter alternative to the state’s more famous coastal and metropolitan courses.

Michigan

The Dream Golf Course (West Branch)

• Google Rating: 4.8 (308 reviews)
• Weekend Green Fee: $110

Wake up, it’s time to dream. The Dream Golf Course is a secluded northern Michigan golf experience, with fairways winding through dense hardwood forests. The 18-hole layout features dramatic elevation changes, generous landing areas and challenging approach shots that reward thoughtful course management. In a state brimming with magical golf courses, The Dream is an under-the-radar option. 

Minnesota

Montgomery National Golf Club (Montgomery)

• Google Rating: 4.5 (322 reviews)
• Weekend Green Fee: $67

Beatles-themed golf anyone? Montgomery National isn’t your typical small-town golf course, with a Beatles theme that includes song-inspired hole names, a guitar-shaped bunker and even a yellow submarine in the pond on the 18th hole. Originally designed by Joel Goldstrand, the 18-hole layout features rolling terrain, tree-lined fairways and water hazards on eight holes, offering plenty of challenge without being overly intimidating. 

Mississippi

Mississippi State University Golf Course (Starkville)

• Google Rating: 4.6 (60 reviews)
• Weekend Green Fee: $35

Mississippi State University Golf Course in Starkville is open to everyone, but it’s easy to overlook a layout best known as the home of the Bulldogs golf teams. The Brian Ault design features mature pine trees, large greens and a memorable stretch of holes alongside a 40-acre lake, with enough variety to make you use just about every club in the bag. At just $35 to walk 18 holes, it’s a terrific value and a course that deserves more attention from golfers traveling through Mississippi.

Missouri

Mozingo Golf Course (Maryville)

• Google Rating: 4.7 (542 reviews)
• Weekend Green Fee: $59

Mozingo offers a scenic round of golf with rolling hills, tree-lined fairways and beautiful views of the surrounding lake. The 18-hole Sechrest Course stretches more than 7,000 yards from the back tees, providing plenty of challenge while remaining enjoyable for golfers of different skill levels. Tucked away in northwest Missouri, Mozingo is the kind of affordable public course that makes you wonder why more golfers haven’t heard about it.

Montana

Northern Pines Golf Club (Kalispell)

• Google Rating: 4.5 (120 reviews)
• Weekend Green Fee: $105

Northern Pines combines Montana scenery with an interesting mix of open and wooded holes. The Andy North design occupies rolling terrain near the Flathead River, with mountain views providing a dramatic backdrop. Golfers visiting northwest Montana often concentrate on the region’s better-known resort offerings, making Northern Pines an appealing alternative.

Nebraska

Centura Hills Golf Club (Cairo)

• Google Rating: 4.8 (102 reviews)
• Weekend Green Fee: $75

Centura Hills is the kind of small-town course you could easily drive past without realizing how much good golf is waiting. The Marty Johnson design stretches more than 6,800 yards, with rolling terrain, native grasses and a challenging three-hole stretch known as “Amen Bend,” where a creek and some tricky approaches can quickly ruin a good score. It’s a relaxed, affordable public course that doesn’t have the reputation of Nebraska’s famous Sandhills destinations but offers plenty of reasons to make the trip.

Nevada

Mountain Falls Golf Club (Pahrump)

• Google Rating: 4.5 (583 reviews)
• Weekend Green Fee: $100

Mountain Falls is about an hour outside Las Vegas, but it feels far removed from the expensive resort courses along the Strip. The 18-hole layout features a mix of Nicklaus Design and Cal Olson holes, with water hazards, generous fairways and mountain views that make for an enjoyable desert golf experience. It’s the kind of course that can easily get overlooked on a Las Vegas golf trip, but golfers willing to venture outside the city might find it well worth the drive.

New Hampshire

Lochmere Country Club (Tilton)

• Google Rating: 4.5 (262 reviews)
• Weekend Green Fee: $105 

Lochmere offers a classic New England golf experience, with tree-lined fairways and scenic views of the surrounding Lakes Region. The 18-hole layout features elevation changes, strategically placed bunkers and water hazards that demand accuracy without making the course overly punishing. It’s an accessible round in a picturesque setting.

New Jersey

Ballamor Golf Club (Egg Harbor Township)

• Google Rating: 4.6 (277 reviews)
• Weekend Green Fee: Dynamic

Ballamor began as a private facility before opening to public play, giving golfers access to a course with a distinctly private-club character. The Ault, Clark and Associates design uses sandy terrain, wooded corridors and extensive bunkering to create a substantial test. Its location near Atlantic City puts it within reach of a major golf market, but it remains less famous than several nearby public courses.

New Mexico

New Mexico Tech Golf Course (Socorro)

• Google Rating: 4.6 (223 reviews)
• Weekend Green Fee: $54

New Mexico Tech Golf Course is a surprisingly enjoyable university layout that feels like a green oasis in the middle of the desert. The 18-hole course combines traditional tree-lined fairways with a few desert-style holes, while small greens and several risk-reward opportunities make accuracy and smart decisions important throughout the round.

New York

Reservoir Creek Golf Course (Naples)

• Google Rating: 4.7 (325 reviews)
• Weekend Green Fee: $47

A scenic golf experience in the Finger Lakes, Reservoir Creek has fun elevation changes and sweeping views of the surrounding countryside. The 18-hole layout takes advantage of its hilly terrain, creating memorable tee shots. Far removed from New York’s more celebrated golf destinations, Reservoir Creek delivers an enjoyable round in a gorgeous setting.

North Carolina

Cedarbrook Country Club (State Road)

• Google Rating: 4.7 (264 reviews)
• Weekend Green Fee: $59

Cedarbrook C.C. in the foothills of North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains doesn’t get much attention outside the local golf community. The 18-hole layout winds through wooded terrain with rolling fairways and tricky, undulating greens that make it a fun challenge without being overly intimidating. Despite its country club name, Cedarbrook welcomes public golfers and offers an affordable alternative to North Carolina’s better-known golf destinations.

North Dakota

Painted Woods Golf Course (Washburn)

• Google Rating: 4.5 (102 reviews)
• Weekend Green Fee: $67

Painted Woods is a small-town public layout that offers a lot more than you might expect, with rolling prairie, mature trees and scenic views of the surrounding countryside. The par-71 course stretches nearly 7,000 yards from the back tees, while Painted Woods Creek adds some interesting challenges along the way. It’s affordable, welcoming and largely unknown outside the region, making it exactly the kind of place golfers should have on their radar.

Ohio

Deer Ridge Golf Club (Bellville)

• Google Rating: 4.5 (1.4k reviews)
• Weekend Green Fee: $49

Deer Ridge is built across some seriously hilly terrain, with dramatic elevation changes and tree-lined fairways. The Brian Huntley design isn’t especially long at around 6,600 yards, but its challenging greens and uneven lies provide plenty of difficulty without relying on sheer distance. Located between Cleveland and Columbus, Deer Ridge is an interesting alternative to Ohio’s better-known public courses. 

Oklahoma

Roman Nose State Park Golf Course (Watonga)

• Google Rating: 4.6 (129 reviews)
• Weekend Green Fee: $36

Roman Nose occupies a remarkable setting in western Oklahoma, where canyon-like terrain and exposed rock create a landscape unlike the state’s more conventional public courses. The layout uses elevation changes and natural features to produce a memorable round. Its remote location and relatively modest presentation help preserve the feeling of discovering something unexpected.

Oregon

Tokatee Golf Club (Blue River)

• Google Rating: 4.8 (151 reviews)
• Weekend Green Fee: $75

Oregon’s golf reputation is dominated by Bandon Dunes, but Tokatee provides a completely different experience in the Cascade Mountains. The Ted Robinson design combines towering evergreens, mountain views and relatively generous playing corridors in a spectacular natural setting. Its location east of Eugene keeps it away from the state’s primary golf destinations, making it an appealing discovery for golfers traveling through central Oregon.

Pennsylvania

Wyncote Golf Club (Oxford)

• Google Rating: 4.5 (230 reviews)
• Weekend Green Fee: Dynamic

Wyncote brings a little Scottish-style golf to the countryside of Chester County, with wide-open fairways, rolling terrain and plenty of opportunities for the wind to complicate things. The Brian Ault design stretches more than 7,100 yards from the back tees, with wetlands, strategic bunkering and firm playing surfaces providing much of the challenge. It’s a distinctive public course that doesn’t get nearly the attention of Pennsylvania’s famous private clubs, making it an interesting option for golfers looking to try something different.

Rhode Island

Crystal Lake Golf Club (Mapleville)

• Google Rating: 4.5 (534 reviews)
• Weekend Green Fee: $84

Crystal Lake offers a surprisingly enjoyable round in the state’s quiet northwest corner, with rolling fairways, wooded holes and beautiful views of the surrounding countryside. The Howard Maurer design features some memorable elevation changes, including a dramatic downhill par 3, while strategically placed bunkers and water hazards provide plenty of challenge. It doesn’t have the reputation of Rhode Island’s better-known coastal courses, but Crystal Lake is exactly the kind of overlooked public layout that’s worth discovering.

South Carolina

Cobblestone Golf Club (Blythewood)

• Google Rating: 4.6 (510 reviews)
• Weekend Green Fee: $89

Cobblestone offers 27 holes across three nine-hole layouts, giving players plenty of variety without having to travel far from Columbia. The course features rolling terrain, mature trees and some interesting elevation changes, with enough challenges to keep better golfers engaged while remaining enjoyable for everyone else. 

South Dakota

Bakker Crossing Golf Club (Sioux Falls)

• Google Rating: 4.6 (163 reviews)
• Weekend Green Fee: $90

Bakker Crossing has a classic prairie golf experience, with wide-open fairways and plenty of wind to keep things interesting. The 18-hole layout features natural creek beds, strategically placed bunkers and water hazards that make accuracy and course management important even when the landing areas look generous. It doesn’t have the dramatic scenery of South Dakota’s famous Black Hills courses, but Bakker Crossing delivers an enjoyable, well-maintained round that deserves more attention.

Tennessee

Egwani Farms Golf Course (Rockford)

• Google Rating: 4.6 (423 reviews)
• Weekend Green Fee: $70

Egwani Farms started as a family farm before being transformed into an 18-hole public course in 1991. The layout winds through rolling countryside along the Little River, with water hazards, fast greens and plenty of holes that reward smart decisions over sheer distance. It’s become a favorite among Knoxville-area golfers, but Egwani Farms still flies under the radar compared to Tennessee’s better-known golf destinations.

Texas

Delaware Springs Golf Course (Burnet)

• Google Rating: 4.6 (408 reviews)
• Weekend Green Fee: $75

Delaware Springs is a hidden gem in the Hill Country, with rolling fairways, mature trees and plenty of elevation changes to keep things interesting. The course offers a nice mix of challenging holes and forgiving landing areas, making it enjoyable for golfers of just about any skill level. It doesn’t get nearly as much attention as the big-name courses around Austin and San Antonio, but Delaware Springs is the kind of affordable, well-maintained public course that locals are lucky to have.

Utah

Palisade Golf Course (Sterling)

• Google Rating: 4.8 (209 reviews)
• Weekend Green Fees: $42

Palisade is one of those places where the scenery alone makes the trip worthwhile, with beautiful views of the surrounding mountains and rugged central Utah landscape. The 18-hole course features rolling fairways, elevation changes and a peaceful setting that feels far removed from the state’s busier golf destinations. It’s also remarkably affordable, so it’s a win all around.

Vermont

Montague Golf Club (Randolph)

• Google Rating: 4.6 (75 reviews)
• Weekend Green Fee: $79

Montague is the kind of small-town course that reminds you golf doesn’t have to be fancy to be enjoyable. The straightforward 18-hole layout features rolling fairways, mature trees and beautiful views of the surrounding Vermont countryside, with enough variety to keep things interesting throughout the round. 

Virginia

Draper Valley Golf Club (Draper)

• Google Rating: 4.5 (195 reviews)
• Weekend Green Fee: $65 

Draper Valley is tucked into the Blue Ridge Mountains, offering beautiful scenery and a peaceful setting that makes it easy to enjoy a round. The course features rolling fairways, elevation changes and tree-lined holes that provide a fun challenge without being overly difficult. It’s not a name you’ll see on many national golf rankings, but Draper Valley is exactly the kind of affordable, under-the-radar course that’s worth seeking out.

Washington

Highlander Golf Course (East Wenatchee)

• Google Rating: 4.6 (384 reviews)
• Weekend Green Fee: $95

Highlander offers a pretty spectacular setting, with fairways perched high above the Columbia River and sweeping views of the surrounding valley. The par-70 layout features three dramatic canyon-carry holes carved into the cliffs, along with elevation changes and water hazards that make for an entertaining round. It doesn’t have the national reputation of Washington’s famous destination courses, but Highlander delivers the kind of scenery and memorable golf that makes an overlooked course worth seeking out.

West Virginia

Grandview Country Club (Beaver)

• Google Rating: 4.5 (121 reviews)
• Weekend Green Fee: $42

Grandview C.C. is a public course that takes advantage of the state’s mountainous terrain, with rolling fairways, elevation changes and beautiful views of the surrounding countryside. The par-72 layout stretches more than 6,700 yards from the back tees, offering a good mix of challenging holes and scoring opportunities without feeling overly demanding. 

Wisconsin

Whispering Springs Golf Club (Fond du Lac)

• Google Rating: 4.7 (381 reviews)
• Weekend Green Fee: $82

Whispering Springs is a Bob Lohmann design that offers plenty of variety, with rolling fairways, mature trees and wetlands that make you think carefully about where to hit the ball. The course stretches nearly 7,000 yards from the back tees, but six sets of tees make it approachable for golfers who aren’t looking for an especially demanding round. It doesn’t have the national reputation of Wisconsin’s famous destination courses, but Whispering Springs delivers a memorable public-golf experience without the big-name price tag.

Wyoming

Buffalo Golf Club (Buffalo)

• Google Rating: 4.7 (166 reviews)
• Weekend Green Fee: $55

Buffalo Golf Club is a small-town course that makes a strong first impression, with rolling fairways and beautiful views of the nearby Bighorn Mountains. The 18-hole layout stretches roughly 6,500 yards from the back tees, offering enough challenge to keep experienced golfers interested without overwhelming everyone else. It’s a welcoming, affordable public course. 

Have any other hidden gems? Leave a comment below.

The post The Best Hidden Gem Golf Course In Each State appeared first on MyGolfSpy.

Ben Crenshaw is one of the best putters golf has ever seen. His two Masters wins, in 1984 and 1995, were built on a touch on the greens that players still talk about. When he explains anything about putting, I listen.

When his putting went sideways, Crenshaw didn’t rebuild his stroke. In his words, changing your stroke is what gets people in trouble. The one thing he adjusted was ball position, “imperceptibly,” a little up or a little back, until the ball left the face with the roll he wanted to see.

Most golfers struggling with their putting stroke start by overhauling their stroke. They switch grips, buy a new putter and pay no attention to the ball position.

Keep the stroke you can repeat

Putting is personal and repeatability is everything. A new stroke you can’t reproduce under pressure isn’t a fix; it’s a new problem. Crenshaw’s approach holds the stroke constant and adjusts the variables around it.

He also pointed out that ball position isn’t only forward and back. Too far up in the stance was wrong for him and getting too close to the ball inhibited his stroke which he described as freer than most. A free-flowing stroke needs room.

What ball position changes

If you are curious about what ball position in putting can look like, how it changes and what might be ideal for you, I put together this table. This isn’t taken directly from Crenshaw. It’s more of a golf mechanics breakdown to give you a little awareness of this concept.

When to move it

Crenshaw’s answer was essentially to move it until the roll looks right. That’s honest but here are some starting points.

• Ball skidding or hopping: try moving it slightly forward.
• Pulling putts or launching high and bouncing: try moving it slightly back.
• Stroke feels cramped: check your distance from the ball, not just forward and back.

He also stressed that greens change all the time. His routine was to hit longer putts early and watch what the ball does. Make ball position part of that warm-up.

A drill to try

1. Pick a flat 10- to 15-foot putt.
2. Hit five putts from three positions: your normal spot, one ball forward, half a ball back.
3. Watch how quickly the ball rolls end over end, whether it hops, and where it starts relative to your line. A line drawn on the ball makes this much easier to see.
4. Keep the position that gives the cleanest roll and the most comfortable stroke.

Then stop thinking about it. Crenshaw believed that when you putt well, your mind is blank. Ball position is something you settle before the stroke so you don’t have to think about mechanics during it.

The post Putting Ball Position: Ben Crenshaw’s Fix Most Golfers Ignore appeared first on MyGolfSpy.

I’ve always felt that course design and conditions were the two things I remembered most after playing somewhere new, whether the experience was good or bad.

But after reading the 2026 Golf Business Pulse Report from the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA), I started wondering whether there’s more to what makes us enjoy a course and want to come back.

The report looks at what course owners and operators believe matters most to golfers. Some of their answers lined up with what I’ve always valued. Others made me wonder whether golf courses and the golfers paying to play them are really on the same page.

What do golf course operators think matters most?

The NGCOA surveyed more than 200 golf facility owners and operators for its 2026 report. One section asked them to evaluate the importance of different elements of the golfer experience.

Here are the six factors highlighted in the report and the percentage of operators who rated each one as very important.

Source: 2026 NGCOA Golf Business Pulse Report

These aren’t rankings from golfers themselves. They’re the opinions of the people operating the courses we play.

Course conditioning (95%)

This one doesn’t surprise me. I’ve played courses with layouts I loved but conditions that made it difficult to appreciate the design.

Course conditioning doesn’t have to mean perfection, either. I’ve played affordable public courses that were far from pristine but maintained the areas that mattered most.

I recently spoke with Jay Karen, CEO of the NGCOA, about the report. He made an interesting point: sometimes golfers aren’t necessarily looking for something exceptional. They’re looking for the absence of something bad.

Karen compared it to the hotel industry. You can have great amenities, excellent service and wonderful food but one unpleasant detail in the room (like a hair in the bathtub) can change how you remember the entire stay.

The same applies to golf. As Karen put it, “Did you see those greens? They were horrible. Horrible. Nothing else matters.”

Physical beauty and aesthetics (88%)

This was one of the more interesting findings. In 2023, 77 percent of operators rated physical beauty and aesthetics as very important. That’s climbed to 88 percent.

I think there’s more to this than golfers wanting neatly manicured fairways.

Golf has always been an opportunity to get outside but I wonder if that has become even more valuable as people look for ways to escape the chaos of everyday life.

A course with coastal views, mountain scenery or even a few memorable holes surrounded by natural beauty offers something beyond golf itself.

Pace of play (81%)

I was recently talking with a friend with whom I played college golf. We both grew up in New York and the conversation turned to playing six-hour rounds at Bethpage State Park when we were kids.

Bethpage was fairly priced and, with multiple courses, there were opportunities to get out. But you had to be prepared for a serious time commitment.

I’m not suggesting every round at Bethpage took six hours but we certainly experienced some that did.

I loathe slow golf and I think some of that comes from those early experiences. Over the years, I’ve become a fast player, almost to a fault.

I’m not expecting every round to take three hours but if I know a course regularly takes five or six hours, I’ll have a hard time going back. There’s simply no reason for it.

A welcoming attitude toward women (81%)

This is probably a topic for an entirely separate article.

I’ve spent more than 30 years playing golf and working in the industry.

The intimidation factor for women who are new to golf can be incredibly high. Before even reaching the first tee, they’re already worrying about whether they’re good enough, whether they’ll hold someone up or whether they even belong there.

I’ve seen courses do a great job of making women feel comfortable. I’ve also seen how much work there is left to do.

Karen made an interesting point about representation. Walk into many golf clubhouses and you’ll see photos of Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Tiger Woods. But how often do you see Peggy Kirk Bell or Kathy Whitworth?

It’s a small detail but it sends a message about who belongs.

Creating a welcoming environment isn’t necessarily about treating everyone exactly the same. Different golfers need different things to feel comfortable and sometimes it’s about removing the little things that make someone question whether they should be there.

Cost and value (79%)

This one surprised me a little, especially because it ranked behind physical beauty and aesthetics.

The same NGCOA report found that 78 percent of operators are concerned golf is becoming too expensive. It also found that 90 percent of facilities raised rates last year.

To me, value isn’t necessarily about finding the cheapest round. I’ve played inexpensive courses that weren’t worth the money and more expensive ones that I’d happily pay to play again.

But when green fees increase, so do expectations. If I’m paying more, I want to feel like the experience justifies the price.

I wonder whether golfers would place cost and value higher than fifth on this list.

Welcoming culture and programming (73%)

This one ties into something Karen emphasized during our conversation: golfers want to feel comfortable at the places they play.

It’s not always about having the friendliest staff or the most elaborate events calendar. Sometimes, it’s as simple as having someone acknowledge you when you arrive, answer a question or make you feel like you’re supposed to be there.

I also think there’s a difference between visiting a course once and becoming a regular. A welcoming environment may not be the first thing you notice on a new course but it can certainly influence whether you decide this is a place where you could become a regular.

Are course operators and golfers on the same page?

I agree with much of what operators identified as important. Course conditioning, pace of play and value would all be high on my list.

But I also think course design deserves more attention. It’s one of the biggest things I remember after playing somewhere new, yet it isn’t a separate factor in these rankings.

The other thing that stood out to me is that many of these priorities are connected. A beautiful golf course with poor conditions isn’t especially appealing. Neither is a fairly priced course that takes six hours to play.

A course doesn’t have to be perfect to become one of your favorites. But it needs to get enough of these things right.

Now I’m curious whether golfers would rank these six factors the same way the operators did.

What matters most to you when choosing a golf course, and what’s the one thing that would keep you from coming back?

The post Golf Course Operators Think They Know What Golfers Want. Do They? appeared first on MyGolfSpy.

1. A golf glove

I can’t play without one so this one isn’t up for debate. I mix it up between Titleist, Forelinks and sometimes Callaway. The brand matters less to me than a premium feel and a tight fit. I take it off for shots inside 50 yards but the rest of the round, the glove is on.

2. Wooden tees

I like wood or bamboo tees. They break more often than plastic but I feel better about the environment if I can’t find one after a shot. My go-to are the Pride Professional they are thin and lightweight and I’ve used them for years.

3. A rangefinder

I’ve been using the Bushnell Tour V7 Shift and it’s the best rangefinder I’ve owned. My earlier budget models were slower and struggled to find targets. A rangefinder gives me one exact number to the pin which makes me more target-focused and helps with specific shot placement, like laying up short of a bunker.

I do play with the Bushnell Wingman View on the cart as well if I ride. If I could only carry one distance device, I’d pick GPS for the front, middle and back numbers and I wrote about that tradeoff here. But a rangefinder is the accessory I’d least want to leave in the car.

4. A golf towel

A towel is easy to overlook until your grips are wet or your clubface is caked with dirt. I use the Shot Scope towel and I love it. It has the hole in the center so I keep it on a club and it’s easy to bring it up to the green if needed. It also works to cover the clubs if we get a quick rain.

Honorable mentions

Water bottle: Getting dehydrated ruins any kind of a streak I get going. My lead bottle is the BrüMate Rise 25oz, followed by the Stanley Nelly Korda edition I used a lot this summer. The Owala Smooth Sip is another good one.

For practice sessions, I use a Ringo which has a magnetic phone mount in the lid so I can record my swing on the range without a tripod. I don’t take it on the course but it’s the most useful bottle I own for practice.

Sunscreen: I use Blue Lizard mineral sunscreen. It’s a little thicker to apply but I find it does the best job. Just wash your hands before you head out to play.

Goodr sunglasses: Goodr are my pick because they’re easy on the budget and come in a lot of styles. They work on and off the course so I’m not buying a separate pair just for golf and they do a good job helping me see on the course. I wouldn’t call them a performance product since I’m buying them for price, convenience and looks.

Golf hat: This year, I wore my Melin Hydro had a lot. It’s pricey but it’s held up better than any hat I’ve owned. It can get wet, I rinse it to clean it, and it’s faded but still going strong. It’s not my most comfortable hat, though. It took a bit to break it in but now I love it.

The other hat I really like is the Titleist. I wear the Women’s Charleston Breezer but the Players Tech is also a great hat.

What are your must have golf accessories this year?

The post My 4 Must-Have Golf Accessories (2026) appeared first on MyGolfSpy.

Nearly every golf glove features some type of perforation (intentional holes in the glove intended for increased breathability) and that makes sense. If you’re playing golf in the summer, you want your hands to sweat as little as possible so that your glove holds up.

The concern when choosing a new golf glove is obviously the potential wear and tear resulting in rips and tears after repeated use. For example, I noticed a hole in one of my favorite golf gloves from 2026 after roughly 170 holes of golf. You should get more use out of your golf glove than that.

Bruce Bolt originally got their start in baseball with their founder (Bear Mayer) launching the company in 2017 as a 16-year-old baseball player. He was looking for money for his first truck and gas money to go along with it and slowly built the now multi-million-dollar brand.

When it comes to golf, Bruce Bolt has a different theory. Perforation has been the standard for quite some time but it can also be the breeding ground for bigger holes that may decrease the lifespan of your glove.

Take a pair of jeans, for example. If your jeans come with holes designed for fashion, you’ll get what you’re looking for. But if you’ve ever worn a pair of jeans with holes, you know those holes spread easily.

So what did Bruce Bolt do? They decided to make their golf gloves out of AAA Cabretta leather with no perforations. I’ve spent the last month wearing Bruce Bolt gloves and I’m happy to report that (for me at least) they can play ball with the best of them.

Over roughly eight rounds played, I noticed minimal wear and tear with an increase in grip, feel and performance as time went on. The sample is relatively small but it’s enough data to recommend a test drive with Bruce Bolt golf gloves. When I played in the late-summer heat, the glove seemed to mold to my skin more than usual and caused a tad more sweat. It wasn’t enough of a problem to stop wearing Bruce Bolt gloves but it’s worth mentioning.

The no-perforation design won’t be for everyone (particularly those who hate extra sweat) but Bruce Bolt deserves your consideration, especially if you’re a baseball player turned golfer.

The post This Golf Glove Features No Perforation On Purpose appeared first on MyGolfSpy.

Good luggage ain’t cheap and cheap luggage ain’t good.

If you travel a lot, you know that’s true. You also know that good luggage can last years. Cheap luggage, well, doesn’t.

That’s not to say you can’t find serviceable luggage cheap or find good luggage on sale. The reality is, however, that luggage is one of those areas where you do generally get what you pay for.

That’s what makes this new Sun Mountain Matchplay Ballistic Luggage collection so interesting. It ain’t cheap. And considering the material it’s made of is actually called “ballistic nylon,” we’re guessing it’s built to withstand, well, ballistics.

Sun Mountain Matchplay Ballistic Luggage Collection

Sun Mountain has certainly been busy this fall. In the past month alone, we’ve seen a new line of E-Series golf bags, an extremely cool limited-edition golf bag collab with Marucci baseball, a new fall apparel drop and a new line of retro-modern waxed canvas stand bags.

And now a four-piece luggage collection.

“We’ve spent more than 40 years building golf gear that golfers trust,” says Sun Mountain Marketing and Brand Strategy Director Grant Lordan. “We’ve brought that same commitment to quality and durability to our premium travel luggage.”

“Premium”, in this case, might be an understatement. The collection features a four-wheel rolling carry-on suitcase, a backpack, a duffel and a shoe bag, all made from crazy-durable 1680D ballistic nylon. Each piece features reinforced corners, heavy-duty zippers and multiple pockets for plenty of storage.

The Matchplay Ballistic backpack ($300) features 14 pockets including a lined valuables compartment. It also has a luggage pass-through so it can stack securely on the roller bag. The carry-on ($465) also has a lined valuables compartment among its 11 pockets along with a TSA-approved locking system.

The Duffel ($250) is large enough for a quick weekend getaway or a short golf trip. It features a decent-sized opening (always a bonus with duffels) as well as a shoe compartment and a padded shoulder strap.

The shoe bag ($100) is a weird outlier in the collection. For what it’s worth, however, it sure looks durable. It features a water-resistant backing, integrated air vents and three small internal pockets to store smaller accessories.

What’s this “ballistic” business?

Sun Mountain says the “ballistic” part of the new Matchplay Ballistic Luggage Collection comes the material it’s made from: 1680D ballistic nylon.

“1680D” stands for 1680-denier nylon yarn. Denier is how nylon fibers are measured in terms of thickness and weight. The higher the denier, the thicker, heavier and more durable the material is.

Sun Mountain’s new E-Series golf bags, for example, are made from 300D polyester while the company’s signature Clubglider3 travel bag is made from 900D polyester. Heavy-duty tactical gear is around 1000D. 1680D ballistic nylon, however, is cut from a completely different bolt of cloth. It dates back to World War II when it was developed to protect airmen from flying debris. While it’s not quite bulletproof, it should withstand damn near anything you or the airlines could throw at it on a golf trip.

Do you need ballistic luggage?

A fair question. Probably not but since when does need enter into it? As we said up top, if you’re a frequent traveler, you know the score. Good luggage ain’t cheap and cheap luggage ain’t good.

When it comes to the Sun Mountain Matchplay Ballistic Luggage Collection, we know one thing for sure. It ain’t cheap. Based on Sun Mountain’s track record, we’re willing to bet that the quality is up there, as well.

The Sun Mountain Matchplay Ballistic Luggage collection is available now in three colorways: Grove (green), Navy and Black. Check them out at www.sunmountain.com.

The post Sun Mountain Goes Ballistic With Its New Matchplay Luggage Collection appeared first on MyGolfSpy.

The RS2 is focused on delivering top-notch waterproofing without sacrificing breathability, thanks to its “RAINSHEDDER” technology that is meant to last. I play a lot of golf in the rain, so the RS2 speaks a little bit louder to me.

The footbed and midsole are equipped with PMXNitro+ technology, with the footbed designed for premium comfort and the midsole enhancing energy return. Some people argue that energy return is less important in a golf shoe, and to that I’m channeling my inner Key & Peele to say, “Shut up, Mom, silence from you.” As a side note, no mothers were harmed in the making of this article.

On the style front, the Forrester’s x Payntr RS2 pairs nicely with a proper pair of golf trousers, a nice rain jacket, and your golf hat of choice. You might even win “best dressed” on your next golf trip. No promises, but you might.

The last drop went fast, so click the link below to grab your size before they’re gone.

The post Get Them Before They’re Gone: Forrester’s x Payntr RS2 appeared first on MyGolfSpy.

1. It performs from every range. A putter that’s great up close but falls apart on the lag putt isn’t doing its job.
2. The price is justified. It doesn’t have to be cheap but it has to deliver more than you’d expect for the money.
3. You’ll still be glad you bought it next season. That comes down to feel, design and whether it suits your stroke.

On PuttView handicap, a more negative score is better. Here are the Top 5 Smartest Buys in putters for 2026, counting down.

5. Cleveland HB Soft 2 Black Retreve

The Retreve has a built-in ball retriever that lets you pick the ball out of the cup without bending over. It’s a fun design but the performance is what sets this putter apart. Among 29 mallets in our 2026 test, it finished fifth and was especially good on long putts, coming within 0.6 of the top mallet, the $494.99 Bettinardi BB 6.0. Medium range is its soft spot. If you want a mallet that tests well and has the bonus of being easier on your back, this is the one.

4. Mizuno M.Craft Osaka

Blades had a tough year and the Osaka is the reason they still have a case. It won the blade category out of 24 putters and was our top blade from short range. It’s a forged blade with a copper underlay that softens the feel and it’s $299.99. Mallets and zero-torque putters beat it overall but if you want to look down at a blade, this is a smart buy.

3. Wilson Infinite Buckingham

The Buckingham isn’t a new idea. It won best value in our 2022 mallet test and came back to win the 2025 mallet category, with elite short- and medium-range results. That makes two wins, three years apart, for a putter that costs $129.99. Not every tester loved the looks or the sound so if you are partial to a premium feel you may want to look elsewhere. If you care more about where the ball ends up, this is the best deal in the group. I bought this exact putter for my husband a few years ago and it has been an absolute win for him. He has no plans to change it.

2. Wilson Infinite Zero-Torque Lakeview

Wilson made this list twice but if you dig into our putter testing you’ll see why. Zero-torque putters took over our 2026 testing and the Lakeview shows you don’t have to pay a premium to join in. It finished fourth in the category and was the best on our list from short range. Zero-torque designs help keep the face square through the stroke which is why so many golfers have found success with them. Medium range is the one spot where the Lakeview performance slipped a bit.

1. Odyssey Ai-DUAL Square 2 Square #7

Out of 79 putters, the Ai-DUAL S2S #7 was the best putter we tested in 2026. What stood out was how few weaknesses it had. It was strong from short, medium and long range, which almost no putter manages. It’s $299.98 at PGA TOUR Superstore, marked down from $399.99. This is a putter I tried in 2026 and can tell you that my on-course performance was noticeably better than with my older blade putter. The Odyssey Ai-DUAL Square 2 Square #7 is a putter you can invest in and hold on to for quite some time. It’s the smartest putter buy of 2026.

The post 5 Smartest Putter Buys For 2026 appeared first on MyGolfSpy.

Sometimes, “best in testing” and “best for you” aren’t always the same thing and a few of this year’s winners show why. Each one earned its title but each also comes with a catch that matters depending on who’s swinging it.

Mizuno JPX One Hybrid

The Mizuno JPX One won Best Hybrid of 2026 on accuracy, the most heavily weighted category in our hybrid testing. It finished first for accuracy with a 9.8 score and testers kept just under 96 percent of their shots in a playable position, the best mark of any hybrid in the test. For a golfer replacing a long iron with something that hits greens, that’s exactly what you want.

The catch is spin. The JPX One ranked as one of the highest-spinning hybrids we tested and one of our testers noted it had a little too much spin for his game. If you already spin the ball a lot, that extra spin can make the ball climb and stall in the air which costs you carry and makes wind a bigger problem.

More spin isn’t a flaw for everyone. Golfers who struggle with low launch and low spin can benefit from it and it’s part of why the club performed so well for accuracy. If you’re not sure which group you’re in, a launch monitor or a fitting will show your numbers and let you adjust spin and launch instead of guessing.

Kirkland Signature GEN 3 Forged

Yes, a $67 Costco wedge beat every wedge in our 2026 test. Its performance in wet conditions helped separate it from the field and that’s an important part of our wedge testing that golfers don’t always consider. From a pure performance standpoint, it earned the win.

So why isn’t it right for everyone? The loft and grind options are limited. The right bounce and grind depend on your turf, your angle of attack and how you like to open or close the face. You also need to buy all three wedges at once so if you’re looking to replace just one it doesn’t always make sense.

If the Kirkland fits your gaps and your course conditions, it’s a steal.

Tour Edge Hot Launch Max D

The Hot Launch Max D put together one of the most balanced performances in our super game-improvement iron test. It finished first for accuracy, the metric we weight most heavily in iron scoring, and ranked inside the top three for distance and forgiveness. At $599.99 for the set, it’s also an impressive value.

But the iron-wood style profile won’t appeal to everyone. If you’re a steadier ball striker who wants a smaller head or more feel at address, this isn’t the set to chase.

Honorable mention: Bettinardi BB 6.0

The Bettinardi BB 6.0 was the best mallet putter we tested and the only mallet or blade to match the zero-torque category average. It finished at -6.3 PuttView Handicap against a zero-torque average of -6.29 and its short and long putt numbers were the best in the mallet field.

It’s also almost $500 and its weakest range is medium putts (-1.6). Several mallets finished within about 0.6 handicap points of it including the Ben Hogan BHM03 which posted the best medium-putt number in the mallet test (-5.9) and the Ben Hogan BHM02 and Cleveland HB Soft 2 Black Retreve, all at -5.7. Our price analysis on putters found that price didn’t predict performance across the putter field in 2026.

If you’re losing strokes from mid-range or you don’t want to spend $495, there are better places to start. And if you’re open to zero-torque, the top of that category performed better than any mallet we tested.

The bottom line

Every club here earned its spot and none of this changes the results. It just puts them in context. Use our winners to narrow your list, then let a fitting and your own swing, swing speed and course conditions decide what you put in play.

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