News
The state of the game
By Sean Foster-Nolan
GolfWRX Contributor
USA Today pointed out in a recent article that in the past five years the number of golfers in the United States has declined by 13 percent. Last year, the number of rounds of golf played nationwide dropped by 3.5 percent. In part, the reason for these numbers has to do with time and money. While I would agree I would add another, and perhaps larger contributing factor: frustration.
As we all know golf is not an easy game. Frank Thomas, former research director of the USGA said that over the past 20 years, despite all the advances in technology, the average male hits his drive approximately 200 yards, the average score hovers near 100, and for those that keep handicaps the average remains around 16.
Despite this course architects continue to build longer and more difficult golf courses. And, men being men, play tees that are further and further back. So, if the average male hits his tee shot 200 yards and he’s playing a 423 yard par four what are the chances of his getting to the green in regulation? If a par three is 190 yards, and surrounded by bunkers, what are his chances of hitting the green at all? Add to that narrow fairways littered with hazards … what are his chances of even getting the ball in play? How many greens in regulation will he hit if he is hitting a fairway wood to virtually every par four, and on many par threes?
“Move up!”, you say. Easier said then done when dealing with the fragile male ego. According to the USGA’s Tee it Forward initiative if a golfer’s average tee shot is 200 yards than he should be playing from 5,200 to 5,400 yards. The problem is not many golfers will play from that yardage, not to mention there aren’t many tee boxes with that yardage. Okay, let’s say the middle tees are approximately 6,200 yards. That would mean that the golfer would need to hit his tee shot an average of 250 yards. Not many golfers can hit it that far. Where does that leave our fellow who is 200 yards off the tee? Very frustrated.
Last summer I went to the local muni and was paired with a three some. We were all roughly in our mid-50s.
“What tee box are you playing from?” one gentleman asks me.
“The middle tees,” I respond.
“We always play from the back tees,” says another, in a rather self-important voice.
We proceed to hit our tee shots. On our approaches my intrepid three some is hitting fairway woods or hybrids into the green while I’m hitting an 8-iron. This goes on for the next couple of holes, where none of them have yet to make a par, let alone a bogey. We get to the fourth hole. From the back tees this is a very intimidating tee shot. At a minimum you must hit your tee shot at least 230 yards over a pine tree onto a plateau to have any chance of getting to the green in two. None of my three some has yet to hit a tee shot over 200. If you tug it a little left you are in the trees that slope severely left. If you hit it right, you’re okay, but you have a long shot to a green that you can’t see and if you hit your approach a wee bit left, long, right or short you’re dead. From the middle tees if you hit it 200 yards you’re on the plateau and have a relatively easy shot to the green. If you hit it 230 you’ll knock it past the plateau and it will roll forever down to the front of the green. Needless to say my three some scored a big number on this hole.
By the time we get to the fifth hole I’d heard enough curse words to make my drill instructors from my Marine Corps days blush. This is a monster par three from the back tees. An extremely narrow 210 yard hole flanked by oak trees on both sides coming closer together as they run up to the green. I’m thinking to myself, “What are these guys going to do here?” Two tee shots were lost in the woods and the third was well short. Another big number for all concerned.
As we walk to the sixth tee I’m mentally scratching my head. My three some has been cursing, mumbling, and not having very much fun. I’m one over par, and they have yet to make a bogey. It’s not that they can’t hit the golf ball. They just don’t hit it very far. Why are they killing themselves?
We get up to the tee box and one of the guys asks me,
“Do you mind if I join you on the middle tees?”
“Not at all,” I respond.
The others quickly jump in.
By the time we finish up on No. 18 there is a lot of laughter and comments such as:
“I’ve never reached the 16th in regulation before!”
“That’s my first birdie of the year!”
“That’s my personal best on the back nine!”
“I didn’t lose a ball the rest of the round!”
“I’ll never play the back tees again!”
“I haven’t had so much fun in ages!”
Well, you get the idea.
So, in the vast majority of cases what do we have? We have a golfer playing from a tee box where he has no chance in getting to the majority of par fours in regulation with two very good shots. Has no chance in getting to most of the par threes with a good shot. Must have an outstanding short game just to make a par. Must get very lucky to make a birdie. That really sounds like fun.
Is it any wonder the number of golfers is on the decline? What can be done? A few things. Superintendents can move up the tee boxes, and change the scorecards as well as the slope and rating. Although the USGA has the Tee it Forward initiative golfers will not move up on their own accord. They’ll need a push. New course designs can be more user friendly. Fairways can be wider, greens can be more approachable and courses can be made shorter. There is no reason courses are designed with the single digit in mind when the vast majority of golfers, and those that bring in the vast majority of revenue, are mid to high-handicappers. Perhaps if golfers start reaching greens in regulation, making the occasional birdie, not losing multiple balls a round, they may decide to stick with the game. If so golf will remain a healthy and viable sport, which can only benefit all of us.
Tee in Funward anyone?
GolfWRX is on site this week at the Memorial Tournament, with both Alistair Cameron and Tour Photographer Greg Moore on the ground in Dublin, Ohio, where a strong field is assembled to pay homage to the Golden Bear.
In addition to WITB galleries, we’ve already been treated to an in-hand look at Tommy Fleetwood’s new TaylorMade Spider putters.
Check out links to all our photos below.
General Albums
WITB Albums
- Jason Day – WITB – 2026 The Memorial
- Chris Gotterup – WITB – 2026 The Memorial
- SungJae Im – WITB – 2026 The Memorial
Pullout Albums
- Jason Day’s 1off Payntr golf shoes – 2026 The Memorial
- JT Poston’s TaylorMade Spider – 2026 The Memorial
- Cameron putter – 2026 The Memorial
- Tommy Fleetwood’s TM Spider putters – 2026 The Memorial
- New Mitsubishi Chemical 1K Pro Orange shaft – 2026 The Memorial
Around the world, the golf wheel spun this final week in May of 2026. From New Jersey to Austria, with stops in Korea, Texas, and North Carolina (don’t let me route your next trip) the world’s finest put their golf games on display. There were three playoffs, some known commodities and some new talent. It was the sort of week that we hope to have at this point in the seasons. June and July afford double-digit major events, and perhaps, one of this week’s champions will use this success as a springboard to new heights. Time to run it all down, tech style, in this week’s Tour Tech Rundown.
Thanks to WITBHub, Today’s Golfer, GolfWRX, and Inside Tour Golf for initial research into equipment.
PGA Tour @ Charles Schwab Challenge: Heroic Henley denies Cole
Eric Cole did nearly everything that a fellow can do, to secure a first PGA Tour title. He stayed one shot clear of Ryder Cup player Ben Griffin. He kept US Open champion Gary Woodland and wunderkind Michael Brennan two shots distant. He posted 70 on day four to reach twelve under par. And then, Russell Henley revealed his Dr. Strange cloak. Henley made 47 feet of birdie putts on holes 16, 17, and 18, to jump from minus-nine to twelve-deep, and secured a spot in a playoff with Cole. The duo returned to the final tee, and put on a stripe show.
Both golfers found the fairway off the tee, and Henley improved on his regulation play with an approach to four feet. Cole did himself proud, tucking an iron to a dozen feet, but he was unable to convert the putt for three. Henley is one of the best putters on tour, and he proved it once more by draining a putt for a fourth consecutive birdie, and a sixth PGA Tour title. For Eric Cole, that first victory should come, and soon. He has done everything necessary to earn the chalice lift.
Henley’s Suitcase
- Driver: Titleist TSi3 at 10 degrees. Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 70g 6.5 TX
- Metal: Titleist TS3 at 16.5 degrees. Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 80 TX
- Hybrid: Titleist TSi2 at 21 degrees. Shaft: Mitsubishi MMT hybrid 100 TX
- Iron: Titleist T250 4-iron. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Golf AMT Tour White X100
- Irons: Titleist T100 5-6 irons. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Golf AMT Tour White X100
- Irons: Titleist T100 7-9 irons. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
- Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 at 48 and 50 degrees. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Golf Tour Issue X100
- Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 at 54 and 60 degrees. Shaft: rue Temper Dynamic Golf Tour Issue S400
- Putter: Titleist Scotty Cameron T5 Tour Prototype
LPGA @ Shoprite LPGA: Welcome back, Celine!
Soo Bin Joo had her eyes on a maiden LPGA title. She held the lead after two rounds, then hit a red light at the intersection of can-I and how-To. Joo posted plus-two on day three in New Jersey, and dropped to a T4 finish, which was still a career-best for the young Korean golfer. Instead of a new face, a familiar face returned to the top of the podium.
Celine Boutier was the It Girl in 2023. She collected four victories, including a major title at Evian. Boutier reached world number one status, then simply faded into the background. No wins came her way over the next 30 months. On Sunday, she collected LPGA victory number seven, at the same trace as LPGA victory number two.
Day three saw Boutier manage the windswept Seaview Bay course with six birdies and a bogey. She was challenged in the end by Thailand’s Arpichaya Yubol, who signed for a 66 of her own. Yubol came up one shot shy of the top ladder rung. Finishing in third place at -7, two back of the winner, was Ireland’s Lauren Walsh.
Celine’s Suitcase
- Driver: PXG 0311 Black Ops Tour-1 at 9 degrees. Shaft: Graphite Design AD IZ-5
- Hybrid: PXG 0311 Black Ops at 19 and 22 degrees. Shaft: KBS Hybrid Prototype
- Hybrid: PXG 0311 Gen5.
- Iron: PXG 0311 P Gen 4 5-9 irons
- Wedge: PXG 0311 T Gen 4 PW
- Wedges: PXG 0311 Sugar Daddy II at 50, 54, 58 degrees
- Putter: Bettinardi Studio Stock 3 DASS
DP World Tour @ Austrian Alpine: KK? KK!
Kota Kaneko has a rhythmic name. It has strong vowels and a run of voiceless stops in its crunchy K sounds. On Sunday in Austria, Kaneko put a stop to a challenge from Portugal’s Ricardo Gouveia and everyone else, and claimed a first-ever title on the DP World Tour. Gouveia did well to reach 16-under par over four days, but Kaneko held firm, two shots in the clear.
Davis Bryant of the USA also forged a strong challenge for the win. He ended in a tie with Gouveia for second place. Kaneko began and finished his final round in a bit of a malaise, but he caught fire midway through. Birdies at 10, 12, and 13 provided the necessary cushion to cruise to the finish line without breaking a serious sweat.
Kaneko’s Suitcase
- Driver: Ping Max G440
- Metals: TaylorMade Qi4D at 15, 16.5, 21, and 24 degrees
- Irons: TaylorMade P760 5 and 6 irons
- Irons: TaylorMade P7TW 7-9 irons
- Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design at 46, 52, 56, and 60 degrees
- Putter: Odyssey Ai-One Cruiser Arm Lock #7
Korn Ferry Tour @ UNC Health Championship: Improbably Alvaro
Alvaro Ortiz may have had a bit of scare on the outward nine on Sunday, but he came through in clutch fashion in the end. Ortiz began the day bogey-double, and added another double bogey at the 11th hole. He was mired in a downward trend, spiraling away from the top of the leader’s board. Ortiz found hope at the 14th, where his first birdie of the day tumbled home. Inspired, he closed with birdies and 17 and 18 to catch Ross Steelman at 10-under par, and the duo returned to the 18th deck for overtime.
The extra session concluded in brief time. Ortiz, buoyed by his newly-retrieved confidence, hit the fairway with driver, then approached to six feet and drained the putt. Gobsmacked, Steelman could do little more than smile and applaud, as his run at the top came to a close. The victory was the first for Ortiz on the KFT, and will implant him squarely in the chase for a PGA Tour promotion.
Alvaro’s Suitcase
- Driver: Ping G430 MAX driver at 9 degrees loft
- Metal: Ping G430 MAX 3W
- Iron: Ping iDi Driving Iron
- Irons: Ping Blueprint S irons
- Wedges
- Putter: Scottsdale TR Piper C
A party on the green!
Alvaro’s time comes in Raleigh with his first win @UNCHealthChamp ? pic.twitter.com/2dmtZdbSzk
— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) May 31, 2026
LIV @ Korea: Me llamo Joaquin
Chile’s Joaquin Niemann had been away from the LIV winner’s circle throughout all of 2026. This week in Korea, he reminded us that he is still a force to consider. Niemann chased down Taylor Gooch over the closing holes at Asiad Country Club, then claimed victory with a hole-one birdie in extra time. Bryson DeChambeau claimed solo third, one shot in arrears at minus-eleven. Dustin Johnson finished on fourth, one putt farther back.
Niemann’s Suitcase
- Driver: Ping 440 LST
- Metal: Ping G440 Max at 15 degrees
- Metal: Ping G425 Max at 21 degrees
- Hybrid: Ping G430 at 25 degrees
- Irons: Ping Blueprint S 5 through PW
- Wedges: Ping S159 at 52, 56, and 60 degrees
- Putter: Ping PLD Anser
Driver: Titleist TSi3 (10 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 70 6.5 TX
3-wood: Titleist TS3 (16.5 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 80 TX
7-wood: Titleist GTS3 (21 degrees)
Shaft: Project X Denali Black 80 TX
Irons: Titleist T250 (4), Titleist T100 (5-9)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold AMT (4-6), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 (7-9)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 (48-10F @47, 50-08F @51, 54-10S @55, 60-04T)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (48), S400 (47)
Putter: Scotty Cameron Phantom X5 Tour Prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Aaron Rai’s winning WITB: 2026 PGA Championship
Russell Henley’s winning WITB: 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
Photos from the 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
CJ Cup Byron Nelson Tour Report: Koepka and Kim’s newest putters finally get hot
Charles Schwab Challenge Tour Report: MacIntyre, Åberg and Spaun all switch putters, TaylorMade launches new Spider
Details on J.J. Spaun’s surprise putter switch
GolfWRX Launch Report: 2026 Titleist GTS drivers
Photos from the 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
PGA Championship Tour Report: Fitzpatrick, Koepka among big-name putter switches for Aronimink
Photos from the ShopRite LPGA
Maria Torres WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4 3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4 5-wood: Ping G440...
Eric Cole WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: PXG Lightning Tour Max (9 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 70 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (15 degrees) Shaft:...
Si Woo Kim WITB 2026 (May)
Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond (8.5 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X Mini driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Mini...
Wyndham Clark’s winning WITB: 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (10.5 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 60 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D Tour (15 degrees) Shaft: Project...
944
Feb 21, 2012 at 12:08 am
I’m not sure this topic merits the use of profanity, but I can understand some of the frustration.
The truth of the matter is that public courses are just that- public courses. Everyone has a right to play to them, and to choose which tee box they play from. If pace of play is an issue, then it should start with the offenders policing themselves. If that doesn’t work, then I believe the group behind the offenders and/or the marshals should intervene.
If pace of play is not an issue, then I believe that players should be allowed to use whatever tee box they please. If their scores reflect their choice of tees, then said players should have the common sense to recognize this and modify their choice of tee box, if they choose. If they still like to play from tees that are probably not suited to their skill level, then they will have to continue to accept the poor score that they post. Nobody is forcing them to play from the tips but themselves and if they enjoy playing from that length, then great for them. If they want to move up to improve their score, then great for them again.
I would compare it to a person who is relatively new to weightlifting. Nobody forces them to squat 500 lbs., but if they choose to attempt to do so, they can. They will be the one to have to live with the results. I believe they will quickly find that they will have a more enjoyable experience starting with a lower weight, and working up from there as their strength and skill improve. Regardless, it is still that individuals choice.
In my opinion, the issue is not so much course design as it is each individual golfer’s personal decision on what tees they play from. Perhaps a solution might be a sign before the first tee box that says “Please make an honest assessment of your game before deciding which tees to play.” would be a nice reminder for everyone who plays.
beyondthedimples.wordpress.com/
Feb 19, 2012 at 10:50 am
And lastly, I can’t afford to drive a mercedes, so I don’t.
I am not certified to fly a plane, so I don’t.
If the course is too difficult, don’t play it!
There are so many different courses to pick from, don’t shit on the design. So stupid to point the finger to someone else rather than educating yourself.
Seems simple enough to me!
beyondthedimples.wordpress.com/
Feb 19, 2012 at 10:47 am
The problem is not time or distance or course difficulty or any of that nonsense.
When I was introduced to the game, I had to “prove” myself before heading to the golf course. I had to learn the basics of the golf swing, short game, etc. Kind of like getting your driver’s license. When the golf boom happened and courses and equipment were available on every street corner, those traditions were pushed aside. Learning why there are different tee boxes, pace of play rules, etiquette, etc were all part of the learning process. This took time and the general public did not want to invest the time, and that ultimately will only be to their demise.
In my opinion, there are still way too many un-licensed golfers out there.
Zunes
Feb 18, 2012 at 12:38 pm
Great article. Should be required reading for anyone designing, owning, running, or working at a golf course.
Part of the problem is that everyone working at a golf course is a scratch golfer and doesnt see these problems.
I would disagree that “we” are all the problem as many of us would like to see a fix.
Nor do I think assigning tees by handicap would work as even the front tees are too long for many players.
chip75
Feb 18, 2012 at 11:09 am
I’ve always thought the tees players hit from should be handicapped based, so a higher handicapped player will have to hit from the front while the top flight amateur will be sent way back.
The equipment doesn’t help much either, OEM’s spend millions on trying to get more distance but their innovations of less loft and longer clubs won’t help the average player to hit the ball solidly with a square clubface.
I’m sure if they did tests they’d find the average player would score better with a bag of wedges, a couple of short to mid irons and a putter!
dekker
Feb 18, 2012 at 10:41 am
this is the arch-typical story, which I could tell countless versions of myself, from both sides of the blocks.
Who’s to blame ?
Well actually we all are, starting with the demanding players, to the put-upon course architect, to the ego-driven resort owners ,to the obliging clubmakers ,and the fiscally driven OEM who lead us to the promised land via a new-improved route every year, with the player screaming, “I was robbed”! Hilarious!
The average golfer parallels a deluded stud who finds his conquest is a pro who expects to be paid.