Opinion & Analysis

The revelations of golf

Published

13 years ago

Jun 15, 2013

I believe the definition of golf should be reinvention. Finding yourself. To be yourself openly and honestly. Developing character through adversity. To evolve as a human being.

Growing up, I was timid, weak and very shy. I was a product of the fear and humiliation I suffered growing up. Fear of being mentally and physically abused by my classmates. I was made fun of because of my situation in life. I grew up poor in a rich town and wore the wrong clothes, had the wrong haircut and rode a piece of junk bicycle. My self confidence could not be measured it was so low.

As a child, I would rarely engage in speaking to people I did not know. I was uncomfortable being around kids my age and found it difficult to make friends. I was self conscious about every aspect of my being.

The teasing and mental abuse grew as I waded my way through middle school.

Burned in my memory is the thought of wanting to be like everyone else, to fit in. I wanted to be accepted for who I was and not fear the first period in school. Years went by, and I only became more withdrawn.

Today, I don’t know why I wanted to be accepted so bad by these punks.

One day when I was around 12 years old, my grandfather asked if I wanted to go to the golf course with him. He had been trying to get me to play golf for awhile and I always said no.

This time though, I said yes.

My grandfather was my rock, my guiding light, my hero.

My grandfather was a relatively short man who was a tumbler (gymnast) in his younger years. He could still walk on his hands and do flips off a diving board well in to his 60s. His forearms were made of stone and he had thick beautiful silver hair.

We got in his car and drove to Lake Hefner Golf Course in Oklahoma City. I don’t remember much other than how everyone in the clubhouse and driving range knew my grandfather, as if he were a rock star or celebrity. It made me proud to know my grandfather was accepted and respected by these men.

Soon after, my grandfather appeared at my house with a cut down set of golf clubs. Nothing special, a bit rusty, worn grooves and grips that made an old set of worn tires look new. I remember just staring at them and finding them difficult to swing, let alone hit a ball where I wanted it to go.

Time passed, but my grandfather was far from giving up on me. Each time he would come over, he would give me an easy tip.

“Hold the club like this, stand like this, eventually it will all become second nature,” he would say.

In my neighborhood, our home had a tiny yard. There really wasn’t anywhere to strike a golf ball except for our local neighborhood park. I guess all those subtle tips my grandfather gave me had taken hold. I don’t really remember, but I must have practiced holding and standing with the club off an on in my bedroom.

One afternoon after school, I went down to the park with my friend Randy to hit golf balls. Neither of us had a clue what we were doing, but we played our first round of golf. We named the holes like they do at Augusta. Our holes were named more after actual objects though than flowers, “basketball pole” or the “short tree next to the big one.”

The next time I saw my grandfather, I asked him to teach me a little more.

I remember him showing me how to grip the club lightly, as if I were holding a baby bird. Then he issued a challenge,

“When you can hit the practice green at the driving range 6 out of 10 times, then we can think about playing 9 holes.”

Weeks went by. My friend Randy and I were playing almost every day after school. The driving range wasn’t a real option for us at the time due to the expense. So we practiced in our local park.

Finally, grandfather took me to the driving range. I was pretty nervous as we pulled in to the course. I was afraid I would let my grandfather down and I would embarrass him in front of his friends.

The green was roughly 50 or 60 yards away, but seemed like 1,000 miles. The green was oversized and the ground was flat. Even a skulled shot had a chance of making it. That day, I was able to hit the green almost every time.

Something began to change inside of me, although I didn’t realize it at the time. Golf was working its magic. The result of every shot is the direct response to what happens before you strike the ball. Meeting my grandfather’s challenge, easy now as I look back, was a life-changing event.

Time went by and my grandfather would praise my progress athletically. This built my confidence and enjoyment of the game. The more I practiced, the better I got. For once in my life, I felt a sense of pride.

My passion for the game increased.

Like any young boy, I would lose my temper and get angry when I would make a triple or double or even quadruple bogey. I equated the score on the card with who I was. Grandfather was quick to remind me, “Forget that last shot, all that matters is the next.”

It took years to fully appreciate the lessons my grandfather and the game were teaching me. Getting mad just makes the game even more difficult. The game is hard enough on its own, let alone pouring more difficulty on top of it.

It wasn’t until my early 30s when I figured out what a great gift my grandfather had given me. These lessons have made me strong inside and out.

The truth the ball reveals is the kindest thing it can ever do for you. Life in general isn’t perfect, neither is a round of golf.

Play it where it lies.

Everything worth having is something you have to fight and claw to get. Whenever I have a terrible round, I remember the words of my grandfather and I leave with a little smile remembering the wonderful times we had together.

Golf has been paramount for building my self esteem, my self worth, my self pride.

I have never met a good golfer who does not have a high level of self respect and pride. Golf has made them stronger mentally. When I play with golfers who kick their balls out of trouble, or fudge the scorecard, I see them exposing their true inner being, their character.

These people have not learned the lessons golf is trying to teach them. Perhaps they did not have a wise grandfather guiding them on their golf journey.

A low score is just for ego. Score doesn’t really matter. How you carry yourself during a match is the true revelation. How you respond to adversity, pressure and even a lousy round is what matters.

This game of golf has taught me self confidence and pride. Through golf, I was able to reinvent myself.

Thank you Bill Lewis, words can not express my gratitude for the gifts given.

Happy Father’s Day.

Opinion & Analysis

5 Things We Learned: Thursday at the PGA Championship

Published

2 weeks ago

May 15, 2026

Ronald Montesano

Aronimink is not a storied club, but when Donald Ross himself proclaimed it to be as good as he can design and build, one had to take notice. Jay Sigel was the pre-eminent male amateur golfer from the mid-1970s to the mid-1990s. He might have called any number of Philadelphia clubs home, but he chose Aronimink. It served him well. Gary Player won a PGA Championship here in 1962, and was followed by the 1993 winner … nobody. Aronimink gave that event away to Inverness, for reasons of which it is certainly not proud. So be it. We had to wait sixty-four years for the PGA to return to Newtown Square, but here we are. Aronimink has been neo-restored by Gil Hanse and team, to return Ross features with an eye toward defense against the dark arts, errrr, high-tech equipment.

Day one saw Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau dig big holes, to the tune of plus-four and plus-six, respectively. Since the first-round lead will be minus-three at worst, many shots will need to be made up for the power couple to reach contention. By nightfall, seven golfers held the day-one lead at three-under par 67. Shots and sticks caught our attention, and we are proud to present Five Things We Learned on Tech Thursday at the 2026 PGA Championship. Thanks to InsideTourGolfer, Today’s Golfer, and GolfWRX for initial equipment research.

First, meet Min Woo Lee

Min Woo Lee, aka Dr. Chipinski, has once again thrust himself into the conversation of Can he, will he, when will he? Lee has so much talent, wins not nearly as often as we believe that he should, and has no major near-misses (much less titles) on his wiki. The young Aussie is getting older and wiser, but is he able to avoid the scarring that holds the older and wiser back from breaking through? Philadelphia offers another opportunity. Min Woo signed for five birdies and two bogeys on day one, and grabbed a share of the opening-day lead at Aronimink. Winners transcend history and the moment, and Lee will need that sort of ascent to lift the Wannamaker on Sunday.

Second, meet Aldrich Potgeiter

The young South African golfer can rip driver with the best of them. Aronimink tips out at nearly 7400 yards, but beyond the fairway bunkers that ensnare only the mortals, Potgeiter can take his chances with wedge from the rough. On Thursday, he spent plenty of time in the spinach. Like Popeye, he used his muscles to gouge and thrash and dig his way out. Six birdies against three bogeys on the card brought AP in a three deep.

Third, meet Martin Kaymer

Not a major event takes place without a where’s he been throwback moment. We know that Martin Kaymer left the PGA and DP World tours for LIV golf, but the two-time (US Open and PGA) major winner has a lifetime exemption into at least one major event, and he seizes the opportunity each May. Kaymer joined the six-seven brigade with four birdies and a solitary bogey on day one. Kaymer was never a long hitter, and the years are kind to no golfer. The German champion will need to uncork every bottle of guile and strategy in his cabinet to remain in contention. For today, though, he occupies a rung on the ladder of Tour Tech.

Fourth, meet Scottie Scheffler

Let’s see, he’s the defending champion at the PGA, and he found his way back to the top tier with five birdies against two bogeys. To be a favorite and then play up to that stature and expectation is quite difficult. Just ask Rory, Bryson, and some of the other pre-tournament heartthrobs. Scheffler’s game is complete, and to knock him off the OWGR #1 pedestal, one needs to defeat him at the majors. Aronimink is the sort of course that fits Scheffler’s game. Better yet, it unfits the game of many of his challengers. Don’t expect Scheffler to go away anytime soon. Come Sunday, he’ll be around.

Fifth, meet Stephan Jaeger

Clocking in for the unheralded players shift are Ryo Hisatsune and Stephan Jaeger. Hisatsune logged seven birdies on day one, but gave most of them back with four bogeys. Still, he’s tied at the top for a time. Jaeger pitched five birdies against two bogeys, including a run of three consecutive, from holes four through six. Odds are that one of the two will hang around through 36 holes. Odds also suggest that both will be gone by Saturday evening. Still, the PGA Championship has historically been the major most likely to be won by an under-known. Both Hisatsune and Jaeger feature on that list, so good luck, lads!

Club Junkie

Club Junkie’s Titleist GTS driver fitting results!

Published

2 weeks ago

May 14, 2026

Brian Knudson

On this episode of the Club Junkie Podcast, I head to the Titleist Performance Institute for a full driver fitting with the new Titleist GTS lineup. We dive into the fitting process, talk about what made the biggest difference in performance, and break down how the different GTS heads and shaft combinations compare on the launch monitor. If you are thinking about a new driver setup for this season, there is a lot to take away from this one.

I also get into Brooks Koepka and the gear setup he brought to the PGA Championship, including the putters that caught my eye during the week. There are some interesting equipment trends showing up at the highest level right now and we break down what stands out.

To wrap things up, I talk about reshafting a few wedges, what I learned during the process, and swapping an adaptor onto a new shaft for another build project in the shop. A gear packed episode from start to finish for anyone who loves golf equipment and club building.

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Club Junkie

Club Junkie WITB, week 16: New Titleist GTS woods!

Published

2 weeks ago

May 14, 2026

Brian Knudson

Excited for this week’s WITB as we get to add the new Titleist GTS woods to the bag! I was fit at Titleist’s TPI facility in Oceanside California a few weeks ago and my new clubs just showed up. I am also adding a cool set of irons that I built last year some wild custom wedges into a new golf bag. Speaking of the bag I have a new Ghost Anyday Black Ops stand bag that I will be using on my Motocaddy Remote M7 electric cart.

Driver: Titleist GTS3 (11 degrees @ 10.25)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Red 6s

3-wood: Titleist GT1 3Tour (14.5 degrees)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD CQ-7s

5-wood: Titleist GTS (18 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Red 7s

9-wood: Titleist GT1 (24 degress)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Red 7s

Irons: Bettinardi CB24 (5-PW)
Shafts: KBS C-Taper Lite 110 stiff

Wedge: TaylorMade MG5 (50-09 SB)
Shaft: Mitsubishi MMT 125 Stiff

Wedge: TaylorMade MG5 (56-12 SB)
Shaft: Mitsubishi MMT 125 Stiff

Wedge: TaylorMade MG5 (60-08 LB)
Shaft: Mitsubishi MMT 125 Stiff

Putter: Dan Carraher ZT Proto

Ball: Callaway Chrome Tour

Bag: Ghost Anyday Black Ops Stand Bag