Opinion & Analysis

My dream round (including my dream WITB)

Published

6 years ago

Mar 17, 2020

Have you ever thought about your golf unicorn scenario? If the golf gods let me time travel, and all courses and equipment were available to me: Where would I play? With who? What’s in the bag? What am I wearing? Every last detail. Well, for me, this is what it would look like.

WHERE: Augusta National Golf Club from the tournament tees on a Sunday pin placement setup. 1997 length of 6,925 yards.

FIVESOME: John “Old Bud” Wunder, Sr., Rob “Big Blue” Wunder, Mark “Warbie” Langston, Nico “Lodeon” Bollini.

My old man, my uncle who taught me how to play, my second dad and my best friend. My boys are a bit too young, and this would be if it happened today, so I needed to say that out loud.

WEATHER: 78 degrees with a slight breeze, a little overcast.

TEE TIME: 11 a.m.

LUNCH AT THE TURN: The “Burger Dog” from the halfway house at Olympic Club.

If you know, you know. It’s ridiculous.

OUTFIT: G/FORE head to toe

My favorite stuff to wear so might as well go all swag on it at Augusta.

BAG: VESSEL BLACK SUNDAY 2.0

This is the perfect golf bag. Nothing better out there, in my opinion.

WITB

DRIVER: Callaway Great Big Bertha 8.2 “Tour Issue” w/ RCH 36 “Pro Series” Strong Flex shaft

My uncle Rob got one of these in 1997 and didn’t like it; he ended up giving it to me to try and I absolutely DESTROYED it. The longest drives I ever hit at my home track Rainier G&CC were with this driver. From the blue tees, 149 into #7, 121 into #11, pin high on #12 and flew it in the front right bunker on #18. Only a Rainier member would know, but these are pokes.

3-WOOD: Callaway S2H2 “2 dot” 13 Degrees with w/ RCH 36 “Pro Series” Strong Flex Shaft

Best 3-wood setup I ever had, period.

5-WOOD: TaylorMade Raylor 19 Degrees w/ Dynamic Gold “Tour Issue” X100

This was a fun one to think about. This club represents more than good shots for me. All the players I looked up to as a kid had either the 16 or 19 in this head and I saw some of the best-looking fairway wood shots ever with it. It will always have a special place in my heart.

IRONS: (3-6) Ping Eye2 Copper, (7-PW) Titleist 962B w/Dynamic Gold “Tour Issue” X100

The combo set of all combo sets. Best looking Ping cavity backs ever and arguably the greatest cast players clubs in the history of the earth. I had this set up when I played the best golf of my life, although it was 2-4 in the Pings and the rest 962B.

WEDGES: Titleist Vokey Aaron Dill custom 53 degree, TaylorMade Milled Grind 2 “TW” Grind 60′ degree w/Dynamic Gold “Tour Issue” S400

One wedge from a dear friend and the other from my favorite player of all time.

PUTTER: Tiger Woods Scotty Cameron GSS

C’mon. Exact Replica of Tiger’s Scotty “Elder Wand”

BALL: Titleist Original Pro V1

The ball that changed the game.

GLOVE: Titleist Players

Best glove ever made, hands down.

What happens from there I don’t care.

I’d love to know what you guys would do if you were presented with the same scenario. Let me know in the comments below.

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15 Comments

Geoffrey Holland

Mar 20, 2020 at 10:29 am

Capilano Golf and Country Club in West Vancouver BC, first tee time of the day 7:30 a.m. in April. the first golf course I ever played, also the first birdie I ever made on number 14. Thanks James B for bringing me along to play with you so many times.

My fivesome would include my late grandfather Gilbert Robinson, who introduced me to the game but I never got to play with him because he died when I was 9. He actually taught me how to play right-handed but I ended up left handed. We did play once at a pitch and putt where I even made a par.

I’ll fill out the group with some great Canadian golfers, George Knudson, Mike Weir, and either Brooke Henderson or Sandra Post. It all depends on their schedules. Those four are some of the greatest Canadian pros of all time.

Wardrobe? Who cares.

WITB:

Golfsmith Harvey Penick titanium driver with Aldila HM50 x-stiff. I worked for Golfsmith Canada back in the day and this driver head was my favourite.

TaylorMade Original One 12 degree driver TT Dyn Gold S300. This will act as my 3-wood. I’ve never had much time for fairway woods but this is a solid one.

Ping Eye 2 1 iron becu with TT Dyn Gold S300. I have hit some beautiful shots with this golf club. The most memorable was on number 17 at Marine Drive Golf club in Vancouver, setting up a 20-foot birdie putt.

Campbell Arnold Palmer irons 3-pw with original Palmer stiff shafts. At one point I was without an iron set, and a friend at the golf course I worked at rescued these from someone who was cleaning out their storage locker. Just a lovely set of old school irons old, forged with the pinned shaft. Thanks James W.

Ram Tom Watson 55 and 60 degree wedges with TT Dyn Gold S300. If I’ve had a set of clubs since 1983 its had one of these wedges in it. Best wedges ever.

Arnold Palmer original putter. Napa style, whatever you want to call it, best putter head ever. 38 inches.

All clubs two inches overlength, all irons 2 degrees upright.

For the ball, I’ll go with the old Spalding Tour Edition Zinthane balata. That baby could spin.

Reply Report comment
Nick Panepinto

Mar 19, 2020 at 1:18 pm

Course: Kiawah Island; Ocean Course (Walking)

Foursome: ’00 Tiger, ’92 Jeremy Roenick, ’15 Jordan Speith

WITB:
– Driver: r7 Superquad TP
– Irons: Taylormade Smoke RAC TP 3-9
– Wedges: Titelist Vokeys SM7 (48, 52,58)
– Putter: Bettinardi Studio Stock 6
– Ball: Taylormade TP5
– Bag: PING Moonlite (Augusta Colorway)

Outfit:
– Shirt: White Polo with Harbor Town Logo
– Shorts: Khaki Vineyard Vines Performance Shorts
– Hat: Green Masters Hat
– Shoes: Jordan XI’s

Glove: Titleist Player’s Glove

Tee Time: 6:30 AM

19th Hole: John Daly; Classic Club Sandwich

Thank you for this post, it has been a nice escape putting this together from the madness that has been going on.

I wish all of you health and the best!

Reply Report comment
ZoomIt

Mar 18, 2020 at 11:42 pm

Myopia Hunt
2:00 pm start
78*

Arnold Palmer out of the coolers at the turn. If you know, you know

Titleist 975 D 9.5*
Titleist PT-15*
Titleist 904 19

Dynamic Gold

Titleist 690 mb 3-P
Dynamic gold

Raw Vokeys
256.14
260.08

Scotty Cameron newport

Nike Tour Accuracy

Reply Report comment
Kimo

Mar 18, 2020 at 9:13 pm

Cuz, I’d play Ala Wai golf course in Waikiki.
Clubs no mattah.
Jus need new Pinnacle golf balls. Clean eh?
I’d go play wit mah friends an cousin.
No can beat dat, eh?

Reply Report comment
Nihonsei

Mar 18, 2020 at 8:01 pm

TM Super Steel 9.5 w/ Bubble shaft
Cleveland Quad Pro 15*
Ping i3 “Blades” w/ TT Tri-Gold (AMT) 3-PW
Wilson Harmonized 80*
Ping Anser, Blue Ti hosel Hand painted dot on top
Maxfli Revolution or Topflite STrata
Playing any course in Austin or Basstrop along the Colorado River or the Base Course in San Antone AFB

With my Pops(RIP), Any coach that shut me out of playing for my Middle or Jr. High squad in order to keep me out of the game I Loved as a kid and couldn’t quite afford, and for a pro both Harvey Penick and Lee Trevino or The Black Knight as I was more active writing the U.N. as an Anti-Apartheid youth than hitting balls as I never outgrew the pen but the sticks never kept up…my pops was lefty and cut downs were not feasable once he taught me as a righty. I’d rock BC Ethic club clothes and go barefoot for a round! Thanks for asking, this was fun to consider!!!

Reply Report comment
Ryan Rieckhoff

Mar 18, 2020 at 7:44 pm

Golf Course – Sahalee Country Club
Tee Time 1:00 PM
Club Set Up
Driver TaylorMade Burner 91 model with Flex Twist Shaft
Titleist 13 PT FW with stock stiff shaft
Ping Eye 2 + 1 iron Black Dot with Precision Rifle 7.0
2 Iron Thru SW Ping Zing 2 Red Dot with Precision Rifle 7.0
Maxfli Tad Moore Putter
Maxfli HT Balata 100 1994 version

Reply Report comment
Gdb99

Mar 18, 2020 at 7:12 pm

I would play Augusta.
Probably wear my favorite Timberlin shirt, Blue with White stripes. Shorts. My new FootJoy shoes I have coming.
I would use my Great Big Bertha, but it had too many sky marks on it!
My current Cobra LTD will work
Ping G400 5 wood in big – configuration
Cobra DWS 23* hybrid
Played many rounds with a set of Ben Hogan GCD irons
Cleveland 588 RTG gap, sand, and lob wedge
Original Odyssey White #2 putter
I would love to play with my brother Jon, my Uncle Leonard, and my father. I never knew my dad played golf until until after he passed, my uncle told me the stories just before he also passed.
Thanks for the story. ?????????????

Reply Report comment
BillyG

Mar 17, 2020 at 10:56 pm

I played that driver, Eye2 coppers 1-LW, a TM tour spoon, and a old Ping Anser. Those were great days. What happened and why did I sell it all? Stupid.

Reply Report comment
Greg pepper

Mar 17, 2020 at 10:30 pm

Still have the Taylor Made Raylor 19 degree in the bag as my 3 hybrid. Had it originally wth tour golf hm-40 shaft but now play with hybrid Fuji shaft. Hybrid before there were hybrids.

Reply Report comment
Alex

Mar 17, 2020 at 7:59 pm

Wolf Creek ( mens only club in Olathe, KS)
3 best golf buddies and myself-with Woodland,Watson, Streb, Tom Pernice as caddies
Mid September
73 degrees
5mph wind
Suns out with a few clouds
Cigars, Skoal, Ultras,
Clothes- Travis Mathew or Peter Millar shirt and pants
Koepka Nikes or Footjoy 1857 shoes. Depends if its Peter Millar or TM clothes
Nike Dri Fit or Travis Mathew Hat
Stitch Bag with Stitch headcovers
Driver- 9 degree Ping Rapture V2 with Proforce V2 65x
3wood- 13.5 degree Cobra S91 pro Diamana Tensei Oragne CK Pro 70 x stiff
Hybrid- 18 degree Mizuno CLK Diamana White 90hy x stiff
Irons 3-9 Ping S58 X100 bent a degree weak in the short irons
Vokey SM7 48-10, 54-14- 60-08 all bent one degree strong with S400
MCC New Decade Black and Orange Grips Standard
Scotty Cameron Phantom X5 35 inches midsize red Scotty Grip
Pro V1

Reply Report comment
Flip Tickles

Mar 17, 2020 at 6:17 pm

ANGC with Sunday Pins, preferably not all the way back with my equipment choice.
W/ 2 of closest friends and Pat Perez
Any comfortable leather sunday stand bag
Swag – G/fore is a great choice, but I’ll rock William Murray on this occasion
Driver – Titleist Howitzer X100 at 43 inches
Irons – Titleist Tour Model 1-PW S400
Wedges – Titleist DLIII and ELK S400
Putter – Wilson 8802
No Glove, golf pride tour wrap cord grips
Ball – Titleist Tour Balata 100
Lunch- deep fried cheese curds
Drink – Bulldogs and Beer
Dinner – Steak and Lobster
Smokes – Marb Golds zippo lighter
NO PICTURES ALLOWED

Reply Report comment
- Flip Tickles
  
  Mar 18, 2020 at 10:16 am
  
  I’d also consider my old Wilson Killer Whale Driver with graphite firestick stiff and top Flite Z Balatas 90 compression
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Geoffrey Holland
    
    Mar 20, 2020 at 10:31 am
    
    I had one of those and I love hated it. I called it Willy. Eventually I threw it in a river while yelling “you’re finally free Willy”.
    
    Reply Report comment
Billy

Mar 17, 2020 at 4:42 pm

975D with Fujikura speeder 757
Sonartec SS-02 13 degree with Fujikura Vista Tour Series 70
V-steel 5 wood with TT Dynamic Gold
DCI 690 irons with TT Dynamic Gold
Cleveland Tour Action 588 wedges
Bettinardi BB8 honeycomb RJB putter

Reply Report comment
Elder Wand

Mar 17, 2020 at 2:42 pm

Then going sub 60.

Reply Report comment

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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