Naming the greatest achievements in the history of golf!
Golf Chats is a website to encourage discussions on various subjects relating to the game of golf. I am Mel Sole, Director of Instruction of the Mel Sole Golf School and SAPGA Master Professional. I invite you to enter into a discussion on this or any article on the golfchats.com website. The input is for the entire subscriber base to learn something new each time! Please post your comments below. Keep it clean and tasteful. We are here to learn from one another!
As T.J. Auclair of PGA.com mentions in his opening statement, this was an impossible task. Whatever he chooses and in what order will always bring the critics. “You left out so and so” “So and so should have been ahead of so and so.” But he did it, and in my humble opinion, did a great job. As a golf professional for over 50 years, I found this article on golf’s greatest achievements a compelling read. Thanks!
Naming the greatest achievements in the history of golf!
I’ve been tasked with the impossible: Ranking golf’s 9 greatest achievements, in order. How do you even do that?
Who is this schmuck to decide which is better than the other when just about any one of us would dine on a haggis-only diet every day for the rest of our lives to have accomplished just one of them?
With the realization that ranking these achievements in an order all of us could agree on, is nearly as difficult as reaching just one of the feats that follow. As I run to take cover, here goes nothing…
9. Jim Furyk’s 12-under 58.
OK. If I’m being honest, it felt dirty putting the number “9” in front of this entry. One, because Furyk is the only player in PGA Tour history to accomplish such a feat. Two, before shooting that number this past Sunday at TPC River Highlands (a par 70) in the final round of the 2016 Travelers Championship, he was the last player on Tour to shoot a 59. He did that on On September 13, 2013, at Conway Farms (12 under since the course was a par 71) in the second round of the BMW Championship. So why is this just No. 9 even though it’s something that had never happened before on the PGA Tour? I guess the only logical explanation is because it’s so new.
8. Jack Nicklaus’ 19 runner-up finishes in the majors.
Some may argue that this isn’t necessarily an “achievement” since it didn’t result in victory. I’d argue that there’s an exception to every rule and this is one of them because of the man we’re talking about. Nicklaus — the winningest major champion of all time (more on that later) — also has more runner-up finishes than any player in the game’s history. That’s almost unfathomable. As ridiculous as this sounds — and no less than 2016 U.S. Ryder Cup Captain Davis Love III pointed out recently — Nicklaus could be considered the most snake-bitten golfer of all time based on that stat. The next-most runner-up finishes in majors? That would be 11 by Phil Mickelson. Back to Nicklaus — 18 major championship wins and 19 times a runner up. Think about that.
7- Oldest to win a PGA Tour event, the 1965 Greater Greensboro Open, at 52 years, 10 months and 8 days.
– By winning the 1960 De Soto Open Invitational, Snead became the first player to win PGA Tour titles in four different decades (since matched by Raymond Floyd).
– Oldest player to make the cut at a major: age 67 years, 2 months, 7 days at the 1979 PGA Championship.
– First PGA Tour player to shoot his age with a 67 in the second round of the 1979 Quad Cities Open.
– Oldest player to make a cut on the PGA Tour: age 67 years, 2 months, 21 days at the 1979 Manufacturers Hanover Westchester Classic.
– Only player to post a top-10 finish in at least one major championship in five different decades.
6. Francis Ouimet wins the 1913 U.S. Open at The Country Club in Brookline, Mass.
This wasn’t just an amazing singular accomplishment. It was also the reason for a golf boom in the United States. When Ouimet won the national championship as a 20-year-old amateur (on his home course, no less), he became the “father of amateur golf” in the United States by taking down the likes of famous, accomplished professionals Harry Vardon and Ted Ray. When you think of American golf legends, you think of names like Jones, Nelson, Hogan, Nicklaus, Palmer, Woods. Keep in mind, Ouimet was the first “hero” in American golf.
15 great buys to enhance your golf game this summer!
Golf Chats is a website to encourage discussions on various subjects relating to the game of golf. I am Mel Sole, Director of Instruction of the Mel Sole Golf School and SAPGA Master Professional. I invite you to enter into a discussion on this or any article on the golfchats.com website. The input is for the entire subscriber base to learn something new each time! Please post your comments below. Keep it clean and tasteful. We are here to learn from one another!
If you are a keen golfer like me, you like buying “stuff” online for your golf game! I’m definitely a “gadget” guy and love things that I really think will help my game at a reasonable price. However, T.J. Auclair of PGA.com has just made searching for that stuff a whole lot easier.
Check out his Top 15 list.
Of course, I immediately ordered the Garmin X40 watch – but I had a legitimate reason – I broke my current (old-fashioned) watch by accidentally dropping a large concrete tile on it. So I figured if I replaced the watch, it would cost me around $100, so really the Garmin X40 was only costing me $149.99! Perfect!
Of course, I am also looking at these Kentwool socks. I hear almost 75% of the PGA and LPGA Tour players are wearing them! I have just recently put a new grip on my putter, or I might have ordered the Golf Pride SNSR as well. Warm-up that credit card!
Over the course of a given year, I’m able to get an up-close look at some incredible golf gear. Periodically, I like to compile a product round-up of some of my favorites.
Here’s a peek at a list of items I’ve had the opportunity to test in the last couple of months that you may want to consider for your own game — everything from clubs to gadgets to apparel and more.
Kentwool Socks
Kentwool socks:
Are you more of a walker, or the type that takes a cart when playing a round of golf?
Either way, Kentwool makes the perfect sock for you. Why socks don’t seem like a big deal to many is beyond me. Golf is uncomfortable enough with everything you face on the course. Your feet shouldn’t be a part of that equation.
Kentwool socks, made in the USA, are constructed with 58 percent Merino Wool, 31 percent Nylon, 9 percent Stretch Polyester and 2 percent Spandex. The best part about the socks? They have a blister-free guarantee.
I have a confession to make… Since smartphones these days are practically attached to our person at all times, I figured it had eliminated my need for a watch.
Now, however, technology has turned toward the enhanced development of “wearables.” Picking up on that trend is Garmin with its Approach X40 band. It’s not just a watch. It’s not just a golf GPS preloaded with over 40,000 golf courses.
It also measures your shot distance, tracks stats such as putts per round, greens and fairways hit, is a digital scorecard and — when connected to your computer or smartphone — allows you to review your scorecard and round.
In addition to all of that — and what separates the Approach X40 from its competition — is its fitness tracking capabilities. It counts your steps, measures your heart rate, tracks your sleep, allows you to set fitness goals and more.
This is a golf watch that you never have to take off… except to charge, which you’ll only need to do every 5 days in activity mode, or every 10 days in GPS mode.
Oh, and for good measure — when synced with your smartphone, you can have text messages and call alerts sent to your wrist.
Some of the Greatest Moments in PGA Championship History!
Golf Chats is a website to encourage discussions on various subjects relating to the game of golf. I am Mel Sole, Director of Instruction of the Mel Sole Golf School and SAPGA Master Professional. I invite you to enter into a discussion on this or any article on the golfchats.com website. The input is for the entire subscriber base to learn something new each time! Please post your comments below. Keep it clean and tasteful. We are here to learn from one another!
There have been some spectacular moments in the history of the PGA Championship. They are indelibly etched into our brains, and we watched with awe as these amazing moments transpired. T.J. Auclair of PGA.com describes these moments with the aid of some great video footage!
Major championships provide the best drama we see all year in golf.
Sadly next week’s PGA Championship at Baltusrol marks the last major of the season in men’s golf. Without question, there will be shots hit, and stories told that will become a part of golf lore.
It always happens that way. And with that, here are five great moments in PGA Championship history.
5. Sergio Garcia’s shot from behind the tree on No. 16 at Medinah in 1999.
Then, just 19 years old, Garcia pulled off one of the most memorable shots in PGA Championship history with this masterful shot from behind a tree.
On the 452-yard par 4, Garcia faced an approach shot of 189 yards from the green in the exposed roots behind a large tree. Garcia elected to hit the ball instead of chipping safely back into the fairway. He opened the face of a 6-iron and, as he swung, closed his eyes at impact. The ball soared into a high left-to-right trajectory, landing on the green some 60 feet from the hole. Garcia sprinted up the fairway and did a scissors kick leap to see the green.
He two-putted for par, but no one will forget that remarkable shot.
4. Shaun Micheel’s 72nd hole 7-iron at Oak Hill in 2003.
Not many were familiar with Micheel before the start of the 2003 PGA Championship. But, by the time it was over, he left a mark on his lone major victory with a shot for the ages.
Micheel, showing incredible composure in a situation he’d never been in before, closed out his magical week with this magical 7-iron on the final hole. The ball soared in the air and settled within inches of the hole after Micheel ordered it to, “Be right!”
A tap-in birdie and the PGA Championship was Micheel’s. And let’s be honest, the fact that the ball stayed out of the hole is almost better than going in. It would have been a fantastic shot either way, but since it stopped just inches from the cup, you can’t call it luck. It was an exclamation point on the best golf week of Micheel’s life.
Trying to break through to score in the 80’s – Check this out!
Golf Chats is a website to encourage discussions on various subjects relating to the game of golf. I am Mel Sole, Director of Instruction of the Mel Sole Golf School and SAPGA Master Professional. I invite you to enter into a discussion on this or any article on the golfchats.com website. The input is for the entire subscriber base to learn something new each time! Please post your comments below. Keep it clean and tasteful. We are here to learn from one another!
Trying to take your game from shooting in the mid to low 90’s to scoring in the ’80s takes just two things, according to PGA member Rob Labritz. Iron Control and Driver Control! Read the rest of this interesting article if breaking 90 is oh so close! Thanks to pga.com and Rob Labrtiz for sharing!
Rob Labritz
Trying to beat those milestone scores like 100, 90, 80 and 70? In the third of this four-part series, PGA Professional Rob Labritz offers up some great advice that’s sure to make you a better player. For this week, Labritz focuses on those trying to break 80.
Trying to break through to score in the 80’s – Check this out!
Looking to go from the ’90s into the 8o’s!
In this week’s “best advice” column with PGA Professional Rob Labritz, we’re turning our eyes to the better players out there who are on the cusp of a single-digit handicap – the ones looking to break “80” on a consistent basis.
Even if your game fits into this category, you’re going to want to go back and touch up on the tips forbreaking “100” and breaking “90.” After all, Labritz’s entire theory of becoming a better player starts at the green and working your way backwards to the tee.
So, provided you’ve gotten yourself comfortable with the short game inside of 100 yards, this is the piece for you.
How the heck can you break 80?
Labritz chalks it up to just two things: iron control and driver control.
It may seem simple, but there’s some “charting” that goes into it – and that starts with the irons.
“There are a few things I use,” said Labritz, fresh off a win in the MasterCard Westchester PGA Championship on Thursday. “First, you want to get access to some type of measuring device. If you can use something like Trackman, or another type of launch monitor, or even the Game Golf device, that’s a great place to start. The thing is, you want to learn how far your ball travels with each iron.”
Once you figure that out, Labritz said, it eliminates the guesswork.
“Play a couple of rounds, or spend time on the range just dialing in the distances your irons travel,” Labritz said. “And if you don’t have access to what we’ve already covered, a laser rangefinder will work too. Once you’re hitting consistent iron shots, hit the target where the ball is landing with a laser and see how far it’s flying.”
When you get comfortable with that, it’s time to step back to the tee.
“The key to hitting a tee shot has nothing to do with hitting it as far as you can,” Labritz said. “It’s all about positioning. It’s about playing the hole from the green backwards. When you’re on the tee, imagine you’re looking down the fairway from the green and ask yourself, ‘where do I have to hit this tee shot to give myself the best position to get my iron-shot approach into the area of the flag on this green?’”
Like most, you may be programmed to think that with driver in hand, you should take a mighty lash at the ball from the tee. You’re wrong. Over-swinging leads to problems with balance and that’s the reason for your wayward tee shots.
Golf Pride Tour SNSR Putter grips.
