Author: Sofia

LIV 2.0, as it might be called, could live or die on the decision of Jon Rahm. LIV Golf’s long-term future has come under renewed scrutiny, with questions surrounding its finances, its player base and, perhaps most importantly, its ability to attract new talent. Where Rahm plies his trade in 2027 could therefore be central to what comes next. Even if LIV returns in a new guise, perhaps with the reduced schedule of 10 events that has been reported, the strength of its playing roster is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. Its veterans are another year older and, in some…

Be at one with nature, they say. Getting out in that green space certainly does wonders for us – medical experts can prove it. But being among animals also means they can have an interesting influence on your game, as this email explains. “We have a lot of Canadageeseon our course from around the beginning of September,” our questioner explained. “They leave a lot of droppings on the course. “I understand the droppings are considered a loose impediment but if they adhere to the ball on the fairway, can we clean the ball or do we have to play it…

A bit of a late bloomer to the game of golf, Max fell in love with the sport when he attended Saturday coaching sessions down at his local golf club after being inspired by friends and family members. Max has remained a member of Eden Golf Club in Carlisle for a number of years now as he looks to get his handicap down into single figures. Most of his golfing career has been spent battling a permanent slice off the tee, which has led to some ugly rounds. Having studied at the University of Sunderland, Max is starting out his dream career…

A bit of a late bloomer to the game of golf, Max fell in love with the sport when he attended Saturday coaching sessions down at his local golf club after being inspired by friends and family members. Max has remained a member of Eden Golf Club in Carlisle for a number of years now as he looks to get his handicap down into single figures. Most of his golfing career has been spent battling a permanent slice off the tee, which has led to some ugly rounds. Having studied at the University of Sunderland, Max is starting out his dream career…

Some of us only put in scores for our handicap if it’s a competition. Some of us submit a card every time we play. Others like to combine a mix of the two. And then there is another group, who for whatever reason, do none of the above. Their handicaps are more like a historical document – an archive of shots that were hit and, in some cases, many years ago. Before the World Handicap System came into being in Great Britain & Ireland, there was the spectre of ‘inactive handicaps’. You had to put in at least three cards…

When you think about a golf trip in Europe, Finlandprobably isn’tthe first country that springs to mind. Spain, Portugal, France,Irelandand Scotland tend tobe the go-tofor many golfers. But can Finland challenge the traditional European golf destinations? How different is it to a typical golfing hotspot? Mike Robertson and Tom Bulloughtook the plunge as part ofNCG Top 100s48 hours in series. The Nordic nation may be better known for its lakes, forests,saunasand association with Lapland than its golf courses, but the latest48 Hours Intrip revealed a country with a surprisingly deep golfing offering. With around 150 courses across Finland, there is…

While 72 holes of stroke play is the tried-and-tested format in producing worthy champions across the sport, you can’t beat match play, can you? It ignites a flame in golfers at all levels. Tour players adopt it in pre-tournament money matches, and you and I play it with friends and family for bragging rights. We shouldn’t blame PGA Tour boss Brian Rolapp and his various committee members for endeavouring to bring it back in 2028. That year, the Tour Championship will be two weeks of match play, something never seen before. The top 32 players in the season’s points list…

Two golf rules debates over the last month have left me frothing. One concerned Scottie Scheffler’s playing of the 17th hole at Royal Birkdale in the final round of The Open. You remember – when the Texan never saw his ball again with his second shot, but was allowed free relief as the ball was deemed to be in a TIO (temporary immovable obstruction). That was a farcical situation. The rules not only allowed Scheffler a free drop after losing his ball, but also a more favourable drop than if he had found it. He literally told people to stop…

Golf is being asked to think harder about the land it occupies, the resources it uses and the role its courses play in the wider environment. That challenge is only growing as water pressure, tighter regulation, golfer expectations and less predictable weather all shape how courses are managed. Sustainability in golf is often discussed in broad terms, but on the ground it comes down to daily practical choices. How much water does a green need? Which grasses are best suited to the site? How can a course remain playable, enjoyable and resilient when the conditions are becoming more demanding? How…

“To get to one good idea, there’s hundreds of bad ideas.” So says Cobra’s Vice President of Research, Development and Innovation Doug Roberts – the man behind the release of all of the brand’s latest golf club equipment. Have you ever wondered what goes into developing and designing a new club? Long before it reaches your bag, or the shop floor, there are years of research, design, testing and, crucially, failure behind it. Roberts offered a fascinating insight, speaking to Nicola Slater on the Your Golf Podcast, into what actually goes into the mechanics of a new golf club range…