Five Golf Debates That Continue to Amaze Us

For those of us who love golf, we know how often arguments can start both on and off the course. What I wanted to do here was break down five of those arguments that have proven to stand out among the rest. There are reasons why people still discuss these issues and I hope to take a closer look at some of those reasons. Here we go:

5. Should women be able to play in men’s tournaments?

(Getty Images)

The first thing that comes to mind when I think about this one is of course Annika Sorenstam teeing it up on the PGA Tour. It was obviously a remarkable feat to accomplish, becoming just one of several LPGA professionals to play in a PGA Tour event. This is a question that has weight to both sides when you actually take a step back and look at it. On one hand, golf is a sport that is equally physically compatible for both men and women compared to other sports such as football. On the other hand, PGA Tour courses play at a much longer length than LPGA courses, which lead many to believe women should not be able to compete with men. Personally, I believe it would be very exciting to see women compete with men regularly in PGA Tour events because it adds an entirely new dynamic to both Tours as well as the events themselves.

4. Will anyone ever achieve the single year grand slam?

(The Fried Egg)

I know Bobby Jones technically has a grand slam but that was before the Masters was added. Since then, golf’s grand slam honors include all four major championships in a single year. Tiger Woods has come the closest, winning three majors in 2000 followed by a 2001 victory at the Masters. It’s a question that has come up so often, most recently during Jordan Spieth’s incredible run in 2015 in which he won the year’s first two majors and just missed out on the final two. Do I believe someone will win all four in a year? No, simply because the field is too deep now. In Tiger’s prime, he was on his own level. Nowadays, the most elite golfers in the world constantly challenge each other so much that it seems nearly impossible to stay ahead.

3. Should anchored putters be illegal?

(Getty Images)

This obviously shouldn’t even really be discussed at this point since 2016 was the first year that the anchored putter ban took effect. However it’s still a sensitive topic for those (not including myself) who have anchored or still anchor the putter. In their opinion, it really doesn’t matter how you get the ball in the hole and any method of doing so is fair game. This has become the voice of the more modern group of golfers. Traditional golfers believe the putting stroke should be a free-swinging motion like a golf swing, and openly oppose those who anchor the putter. I’m neutral on the issue despite never having anchored a putter before, and as I said previously the question should not even surface anymore since the ban is now in effect.

2. Nicklaus or Woods?

(Tony Dejak/Associated Press)

The tale of the tape shows Jack Nicklaus with 18 majors and 73 total PGA Tour wins, and Tiger Woods with 14 majors and 79 total PGA Tour wins. It is so difficult to compare the two of them, which is what makes this debate so fascinating. Which one of these two men is the greatest golfer of all time? Many will only go by majors, in which case Jack wins easily. Many will also look at total wins, in which Tiger of course has safely passed Jack. I genuinely can’t even begin to decide on who is the better golfer because it’s almost unfair to compare two different eras. However, this question will always hang around the golf world no matter where you are.

1. Is golf a sport?

(Sandals)

All my friends that don’t play golf will say it’s not a sport, and those that do will say it is. This is perhaps not even just a golf debate, but also a sports debate. It really is an age-old question that may never be resolved, but there are definitely arguments to both sides. As the article discuses, players such as Tiger seem to put golf toward the sport side while fellow players such as John Daly bring it back to more of an activity. At the end of the day, I do believe golf is a sport because it demands physical activity that requires skill and can be played competitively. And if that weren’t enough, the official definition of sport even lists golf as an example!

Five Reasons We've Continued to Watch Baseball

If you all haven’t already guessed, baseball is my favorite sport. I’m very, very biased. But I wanted to take a step outside of that shell for a moment and look at reasons why people actually continue to watch baseball since it has been around for so long. Here we go:

5. Labor peace.

(MLBPA)

There is a reason why baseball has not seen a work stoppage in twenty-two years. The MLBPA, the strongest union in professional sports, has almost always seen eye-to-eye with the league over the last couple of decades in order to reach agreements. From a technical standpoint, we continue to watch baseball because baseball, for the most part, has always been there for us to continue to watch. Additionally, with the new CBA having been agreed upon this past week, we can expect to consume the sport and all it has to offer for years to come. With such long seasons, it is imperative that both the league and the players continue to meet each other in the middle in order to deliver the on-field product for fans everywhere.

4. The free market.

(Bleacher Nation)

Some of the most exciting action of the Major League Baseball season occurs, ironically, during the offseason. It is where most of the teams’ transactions occur, via trade or signing. What sets baseball apart from other sports leagues besides its strong players’ union is its utilization of a free market system to bring astronomical salaries to players of all abilities. With player contracts continuously rising and the desire for the best talent to attract fans, teams create a huge stir every offseason by bidding for these players. The growing financial level of the market each year significantly reflects not only the cost of doing business within the league, but also gauges a fan interest that is quite unique to the sport.

3. Each ballpark is so unique.

(Panoramio)

A football field is 120 yards x 50 yards. A hockey rink is 200 feet x 85 feet. A basketball court is 94 feet x 50 feet. A baseball field is...? When we watch games within the other three major sports, we know each time what we’re going to see on the playing surface. While we still go to certain venues for the history or the location, no facility architecture is as unique as that of a baseball park. And baseball fans love that. From the old fashioned design of Fenway Park, to the contemporary look of Marlins Park, fans are always exposed to something different whenever they walk through those gates.

2. Baseball owns the summer.

(Odyssey)

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, baseball runs the table during the summer. Among other things, people love to go to the ballpark during the summer because to them, baseball IS summer. To so many, there is just nothing like going to the ballpark on a summer night for a game and taking in everything all at once. Baseball is summer’s sport, and that will never change.

1. We STILL never know what’s going to happen.

(Sports Mockery)

So many things differentiate baseball from other sports, but far and away its most defining feature is the unknown. There are no time limits, no score limits, and no such thing as “impossible.” That truly is what keeps people watching this great game. Sure we know what teams are good and bad, but any given night something unbelievable can happen that will leave fans wanting more. One night you may see your team get blown out, only to see a spot starter throw a perfect game the next night. In baseball, everything is possible and nothing is off limits.

Lay of the Land: Part II

This is a continuation of my last post about five old golf courses that are still very much involved in the game of golf. This week we look at the same story with five modern golf courses:

5. Whistling Straits: Straits Course – 1998

(Destination Kohler)

Coming in at number five is a modern day American links course that has already seen its fair share of drama in just eighteen years of existence. From Dustin Johnson’s infamous penalty in 2010 to Jason Day’s record setting performance in 2015, the Straits Course has proven to be made for championship golf.  Located along the coast of Lake Michigan, the course contains pot bunkers and rolling terrains that reflect the classic links golf courses of Ireland and the United Kingdom. In just a short lifespan, the course has already turned itself into a staple in the rotation of the PGA Championship, which many argue to be golf’s toughest major to win.

4. Kiawah Island: Ocean Course – 1991

(PGA)

We’ll stick with the coastal theme here as we head down to Myrtle Beach for the Ocean Course, the most famous track at the Kiawah Island Golf Resort. The course burst onto the scene with one of the most famous Ryder Cups of all time in 1991, which later became known as the “war by the shore.” Fast forward to 2012 when Rory McIlroy continued a breakout year by winning the PGA Championship here. Perhaps the most intriguing feature of this Pete Dye designed course is the fact that it has more seaside holes than any other course in the Northern Hemisphere with ten. The layout is exquisite although most amateurs wouldn’t think so once they start their rounds. Howling winds and natural sand can play a huge part in ruining a good score.

3. TPC Scottsdale: Stadium Course – 1986

(Scott Halleran/Getty Images)

I’m honestly a bit disappointed in myself for not ranking this higher because it might be my favorite golf course on the PGA Tour. It just reeks of fun. Highlighted by the infamous sixteenth hole, the course provides an electric atmosphere early in the PGA Tour season. While the entire course sets up for spectators to see every shot, the sixteenth hole is what truly pulls people in. Located inside a stadium with a capacity of 20,000, the par-3 is far and away the most rowdy hole in the world of golf. Additionally, the course partners with Waste Management to produce an annual event that really encourages people to become more eco-friendly.

2. Muirfield Village Golf Club – 1974

(Nicklaus Design)

Everyone knows it as “Jack’s Place.” Jack Nicklaus himself designed a course in his home state of Ohio that pays homage to Muirfield, a famous links course in Scotland where he won his first Open Championship in 1966. The beautifully designed course has hosted a variety of championships, including the Ryder Cup, the U.S. Amateur, the President’s Cup, and the Solheim Cup. Most importantly, both Nicklaus and the course host the Memorial Tournament, an annual event on the PGA Tour that takes place near the end of Spring. Tiger Woods currently holds the record with five Memorial Tournament wins.

1. TPC Sawgrass: Stadium Course – 1980

(Starcasm)

The PGA Tour headquarters could not be located at a more fitting site than TPC Sawgrass. The course defines what the PGA Tour is all about each year at the Players Championship, which always provides some of the best golf of the season. The Stadium Course is designed exactly as it sounds: like a stadium. Each hole gives spectators the opportunity to see the best players in the world play at their highest levels on a ridiculously hard course. Of course, you can’t mention the Stadium Course without mentioning the famous seventeenth. It’s only about 130 yards long, but the only place to land is the green. The hole provides all sorts of dramatics, both good and bad, and is always one of the crucial elements in deciding golf’s “fifth major.”

Lay of the Land: Part I

The beauty of golf is that no two courses are the same. Some have a lot of water, others have a lot of trees, and some may even have neither. While there have been many courses that have rewritten golf history over the years, some have had much more of an impact than others. This week begins a two part series I call “Lay of the Land,” where I focus on golf courses both old and new that have cemented their places in the sport. Part I explores five old courses, while Part II will focus on five modern courses. Here we go:

5. Oakmont Country Club - 1903

(Youtube/USGA)

This past June we got to see Oakmont Country Club first hand at the U.S. Open, and I think we all would rather watch than play there. Seriously, it’s that hard. Church pew bunkers, lightning fast greens, and length that would give the average player nightmares have shaped Oakmont’s identity. Don’t get me wrong; it’s the perfect course for a U.S. Open given that it’s hosted eight of them.  Oakmont has also witnessed the birth of golf legends, such as Bobby Jones and Jack Nicklaus. The course itself embodies championship golf, particularly American championship golf, and its rural location seems to reflect the early stages of golf in America. There is no doubt the history of the sport would be much different without this prestigious Pennsylvania venue.

4. Pebble Beach Golf Links - 1919

(Joann Dost)

It is the home of American links golf, and perhaps one of the most iconic venues in the entire world. Pebble Beach has seen its fair share of history, from Tiger Woods’ famous win at the 2000 U.S. Open, to Tom Watson’s chip-in on the seventeenth hole. The course has become synonymous not only with championships, but also design. Pebble Beach possesses such a natural appearance with so many iconic holes giving the course its own personality. One of the most important aspects of Pebble Beach though is it’s yearly hosting of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, an event that is nearly seventy years old.

3. Pine Valley Golf Club - 1913

(Penn State Turfgrass Management)

It’s likely on the bucket list of nearly every golfer in the world. Annually ranked as one of the hardest golf courses in the country, Pine Valley is certainly a championship venue. Only one problem though: there’s no room to host one. With its signature island fairways surrounded by trees and brush, there is simply nowhere for spectators to watch any sort of event held there.

While its difficulty is attractive to many, its exclusivity is unparalleled. It is borderline impossible to join the private club. Legend has it that even Tom Watson was denied a round of golf since he showed up without a tee time. Women are not even allowed to join, and they can only play the course on Sunday’s as guests of members. For such an isolated venue, it is still one of the most famous in all of golf.

2. Augusta National Golf Club - 1933

(Steam)

Augusta National Golf Club is, in my opinion, the most recognizable golf course in the history of the sport. There are well-maintained courses, there are pristine courses, and then there is Augusta National. Down to each individual blade of grass, the course is perfect—the way Bobby Jones intended it to be when he designed it.

The Masters provides the perfect opportunity for Augusta National to show off its architecture each year, allowing viewers all around the world access to an otherwise very exclusive club. Amen Corner, holes eleven through thirteen, is where the course truly pulls the fan into its superb design. There are very few courses around the world where people can picture every hole without ever having stepped foot on the course. Augusta National Golf Club is one of those courses.

1. The Old Course at St. Andrews - 1552

(Platinum Golf Scotland)

If there’s one golf course that EVERY golfer knows, it’s the Old Course at St. Andrews—the home of golf. It is far and away the most historic, the most influential, and the most significant golf course in the history of the sport. The public course is a classic links setup, with many pot bunkers and A LOT of wind.

While the official establishment took place in the sixteenth century, golf has been played at the links at St. Andrews since the fifteenth century. The course features iconic holes that have provided so much drama over the years, particularly during golf’s oldest major, the Open Championship. Take the famous “road hole” seventeenth for example: a tee shot around/over a hotel sets up an impossible second shot to a narrow green guarded by a deep bunker. Not to mention, thirty mile-per-hour winds can make an already demanding course that much harder.

It’s no surprise that the Old Course has been golf’s most influential venue, and should be for many more years to come.