Dispatches from the Fairway
Essays, guides, and contrarian takes for those who walk the course and play the blade.
Walking vs. Riding: The Strokes Gained Verdict
10,000 rounds of strokes gained data reveal what cart riders are paying to lose. The performance gap between walkers and riders is real—and it's not what you think.
Culture18 Courses That Refused to Surrender to Golf Carts
A pilgrimage guide to America's walking-only golf courses—the facilities that remembered what the game was supposed to be.
EquipmentThe Forgiveness Trap: What Blade Players Know About Ball Striking
Your game-improvement irons are making you worse. The counterintuitive science behind why forgiveness breeds mediocrity—and what to do about it.
ArchitectureHow Cart Paths Are Killing America's Best Courses
The concrete arteries spreading across American golf aren't just an eyesore. They're fundamentally changing how courses play, how they drain, and who controls your round.
ArchitectureHow Golden Age Architects Wanted You to Play Approaches
MacKenzie, Tillinghast, and Ross designed approach shots with specific intentions. Modern strokes gained data validates what they understood a century ago.
AnalyticsYour Handicap Is Flattering You: A Strokes Gained Reality Check
Handicaps measure scoring. Strokes gained measures golf. The difference reveals uncomfortable truths about your game—and a clearer path to improvement.