Blog

The Dawn of Golf

Published

1 year ago

April 16, 2024

Robert Greenfield

A Journey to Its Origins

Hello, fellow golf enthusiasts,

I am Robert Greenfield, and I am delighted to welcome you to our first installment of “Tales from the Greens: Chronicles of Golf Through the Ages.” Together, we will explore together the rich tapestry of golf’s history, from its humble beginnings to the global phenomenon it is today. My passion for golf is not just about playing the game but understanding its roots and how it has evolved over the centuries. So, let’s tee off our series by venturing back to where it all began—the ancient origins of golf.

Tracing the Lineage of Golf

While the modern game of golf is closely associated with Scotland, its true origins are a subject of much debate and fascinating conjecture. Historical traces of games similar to golf can be found across various cultures and continents, suggesting that the concept of hitting a ball with a stick towards a target is indeed a universal pastime.

The Romans played a game called paganica, where participants used a bent stick to hit a stuffed leather ball. Some historians suggest that this game spread across Europe with the Roman legions, possibly influencing later games in other regions, including the Celtic game of shinty and the French game of jeu de mail.

However, it is in Scotland that the game took on the identity we recognize today. By the 15th century, golf had become a popular pastime in the Kingdom of Scotland, so much so that it was temporarily banned by King James II in 1457, as it was deemed a distraction to learning archery, an essential skill for national defense at the time.

The Scottish Links

The real pivotal development of golf, however, occurred in Scotland’s links lands—coastal areas where the sandy soil and tough grasses provided a suitable terrain for the game. The Old Links at Musselburgh Racecourse claims the title of the oldest golf course in the world, with documented evidence of golf being played there in 1672, although it is likely that the game was played on these grounds as far back as the early 1500s.

St. Andrews, often revered as the “home of golf,” is where the game truly flourished. The standard 18-hole course, which became the benchmark for golf courses worldwide, was established there in 1764 when members modified the course from 22 holes to 18 holes. The St. Andrews Links had become the cradle of modern golf by the 19th century, hosting both the amateur and professional versions of the game that attracted players from across the British Isles and beyond.

The Game Grows

As golf clubs and balls evolved, so too did the accessibility of the game. The featherie ball, a hand-sewn leather pouch stuffed with boiled feathers, expanded the game’s reach in the 17th and 18th centuries, although it was expensive. It was the advent of the gutta-percha ball, or “guttie,” in the mid-19th century that democratized golf, making it more affordable and popular.

Golf’s spread was inexorable. By the early 20th century, the game had reached the United States and other parts of the British Empire, planting the seeds for what would become a global sporting culture.

As we explore golf’s storied past, I look forward to uncovering these tales of innovation, passion, and tradition with you. Next time, we will delve into the stories of legendary figures whose lives and exploits on the greens have become almost mythic in the annals of golf. Until then, may your appreciation for golf’s rich history enhance your next round on the links.

Thank you for joining me on this journey.

Warm regards, Robert Greenfield

Blog

One of the Greatest Putts in U.S. Open History?

JJ Spaun’s 64-Foot Walk-Off

Published

1 week ago

June 16, 2025

James Fairway

When JJ Spaun stood over a 64-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole of the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont, few could have predicted what would come next. The ball meandered across the slick green, trickling over every contour, picking up speed at the crest, and then—like it had GPS—dropped center cup. Spaun dropped his putter, raised his arms, and the crowd erupted. With that single stroke, he claimed his first major title in one of the most dramatic finishes in U.S. Open history.

But how does Spaun’s putt stack up against other legendary finishes in the tournament’s storied past? Let’s break down some of the most iconic moments and see where this one lands.

1. Payne Stewart – 1999 U.S. Open at Pinehurst

Perhaps the most iconic putt in U.S. Open history came from Payne Stewart, who nailed a 15-footer for par on the 18th to win by one over Phil Mickelson. The pose—fist pump and outstretched leg—has since been immortalized in a statue at Pinehurst. What made it legendary wasn’t just the putt—it was the context: Stewart’s final major before his tragic death just months later.

Verdict: Iconic and emotional. Spaun’s putt was longer, but Stewart’s was more poetic.

2. Tiger Woods – 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines

Woods drained a 12-foot birdie on the 72nd hole to force a playoff with Rocco Mediate—while basically playing on one leg. That tournament went to sudden death after an 18-hole playoff, and Tiger prevailed. This was peak Tiger drama, pain and all.

Verdict: Spaun’s putt was longer, but Tiger’s win was sheer willpower and mystique.

3. Jack Nicklaus – 1972 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach

With a 1-iron shot that hit the flagstick on 17 and a crucial birdie putt on 18, Jack sealed a dominant win. His precision and timing under pressure showed why he’s the GOAT.

Verdict: Not a putt for the win, but a signature finishing statement from Jack. Spaun’s was more electric in terms of pure putter drama.

4. Ben Hogan – 1950 U.S. Open at Merion

Hogan’s 1-iron into the 18th fairway and the par to force a playoff—just 16 months after a near-fatal car crash—remain legendary. He won the playoff and completed one of golf’s great comeback stories.

Verdict: Larger-than-life comeback. Spaun’s putt had more flair, but Hogan’s win was heroic.

5. JJ Spaun – 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont

Let’s not underestimate what Spaun accomplished. The pressure was immense. He wasn’t the favorite. And on the most treacherous greens in golf, he buried a 64-foot bomb—a putt most players would be happy to lag to within 5 feet—to win the U.S. Open outright.

Verdict: For distance, surprise, and drama, Spaun’s putt may be the most shocking winning stroke in U.S. Open history.

Final Thoughts

JJ Spaun may not have the résumé of a Nicklaus or Woods, but for one Sunday afternoon in June 2025, he created a moment that will live in golf lore forever. Spaun’s putt was longer than Stewart’s, more unexpected than Tiger’s, and more dramatic than any final-hole finish in recent memory.

In terms of pure clutch putting? It might just be the greatest walk-off in U.S. Open history.

Blog

The Zen of the Shank: Finding Inner Peace in Your Worst Shots

Find your inner peace even when you aren’t playing well.

Published

1 week ago

June 16, 2025

Ty Webb

Ah, the shank. That glorious, unpredictable misfire that sends your pristine golf ball screaming sideways, often directly into the unsuspecting shins of your playing partner, or perhaps, with a touch of poetic irony, into the very lake you’ve been trying to avoid all day. Most golfers, bless their earnest little hearts, view the shank as a catastrophic failure, a blight upon their scorecard, a testament to their inherent lack of coordination. They curse, they throw clubs, they contemplate a career in competitive thumb-wrestling. But not I. No, my friends, for I, Ty Webb, have found enlightenment in the humble shank.

You see, the shank is not a mistake; it’s a revelation. It’s the universe’s way of reminding you that control is an illusion, that perfection is a myth, and that sometimes, the most direct path to your goal is, in fact, a wildly indirect one. Think of it as a philosophical detour, a sudden, unexpected journey into the unknown. One moment, you’re aiming for the green, a paragon of precision and intent. The next, your ball is ricocheting off a tree, narrowly missing a squirrel, and landing, by some divine comedic intervention, closer to the hole than your perfectly struck drive ever would have. Is that not a miracle? Is that not a sign that the golf gods, much like life itself, have a wicked sense of humor?

The key, my dear apprentices of the links, is acceptance. Embrace the shank. Welcome it with open arms, like a long-lost, slightly inebriated relative. When that familiar, sickening thwack echoes through the air, do not despair. Instead, take a deep breath. Close your eyes. Feel the gentle breeze on your face. And then, with a knowing smile, open them and observe the chaos you have wrought. Is it not beautiful in its own chaotic way? Is there not a certain freedom in relinquishing control, in allowing the ball to choose its own destiny, however bizarre that destiny may be?

Some say the shank is a sign of poor technique. I say it’s a sign of a vibrant, untamed spirit. A golfer who never shanks is a golfer who has never truly lived, never truly explored the outer limits of their own golfing absurdity. They are content with mediocrity, with predictable trajectories and mundane outcomes. But you, my enlightened few, you understand that the true joy of golf lies not in the score, but in the story. And what a story a good shank can tell.

So, the next time you feel that familiar tremor of a shank brewing, don’t fight it. Let it flow. Let it be. For in the heart of every shank lies a lesson, a laugh, and perhaps, just perhaps, a path to a lower score you never saw coming. After all, as the great philosopher Basho once said, “A flute with no holes, is not a flute. A donut with no hole, is a Danish.” And a golf game without a shank? Well, that’s just not golf, is it?