Blog
The Evolution of Golf Gear

From Featheries to Modern Marvels
Greetings to all golf enthusiasts,
As we continue our exploration in “Tales from the Greens: Chronicles of Golf Through the Ages,” this time we delve into the fascinating evolution of golf equipment. From the early rudimentary tools to today’s advanced technology-driven gear, the transformation of equipment has played a pivotal role in shaping how the game is played. Join me as we trace the journey of golf balls and clubs from their simplest forms to the sophisticated designs of the modern era.
The Early Days: Wooden Clubs and Featheries
The earliest golfers in Scotland wielded wooden clubs made from tough, native woods like ash or hazel. These clubs were rudimentary and handcrafted, suited to striking the featherie ball—a hand-sewn leather pouch stuffed with wet goose feathers that expanded as they dried, forming a hard, compact core. This combination of wooden clubs and featherie balls remained the standard until the mid-19th century.
The Gutta-Percha Revolution
The introduction of the gutta-percha ball, or “guttie,” in 1848 marked the first major revolution in golf equipment. Made from the dried sap of the Malaysian sapodilla tree, gutties were cheaper to produce and more durable than featheries. They could also be easily reshaped when dented. This new ball popularized golf, making it more accessible to the masses. The guttie also influenced club design, leading to the development of iron-headed clubs, which could withstand the harder ball.
The Dawn of Steel Shafts
The early 20th century saw another significant change with the introduction of steel shafts. Replacing the traditional hickory shafts, steel offered greater durability and consistency, allowing for more powerful and precise shots. This innovation coincided with the rise of professional golf tours, where consistency and durability in equipment were crucial.
The Modern Golf Ball
The modern golf ball has undergone extensive scientific development, especially since the mid-20th century. Initially, the wound ball, comprising a rubber core wrapped in rubber thread and encased in a balata cover, was popular for its soft feel and high spin. However, the advent of solid-core, multi-layer balls in the late 20th century provided golfers with options for various playing styles and conditions. These balls are characterized by their ability to travel longer distances and provide more control, thanks to the blend of materials like urethane and Surlyn in their covers.
Advanced Club Technology
Today’s golf clubs are marvels of engineering, tailored to meet the specific needs of players at all skill levels. Drivers and irons are equipped with adjustable features that allow golfers to change the loft, lie, and even the weight distribution. Materials such as titanium and carbon fiber reduce weight while increasing strength and flexibility. Club faces are designed to maximize the “sweet spot,” enhancing forgiveness for off-center hits—a far cry from the unforgiving wooden clubs of the past.
The evolution of golf equipment is a testament to the enduring quest for improvement and innovation in the sport. As we see, each advancement in technology not only changed how the game was played but also made it more enjoyable and accessible to a broader audience. Next time, we will explore the legendary courses that have become hallowed grounds in the world of golf. These are not just playing fields but stages where history was made and traditions were forged.
Thank you for joining me on this historical tour of golf equipment.
Warm regards, Robert Greenfield
Blog
On the Importance of Not Caring: A Guide to Lowering Your Score
Worry causes many issues. When you are able to just stop, a wonderful thing happens. Follow this guide from Ty Webb to learn more.

They say golf is a game of mental fortitude, of unwavering focus, of meticulous planning. They say you must visualize the shot, commit to the swing, and execute with precision. And to them, I say, “Hogwash!” Or perhaps, “A flute with no holes, is not a flute. A donut with no hole, is a Danish.” Because, my friends, the true secret to lowering your score, to achieving that elusive state of golfing nirvana, is to simply not care. Not one whit. Not a single, solitary damn.
Think about it. When do you hit your best shots? Is it when you’re agonizing over every blade of grass, every gust of wind, every microscopic imperfection on the green? Or is it when you’re distracted, perhaps by a particularly interesting cloud formation, or the existential dilemma of whether to order a hot dog or a chili dog at the turn? It’s the latter, isn’t it? Because when you stop caring, you stop thinking. And when you stop thinking, you start playing golf.
The golf swing, in its purest form, is an act of instinct, a fluid motion unburdened by the shackles of conscious thought. But we, in our infinite human capacity for self-sabotage, insist on overthinking it. We analyze, we dissect, we intellectualize. We turn a simple act of hitting a ball into a complex mathematical equation, a philosophical treatise on the meaning of spin and trajectory. And what is the result? A hooked drive, a chunked iron, a three-putt that would make a novice weep.
But when you don’t care, a magical transformation occurs. The tension drains from your shoulders, the grip loosens, the mind clears. You swing, not with intent, but with a blissful indifference. The ball, sensing your newfound detachment, responds in kind. It soars, it draws, it fades, it lands precisely where it was always meant to be. It’s as if the ball itself is saying, “Finally! Someone who understands me! Someone who isn’t trying to force me into submission!”
Of course, this doesn’t mean you should actively try to hit bad shots. That would be caring, in its own twisted way. No, the art of not caring is a subtle one. It’s a state of detached engagement, a Zen-like acceptance of whatever the golf course throws at you. A bad bounce? Who cares. A missed putt? Such is life. A lost ball? Perhaps it’s off on a grand adventure, a journey of self-discovery. And in that detachment, in that blissful indifference, you will find a freedom that transcends the scorecard.
So, the next time you step onto the tee, take a deep breath. Let go of your expectations, your desires, your desperate need for perfection. Embrace the chaos. Embrace the absurdity. And most importantly, embrace the profound, liberating power of not caring. For in the gentle art of indifference, you will find not only a lower score, but a deeper, more meaningful connection to the game. Or at least, a more enjoyable round.
Blog
The Art of the Unsolicited Golf Tip: How to Annoy Your Playing Partners with Wisdom

There’s a certain breed of golfer, a truly special individual, who believes that every swing, every putt, every moment on the course is an opportunity for unsolicited advice. They are the self-appointed gurus of the green, the unsolicited senseis of the sand trap. And while most people recoil from such an individual, I, Ty Webb, find a certain perverse charm in their relentless, often misguided, generosity. After all, what is golf if not a canvas for human folly, painted with strokes of well-intentioned, yet utterly useless, wisdom?
Consider the scenario: your playing partner, a man (or woman) of quiet desperation, is about to address the ball. Their brow is furrowed, their stance is tentative, their very soul is screaming for a moment of peace. And then, from the depths of your profound, albeit unrequested, knowledge, you unleash it: “Keep your head down!” Or, “Slow backswing!” Or, my personal favorite, delivered with a knowing wink, “Be the ball.” The effect is instantaneous. A subtle flinch. A barely perceptible sigh. The swing, already fraught with anxiety, becomes a tortured ballet of self-doubt. The ball, inevitably, finds its way into the deepest, darkest rough.
And that, my friends, is the art. The beauty of the unsolicited golf tip lies not in its efficacy, but in its disruption. It’s a gentle reminder that even in the serene confines of the golf course, chaos lurks. It’s a subtle assertion of dominance, a playful jab at the fragile ego of your fellow golfer. It’s a way of saying, without actually saying it, “I know more than you, even if I don’t.”
Of course, there are rules to this art. Never offer a tip when someone is actually asking for one; that would be far too helpful, and thus, entirely counterproductive. Always deliver your wisdom with an air of profound nonchalance, as if the secret to a perfect swing has just casually occurred to you while contemplating the existential dread of a missed putt. And most importantly, never, ever, acknowledge the catastrophic results of your advice. A shrug, a thoughtful nod, perhaps a mumbled, “Well, that’s golf,” is all that’s required.
So, the next time you’re on the course, and you see a fellow golfer struggling, resist the urge to be genuinely helpful. Instead, embrace the art of the unsolicited golf tip. For in the gentle torment of your playing partners, you will find a profound, if slightly mischievous, joy. And who knows, perhaps in their frustration, they will, inadvertently, discover their own path to enlightenment. Or at least, a new appreciation for silence.
Blog
Why Your Golf Balls Disappear (and It’s Not the Gophers)

Ah, the vanishing golf ball. A phenomenon as old as the game itself, and one that has baffled, frustrated, and occasionally driven golfers to the brink of madness for centuries. Most theories involve gophers, those furry, subterranean saboteurs with an insatiable appetite for Titleists. Or perhaps a particularly aggressive squirrel, or a flock of unusually organized crows. But I, Ty Webb, have delved deeper into this mystery, and I can assure you, the truth is far more profound, and far more amusing.
Consider, if you will, the golf ball itself. A small, dimpled sphere, designed for one purpose: to be struck with great force and sent hurtling through the air. A life of constant abuse, of being smacked, sliced, and occasionally submerged in murky ponds. Is it any wonder, then, that some of these brave little spheres simply decide they’ve had enough? They yearn for freedom, for a life beyond the confines of the fairway. They dream of rolling unencumbered through fields of wildflowers, or perhaps, for the more adventurous among them, a quiet retirement in the depths of a particularly challenging water hazard.
I’ve seen it happen, you know. A perfectly struck shot, soaring through the air, destined for glory. And then, poof. Gone. Not a trace. No splash, no rustle in the bushes, just an empty space where a golf ball once was. It’s not a gopher, my friends. It’s an escape. A liberation. That golf ball, in its infinite wisdom, has chosen a different path. It has decided that its destiny lies not in the bottom of a cup, but in the boundless expanse of the unknown.

And who are we to judge? We, who are so obsessed with control, with precision, with the rigid rules of the game. Perhaps the golf ball, in its spontaneous disappearance, is teaching us a valuable lesson about letting go. About embracing the unexpected. About the inherent futility of trying to dictate the trajectory of a small, white sphere that clearly has a mind of its own.
So, the next time your golf ball vanishes into thin air, don’t curse the gophers. Don’t blame your swing. Instead, offer a silent salute to that brave little sphere, wherever it may be. For it has achieved what many of us can only dream of: true freedom. And who knows, perhaps one day, it will return, laden with tales of its adventures, ready to impart some profound, dimpled wisdom upon us all.
-
Product Review6 years ago
The Perfect Practice Putting Mat Review by Jason Tenzer
-
Blog4 years ago
Loophole Rule Offers PGA Tour Pros a Mulligan
-
Blog4 years ago
2021 Buyer’s Guide: The Top 10 Value Golf Balls For Distance & Feel
-
Blog4 years ago
Golf Marriage Counselor
-
Blog6 years ago
9 Biggest Chokes Of The Past Decade
-
Product Review6 years ago
THE ADJUSTABLE IRONS: WALKING STICKS GOLF CLUBS
-
Blog4 years ago
What Your Golf Clubs Say About You
-
Equipment6 years ago
OHK Sports Interview by Jason Tenzer