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The Father of Golf – The Story Behind Old Man Tom Morris

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When most golfers think of the home of golf, St. Andrews is pretty much the first track that comes to mind.
 
But if St. Andrews is the home of golf, who is the father of golf? 
 
Is it Jack Nicklaus? Tiger Woods? Arnold Palmer?
 
Or someone else…
 
Surprisingly enough, it’s not actually any of these legends but instead, Old Man Tom Morris. Not to be confused with Young Tom Morris, his son, who was also a legendary Scottish professional golfer.
 
In his life, he made a tremendous impact on the game and is still known as the Father of Golf today. Keep reading to learn more about this legend of the game and why he is loved by golfers worldwide.
 

Who is Tom Morris?

It’s only right that the father of golf was born at the home of golf, St. Andrews. From an early age, Tom was obsessed with the sport, even though it was relatively new at the time.
 
By the time he was 14 years old, he was caddying and became an apprentice for Allan Robertson. If this name isn’t familiar, it should be, as he is known as the first professional golfer ever!
 
The two men became great friends and played as a team in alternate shot formats, never losing when paired together. In fact, they were even nicknamed “The Invincibles.”
 
Sadly, the relationship ended on a sour note after Tom was fired by Allan for playing a different type of golf ball (Allan was the manufacturer of the main competition). After getting fired in 1851, he temporarily left St. Andrews and started a business at Prestwick Golf Club.
 

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The Open Championship

After joining the Prestwick Golf Club, he helped start The Open Championship. In fact, he hit the very first shot ever in the now iconic event!
 
During the inaugural event, he went on to place second and won the following year in 1860. Maybe the craziest thing about Tom is that he only played with five clubs in the bag!
 
Yet, he continued to dominate the Open Championship and won three more times (1862, 1864, and 1867). What’s even more impressive is that he won his last Open at 46 years old. The same year, his son came in second place, making it an epic finish for the family.
 

Young Tom Morris

Speaking of his son, commonly referred to as “Young Tom Morris” was also an incredible golfer as well. By the time he was 13, he first beat his father for the first time, who was the Open champion.
 
Young Tom and his dad played tougher in challenge matches and found a ton of success as a team. During one match, Young Tom got a telegram to come home as his wife was having birth complications.
 
After winning their match, they came back but sadly, his wife and child had passed away unexpectedly. Unfortunately, young Tom Morris also died very young at only 24 years old in 1875.
 

Return to St. Andrews

After his success at the Open Championship, he was hired back to his home club, St. Andrews in 1864 as the course was in bad condition. He brought the course back to its glory with new greenskeeping techniques and became a major golf course architect. He came back to work there for 39 years as both a head professional and greenskeeper.
 
Eventually, he passed away just before he turned 87 after living a long and prosperous life. His grave is located close to his sons and is a must-see attraction for anyone who visits St. Andrews. Players from around the world love to pay their respects to this legend of the game.
 

Old Tom Morris – 10 Things You Probably Didn’t Know

Want to learn more about Old Tom Morris? 
 
Check out these 10 awesome facts about the life of this golf icon:
 
1. Tom started golfing at the age of 10 but not with traditional balls and clubs. Instead, he used wine bottle corks pierced with nails before working in the golf industry.
 
2. In 2017, a movie titled “Tommy’s Honour” was released based on the complex relationship between Old Man Tom and Young Tom Morris.
 
3. He played competitive golf until he was 74 years old (could you imagine if PGA Tour players did that in today’s world?)
 
4. Tom competed in 36 consecutive British Open championships.
 
5. Between him and his son, they have a combined eight Open championships.
 
6. Tom also designed golf clubs too. Not to mention built golf courses, worked as a head professional, and a world-class greenskeeper.
 
7. He also did redesigns of courses and worked on over 75 courses in his life. Some of his most significant redesign projects were Muirfield and Carnoustie Golf Links.
 
8. Tom served as a mentor to Donald Ross, the famous golf course architect who is responsible for Pinehurst No. 2.
 
9. He was just the second player ever to break 80 on the Old Course at St. Andrews.
 
10. Tom was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1976. His son was also awarded the prestigious honor as well.
 
Let’s never forget the Father of Golf and all that he did for the sport we love!
 
 
Written By Michael Leonard

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Breaking 90: Real Golf Improvement Tips That Actually Work

Tired of hovering in the low 90s? You’re not alone. Here are real, proven golf improvement tips that will finally help you break 90—and do it consistently.

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Why Breaking 90 Feels Like the Mount Everest of Golf

If you’ve ever wrapped up a round with an 89 on the card, you know the rush. For amateur golfers, breaking 90 isn’t just a number—it’s a rite of passage. It means your hard work is paying off, your decisions are sharper, and you’re starting to play golf instead of just swinging a club.

But here’s the thing: most golfers try to improve the wrong way. They tinker with their swing for months, chase YouTube tips at midnight, and buy the latest tech gear hoping it’ll shave strokes. Sound familiar?

As someone who spent years flirting with that 90 barrier, I’m here to tell you: you don’t need a perfect swing—you need a better strategy. Let’s get into the golf improvement tips that actually work.

Think Like a Golfer, Not a Swing Coach

Manage Expectations—Golf Isn’t About Perfect

You won’t stripe every drive or stick every wedge. So stop expecting to. Golf is a game of misses. The trick is making your bad shots better.

Start by dropping the obsession with perfection. Accept the occasional duff or slice. Focus instead on smart decisions and simple, repeatable swings.

“Golf is not a game of perfect. It’s a game of recovery.” — Dr. Bob Rotella, sports psychologist

Know Your “Go-To” Shot

If you’re trying to shape every shot like you’re on Tour, stop. Pick one reliable shot shape—fade, draw, straight—and stick to it. If your natural shot is a fade, play for it.

The moment I embraced my push-fade as a feature, not a flaw, my scores improved. I stopped fighting my swing and started playing smarter.

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Play the Right Tee Box—Seriously

Too many amateurs play from tees that are way too long. You don’t need to prove anything to anyone. Move up. Hit more greens. Have more fun. And yes—lower your score.

If you’re not getting to par 4s in two, or regularly hitting 3-woods into par 3s, it’s time to drop back to reality. You’ll thank yourself later.

Course Management—The Secret Weapon

Avoid the Hero Shot

Stuck in the trees? Don’t go for the 4-iron stinger through a two-foot gap. Punch out, get back in play, and take your medicine.

Par is great. Bogey is acceptable. Doubles are killers.

Know When to Lay Up

Got 210 yards into a narrow green with water short and right? Don’t be a hero. Hit it 150 and wedge it close. Most amateurs lose shots by trying to make up for a mistake with an even riskier shot. That never works.

Your scorecard rewards consistency, not courage.

The 3 Must-Have Skills to Break 90

1. A Reliable Tee Shot

You don’t need to hit bombs, but you need to keep it in play. Ditch the driver if it’s wild. I played a 5-wood for three months and dropped 7 strokes off my average.

2. A Dependable Wedge Game

From 100 yards and in, you need a club (or two) that you trust. Learn one shot—half swing, three-quarter, whatever—and own it.

3. No 3-Putts

Three-putting kills rounds. Focus on lag putting from long range and knocking in those nervy 4-footers. Spend twice as much time on putting as you do on full swings.

Practice With Purpose, Not Hope

Don’t just hit balls at the range. Practice like you play:

  • Hit different clubs in random order
  • Play imaginary holes
  • Make putting drills competitive
  • Keep score

“Deliberate practice leads to deliberate improvement.” — Mark Blackburn, PGA Tour Coach

Track Your Stats and Find the Leaks

Use an app or simple scorecard notes to track:

  • Fairways hit
  • Greens in regulation
  • Putts per hole
  • Penalty strokes

You’ll quickly spot where you’re leaking strokes. That’s where the real work starts.

Mindset Shift—Focus on Process, Not Score

I used to obsess over my score on every hole. Now, I focus on one swing at a time. Breaking 90 isn’t about shooting a 39 on the front and holding on. It’s about stacking smart decisions, one shot at a time.

Breaking 90 isn’t about hitting perfect shots. It’s about making better decisions, avoiding big numbers, and playing within your game. These golf improvement tips aren’t magic—they’re practical, proven strategies that work for real golfers.

Try them on your next round, and don’t forget to celebrate the small wins—like finally keeping your tee shot in play on Hole 1.

Want more golf improvement tips like these?
Bookmark ClickItGolf.com and check back weekly for advice, gear guides, laughs, and insights to help you play better golf—without losing your mind.

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The Spirit of the Links

From Scotland’s Shores to North America’s Coasts explore golf’s historic roots.

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Golf, a sport steeped in tradition and history, finds its roots deeply embedded in the sandy soils of Scotland’s links courses. These courses, characterized by their coastal settings, rolling dunes, and deep bunkers, offer a golfing experience that is both challenging and steeped in the game’s ancient traditions. This article explores the quintessential links courses of Scotland, including the renowned Kingsbarns, and compares them to their counterparts in North America, highlighting the differences that define and distinguish these iconic golf landscapes.

The Essence of Scottish Links

Scottish links courses are the original venues for the game of golf, with their history tracing back over several centuries. Kingsbarns, located near St. Andrews—the acknowledged ‘Home of Golf’—is a prime example. Though it was only opened in 2000, Kingsbarns has quickly become a jewel in the crown of Scottish golf. Designed by Kyle Phillips, the course captures the true spirit of links golf with its rugged coastline, natural bunkers, and undulating fairways that challenge even the most skilled golfers.

Links courses, by definition, are built on sandy land along coastlines. In Scotland, these courses are battered by the elements, with wind playing a significant role in the game, requiring golfers to exhibit not just skill but also creativity and adaptability. The courses are typically devoid of trees, using the natural landscape such as dunes and native grasses to define their boundaries.

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North American Links

While true links courses are a product of their environment, several courses in North America seek to replicate the Scottish experience. Courses like Bandon Dunes in Oregon and Cabot Links in Nova Scotia are designed to mirror the natural, rugged elegance of Scottish links. Bandon Dunes, for example, sits atop a windswept bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Its natural vegetation, dune topography, and wind conditions are reminiscent of Scotland’s storied courses.

Cabot Links, on the other hand, is Canada’s first true links course, featuring panoramic views and a layout that adheres to the natural landscape. Like its Scottish inspirations, Cabot Links utilizes fescue grasses and minimizes artificial water hazards, relying on wind and natural land forms to challenge players.

Links vs. Regular Courses

The main difference between a links course and a regular golf course lies in their interaction with the natural environment. Traditional golf courses, often referred to as “parkland courses,” are usually more manicured and contain lush, tree-lined fairways, with defined rough and strategic water hazards. They are designed to be more sheltered from the wind, offering a different type of challenge compared to the open, exposed links courses.

Links courses embrace the raw, natural state of their coastal landscapes. The ground tends to be harder and the grass shorter, which affects ball behavior, encouraging a ground game where golfers must play more along the earth, using the contours of the land to their advantage.

The allure of links golf lies in its simplicity and its challenge—the game as it was originally played, against a backdrop of breathtaking natural beauty. Whether in Scotland or North America, these courses provide a profound connection to the elements, offering a pure golf experience that is as mentally challenging as it is physically.

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TGL, Skins, and the World Series of Golf—Oh My!

Explore golf’s thrilling new formats—from TGL’s digital arenas to high-stakes Skins and poker-inspired World Series of Golf, as Ty Webb humorously guides you through the game’s exciting evolution.

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Hey there, fellow golfers, duffers, and sand-trap enthusiasts! Ty Webb here—ready to chat about a topic almost as intriguing as the mysterious forces that cause your golf balls to magnetically find water hazards. The game we love is changing faster than Judge Smails’ mood after a missed putt, and these new formats are shaking things up faster than my backswing (which, I’ll remind you, is flawless).

First up, we’ve got TGL—Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy’s brainchild. Imagine golf, but in a high-tech simulator arena, with live crowds and digital drama. It’s like playing a round inside a video game—minus the reset button. It’s fast, it’s futuristic, and it might just make traditionalists clutch their cardigan sweaters a little tighter. But hey, change can be good—like switching from a putter that doesn’t work to another putter that doesn’t work.

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Then we’ve got the Skins Game, golf’s original “put your money where your mouth is” contest. It’s straightforward—win a hole, win some cash. Lose a hole, watch your buddy strut around like he’s just sunk a 90-footer at Augusta. The Skins format keeps the stakes high, the tension higher, and friendships on the line. It’s golf with bravado, swagger, and a bit of friendly financial risk—exactly how I like my weekends.

And finally, we have the World Series of Golf—imagine poker and golf decided to collaborate, and neither was sober at the time. Players bet on each hole, raising, folding, and bluffing their way through a round. It’s as much about strategy and psychological warfare as it is about hitting a decent tee shot. One moment you’re all-in, the next you’re questioning every life decision you’ve ever made. Classic golf, am I right?

So there you have it, friends. Golf isn’t just changing—it’s evolving, innovating, and occasionally terrifying the purists. But rest easy, because whether you’re in a virtual arena, sweating over Skins cash, or bluffing your way through the World Series of Golf, the spirit of the game remains: hit the ball, find the ball, repeat as necessary. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a date with destiny—and a very forgiving 9-iron.

Fore!

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