Opinion & Analysis

How To Golf With Strangers And Leave With Friends

Published

7 years ago

Mar 25, 2017

Several years back I was playing golf in Hilton Head while on my college spring break. My girlfriend at the time (now my wife) was enjoying a day at the spa, and I snuck over to play Hilton Head National, which I’d saved up for a few months to play. I booked a tee time for around 10 a.m. and did not have a playing partner.

When I arrived at the clubhouse, the pro said he’d pair me with a group of three couples. He told me the women were going to play together and the men were going to play separate and that I could join the men. “Perfect,” I told him.

My new group and I made our way over to the first tee, and I was riding with the oldest man in the group. As he drove the cart from the opening tee box to find his ball, he began asking me about myself. I told him I was on vacation with my girlfriend and she was enjoying her day in the spa. When I told him I was from Kentucky, he gave me a glare that sort of inflicted fear. Then he tipped his sunglasses to the bridge of his nose and looked at me for what seemed like 10 minutes. Then he grinned and slid them back up.

“I’m from Chapel Hill,” he said. “And I help sponsor the golf team at UNC.” I laughed, and he got out to hit his shot.

A few holes later we were talking about the college experience and how I wished I could play more golf, but my grades couldn’t handle it. I hit my approach to the sixth or seventh hole, and when I got back in the cart, he reached his hand out for a handshake. When I shook his hand, I could feel a piece of paper. He held my hand for a moment, and he said, “You know, I like you, kid. I want you to take this and put it behind a picture of your girlfriend. That way, you’ll never be broke. When things get down, just take her to dinner.”

“Ok, I will,” I said. I didn’t look at the bill and stuck it in my pocket. When I got done with the round and made it to my car, I pulled it out of my pocket for the first time. It was a hundred dollar bill. I nearly cried.

As you read this article, know that I’m not saying you need to give everybody you meet on the golf course $100. What I am saying is that there’s a way to play this game with strangers and leave a positive lasting impression. Maybe you’ll even make a lifelong friend.

Here are five tips for turning strangers into friends on the course.

Make Small Talk Early

In 2012, I played a little nine-hole course outside of Tacoma, Washington, called American Lake Veterans Course. The course didn’t take tee times, and there were free golf balls for all who played. As my buddy and I waited in line at the first tee to begin play, two men approached the tee box. We stood off to the side as an older gentleman set up to the golf ball, and the other stood behind him, giving directions. “Little left, little more, little bit more. Alright, you’re good,” the navigator said.

Another man, who donned a straw hat, noticed our attention to the pair and walked over. The older gentleman hit a drive down the left side of the fairway and his partner picked up the tee.

“They are father and son,” the man in the straw hat told us. “The father is legally blind, even with glasses, and his son plays with him three times a week. He lines him up on every shot.” Talk about being flabbergasted.

Be nice and make small talk as soon as you have an opening. It doesn’t necessarily have to be on the first tee box, but if it is, it sets the mood quickly.

My buddy and I ended up playing with the man in the straw hat, and we had a blast. In that situation, we didn’t do anything other than reciprocating small talk, which is the key to getting off on the right foot with strangers.

Be nice and make small talk as soon as you have an opening. It doesn’t necessarily have to be on the first tee box, but if it is, it sets the mood quickly. In golf, there’s a good chance the small talk will take a more in-depth turn soon. Enjoy it, share your worldview if it comes up, but be polite.

If you’re a naturally quiet person, this is a time to try and get out of your shell. Golf is a game of vulnerability; take advantage of the time when you’re out in the open and foster these potential relationships. You never know when you’ll meet someone who sticks with you for years to come.

Avoid Gambling If Possible

You can find a $2 Nassau at most any golf course on a Saturday morning. You’ll never know if the strangers in your group have a moral affliction to gambling, though, so avoid betting unless they bring it up. If they bring it up, and it’s something you’re comfortable with, feel free to join. You might lose a couple of bucks, but you might also break the ice instantly and become part of the group. Or at least it will open it up for more conversation, which is the ultimate goal.

If you do land yourself in a bet, don’t settle the score on the 18th green. It slows down the clearing of the green for the group behind you, and the main thing on the last green should be hand shaking and pleasantries. Pay up in the parking lot. If you win the bet, don’t ask for the money; if they forget, let it go. It’s only a couple bucks. If you lose, pay promptly before loading your bag to leave.

Be Relaxed With The Rules

We all have that friend who starts a stopwatch when you begin looking for a stray tee shot. If you’re that guy, don’t be… at least when you’re playing with strangers. Friendly games are just that; they’re friendly. When you’re playing with strangers, nobody wants to be hassled about whether or not they can take one or two club lengths after an unplayable. Nobody wants to be told, “Hey, you’re supposed to play the ball as it lies” as they’re moving a ball off a root. The rules of golf are complicated, and while they’re currently under some review to remove some of that complexity, it’s easy for situations to become unnecessarily convoluted on the golf course.

If you’re playing with a group of strangers and someone asks your opinion on a rules situation they are in, be honest, but don’t hold their feet to the fire. They are likely seeking your honest opinion, but they don’t need someone to cite the rule for them. Just tell them how you’d play it if you were playing by yourself and move on. A good way to approach rules situations with strangers is never giving your opinion unsolicited.

Control Your Emotions

I have played Chambers Bay twice. Both times were amazing. The first time I played my buddy and I took a caddie, which was a great choice. As we made our way to the first tee, the starter informed us we’d be playing with two other guys who played Chambers a lot. We approached the tee and shook hands with them. It was immediately strange because they were sharing a bag.

At that moment it became clear to us that the clubs belonged to the player who had not thrown the club.

We didn’t think much of it because it wasn’t our business, and they seemed nice enough. The front nine started fine as my buddy and I had an internal match and the other guys sort of did their own thing. On the fourth tee box, one of the other guys in the group hit a tee shot, topping it about 10 feet in front of him. He looked around and put another ball down. He topped the second ball, too, and out of nowhere threw the driver about 50 feet to the side of the tee box. Everybody froze. Our caddies just looked at us and made that I-have-no-idea-what-to-do face.

At that moment it became clear that the clubs belonged to the player who had not thrown the club. The two men got into an argument right there on the tee box. All these years later, it’s funny, but we did not leave the 18th green as friends with those guys.

Control your emotions if you tend to be a hot head on the golf course. The people you’re playing with don’t need to see you throwing clubs or dropping “F” bombs. Relax and enjoy the company.

Be Authentic

It’s easy to try and be something you’re not when you think you’ll never see someone again. It’s not a knock on your character; it’s human nature. But if you’re the kind of person who likes to make friends on the golf course, then the quickest way to do that is to be yourself. I’ve played golf with a lot of people in the last 10 years. Like most people, I can tell when someone isn’t being genuine. It’s not only annoying, but it’s uncomfortable. Not everyone will be your best friend, but you’ll never know if you’ve ruined the chance at a great friendship if you try and be someone you’re not.

—

With the heart of the golf season approaching soon, there will be a lot of folks crowding up tee times in the next few weeks. I’m sure you’ve already got your local games lined up with the people you pick on constantly, but if you find yourself out and about with a last-minute tee time, make the most of those people you’ve never met before. You never know if one of them could be someone that changes your life.

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Adam Crawford

Adam Crawford is a writer of many topics but golf has always been at the forefront. An avid player and student of the game, Adam seeks to understand both the analytical side of the game as well as the human aspect - which he finds the most important. You can find his books at his website, chandlercrawford.com, or on Amazon.

27 Comments

Darryl

Mar 30, 2017 at 8:00 am

One of the best articles I’ve read on here. I have met a lot of really good friends on the course, guys I enjoy socialising with outside golf as well. Of all the social recreational endeavours one can pursue in life, I always find golf one of the best ways to make a friend, primarily because people who play on their own of an evening are golf nuts and right away you have that common ground and it means that you will both most likely be of a similar mindset with very similar lifestyles.

Reply Report comment
Sam

Mar 27, 2017 at 10:36 am

The photo, do people really do that on the course?

Reply Report comment
- Double Mocha Man
  
  Mar 29, 2017 at 4:22 pm
  
  Sam, I do that every time I’m able to 2 putt for a par.
  
  Reply Report comment
Bob Jones

Mar 27, 2017 at 10:31 am

You meet strangers and right away be best friends for four hours. This is one of the things I love about golf.

Reply Report comment
Double Mocha Man

Mar 26, 2017 at 8:14 pm

Speaking of small talk… a few years ago I was playing Pebble Beach with two strangers. On the 3rd tee I inquired where they were from. Louisville, Kentucky… around 1 million population. On a lark I asked if they knew Deborah Xxxxxx, my ex who I knew lived there. They both almost fell down. Both were good friends with her and her husband, hanging together and attending the same church, raising their children together! Over the course of the next 15 holes I learned a lot about my ex (hadn’t seen her in over 20 years… good woman) and I shared a few things they didn’t know about her… though I was careful how much I shared. I also learned there was a lot from her past she had never shared with them. Such as me! They didn’t know she had another marriage.

Reply Report comment
Double Mocha Man

Mar 26, 2017 at 7:58 pm

I live north of Seattle near the Canadian border. I also often play a course near that border that attracts a lot of Canadian golfers crossing over. Some of the most interesting guys (and gals) I’ve met on the course are Canadian. Good folks.

Reply Report comment
KK

Mar 26, 2017 at 3:43 pm

The word “friend” has lost all meaning nowadays.

Reply Report comment
- Scott
  
  Apr 3, 2017 at 12:46 pm
  
  Lighten up. nobody said to invite them to your house for dinner.
  
  Reply Report comment
WolfWRX

Mar 26, 2017 at 7:54 am

Good article. I think it basically boils down to being a decent human being.

I play as a single a lot and in my experience, people often don’t like being paired up with a stranger or someone they don’t know. I’m not sure if it’s nervousness about playing with someone new, but fairly frequently I’ll get the sense from at least one player in a group they are NOT happy about me joining them – usually on the first tee. That said, I try and be friendly and this attitude usually dissipates after the first few holes.

Reply Report comment
- Mr. Replier Guy
  
  Mar 26, 2017 at 1:14 pm
  
  Glad to say I’ve never experienced this. I’m in Calif. so maybe it depends where you play.
  
  Reply Report comment
Cael

Mar 26, 2017 at 1:25 am

As I play with the over 60 group most of the time and play as a single a lot, I have found what is mentioned in this article 100% good advice. I have found that if you just play with the attitude I am going to enjoy the company today and let myself enjoy my own play good or bad it works out to be a fine day. For sure if you are younger and/or trying to build and improve your game you need to play alone or with others trying to do the same if you can.

Reply Report comment
BD57

Mar 25, 2017 at 10:09 pm

Better yet – don’t get drunk on the golf course, period.

Really not a good place for it, and when you’re done, someone’s going to be driving somewhere.

Reply Report comment
- Adam Crawford
  
  Mar 25, 2017 at 10:43 pm
  
  Couldn’t agree more. I’m totally cool with people having a few drinks during a round. But the getting hammered just takes it too far.
  
  Reply Report comment
CdnAsian

Mar 25, 2017 at 9:36 pm

Knowing when to pick up. Nothing is worse is being on the green and watching your playing partner laying 8 or 9, trying to “salvage the hole”

Reply Report comment
Philip

Mar 25, 2017 at 8:55 pm

If there are playing from a tee box you usually do not – just join them on their regular tee box – whether it is closer or farther than usually for you, unless of course you wish to be left alone.

Reply Report comment
- madeinguam81
  
  Mar 25, 2017 at 11:17 pm
  
  I completely disagree with this. Play the tees that are appropriate for you, no matter what the rest of your group is playing. Doing so, doesn’t isolate you. You can still have a great conversation with others who play a different set of tees.
  
  I would argue in the case of playing a set of tees BACK from where you would normally play just to join the rest of the group, the others will most likely be thinking that you should be playing UP a set and that you will most likely slow them down. Not a good start.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Scott
    
    Apr 3, 2017 at 12:49 pm
    
    I 100% agree. Sure playing up a set of tees from where you normally play may be considered nice, but I still want to play the course that way I want to. And playing back too far could be embarrassing and frustrating for all involved.
    
    Reply Report comment
Golfyguy

Mar 25, 2017 at 7:57 pm

Good article. I started golfing as a single since I retired and really enjoy golfing with people I never met before. Golf gave me the chance to make some new acquaintances this way.

Reply Report comment
- madeinguam81
  
  Mar 25, 2017 at 11:22 pm
  
  I’m in a similar but opposite boat as you. I started playing around 19 and one of the things I liked most was meeting new people, especially people I would never normally come in contact with. I played this local public course that had quite a bit of retirees and I often got paired with older guys in their 60s, 70s, and even 80s. I loved the stories and the overall social aspect of golf.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Tom
    
    Mar 26, 2017 at 1:00 pm
    
    +1 madeinguam
    
    Reply Report comment
Jonnythec

Mar 25, 2017 at 1:39 pm

Great article..it’s blows me away that dick heads always hit the shank button at the end. Let’s just remove that altogether. Keep up the good work.

Reply Report comment
- izzlist of izzles
  
  Mar 25, 2017 at 3:02 pm
  
  It blows me away when people like jonny call other people names because they didn’t like something he liked.
  
  Reply Report comment
chinchbugs

Mar 25, 2017 at 1:24 pm

Next article…playing golf and influencing people…

Reply Report comment
LaBraeGolfer

Mar 25, 2017 at 10:37 am

Playing through golf now at a golf course in the middle of nowhere today. Couldn’t get my buddies to go and I take every opportunity I can to get out. I like the comments just be respectful and hit the golf shots and don’t take forever and everything will go grand.

Reply Report comment
Egor

Mar 25, 2017 at 10:04 am

No unsolicited advice.

I’m a 3 year player, 12HI and was joined by another single on the second tee. Unusually and from the tips, I hit every fairway and a solid 230-260yds.
On the 9th tee box, he said something like :
“if there was one thing I’d tell you, slow down your tempo, your backswing is too fast”

I wanted to respond with something like – “says the guy who hasn’t out driven me yet, missed3 fairways, and re-teed twice”

I just said “oh, ok”.

We really did have a great time and I’d welcome him to join me again, but I’ve learned in the 3 years I’ve played that you never offer swing advice to people you know without them explicitly asking, let alone to people you just met.

Reply Report comment
- Bishop
  
  Mar 27, 2017 at 2:41 pm
  
  I couldn’t agree more with this. To me, there is nothing more aggravating than when someone gives advice on how I’m hitting the ball. It appears to me that there’s an inverse relationship between the amount of unsolicited advice, and the ability of the golfer. I have yet to meet a scratch golfer who will give me tips, but my friend the 30+ handicapper frequently chimes in with advice when I hit a ball offline.
  
  I also think this was one of the first things I learned when beginning golf four years ago. It should stand as general etiquette.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - IHateLoveGolf
    
    Mar 28, 2017 at 2:13 pm
    
    I think I’m an outlier because I don’t mind when someone gives me a tip. I can’t see my swing and appreciate that they’d take the time (and the risk, apparently) to try to help me out. More often than not the tip is useful, even if it’s counter to what I’m trying to work on that day. If someone won’t shut about it on every hole, then that’s a different story but this game is hard enough – I’m fine with folks trying to make it a little easier for me.
    
    Reply Report comment

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19th Hole

Vincenzi’s 2024 Wells Fargo Championship betting preview: Tommy Fleetwood ready to finally land maiden PGA Tour title

Published

19 hours ago

May 6, 2024

Matt Vincenzi

The PGA Tour season ramps back up this week for another “signature event,” as golf fans look forward to the year’s second major championship next week.

After two weaker-field events in the Zurich Classic and the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, most of the best players in the world will head to historic Quail Hollow for one of the best non-major tournaments of the year.

Last season, Wyndham Clark won the event by four shots.

Quail Hollow is a par-71 measuring 7,521 yards that features Bermudagrass greens. The tree-lined, parkland style course can play quite difficult and features one of the most difficult three-hole stretches in golf known as “The Green Mile,” which makes up holes 16-18: two mammoth par 4s and a 221-yard par 3. All three holes have an average score over par, and water is in play in each of the last five holes on the course.

The field is excellent this week with 68 golfers teeing it up without a cut. All of the golfers who’ve qualified are set to tee it up, with the exception of Scottie Scheffler, who is expecting the birth of his first child.

Past Winners at Quail Hollow

2023: Wyndham Clark (-19)
2022: Max Homa (-8)
2021: Rory McIlroy (-10)
2019: Max Homa (-15)
2018: Jason Day (-12)
2017: Justin Thomas (-8) (PGA Championship)
2016: James Hahn (-9)
2015: Rory McIlroy (-21)

Key Stats For Quail Hollow

Strokes Gained: Approach

Strokes gained: Approach will be extremely important this week as second shots at Quail Hollow can be very difficult.

Total SG: Approach Over Past 24 Rounds

Akshay Bhatia (+1.16)
Tom Hoge (+1.12)
Corey Conners (+1.01)
Shane Lowry (+0.93)
Austin Eckroat (+0.82)

Strokes Gained: Off the Tee

Quail Hollow is a long course on which it is important to play from the fairway. Both distance and accuracy are important, as shorter tee shots will result in approach shots from 200 or more yards. With most of the holes heavily tree lined, errant drives will create some real trouble for the players.

Strokes Gained: Off the Tee Past 24 Rounds:

Ludvig Aberg (+0.73)
Rory McIlroy (+0.69)
Xander Schauffele (+0.62)
Viktor Hovland (+0.58)
Chris Kirk (+0.52)

Proximity: 175-200

The 175-200 range is key at Quail Hollow. Players who can hit their long irons well will rise to the top of the leaderboard.

Proximity: 175-200+ over past 24 rounds:

Cameron Young (28’2″)
Akshay Bhatia (29’6″)
Ludvig Aberg (+30’6″)
Sam Burns (+30’6″)
Collin Morikawa (+30’9″)

SG: Total on Tom Fazio Designs

Players who thrive on Tom Fazio designs get a bump for me at Quail Hollow this week.

SG: Total on Tom Fazio Designs over past 36 rounds:

Patrick Cantlay (+2.10)
Rory McIlroy (+1.95)
Tommy Fleetwood (+1.68)
Austin Eckroat (+1.60)
Will Zalatoris (+1.57)

Strokes Gained: Putting (Bermudagrass)

Strokes Gained: Putting has historically graded out as the most important statistic at Quail Hollow. While it isn’t always predictable, I do want to have it in the model to bump up golfers who prefer to putt on Bermudagrass.

Strokes Gained: Putting (Bermudagrass) Over Past 24 Rounds:

Taylor Moore (+0.82)
Nick Dunlap (+.76)
Wyndham Clark (+.69)
Emiliano Grillo (+.64)
Cam Davis (+.61)

Course History

This stat will incorporate players that have played well in the past at Quail Hollow.

Course History over past 36 rounds (per round):

Rory McIlroy (+2.50)
Justin Thomas (+1.96)
Jason Day (+1.92)
Rickie Fowler (+1.83)
Viktor Hovland (+1.78)

Wells Fargo Championship Model Rankings

Below, I’ve compiled overall model rankings using a combination of the five key statistical categories previously discussed — SG: Approach (27%), SG: Off the Tee (23%), SG: Total on Fazio designs (12%), Proximity: 175-200 (12%), SG: Putting Bermuda grass (12%), and Course History (14%).

Wyndham Clark
Rory McIlroy
Xander Schauffele
Shane Lowry
Hideki Matsuyama
Viktor Hovland
Cameron Young
Austin Eckroat
Byeong Hun An
Justin Thomas

2024 Wells Fargo Championship Picks

Tommy Fleetwood +2500 (DraftKings)

I know many out there have Tommy fatigue when it comes to betting, which is completely understandable given his lack of ability to win on the PGA Tour thus far in his career. However, history has shown us that players with Fleetwood’s talent eventually break though, and I believe for Tommy, it’s just a matter of time.

Fleetwood has been excellent on Tom Fazio designs. Over his past 36 rounds, he ranks 3rd in the field in Strokes Gained: Total on Fazio tracks. He’s also been incredibly reliable off the tee this season. He’s gained strokes in the category in eight of his past nine starts, including at The Masters, the PLAYERS and the three “signature events” of the season. Tommy is a golfer built for tougher courses and can grind it out in difficult conditions.

Last year, Fleetwood was the first-round leader at this event, firing a Thursday 65. He finished the event in a tie for 5th place.

For those worried about Fleetwood’s disappointing start his last time out at Harbour Town, he’s bounced back nicely after plenty of poor outings this season. His T7 at the Valero Texas Open was after a MC and T35 in his prior two starts and his win at the Dubai Invitational came after a T47 at the Sentry.

I expect Tommy to bounce back this week and contend at Quail Hollow.

Justin Thomas +3000 (DraftKings)

It’s been a rough couple of years for Justin Thomas, but I don’t believe things are quite as bad as they seem for JT. He got caught in the bad side of the draw at Augusta for last month’s Masters and has gained strokes on approach in seven of his nine starts in 2024.

Thomas may have found something in his most recent start at the RBC Heritage. He finished T5 at a course that he isn’t the best fit for on paper. He also finally got the putter working and ranked 15th in Strokes Gained: Putting for the week.

The two-time PGA champion captured the first of his two major championships at Quail Hollow back in 2017, and some good vibes from the course may be enough to get JT out of his slump.

Thomas hasn’t won an event in just about two years. However, I still believe that will change soon as he’s been one of the most prolific winners throughout his PGA Tour career. Since 2015, he has 15 PGA Tour wins.

Course history is pretty sticky at Quail Hollow, with players who like the course playing well there on a regular basis. In addition to JT’s PGA Championship win in 2017, he went 4-1 at the 2022 Presidents Cup and finished T14 at the event last year despite being in poor form. Thomas can return as one of the top players on the PGA Tour with a win at a “signature event” this week.

Cameron Young +3500 (DraftKings)

For many golf bettors, it’s been frustrating backing Cam Young this season. His talent is undeniable, and one of the best and most consistent performers on the PGA Tour. He just hasn’t broken through with a victory yet. Quail Hollow has been a great place for elite players to get their first victory. Rory McIlroy, Anthony Kim, Rickie Fowler and Wyndham Clark all notched their first PGA Tour win at Quail.

Throughout Cam Young’s career, he has thrived at tougher courses with strong fields. This season, he finished T16 at Riviera and T9 at Augusta National, demonstrating his preference of a tough test. His ability to hit the ball long and straight off the tee make him an ideal fit for Quail Hollow, despite playing pretty poorly his first time out in 2023 (T59). Young should be comfortable playing in the region as he played his college golf at Wake Forest, which is about an hour’s drive from Quail Hollow.

The 26-year-old has played well at Tom Fazio designs in the past and ranks 8th in the field in Strokes Gained: Total on those courses in his last 36 rounds. Perhaps most importantly, this season, Young is the best player on the PGA Tour in terms of proximity from 175-200 in the fairway, which is where a plurality and many crucial shots will come from this week.

Young is an elite talent and Quail Hollow has been kind to players of his ilk who’ve yet to win on Tour.

Byeong Hun An +5000 (FanDuel)

Byeong Hun An missed some opportunities last weekend at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. He finished T4 and played some outstanding golf, but a couple of missed short putts prevented him from getting to the winning score of -23. Despite not getting the win, it’s hard to view An’s performance as anything other than an overwhelming success. It was An’s fourth top-ten finish of the season.

Last week, An gained 6.5 strokes ball striking, which was 7th in the field. He also ranked 12th for Strokes Gained: Approach and 13th for Strokes Gained: Off the Tee. The South Korean has been hitting the ball so well from tee to green all season long and he now heads to a golf course that should reward his precision.

An’s driver and long irons are absolute weapons. At Quail Hollow, players will see plenty of approach shots from the 175-200 range as well as some from 200+. In his past 24 rounds, Ben ranks 3rd in the field in proximity from 175-200 and 12th in proximity from 200+. Playing in an event that will not end up being a “birdie” fest should help An, who can separate from the field with his strong tee to green play. The putter may not always cooperate but getting to -15 is much easier than getting to -23 for elite ball strikers who tend to struggle on the greens.

Winning a “signature event” feels like a tall task for An this week with so many elite players in the field. However, he’s finished T16 at the Genesis Invitational, T16 at The Masters and T8 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. The 32-year-old’s game has improved drastically this season and I believe he’s ready to get the biggest win of his career.

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19th Hole

Vincenzi’s LIV Golf Singapore betting preview: Course specialist ready to thrive once again

Published

1 week ago

Apr 30, 2024

Matt Vincenzi

After another strong showing in Australia, LIV Golf will head to Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore looking to build off of what was undoubtedly their best event to date.

Sentosa Golf Club sits on the southern tip of Singapore and is one of the most beautiful courses in the world. The course is more than just incredible scenically; it was also rated 55th in Golf Digest’s top-100 courses in 2022-2023 and has been consistently regarded as one of the best courses in Asia. Prior to being part of the LIV rotation, the course hosted the Singapore Open every year since 2005.

Sentosa Golf Club is a par 71 measuring 7,406 yards. The course will require precise ball striking and some length off the tee. It’s possible to go low due to the pristine conditions, but there are also plenty of hazards and difficult spots on the course that can bring double bogey into play in a hurry. The Bermudagrass greens are perfectly manicured, and the course has spent millions on the sub-air system to keep the greens rolling fast. I spoke to Asian Tour player, Travis Smyth, who described the greens as “the best [he’s] ever played.”

Davis Love III, who competed in a Singapore Open in 2019, also gushed over the condition of the golf course.

“I love the greens. They are fabulous,” the 21-time PGA Tour winner said.

Love III also spoke about other aspects of the golf course.

“The greens are great; the fairways are perfect. It is a wonderful course, and it’s tricky off the tee.”

“It’s a long golf course, and you get some long iron shots. It takes somebody hitting it great to hit every green even though they are big.”

As Love III said, the course can be difficult off the tee due to the length of the course and the trouble looming around every corner. It will take a terrific ball striking week to win at Sentosa Golf Club.

In his pre-tournament press conference last season, Phil Mickelson echoed many of the same sentiments.

“To play Sentosa effectively, you’re going to have a lot of shots from 160 to 210, a lot of full 6-, 7-, 8-iron shots, and you need to hit those really well and you need to drive the ball well.”

Golfers who excel from tee to green and can dial in their longer irons will have a massive advantage this week.

Stat Leaders at LIV Golf Adelaide:

Fairways Hit

1.) Louis Oosthuizen

2.) Anirban Lahiri

3.) Jon Rahm

4.) Brendan Steele

5.) Cameron Tringale

Greens in Regulation

1.) Brooks Koepka

2.) Brendan Steele

3.) Dean Burmester

4.) Cameron Tringale

5.) Anirban Lahiri

Birdies Made

1.) Brendan Steele

2.) Dean Burmester

3.) Thomas Pieters

4.) Patrick Reed

5.) Carlos Ortiz

LIV Golf Individual Standings:

1.) Joaquin Niemann

2.) Jon Rahm

3.) Dean Burmester

4.) Louis Oosthuizen

5.) Abraham Ancer

LIV Golf Team Standings:

1.) Crushers

2.) Legion XIII

3.) Torque

4.) Stinger GC

5.) Ripper GC

LIV Golf Singapore Picks

Sergio Garcia +3000 (DraftKings)

Sergio Garcia is no stranger to Sentosa Golf Club. The Spaniard won the Singapore Open in 2018 by five strokes and lost in a playoff at LIV Singapore last year to scorching hot Talor Gooch. Looking at the course setup, it’s no surprise that a player like Sergio has played incredible golf here. He’s long off the tee and is one of the better long iron players in the world when he’s in form. Garcia is also statistically a much better putter on Bermudagrass than he is on other putting surfaces. He’s putt extremely well on Sentosa’s incredibly pure green complexes.

This season, Garcia has two runner-up finishes, both of them being playoff losses. Both El Camaleon and Doral are courses he’s had success at in his career. The Spaniard is a player who plays well at his tracks, and Sentosa is one of them. I believe Sergio will get himself in the mix this week. Hopefully the third time is a charm in Singapore.

Paul Casey +3300 (FanDuel)

Paul Casey is in the midst of one of his best seasons in the five years or so. The results recently have been up and down, but he’s shown that when he’s on a golf course that suits his game, he’s amongst the contenders.

This season, Casey has finishes of T5 (LIV Las Vegas), T2 (LIV Hong Kong), and a 6th at the Singapore Classic on the DP World Tour. At his best, the Englishman is one of the best long iron players in the world, which makes him a strong fit for Sentosa. Despite being in poor form last season, he was able to fire a Sunday 63, which shows he can low here at the course.

It’s been three years since Casey has won a tournament (Omega Dubai Desert Classic in 2021), but he’s been one of the top players on LIV this season and I think he can get it done at some point this season.

Mito Pereira +5000 (Bet365)

Since Mito Pereira’s unfortunate demise at the 2022 PGA Championship, he’s been extremely inconsistent. However, over the past few months, the Chilean has played well on the International Series as well as his most recent LIV start. Mito finished 8th at LIV Adelaide, which was his best LIV finish this season.

Last year, Pereira finished 5th at LIV Singapore, shooting fantastic rounds of 67-66-66. It makes sense why Mito would like Sentosa, as preeminent ball strikers tend to rise to the challenge of the golf course. He’s a great long iron player who is long and straight off the tee.

Mito has some experience playing in Asia and is one of the most talented players on LIV who’s yet to get in the winner’s circle. I have questions about whether or not he can come through once in contention, but if he gets there, I’m happy to roll the dice.

Andy Ogletree +15000 (DraftKings)

Andy Ogletree is a player I expected to have a strong 2024 but struggled early in his first full season on LIV. After failing to crack the top-25 in any LIV event this year, the former U.S. Amateur champion finally figured things out, finished in a tie for 3rd at LIV Adelaide.

Ogletree should be incredible comfortable playing in Singapore. He won the International Series Qatar last year and finished T3 at the International Series Singapore. The 26-year-old was arguably the best player on the Asian Tour in 2023 and has been fantastic in the continent over the past 18 months.

If Ogletree has indeed found form, he looks to be an amazing value at triple-digit odds.

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Opinion & Analysis

Ryan: Lessons from the worst golf instructor in America

Published

1 week ago

Apr 30, 2024

Brendan Ryan

In Tampa, there is a golf course that boasts carts that do not work, a water range, and a group of players none of which have any chance to break 80. The course is overseen by a staff of crusty men who have succeeded at nothing in life but ending up at the worst-run course in America. However, this place is no failure. With several other local courses going out of business — and boasting outstanding greens — the place is booked full.

While I came for the great greens, I stayed to watch our resident instructor; a poor-tempered, method teacher who caters to the hopeless. At first, it was simply hilarious. However, after months of listening and watching, something clicked. I realized I had a front-row seat to the worst golf instructor in America.

Here are some of my key takeaways.

Method Teacher

It is widely accepted that there are three types of golf instructors: system teachers, non-system teachers, and method teachers. Method teachers prescribe the same antidote for each student based on a preamble which teachers can learn in a couple day certification.

Method teaching allows anyone to be certified. This process caters to the lowest caliber instructor, creating the illusion of competency. This empowers these underqualified instructors with the moniker of “certified” to prey on the innocent and uninformed.

The Cult of Stack and Jilt

The Stack and Tilt website proudly boasts, “A golfer swings his hands inward in the backswing as opposed to straight back to 1) create power, similar to a field goal kicker moving his leg in an arc and 2) to promote a swing that is in-to-out, which produces a draw (and eliminates a slice).”

Now, let me tell you something, there is this law of the universe which says “energy can either be created or destroyed,” so either these guys are defying physics or they have no idea what they are taking about. Further, the idea that the first move of the backswing determines impact is conjecture with a splash of utter fantasy.

These are the pontifications of a method — a set of prescriptions applied to everyone with the hope of some success through the placebo effect. It is one thing for a naive student to believe, for a golf instructor to drink and then dispel this Kool-Aid is malpractice.

Fooled by Randomness

In flipping a coin, or even a March Madness bet, there is a 50-50 chance of success. In golf, especially for new players, results are asymmetric. Simply put: Anything can happen. The problem is that when bad instructors work with high handicappers, each and every shot gets its own diagnosis and prescription. Soon the student is overwhelmed.

Now here’s the sinister thing: The overwhelming information is by design. In this case, the coach is not trying to make you better, they are trying to make you reliant on them for information. A quasi Stockholm syndrome of codependency.

Practice

One of the most important scientists of the 20th century was Ivan Pavlov. As you might recall, he found that animals, including humans, could be conditioned into biological responses. In golf, the idea of practice has made millions of hackers salivate that they are one lesson or practice session from “the secret.”

Sunk Cost

The idea for the worst golf instructor is to create control and dependency so that clients ignore the sunk cost of not getting better. Instead, they are held hostage by the idea that they are one lesson or tip away from unlocking their potential.

Cliches

Cliches have the effect of terminating thoughts. However, they are the weapon of choice for this instructor. Add some hyperbole and students actually get no information. As a result, these players couldn’t play golf. When they did, they had no real scheme. With no idea what they are doing, they would descend into a spiral of no idea what to do, bad results, lower confidence, and running back to the lesson tee from more cliches.

The fact is that poor instruction is about conditioning players to become reliant members of your cult. To take away autonomy. To use practice as a form of control. To sell more golf lessons not by making people better but through the guise that without the teacher, the student can never reach their full potential. All under the umbrella of being “certified” (in a 2-day course!) and a melee of cliches.

This of course is not just happening at my muni but is a systemic problem around the country and around the world, the consequences of which are giving people a great reason to stop playing golf. But hey, at least it’s selling a lot of golf balls…

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