19th Hole
18Birdies’ new commercial tries to broaden the traditional notion of a “golfer.” What do you think?
As you may know, social golf app, 18Birdies, allows users to track rounds, utilize GPS, and connect with friends.
Such was the messaging in 18Birdies Masters week commercial last year, as the challenger golf brand sought to establish footing–which it has done, with more than 800,000 users and as the No. 1-rated golf app.
This year, with company golf spikes gaining traction in the fairway, product and features take a back seat to another message in 18Birdies’ ad: Golf is game for everyone, regardless of age, race, gender, skill, or experience.
You can check out the spot, which features trick shot artist Tania Tare, Paige Spiranac, Carlos Brown (award-winning amputee golfer), and Chase Holzhauer (whom the movie Hurt Locker was based on), below.
So, GolfWRX members, are you keen to see advertisers expand the definition of what constitutes golf or what a “golfer” looks like? Or should OEMs and golf technology companies continue to focus on the avid 18-hole golfer, as s/he sits at the financial heart of the $70 billion industry?
Let us know what you think!
- LIKE40
- LEGIT3
- WOW1
- LOL1
- IDHT2
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK7
The Houston Open looks to be in trouble. While, the PGA Tour won’t release the 2018-2019 schedule until some time around The Players Championship, word regarding schedule changes is already filtering out…and of course speculation abounds.
Unfortunately for the Houston Open, the long-standing Tour stop’s future looks to be in jeopardy on the heels of some recent news. First reported by Houston’s ABC 13 and later by Joel Beall of Golf Digest: The Golf Club of Houston, which has hosted the tournament since 2003, no longer wants to host the competition.
“We received notice this week from the Golf Club of Houston regarding the club’s decision to no longer host a PGA Tour event,” a Houston Golf Association statement said. “The Golf Club of Houston has been a great venue for the Houston Open dating back to 2003 and we look forward to maintaining a great relationship with the club.”
The tournament’s future has looked bleak since 25-year sponsor, Shell, ended its duties in 2017. Additionally, the Golf Club of Houston has been substantially renovated in recent years to provide players conditions similar to what they’ll face the following week at Augusta National.
However, knowing the tournament will move out of the pre-Masters calendar position, clearly didn’t sit well with GCH, and the club is finished playing host.
Thus, any future Houston Open needs a new course and new sponsor, which is, at the very least, a tremendous ask roughly a year out from the potential competition.
RELATED: Detroit could be getting a PGA Tour event
- LIKE12
- LEGIT1
- WOW11
- LOL3
- IDHT1
- FLOP2
- OB0
- SHANK7
In its second year, the Zurich Classic’s team format is a new and curious beast amidst the medal play that dominates the PGA Tour. The two-man team format got GolfWRX member AceCatKY thinking.
He writes
“What would be some of the best/worst/funniest pairings of two PGA golfers for a two-man event? Current and past golfers can be paired together so you could have Old Tom Morris and Patrick Reed if you wanted…I think DJ/DeChambeau would be hilarious for the dichotomy it would present…What do you guys/gals think?”
Oh boy, what a superb hypothetical; imagine the possibilities: good, bad, and ugly! Naturally, GolfWRXers were quick to weigh in.
Bye writes
Sergio and Tiger would be interesting.
Seve and Phil could have been the most entertaining pairing in history.
jonsnow says
Bubba Watson & Steve Elkington
Patrick Reed & Rory McIlroy
Danny Willett & Smylie Kaufman
Cardoustie says
Lumpy and Jesper
Tom Watson and Gary Player
Seve and Azinger
Robert Rock and Ollie Schneiderjans
Frankensteins Monster says
Ian Poulter/Patrick Reed
Todd Hamilton/Danny Willett
Tony Finau/Colt Knost
Robert Rock/Ben Crane
Michelle Wie/Tad Fujikawa
Check out the rest of the replies in the thread, or let us know your hypothetical two-person squads below.
- LIKE2
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP3
- OB1
- SHANK10
It’s the list you’ve been dying for since you heard the Zurich Classic of New Orleans would feature golfer walk-up music.
OK, you’re at least mildly interested in what, say, Jon Curran and Keegan Bradley will be walking out to (the answer: “Shipping Up To Boston,” by the Dropkick Murphys, appropriate for a pair of sons of New England).
Here’s the official list, per the PGA Tour (not every team is included). As you can see, it’s a mix of classics, local references, hip-hop, and a surprising dose of metal.
| Team | Song | Artist |
|---|---|---|
| William McGirt/Sam Burns | Callin’ Baton Rouge | Garth Brooks |
| Kevin Na/Byeong Hun An | Make ’em say Uhh | Master P |
| Chris Kirk/J.T. Poston | Crazy Train | Ozzy Osbourne |
| Chez Reavie/Lucas Glover | For Whom the Bell Tolls | Metallica |
| Martin Piller/Joel Dahmen | Lovumba | Daddy Yankee |
| K.J. Choi/Charlie Wi | Gangnam Style | PSY |
| Ryan Armour/Johnson Wagner | Enter Sandman | Metallica |
| C.T. Pan/Zac Blair | Half Time | Ying Yang Twins |
| Tyrone Van Aswegen/Retief Goosen | Africa | Toto |
| Tom Hoge/J.J. Henry | Right Now | Van Halen |
| Shawn Stefani/John Rollins | Thunderstruck | AC/DC |
| Tony Finau/Daniel Summerhays | Doo Wa Ditty (Blow That Thing) | Zapp & Roger |
| Keith Mitchell/Stephan Jaeger | Pizza Guy | Touch Sensitive |
| Ben Silverman/Matt Atkins | Enter Sandman | Metallica |
| Zach Johnson/Jonathan Byrd | Thunderstruck | AC/DC |
| Patrick Reed/Patrick Cantlay | Eye of the Tiger | Survivor |
| Greg Chalmers/Cameron Percy | Down Under | Men at Work |
| Keegan Bradley/Jon Curran | Shipping up to Boston | Dropkick Murphys |
| Brendan Steele/Jamie Lovemark | California Love | Tupac |
| Charley Hoffman/Nick Watney | California Love | Tupac |
| Billy Horschel/Scott Piercy | Young Forever | Jay Z ft. Mrs. Hudson |
| Cody Gribble/John Peterson | Careless Whisper | George Michael |
| Steve Stricker/Jerry Kelly | As Good As I Once Was | Toby Keith |
| Chris Stroud/Brian Stuard | Enter Sandman | Metallica |
| Sergio Garcia/Rafa Cabrera Bello | The Best | Tina Turner |
| Kevin Tway/Kelly Kraft | Gucci Gang | Lil Pump |
| D.A. Points/Kyle Thompson | Working for the Weekend | Loverboy |
| Mac Hughes/Corey Conners | Big League | Tom Cochrane & Red Rider |
| Justin Thomas/Bud Cauley | Circle of Life | Carmen Twillie |
| Shane Lowry/Padraig Harrington | Beautiful Day | U2 |
| Russell Knox/Martin Laird | Flower of Scotland | |
| Gary Woodland/Daniel Berger | Forever | Drake |
| Brandon Harkins/Lanto Griffin | Started From the Bottom | Drake |
| Kevin Kisner/Scott Brown | Slippery | Migos |
| Andrew Landry/Talor Gooch | Big Poppa | Notorious BIG |
| Jason Day/Ryan Ruffels | Down Under | Men at Work |
| Justin Rose/Henrik Stenson | Gold | Spandau Ballet |
| Matt Every/Sam Saunders | Running With the Devil | Van Halen |
| Jon Rahm/Wesley Bryan | DNA | Kendrick Lamar |
| Emiliano Grillo/Peter Uihlein | Mi Gente (Remix) | J Balvin, Willy William, Busta K. |
| Jamie Donaldson/Ross Fisher | Sweet Disposition | The Temper Trap |
| Harold Varner III/Robert Garrigus | Ebony and Ivory | Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder |
| Alex Cejka/Ben Crane | Here I Go Again | Whitesnake |
| Abraham Ancer/Roberto Diaz | Mexico Lindo y Querido | Vicente Fernandez |
| Xinjun Zhang/Zecheng Dou | Believe in Myself | Zero Point Band |
See what GolfWRX members think about the song selections in the forums.
- LIKE15
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL1
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK4
Fitters Choice: What’s the best driver of 2018?
Patrick Reed’s Winning WITB: The 2018 Masters
Sounds like non-competing marker Jeff Knox dominated Augusta National again
Non-competing marker Jeff Knox’s WITB: The 2018 Masters
GolfWRX Gear Trials: What’s the best driver of 2018?
Rory McIlroy’s Winning WITB: 2018 Arnold Palmer Invitational
Rory McIlroy’s putter builder speaks on his winning TaylorMade Soto proto
Tiger Woods’ backup Scotty Cameron putter just sold for $44 grand
Bob Parsons explains why PXG Gen2 irons cost $400, but are “probably worth $1000”
The 6 Biggest Myths About TrackMan
The Houston Open could be permanently closed
The Houston Open looks to be in trouble. While, the PGA Tour won’t release the 2018-2019 schedule until some time...
Good? Bad? Hilarious? GolfWRX members discuss hypothetical two-man teams
In its second year, the Zurich Classic’s team format is a new and curious beast amidst the medal play that...
From Master P to Metallica: Check out team walk-up songs for the Zurich Classic
It’s the list you’ve been dying for since you heard the Zurich Classic of New Orleans would feature golfer walk-up...
Tiger Woods gave 18-year-old Nepalese sensation Pratima Sherpa a private lesson
As you may have heard, 18-year-old Pratima Sherpa aspires to be the first Nepalese professional golfer. The story of her...
-
Whats in the Bag3 weeks agoPatrick Reed’s Winning WITB: The 2018 Masters
-
19th Hole3 weeks agoSounds like non-competing marker Jeff Knox dominated Augusta National again
-
Whats in the Bag3 weeks agoNon-competing marker Jeff Knox’s WITB: The 2018 Masters
-
19th Hole2 weeks agoTiger Woods’ backup Scotty Cameron putter just sold for $44 grand
-
Opinion & Analysis2 weeks ago20 signs you’re a victim of style-based golf instruction
-
pga tour2 weeks agoSatoshi Kodaira’s Winning WITB: 2018 RBC Heritage
-
Opinion & Analysis1 week ago12 reasons serious golfers don’t realize their potential
-
Equipment4 days agoTitleist AVX golf balls passed the test, are now available across the United States
Travis
Apr 13, 2018 at 8:35 am
I don’t see how this commercial redefines what a typical golfer looks like…
Were kids having fun on the course, people playing with their children, or those with prosthetic limbs not golfers before this ad? lol
millennial82
Apr 12, 2018 at 10:50 am
The commercial’s great. From magazines to Ipad’s, from baggy over sized clothes to slim fit, from dad bodies to fit bodies, from 300 yards to 430 yards… why not make golf fit the millennial’s image to bring more ppl in to the game?
The baby boomers who are shooting 25 and under will never stop playing, I see them using 7 irons to chip..
if you practice enough to use an iron to chip, your in for life.
ogo
Apr 12, 2018 at 1:09 pm
Yes, it’s nice to see young men and women cavorting, romping, flitting and flirting about on a golf course. It makes the game of golf sooo attractive, appealing, alluring to the younger generations. Golf will flourish, thrive, prosper, bloom and blossom in the future. Golf is good for humanity.
millennial82
Apr 12, 2018 at 8:16 pm
LOL
James
Apr 12, 2018 at 3:09 am
Well, isn’t ogo just a ray of sunshine in the comment section
ogo
Apr 12, 2018 at 12:57 pm
The Truth shall liberate you from your emotional ignorance. 🙁
steve
Apr 11, 2018 at 11:10 pm
The PGA have defined a “golfer” as anybody who owns a set of golf clubs and plays once a year… or more.
It’s estimated there are currently 50 million (down from 60 million) worldwide… and 90% cannot break 100.. honestly and within the rules.
ogo
Apr 12, 2018 at 1:53 am
… and they never will break 100… but will buy new super game improvement clubs in their pathetic desperation.
Patricknorm
Apr 11, 2018 at 6:30 pm
I’m big supporter of golf marketing because the “baby boomer “ gravy train is shrinking the game. The millennial age group is the next wave ( cohort) that golf needs if the game intends to at least not lose participation. My three kids, all millenials, we’re introduced to golf during their early teens, and today none play because of time and cost. My older boy was scratch at thirteen but chose hockey where he has been a pro for 14 years. He plays very occasionally, maybe five times during the summer. The other two just might go to the driving range. I’m all for making golf attractive to young people.
ogo
Apr 12, 2018 at 1:55 am
Golf is collapsing and the OEMs are squeezing the last $$$$$$$ out of the duffers with horrendously expensive clubs.
Gary McCormick
Apr 11, 2018 at 5:58 pm
I like what 18Birdies is doing here. There is room in the game of golf for everyone who wants to play.
ogo
Apr 12, 2018 at 1:50 am
Everybody wants to ‘play’… but few are willing to ‘learn’.
Harry
Apr 14, 2018 at 4:17 am
And your point is?
Philip
Apr 11, 2018 at 5:57 pm
This video does not expand on the definition of golf or who a golfers is … maybe you have a very narrow mind, but there is nothing new here. Golf is about people, the course, and the challenge within … nothing has changed.
ogo
Apr 12, 2018 at 1:52 am
Golf is now defined by the OEMs flogging new and improved golf clubs annually/semiannually. The whole thing has degenerated into a gearheadfest.