Opinion & Analysis

The Wedge Guy: Do you play by the Rules of Golf? Should you?

Published

1 year ago

Feb 27, 2025

Some of you will likely see that headline and accuse me of blasphemy, but please hear me out, OK? I’ve been giving this topic a lot of thought for a while, ever since reading PGA Tour professional Max Homa’s take on the subject:

“If you are a casual golfer not playing tournaments, and I can’t stress this enough, do whatever you want. This game sucks and is impossible. Just have fun.”

I’d carry that a bit further than just “playing tournaments” to playing tournaments at the highest level. Almost all regular club and recreational golfer events will have some kind of local rule in play, whether that’s waiving the 14-club limit, to offering “gimmees” under a certain length, to whatever. And we won’t even go to “getting strokes” off your score because of your handicap.

But what about your everyday casual rounds, and even when you might be playing your buddies for a few bucks? Max is right: This game is darn near impossible, which makes it so appealing to most of us. Some years ago, industry veteran Barney Adams penned an editorial here on GolfWRX titled “Stop Calling Golf Fun,” wherein he makes some good points about just why we are all so drawn to the game.

Back to the title of today’s post, I suggest a relatively small percentage of golfers play strictly by the Rules of Golf every round, and those are mostly members of the best private clubs or those who compete at the highest level. And if you are not playing those perfect courses or testing your game at the highest level, why not do those little things that make golf more enjoyable and less maddening?

I certainly might be wrong, so I would like for you guys to sound off on the following topics:

Do you ALWAYS play the ball as you find it? If you do, you’re playing a much tougher game than the men and women who compete at the highest level. You don’t experience the same perfect fairways, perfect bunkers, even perfect rough. Wouldn’t golf be more enjoyable if you got consistently perfect lies like they do? So, why not give yourself those?
Do you ALWAYS putt out? The basic notion of golf is to finish every hole, and the highest level of golf requires it — but how many of us really do that? Do your buddies hit the short ones back to you often/always? Or do you “rake them” yourself? Is that wrong?
Do you carry only 14 clubs? Most club events waive the 14-club limit. What’s in your bag?
Do you ever change brand/model of ball in the middle of a round? Maybe a “water ball” for those holes that present that challenge?

The point is this: Do our little “indiscretions” with the Rules of Golf really damage the game? Or do they make it more enjoyable?

I’m listening…

Related Topics:

Up Next

Golf Gratitude: Gary Woodland’s inspiring journey

Don't Miss

Why does Rory McIlroy get so much grief?

Terry Koehler

Terry Koehler is a fourth generation Texan and a graduate of Texas A&M University. Over his 40-year career in the golf industry, he has created over 100 putter designs and dozens of wedges. In 2014, he put together the team that reintroduced the Ben Hogan brand to the golf equipment industry with his TK 15 wedges and Ft. Worth 15 iron designs. Since receiving a U.S. Patent for his “Koehler Sole” in the early 1990s, he has been challenging “conventional wisdom” in the wedge category. In addition to inspiring multiple companies to emulate this sole technology, the performance of his wedge designs have stimulated all other companies to reposition some mass toward the top of the blade in their wedges. Terry is retired from his role as Chairman and Director of Innovation for Edison Golf, and remains active in the industry as an independent designer and consultant. But his most compelling work is in the wedge category. Since he first patented his “Koehler Sole” in the early 1990s, he has been challenging “conventional wisdom” reflected in ‘tour design’ wedges. The performance of his wedge designs have stimulated other companies to move slightly more mass toward the top of the blade in their wedges, but none approach the dramatic design of his Edison Forged wedges, which have been robotically proven to significantly raise the bar for wedge performance. Terry serves as Chairman and Director of Innovation for Edison Golf – check it out at www.EdisonWedges.com.

Click to comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Opinion & Analysis

AVL: My U.S. Amateur local qualifying experience

Published

6 hours ago

Jun 5, 2026

Andrew Von Lossow

This past Monday, I played in the U.S. Amateur local qualifier at Rock Creek Country Club in Portland, Oregon. A full tee sheet from 7:30 a.m. to 1:55 p.m., the top 11 scores would make it to the U.S. Amateur final qualifying.

I teed off at 10:48 a.m.. With the 7:30 am tee time, you can get a feel for the leaders’ pace, and they were off and running on the challenging setup at Rock Creek.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by GolfWRX (@golfwrx)

Getting to the highlight of the round on the par five 17th, a drive up the left side and 212 yards left to the front hole location. I took out a 5-iron with plans of middle of the green. The ball ended up 8 feet left of the hole, pin high. A slight downhill putt dropped in for an eagle 3 on the 17th. With the cut line looking to be anywhere from -2 to even par. This was the boost I had been waiting for all day.

With making par from the trees on 18, it was time to wait for a potential playoff with a posted score of one under par 71.

Three hours later, it was playoff time. 8 players for 6 spots. I made par on the playoff hole, which was good enough to advance to the U.S. Amateur final qualifying in July. USGA qualifiers sure deliver on all of the emotions in golf!

Club Junkie

Building my 2026 gamer WITB: Ranking the contenders and new putter projects – Club Junkie Podcast

Published

1 day ago

Jun 4, 2026

GolfWRX Staff

The annual What’s In The Bag build is underway, and on this episode of Club Junkie, Brian breaks down the clubs currently leading the race for a spot in his 2026 gamer setup. From drivers and fairway woods to irons, wedges, and shafts, he ranks the equipment that’s performing best and explains what’s separating the front runners from the rest of the field.

Brian also heads into the workshop to discuss several putter projects currently on the bench. From head options and shaft choices to build ideas and testing plans, he shares what he’s working on and which putters could become serious contenders for the bag this season.

If you’re a gear junkie who loves equipment testing, club building, and the never-ending pursuit of the perfect setup, this episode is for you.

Follow Club Junkie:
Instagram: @clubjunkiepod
TikTok: @clubjunkiepod
Threads: @clubjunkiepod
X: @ClubJunkiePod

Club Junkie

Tour Edge Exotics mini driver review + TaylorMade Spider ZT Max first look – Club Junkie

Published

1 week ago

May 28, 2026

Brian Knudson

On this episode of Club Junkie, I put the new Tour Edge Exotics Mini Driver to the test and break down the performance, forgiveness, distance, and where it fits compared to a traditional driver or strong fairway wood. If you have been curious about adding a mini driver to the bag, this one is worth a look.

I also dive into the new TaylorMade Spider ZT Max putter that was recently spotted and discuss the growing zero torque putter trend. Plus, there is a closer look at the new Project X Titan Yellow shaft showing up on the PGA Tour and what makes it different from other profiles currently out there.