31 May 2026

EDITORIAL – WHAT IS THE SECRET BEHIND BRYSON DECHAMBEAU’S SWING AND PHILOSOPHY?



His nickname is “The Mad Scientist,” but he’s also one of the best players in the game. Bryson DeChambeau certainly marches to a drummer all his own, and so far the results have been stellar.

He is known for his single-length clubs and his version of a one-plane swing, of which the latter he became interested after reading Homer Kelly’s Book The Golfing Machine. He found it easier to execute the swing using single-length clubs, and later, at the suggestion of his coach Mike Schy, adopted large Jumbo Max grips.

Several years ago, De Chambeau became interested in long-drive competitions, and rebuilt his body to compete. He became a legitimate long-drive competitor, finishing second at the world championship in 2022. He reasoned that long driving would help him compete at professional golf, but he has since tempered his long-drive mentality.
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30 Apr 2026

EDITORIAL – EXAMING THE SIX RULES CHANGES ON THE PGA TOUR



The PGA Tour enacted six Local Rules changes for 2026, with some interesting angles:

1) When “lift-clean-replace” is in effect, the player may now move the ball only within one scorecard length instead of a club length.

2) Players now get free relief in the fringe from any immovable obstruction and not just sprinkler heads.

3) Players may now replace a damaged club with components that are carried in the bag.

4) Players may now take free relief if their ball is in any pitch mark in the general area, not just their own.

5) If a player accidentally causes their ball to move outside the putting green and is unaware, the penalty upon discovery is now one stroke instead of two.

6) In cases of internal out-of-bounds, this will now apply only to shots hit from the teeing ground.

What’s noteworthy is that the Rules of Golf state, “Rule 1.3c(3) states that the Committee does not have the authority to apply penalties in a different way than stated in the Rules of Golf. Therefore a Committee must not use a Local Rule to waive, modify or apply a penalty.” Rule change #5 clearly violates this principle, and in regard to #6, the Rules of Golf state, “The Rules do not contemplate an area having more than one status during the play of a hole, and so an area must not be marked as out of bounds for certain strokes, or strokes made from certain areas such as the teeing area.” The other Local Rules changes (except for #1) by the PGA Tour also do not adhere to what a committee is permitted to do under the Rules of Golf.

What does this mean? Does it mean the PGA Tour is testing the waters to see if it can enact Local Rules outside the purview of what is permitted by the USGA? The most obvious reason they may be doing this concerns the ball rollback to be enacted in 2030. The PGA Tour has made it clear it does not like the rollback, and this may be a precursor of them refusing to go along with it. It will be interesting to see what happens going forward.
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31 Mar 2026

EDITORIAL – ANTHONY KIM REAPPEARS IN A BIG WAY



He was one of golf’s enduring mysteries, but now he is firmly back in the limelight. Anthony Kim emerged from a 12-year absence as he joined the LIV Golf Tour in 2024, but first we must go back to 2012 when he played in his last PGA Tour event.

Kim ruptured his Achilles tendon and had surgery and was expected to miss almost a year, but that one year turned into 12 as it was rumored he secured an eight-figure insurance payout against career-ending injuries. However, his re-emergence into professional golf in 2024 with the LIV Tour – known to provide extremely generous contracts – was a shock and surprise. Predictably, he struggled at first, but earlier this year in Adelaide, Australia, Kim shot a final-round 63 to win the individual title that week.

In addition to injury, Kim also struggled with addiction and contemplated ending his live a number of times, but in rehab found “faith, self-love and respect and purpose,” crediting his wife and daughter in helping him. Kim’s story is one of the best comeback stories in the history of golf, and also shows that no matter how low one gets, it’s always possible to turn it around and thrive.
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27 Feb 2026

EDITORIAL – TGL TO INTRODUCE WOMEN’S COMPETITION NEXT WINNER



TGL Golf, the indoor league featuring prominent PGA Tour players, will expand next year to include the women of the LPGA Tour, bringing greater visibility to that circuit. Entering its second year for the men’s league, TGL has provided popular programming early in the week for ESPN.

TGL draws approximately 500,000 viewers each week, and reaches an audience that may not be regular viewers of PGA Tour events. Much like Topgolf appeals to non-golfers, TGL is also appealing to such individuals, and demographic studies show that the audience for TGL is also younger than that for PGA Tour events.

With the ladies coming on board next year, it is sure to bring greater interest to the product itself, as LPGA players overall are quite a bit younger than PGA Tour players. This should have a noticeable impact on driving players to the game and should also be good for the golf teaching industry. Even if such players never gravitate towards real courses, indoor simulator golf and Topgolf (and its competitors) are drawing many new people to the game, and it’s natural to want to improve. Most people recognize lessons are the best way of doing so, which should bode well for USGTF members in the future.
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30 Jan 2026

EDITORIAL – IS THE PATH TO THE PGA TOUR BECOMING  TOO RESTRICTED?



At a time when all major sports in the United States have expanded, the PGA Tour is thinking about…contracting? As hard as it seems to believe, this is a real possibility. New commissioner Brian Rolapp comes from a background in the NFL, where he says that “less is better” and this creates demand. He also has a desire to see the best players in the world teeing it up with each other more frequently.

We believe Rolapp is missing the boat on several things. First, the PGA Tour is not the NFL. There are currently over 40 PGA Tour events every year and no shortage of sponsors willing to pony up the money to fund the purses. Telling a dozen or more that the Tour no longer wants their money seems nonsensical. Second, the PGA Tour coming to town is one of the, if not the biggest, events coming to town annually, and to cut out a whole bunch of cities from hosting events makes little sense.

But perhaps most disturbing is the fact that field size is also going to be contracted, meaning fewer players on the PGA Tour. In an age where the talent pool is the deepest it’s ever been, Rolapp wants to eliminate opportunities. This means that, while the upper-echelon players benefit, those outside the top 50 will be scrambling to make a living in professional golf. One thing he might want to consider is players have multiple friends, fans, and acquaintances where they live or went to school, and this promotes widespread interest in the Tour. Fewer players equal lesser interest by definition.

If Rolapp’s vision comes to pass – and it looks like it will – hopefully the Tour can find a meaningful way to provide players who are not superstars with a way of competing that keeps the fans engaged. Only time will tell.
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31 Dec 2025

EDITORIAL – MEMBER GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH OUR FEDERATION



When you read our teacher/member and student spotlight features, one common thread is the thanks that our members give to the USGTF for making it possible for them to be where they are in the golf industry. This is because many employers want someone who is qualified to teach their clients and member base, and having professional certification is critical to many of these employers.

In addition to providing opportunities since our inception in 1989, the USGTF has been focused on member growth opportunities through our Golf Teaching Pro magazine, Master Golf Teaching Professional certification program, playing opportunities on a regional and national basis, and educational materials available through the National Office. With the merging of the USGTF and WGTF for 2027, we expect these opportunities for career and personal growth to take on a whole new level of excellence for all members.
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1 Dec 2025

EDITORAL – CHANGES AND INNOVATIONS IN GOLF CLUBS NOW AND FOR THE FUTURE



It seems that each year, we are promised the latest and greatest in golf club technology, and there is a running joke among many that they should be hitting the ball 700 yards by now.

Well, the joke’s on them as indeed, golf club improvements over the years have made our difficult game easier to play than ever. Although the maximum coefficient of restitution (i.e., the amount of “spring-like” club face technology) in drivers was reached two decades ago, the reality is that today’s drivers far outplay those of 2006. Manufacturers found ways to increase the spring-like effect from then while still being legal to play, and learned how to positon the weight in the clubhead for maximum performance. Irons, too, now feature spring-like face technology, and companies have found ways to use it in irons that are designed for better players.

All of this means that, just when it seems golf clubs cannot get any better, they do. No, they won’t guarantee 700-yard drives or iron shots that finish inside 10 feet every time, but there are now clubs that fit every style of golfer, whereas years ago players had to fit themselves to the clubs they used. It’s a world of difference and it is incumbent among us instructors to make sure our students have clubs that are the best for them.
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31 Oct 2025

EDITORAL – PGA OF AMERICA TAKES STANCE ON 2028 GOLF BALL CHANGE



Since the R&A and USGA announced a couple of years ago that they plan to implement new regulations in 2028 (for “elite” competitions) to shorten the distance the golf ball travels, hardly anyone outside these two organizations approves of this change. The PGA of America has been especially vocal, saying that they are “vehemently opposed.” If you look up the definition of the word “vehement,” it reads, “marked by forceful energy; intensely emotional.”

That’s strong language, but the PGA felt that it was necessary in order to best preserve the game as it is for the vast, vast majority of players who are not on a professional tour. The PGA Tour has also expressed its disapproval, as did most of its players. So the question must be asked: If the PGA of America and the PGA Tour both are that firm in their disapproval, will they both decide to ignore the new golf ball regulations and write their own? That’s a distinct possibility that so far, both the R&A and USGA insist will not happen, but good poker players keep their cards close to their vest, so that’s likely what the PGA of America and PGA Tour will do in terms of what they decide when the time comes.
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1 Oct 2025

EDITORAL – SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER – THE NEW TIGER WOODS?



A lot of people are saying the comparisons are too early to make. But are they? We’re talking about the performance comparisons the last four seasons of Scottie Scheffler to Tiger Woods. Let’s take a dive into whether the comparisons are valid.

Since Scheffler won his first PGA Tour event in 2022, he has won 19 out of the last 79 tour events he has played in for a winning percentage of 24.1%. Woods’ career win percentage is 22.8%. One box checked. Next, Scheffler currently has 21 Official World Golf Rankings rating points while world #2 Rory McIlroy has 11. At his best, Woods had 22 points while the golfer in second place had 10. A second box is checked.

Finally, Scheffler has won four majors the past four years, a winning percentage in the majors of 25%. From his first major victory in the 1997 Masters to his last in 2019, also at the Masters, Woods won 15 of the 75 events he played in for a winning percentage of 20%. A third box is checked.

There is no doubt that Scheffler is as dominant the past four years as Woods was his entire career. But that’s the key difference- Woods kept up his performance for two decades while Scheffler is only four years into his dominance. Granted, it’s highly unlikely Scheffler will continue this for another decade, but until he shows signs of slowing down, the next Tiger Woods is most definitely here.
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29 Aug 2025

EDITORAL – EXPERTISE A COACH MUST POSSESS AND THE ROLES NECESSARY FOR SUCCESS OF A HIGH SCHOOL GOLF TEAM



Many of us played high school golf, and some of us even went on to play at the collegiate level. Even fewer have teed it up as a professional player, but at all levels there is a skill to coaching individuals so they can play their best.

At the high school level, we are often dealing with players new to the game or very inexperienced, so it is imperative that we are able to teach the basic fundamentals of the game without the players getting too bogged down in technical theory. It is also imperative that a high school coach is familiar with the main rules and etiquette of the game and not to be shy in giving out this information. Teaching etiquette, in particular, can be intimidating to new golfers, so a gentle approach is best.

There is nothing more frustrating to a member of a golf team than for a coach to play his or her favorites in the starting lineup instead of the best players. You would think that this doesn’t happen as you would think coaches would want to win above all else, but think again. Playing favorites does happen and it isn’t a good idea.

Above all, a coach needs to be a role model for the team. He or she must be patient but firm, and every team member must feel comfortable in addressing any matter, including non-golf matters, with the coach. Most people will forever remember their high school golf experience, so it’s best the coach makes it a great memory by following these simple but effective principles.
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