Was just thinking that folks (including me) can complain about this and that with respect to golf. One thing that I think goes under-appreciated is how damn well the Official World Golf Rankings work. I don't know how reliable they are deep into the rankings, but whenever I look at the top 5 or top 10, I think...."man, I cant argue with that."

Sure, there is some lag. People can hold their spot in a downswing, and a hot golfer cant just shoot up into the top 10 or 5, but that is by design and is ok.

This..

When on sale, the initial evaluation can be good if you have a good instructor. Depending on your own understanding of the swing, some people can just take the feedback and work on their flaws with drills. Others might be better off with follow-ups.

But, they will try to sign you up for a big package. Avoid that. Maybe book further lessons as and when you need them.

I think most people would agree that golf's rules are complicated and in many cases just plain dumb (see, e.g., U.S. Open controversies). And don't get me started on how people don't know the rules and don't play by them anyway.

At the risk of upsetting traditionalists, do the bright minds of the golf forum think it might be possible to come up with a vastly simplified set of rules, one that could be readily memorized, easily understood and used with a minimum of controversy?

Here's a drunken first draft which deserves your mockery:

1. Tee off behind the tee markers. (who cares where).
2. Any time the ball moves as a result of contact with your club it's a stroke. (that's right, whiffs no longer count).
3. Play continues until the ball is in the hole.
4. If a ball becomes lost or unplayable for any reason, including going out of bounds or into a water hazard, drop a ball within 2 club lengths and take a 1 stroke penalty (buh bye stroke and distance)
5. Mark your ball anywhere on the course but put it back where it was.

Rory withdraws from the Olympics, says he's worried about zika.

Smart man. Spieth should do the same. In fact cancelling the entire Olympics or moving them to somewhere else would be a good idea. Zika is only one problem of many.

Yes,No,Yes,Yes,No

It has to really suck for athletes in other sports where this is the one shot they have trained all their lives for and its going to be a **** show, and they may come back with a horrible disease.

They should put golf in starting in London or waiting for Japan. Lol Brazil

I've never been fit for clubs, but I'm starting to realize in order to do what I want with my setup, I need longer clubs (6'2"). I'm currently playing a standard set I purchased which is actually known to play -.5" to standard (didn't know when I purchased). Global Golf is giving me an incredible deal on trade ins, so I'm gonna roll with it. However, I want the new set to be to my specs in terms of length and lie. I have an idea about the shafts so I'm not too worried about that.

Is my best bet to just do a standard Golfsmith fitting for $50? I don't think I need the Golftec thing.

Spend the money and get properly fitted. If nothing else find a Titleist Thursday's near you and get fit for free. Can't stress enough how much it has improved my game.

So you have a 60y bunker shot. Sand is soft, you have fairway all the way to the green, water over the green. How do you play this shot?

I kick it out of the sand before anyone notices

Blade a sand wedge over the green into the drink





Serious answer: I probably use an 8 or 9 iron if the lip of the bunker isn't too high. But I'm no expert, none of the courses I've played lately call for that shot.

pw, pick it clean, play it to front of green cause it will roll





....then the blade it thing

I take a lob wedge, nip it just right, fly it 65 yards and then suck it back to about 2 feet.

My option was the 50* wedge (I usually use the 58*). I tried blasting it the whole way, left it about 10 yards short. Guessing I could go as low as a 9 iron and open it up before shanking it would come into play.

Lob wedge back in stance try to pick it clean like a fairway bunker shot I'd assume.

9 iron explosion shot

Where are you supposed to drop on a par 4 if you drive it over the green, but can't find your ball. It was red stakes.

lost ball is a re-tee unless you're sure it went into the hazard

Assuming the ball is sitting clean i would hit a choke down sw and pick it and just pick a yardage number and commit. If the ball is sittind down i go with what nxt said, explosion 9 iron.

Watching this 7-man playoff at the PGA Professional championships is nerve-wracking. Top 20 make the PGA field, and 7 guys tied for the last spot.

Question: a woman earned top 20 honors at the PGA Pros...does she get to play in the PGA now??

Yes she does, has happened before

That is really cool. I assume she has to play from the same tees as the guys.