Golf
SportsMonkie Golf Desk
The SportsMonkie Golf Desk covers golf terminology, scoring, records and the greatest players, keeping explainers accurate and easy to follow for players and fans.
Articles by SportsMonkie Golf Desk (120)
10 Alignment Stick Drills for Golf (Fix Aim, Path & Plane)
Ten alignment stick drills that fix golf's invisible faults—aim, swing path, and plane—using two cheap rods, each with a setup, a cue, and the exact miss it repairs.
8 Golf Backswing Drills to Fix Your Takeaway and Turn (By Fault)
Eight golf backswing drills ranked by impact and matched to the fault each one fixes: wristy takeaway, short shoulder turn, sway, open clubface, and off-plane shaft.
9 Golf Ball Striking Drills for Pure, Compressed Contact
Nine ranked golf ball striking drills that fix fat and thin shots by moving your low point forward — towel drill, tee-gate, divot-forward, impact bag and more.
9 Best Golf Chipping Drills to Sharpen Your Short Game
The best golf chipping drills train one skill at a time: the ladder drill for distance control, the landing-spot drill for where the ball lands, and the coin drill for clean contact. Here are 9 drills to lower your scores around the green.
Golf Chipping Technique: How to Chip Crisply Every Time
Solid golf chipping technique comes from a narrow stance, ball back, weight forward, and a putting-style stroke with no wrist flip. Here is the exact setup and motion.
9 Golf Downswing Drills to Fix Your Sequence and Path
Nine golf downswing drills ranked by how directly they fix the over-the-top move, weight shift, and lost lag — each with a cue and the exact fault it repairs.
9 Golf Driving Range Practice Drills That Transfer to the Course
The 9 best driving range practice drills, ranked by how directly they lower scores — built on random practice, real targets, and a full pre-shot routine that transfers.
8 Golf Early Extension Drills to Fix Your Posture and Ball-Striking
8 golf early extension drills ranked from fastest feedback to deepest rebuild. The chair, band, and squat-to-turn drills keep your hips back so you strike it flush.
9 Golf Follow-Through Drills for a Balanced, Powerful Finish
Nine golf follow-through drills ranked by impact: hold-the-finish, belt-buckle-to-target, step-through, and more to train balance, full rotation, and a repeatable finish.
8 Golf Grip Drills to Fix Your Hands and Stop the Slice
Eight golf grip drills ranked by the fault each one repairs, from a weak slice-causing grip to a death grip that kills speed. Fix your hands before you swing.
Golf Grip for Beginners: How to Hold the Club Correctly
A beginner's golf grip starts with the lead hand: place the club in your fingers, not your palm, so you see two knuckles at address. Here is the step-by-step method, grip styles, and the faults to avoid.
8 Golf Hip Rotation Drills to Add Power and Stop Swaying
8 golf hip rotation drills ranked by how directly they fix swaying, a blocked lead hip, and stalled downswing rotation — each matched to the exact fault it cures.
9 Golf Posture Drills to Fix Your Setup (With Simple Checkpoints)
Nine golf posture drills, ranked by leverage, that fix the tilt, spine angle, and hip hinge every swing depends on. Each drill has a one-second checkpoint.
9 Best Golf Putting Drills to Sink More Putts and Kill 3-Putts
The best golf putting drills fix one thing at a time: the gate drill fixes your start line, the ladder drill fixes distance control, and the clock drill builds short-putt confidence. Here are 9 drills that lower your putts per round.
Golf Putting Technique: How to Grip, Aim, and Stroke It Pure
Good golf putting technique comes down to four things: a light square grip, eyes over the ball, a shoulder-driven stroke, and a face that returns square. Here is how to build each one.
12 Golf Putting Tips to Sink More Putts and Cut Your Score
The best golf putting tips start with setup: eyes over the ball, a quiet lower body, and distance control. Here are 12 simple putting tips to hole more short putts and three-putt less.
9 Best Golf Short Game Drills to Save Strokes Fast
The best golf short game drills, ranked by strokes saved. Nine chipping, pitching, bunker, and putting drills that fix distance control, strike, and speed.
8 Best Golf Swing Drills to Fix Your Swing Fast (Ranked by Fault)
The best golf swing drills fix one fault at a time: the alignment-stick drill for path, the step drill for weight shift, and the pump drill for an over-the-top move. Here are 8 drills, ranked by what they repair.
8 Golf Swing Path Drills to Stop Coming Over the Top
Golf swing path drills fix the direction your club travels through impact. Use the gate drill, headcover drill, and alignment-stick drill to swing in-to-out and kill your slice.
8 Golf Swing Sequence Drills to Fix Your Kinematic Sequence
Eight golf swing sequence drills that fix an arms-first downswing by training the kinematic order — hips, torso, arm, then club — for a lower-body-first move.
Golf Swing Technique: The Correct Mechanics, Step by Step
Correct golf swing technique comes down to five repeatable checkpoints — grip, setup, takeaway, downswing sequence, and impact position. Here's how to build and groove them.
8 Golf Swing Tempo Drills for a Smoother, More Consistent Swing
Golf swing tempo drills train a 3:1 rhythm so your backswing is three times slower than your downswing. Here are 8 tempo drills, ranked from easiest to most advanced, to stop you rushing the transition.
Golf Swing Tips for Beginners: 9 Fixes That Cut Strokes Fast
The best golf swing tips for beginners start with grip, setup, and a slower takeaway — nine checkpoints that fix slices, chunks, and tops in one range session.
8 Golf Takeaway Drills to Groove a One-Piece Start
The best golf takeaway drills ranked by fault-fixing payoff: the one-piece move, club-on-the-line, towel-under-arms, and the half-back checkpoint. Fix a whippy or inside start.
8 Golf Weight Transfer Drills to Fix Your Weight Shift Fast
Eight golf weight transfer drills ranked by how fast they fix your weight shift, each matched to a specific fault: reverse pivot, hanging back, early extension, or a lazy transition.
9 Golf Wrist Hinge Drills to Fix Your Lag and Casting
Nine golf wrist hinge drills ranked by how fast they fix casting and lost lag — L-to-L, hinge-and-hold, split-hand and more, each matched to a specific fault.
How to Chip in Golf: A Beginner's Step-by-Step Guide
Learn how to chip in golf with a narrow stance, weight forward, and a putting-style stroke that uses the loft of the club. Follow these steps to stop chunking and thinning around the green.
How to Fix a Shank in Golf: Causes and Drills That Stop It Fast
Fix a shank by moving the strike off the hosel: stand a hair farther from the ball, keep your weight back on your heels, and swing the club more from the inside. Here are the real causes and the drills that stop the shanks fast.
How to Grip a Golf Club: The Correct Grip in 5 Steps
To grip a golf club correctly, rest it diagonally across your lead-hand fingers, close the hand so the V points at your trail shoulder, then set your trail hand so both palms face each other. Here is the full 5-step setup, pressure scale, and fixes for the grip faults that cause slices and hooks.
How to Hit a Bunker Shot: The Splash Technique That Escapes Every Time
To hit a greenside bunker shot, open the clubface, aim two inches behind the ball, keep your weight forward, and splash the sand while accelerating through to a full finish. Here is the step-by-step method.
How to Hit a Draw With a Driver: The Simple Setup Fix
To hit a draw with a driver, swing the club on an in-to-out path with the face closed to the path but open to the target. Here is the exact setup, path, and drills to shape it.
How to Hit a Driver Farther: 6 Proven Ways to Add Distance
To hit a driver farther, raise clubhead speed, strike the center of the face, and hit up on the ball with a positive attack angle. Here's how to add 15-30 yards off the tee.
How to Hit a Driver Straight: 6 Steps to a Center-Face Strike
To hit a driver straight, square the face to your path at impact: neutral grip, ball off the lead heel, tee half the ball above the crown, and a path that swings out to the target rather than across it. Here's the full step-by-step.
How to Hit a Driver: Tee Height, Setup, and the Upward Strike
To hit a driver well, tee the ball so half sits above the clubface, set up with the ball off your lead heel, and swing on a shallow, ascending path through impact. Here's the full step-by-step.
How to Hit a Fade With a Driver: Setup, Swing Path, and Face Control
To hit a fade with a driver, aim your body slightly left, keep the clubface pointed near your target so it stays open to your path, and swing along your body line. Here is the exact setup, swing, and practice plan.
How to Hit a Fairway Bunker Shot: Clean Contact, Every Time
To hit a fairway bunker shot, take one extra club, choke down, dig your feet in lightly, play the ball just back of center, quiet your lower body, and pick the ball clean off the sand. Here is the full method.
How to Hit a Pitch Shot in Golf: Setup, Distance Control & Trajectory
To hit a pitch shot, take a lofted wedge, play the ball center, put 60% of your weight on your lead foot, and control distance with backswing length, not hand speed.
How to Increase Golf Swing Speed: The Real Drivers of Clubhead Speed
Golf swing speed training works by improving sequencing, mobility, and ground force first — then adding overspeed protocols. Here is the program that actually adds distance.
How to Putt in Golf: A Step-by-Step Guide to Sink More Putts
Learn how to putt in golf the right way: a light grip, eyes over the ball, a shoulder-rocked pendulum stroke, and speed control that reads the green. A step-by-step guide for lower scores.
How to Read Greens in Golf: Slope, Grain, and Speed Made Simple
To read greens in golf, judge speed first, then slope: walk to the low side of the hole, feel the tilt with your feet, and let gravity tell you which way the putt breaks. Here is the full method.
How to Release the Golf Club: A Simple Guide to Timing and Speed
To release the golf club, let your forearms rotate and your wrists unhinge naturally through impact so the clubface squares on its own. Here is how to build proper release timing, add speed, and stop flipping at the ball.
How to Organize a Golf Bag: The 14-Club Setup That Speeds Up Every Round
Organize a golf bag by loading clubs longest-to-shortest from the top-back slot down: woods top, irons middle, wedges and putter bottom-front, with valuables, range, and rain gear in fixed pockets.
How to Stop Hitting Fat Shots: Fix Your Low Point Fast
To stop hitting fat shots, move your low point in front of the ball: set 55% of your weight on your lead foot, keep it there through impact, and play the ball back an inch. Here is the full fix, with drills.
How to Stop Slicing the Golf Ball: 7 Fixes That Work
To stop slicing the golf ball, fix the two things that cause every slice: an out-to-in swing path and an open clubface at impact. Here are 7 fixes and drills that repair both.
How to Swing a Golf Club: The Complete Step-by-Step Guide
How to swing a golf club starts with a solid grip and setup, then a one-piece takeaway, a controlled backswing, and a downswing led by the hips. Here is the full sequence.
Proper Golf Grip: What a Correct Grip Looks Like and Why It Matters
A proper golf grip has neutral hands, matching V's pointing at your trail shoulder, light pressure, and unified hands acting as one unit through impact.
Proper Golf Setup and Stance: A 7-Step Checklist for a Solid Address Position
Proper golf setup and stance means shoulder-width feet for irons, ball position matched to the club, a tilt-from-the-hips posture, square alignment, and 50/50 weight. Here is the 7-step checklist that builds a repeatable address position.
Proper Golf Putting Grip: How to Hold the Putter for a Steadier Stroke
A proper golf putting grip runs the handle up the lifelines of both palms, keeps both thumbs flat down the top, and unifies the hands so the wrists stay quiet. Here is how to grip a putter, plus when to switch to cross-hand, claw, or pencil.
Richest Golfers in the World: Net Worth Ranked
Tiger Woods is the richest golfer, reported as golf's first billionaire. Net-worth table of Palmer, Nicklaus, Norman and Mickelson, figures as estimates.
What Does Dormie Mean in Golf?
In match play, a match is dormie when a player leads by as many holes as remain, so they cannot lose, only win or halve. Clear examples inside.
FedEx Cup Winners (Full List by Year)
Rory McIlroy has won the FedEx Cup a record three times. The full year-by-year list of PGA Tour champions since 2007, plus the format and bonus, explained.
Oldest Masters Winner in History
Jack Nicklaus is the oldest Masters winner, at 46 in 1986. Full list of the oldest champions at Augusta and why age rarely wins a green jacket.
PGA Tour Career Money List (All-Time Leaders)
Tiger Woods leads the PGA Tour all-time career money list with over $120 million in official earnings. Full leaderboard and the caveats that skew it.
Youngest Masters Winner in History
Tiger Woods is the youngest Masters winner, at 21 years and 3 months in 1997. Full list of the youngest champions at Augusta and the records he set that week.
Augusta National Membership Cost
What does Augusta National membership cost? Reported initiation fees, annual dues and why the club never publishes official figures, explained.
Best Ball Golf Format: Rules and How to Score
In best ball golf, each player plays their own ball and the team takes the lowest score on each hole. Rules, scoring and how it differs from a scramble.
The Career Grand Slam in Golf, Explained
The career grand slam means winning all four professional majors in a career. Only six men have done it, most recently Rory McIlroy in 2025.
FedEx Cup Playoffs Format, Explained
The FedEx Cup playoffs are the PGA Tour's three-event finale: top 70 players narrow to 50, then 30 at the Tour Championship. Here is how it works.
Golf Drop Rules, Explained
Golf drop rules under Rule 14.3: drop from knee height into a relief area, and replay if the ball rolls out. When you drop and what it costs.
The 4 Golf Majors in Order
The four men's golf majors in calendar order: the Masters, the PGA Championship, the U.S. Open and The Open Championship. Dates, venues and history.
Golf Scramble Rules: Format & Handicaps
Golf scramble rules: everyone tees off, the team plays the best shot, and records one score per hole. Handicaps, the Texas scramble and lie rules.
How Do You Qualify for the Masters?
You qualify for the Masters through set invitation categories: winning a major, ranking in the world top 50, winning on tour and more. Here is how.
How Much Does a Golf Club Fitting Cost?
How much a golf club fitting costs: free retailer fittings, paid studio sessions, full-bag vs single-club, and whether it's worth it. 2026 ranges.
How Much Does It Cost to Build a Topgolf?
Building a Topgolf is a major project reportedly costing tens of millions of dollars. Here's what drives the estimate and why figures vary so widely.
Cost to Play Pebble Beach Golf Links
What does it cost to play Pebble Beach? As of 2025 the green fee is roughly $675+ per round, plus cart and caddie. Full breakdown and how to book.
The Lowest Score in Masters History
Dustin Johnson holds the Masters record with a 72-hole score of 268, 20 under par, set in 2020. The full leaderboard, explained.
The Most Exclusive Golf Clubs
The world's most exclusive golf clubs, from Augusta National to Cypress Point. What makes a club exclusive and why money alone can't get you in.
Most Majors in Golf: The All-Time List
Jack Nicklaus won 18 professional majors, the most in golf history. The full leaderboard of the greatest major champions, with the numbers.
Most Masters Wins: Golf's Green Jacket Kings
Jack Nicklaus holds the record with six Masters wins. The full list of multiple green jacket winners, records and the numbers behind Augusta's greats.
Most Open Championship Wins in Golf
Harry Vardon holds the record with six Open Championship wins. The full list of multiple Claret Jug winners, records and history, explained.
Most PGA Tour Wins of All Time
Sam Snead and Tiger Woods share the PGA Tour record with 82 wins each. The full all-time career victories leaderboard, ranked and explained.
Most Ryder Cup Points Won
Sergio Garcia has won 28.5 Ryder Cup points, the most in the event's history. The full leaderboard of all-time Ryder Cup points leaders, explained.
Most Ryder Cup Wins: Team Record and the Top Players Ranked
The USA leads the Ryder Cup 27-16-2 all-time, but Sergio Garcia (28.5 points) and Nick Faldo (25) are the winningest players ever. Full team record and top-10 player ranking.
Nassau Golf Game: Rules, Presses, Payouts
A Nassau is three golf bets in one round: front nine, back nine and overall 18. How a $2 Nassau works, how presses add up, and how payouts are settled.
How PGA Tour Purses Are Paid Out
The PGA Tour splits a purse by a fixed percentage table: the winner takes 18%, second gets about 10.9%, and it scales down from there. How it works.
Red Stakes vs Yellow Stakes in Golf
Red stakes mark a lateral penalty area with extra sideways relief; yellow marks a regular penalty area with fewer options. The difference, per Rule 17.
What Is a Shotgun Start in Golf?
A shotgun start sends every group out to a different hole at the same time, so all players begin and finish together. How it works and why events use it.
Strokes Gained in Golf, Explained
Strokes gained measures every shot against a tour baseline, so a positive number means you beat the average. How it works and how to read it.
What Is an Up and Down in Golf?
What is an up and down in golf? Getting the ball in the hole in two shots from around the green: one to get it up, one to putt down.
What Is a Birdie in Golf? Scoring Terms
A birdie is a score of one stroke under par on a hole. How birdies fit with pars, bogeys, eagles and albatrosses, plus where the term came from.
What Is a Gimme in Golf? Rules and Etiquette
A gimme is a short putt your opponents concede so you skip holing it. What counts as a gimme, when it's allowed and why it's not in the Rules of Golf.
What Is a Links Golf Course? True Links
A links golf course sits on sandy coastal land with firm turf, deep bunkers and wind. What makes a true links and how it differs from parkland golf.
What Is a Mulligan in Golf? Meaning and Rules
A mulligan in golf is an informal do-over: you replay a shot with no penalty and ignore the first. It is not in the official Rules of Golf.
What Is a Municipal Golf Course?
A municipal golf course is a public course owned by a local government. What 'muni' means, how it differs from other public courses, and who runs it.
What Is a Pro-Am in Golf?
A pro-am pairs professional golfers with amateurs on the same team or event. How pro-ams work, what they cost, and what you win, explained.
What Is a Provisional Ball in Golf?
A provisional ball is a backup you play when your first shot may be lost or out of bounds, to save time. How Rule 18.3 works and when it counts.
What Is a Shamble in Golf? Rules vs Scramble
A shamble in golf is a team format where everyone tees off, the best drive is chosen, then each player finishes the hole with their own ball.
What Is a Snowman in Golf?
A snowman in golf is a score of 8 on a single hole, named because the number 8 looks like a stacked snowman. What it means and how bad an 8 really is.
What Is an Amateur Golfer?
An amateur golfer plays for no prize money beyond strict limits. How the USGA and R&A Rules of Amateur Status define it, and how it differs from a pro.
What Is the 19th Hole in Golf?
The 19th hole in golf is slang for the clubhouse bar where players gather after a round. What it means, its origins, and the match-play meaning too.
What Is Twilight Golf?
Twilight golf is discounted late-afternoon play, when courses drop green fees because there is less daylight left to finish 18 holes. How it works.
Why Do Golf Courses Have 18 Holes?
Why do golf courses have 18 holes? It traces back to St Andrews, not a whisky bottle. The real history of golf's 18-hole standard, explained.
Wolf Golf Game Rules: How to Play and Score
Wolf golf game rules: how the Wolf rotates, picks a partner or goes Lone Wolf, plus a simple points scoring system and 3-man Wolf explained.
Best Celebrity Golfers, Ranked by Handicap
The best celebrity golfers ranked by verifiable game, from Tony Romo and Steph Curry to Kenny G and Alice Cooper, plus why most celebrity handicaps are self-reported.
Highest Paid Female Golfers: LPGA Earnings and Endorsements
The highest paid female golfers in 2026: Nelly Korda's $13m year, Annika Sörenstam's LPGA money record, and the real prize-money gap with the PGA Tour.
Country Club Membership Cost: National Averages and Real Examples
Country club membership costs $50,000 median initiation and $10,700 a year in dues nationally. Real tiers, plus honest pricing on 7 named clubs.
How Much Does a Golf Club Fitting Cost?
Golf club fitting costs $30-$150 free-to-cheap at a retailer or $175-$475 at a specialist studio. Real 2026 prices for driver-only vs full-bag fittings.
Cost to Build a Golf Venue Like Topgolf
Building a Topgolf-style golf venue costs roughly $15M to $50M. Here's the full cost breakdown, why you cannot franchise one, and cheaper options.
How to Determine Your Golf Handicap: The WHS Formula
How to determine your golf handicap under the WHS: the score differential formula, rounds needed, and how to get an official index in 2026.
Ben Hogan's Five Lessons: What the Book Still Teaches
What Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf actually teaches, whether Ben Hogan's grip and swing plane still hold up in 2026, and which edition to buy.
Garmin Approach R10: Is It Worth It in 2026?
The Garmin Approach R10 golf launch monitor lists at $599 and tracks 14 metrics off Doppler radar. Here's the accuracy, setup, and who should spend more.
Golf Clubs for Beginners: What You Actually Need to Start
What golf clubs beginners actually need: 7-10 clubs, not 14, real starter-set prices for the US, UK, AU, and CA, and when to buy used or rent instead.
Golf Lessons at Golf Galaxy: What They Cost and What You Get
Golf Galaxy lessons cost about $80 for 30 minutes with a local PGA or LPGA pro, cheaper in packages. See what's included, who teaches, and how it compares.
Golf Wedges for Beginners: Which Ones You Actually Need
Beginners need a pitching wedge and a sand wedge, not all four. Here's the loft, bounce, and 2026 price breakdown that tells you what to buy next.
Golf Grip Size Chart: How to Find Your Correct Size
Measure wrist crease to middle fingertip, check it against glove size, then use this golf grip size chart to find undersize, standard, midsize, or jumbo.
Best Launch Monitor for a Golf Simulator (2026 Guide)
A launch monitor for a golf simulator lives or dies on software compatibility, not specs. What actually works with GSPro, E6 Connect, and your room size.
Masters Tickets at Augusta: Real Cost and How to Get Them
Official Masters tickets run $125-$525, but the patron waitlist has been closed since 1978. Real lottery odds, resale prices, and honest expectations for 2027.
Overhead & Ceiling-Mounted Golf Launch Monitors: Worth It?
Overhead golf launch monitors mount to the ceiling, safe from mis-hits. What they cost, the ceiling height needed, and who should skip it for a floor unit.
Portable Golf Launch Monitors: What Actually Matters
What a portable golf launch monitor really measures, 2026 prices from $200 to $2,500, and which metrics are marketing fluff versus real data.
Rapsodo MLM2PRO Review: Is It Worth It in 2026?
Rapsodo MLM2PRO price, subscription cost, accuracy, and E6 Connect compatibility, tested against the Garmin R10 to answer whether it is worth buying in 2026.
Ryder Cup 2027 Tickets: Prices and How to Get Them
Ryder Cup 2027 tickets run €89 to €1,999 at Adare Manor, Ireland. Real prices, ballot status, hospitality tiers, and why SeatGeek/TickPick resale is risky.
Ryder Cup Military Tickets: Eligibility & How to Apply
Does the Ryder Cup offer military tickets? What was confirmed at Bethpage 2025, what's unconfirmed for Adare Manor 2027, and how to apply through GovX.
Shot Scope LM1 Review: Is It Worth It in 2026?
The Shot Scope LM1 golf launch monitor costs $199.99 and tracks 5 swing metrics with no subscription. Here's the accuracy, limits, and who should buy it.
Women's Golf Clubs for Beginners: What Actually Matters
Women's golf clubs for beginners come down to shaft flex, length, and grip size, not the paint job. 2026 starter-set prices and honest fitting advice.
What Is a Bogey in Golf? Plus Double and Triple Bogeys
A bogey is a score of one stroke over par on a hole. Here is what bogey means, how it compares to par and birdie, and what double and triple bogeys are.
Golf Handicap Explained: How It Works and How to Get One
A golf handicap estimates your scoring ability so players of all levels compete fairly. Learn how it is calculated, what it means, and how to get one.
Match Play vs Stroke Play in Golf
In stroke play you count every shot; in match play you win holes, not strokes. Here is how the two golf formats differ, how scoring works, and their uses.
Golfers With the Most Holes in One: Ranked Career & Tour Records
Mancil Davis's documented 51 aces are the accepted record; Norman Manley's disputed 59 sits above it. Ranked: the 10 golfers with the most holes in one.
Greatest Golfers of All Time: The Legends Who Defined the Sport
The greatest golfers of all time ranked, from Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods to Hogan, Jones, and Player, by majors won, peak dominance, and lasting influence.
What Does E Mean in Golf? Understanding Even Par Explained
In golf, E stands for even par, meaning a player completed the round or hole in exactly the number of strokes intended. Here is what even par means.