• Banner 1

    Blog

Fowler experiences career resurgence

Rickie Fowler experiencing career resurgence in 2023 leads to renewed hope for first victory in four years

Here is a non-exhaustive list of players who have been statistically worse than Rickie Fowler since the start of 2023: Rory McIlroy, Cameron Young, Jordan Spieth, Tyrrell Hatton, Justin Thomas, Viktor Hovland, Matt Fitzpatrick, Sam Burns, Hideki Matsuyama, Brooks Koepka, Patrick Reed and Tom Kim.

Again, that's non-exhaustive.

Fowler hasn't received the praise I certainly expected because, after three years of wandering, he still hasn't won since the 2019 Phoenix Open. Make no mistake about it, however, he's playing at an incredible clip worthy of inclusion in discussion among the best players in the world.

On Monday, Fowler was invited to next week's PGA Championship at Oak Hill based on the number of PGA points (separate from FedEx Cup points) he's earned so far this season. He also rose to No. 50 in the Official World Golf Rankings, his highest placement on the list since November 2020. As Brentley Romine of Golf Channel pointed out, if he can maintain that level in the OWGR, he will also qualify into the U.S. Open in June and Open Championship in July.

Fowler has only played three majors since the November 2020 Masters. He got an exemption into the 2021 PGA Championship, where he finished in the top 10, earning a spot in the following year's PGA. He also got into the 2021 Open Championship, which Collin Morikawa won. He missed six other majors because he fell to nearly No. 200 in the OWGR. 

He's been a menace on the course so far this year. Top 20s at Torrey Pines, Phoenix and Riviera were followed by a T13 at the Players Championship, a T10 at the Texas Open and two top 15s in a row at the RBC Heritage and Wells Fargo Championship, both of which carry the new designated event status on the PGA Tour schedule.

"It's definitely been a bit more consistent," Fowler said of his play so far this year before a T14 at the Wells Fargo. 

"Feel like it's been weeks where I've been able to rely on maybe one or two parts of the game. Really haven't had everything yet, but I'd say the state that I feel like I'm at in the last few years, that would be a missed cut or finishing in the back of the pack and now being able to manage and keep things moving forward, build momentum, that's turning those weeks into top 20s and top 10s."

Fowler's iron play -- always a signature of his game -- had dropped way off the last several years. He went from consistently being a top 25 approach play golfer in the world to hitting approach shots at a worse-than-Tour-average clip. 

Much of this happened as Fowler transitioned away from swing coach Butch Harmon to John Tillery. Fowler recently reunited with Harmon, and the results have been evident. (Fowler credits Tillery for setting him up to take off again with Harmon.)

Fowler is having the single best season he's ever had when it comes to approach play. And while his driving has been average to above average, he's thriving because of his iron play. Among players with at least 25 measured rounds since January 1, only Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Tony Finau, Collin Morikawa and Jon Rahm have been better on approach shots. Combined wins: seven. It's pretty great company to keep.

Now Fowler sets his sights on something bigger than just getting into the field at majors. Harmon predicted a win at some point this year, and what may have sounded crazy four months ago no longer sounds crazy. Fowler is a legitimate threat to win every time he tees it up, even if nobody has realized it yet.

That's a good thing, too. Because no matter how you feel about the former Oklahoma State superstar, it's almost impossible to deny this fact which will play out in obvious ways at the PGA Championship and beyond: Rickie Fowler is great for golf, and professional golf is better off when he's playing at the highest level.

Source: CBS Sports

 
 

Evolution of the Golf Ball

gutta percha.golfball

Golf is a game that has been around for centuries, and during that time its equipment has gone through some major changes. One of the most significant pieces of equipment for golfers is the golf ball, and its evolution has been quite remarkable.

The first golf balls were made of leather and filled with feathers, which gave them a light weight and allowed them to fly farther than any other balls at the time. However, they were also expensive and difficult to make, so they were only used by the wealthiest players. By the late 1800s, the gutta-percha had been invented, allowing for the mass-production of golf balls. The gutta-percha was a rubber-like material that could be formed into a sphere and had the same light weight as the feather-filled balls. This allowed golfers to purchase golf balls at a much lower cost, and it also meant that golf had become more accessible to everyone.

As technology advanced, golf balls got even better. By the mid-1900s, golf balls were being made of various composites, including rubber, resin, and even plastic. These new balls had much more distance, as well as a greater degree of accuracy. Today, modern golf balls are made of a combination of materials, including rubber, resin, plastic, and even metal. They are designed to fly farther, spin more accurately, and feel softer than ever before. The modern golf ball is a testament to the incredible advances in technology over the last few centuries.

Golf has come a long way from its humble beginnings, and the golf ball is one of the most impressive pieces of evidence of this progress. It is amazing to think about how far the golf ball has come in such a short amount of time, and its evolution is sure to continue as technology continues to improve.

Couples Scramble

COUPLE'S SCRAMBLE

couples record

The Guinns and the Lyons hold the record for the lowest couple's scramble round with an 8 under! Join the fun and see if you can break their record!

Couples League is every Friday night beginning May 5th!  Couples will be randomly drawn to play together in a scramble format.  Want to play with a specific couple?  Let us know, and we will make that happen.

Prizes are included, and the cost is $20 per person.  

The action begins at 5:45 with a shotgun start.

 

Junior League Info

ArrowheadGolfD05aR02aP01ZL

Dedicated to teaching youngsters the great game of golf, the Arrowhead Junior League is always very popular!

The league meets on TUESDAYS from 9:00 - 11:00 throughout the summer. Each week Junior Leaguers will work on fundamentals at the practice facility and get to play on the course.  In addition, there will be contests, a year-end banquet, and each golfer will receive a t-shirt.

The league is geared for boys and girls in 1st-8th grade. The cost is $7.00 each week for greens fees and a $75 registration fee.

Wanna Augusta National? Here are some options.

Watching golf inherently makes you want to play golf, which makes Masters week equal parts pleasure and pain.

From the sounds of birds chirping and Jim Nantz on the call to the breathtaking drone aerials of the undulating fairways, golf viewers spend all week drooling over the mere thought of driving down Magnolia Lane for a round at Augusta National Golf Club, ranked No. 3 among Golfweek’s Best classic courses.

So how does one go about scoring a round on one of golf’s most famous courses? Here are a few ways you can pull off the seemingly impossible (but it certainly won’t be easy).

  1. Be invited by a member- Augusta National’s exclusivity is one of the many aspects that sets it apart from other clubs, so getting an invite from a member just might be the easiest way to get a round. You either need to meet some new friends in high places, or maybe try your hand at college golf? College teams are sometimes invited to play by members, like when Notre Dame played a handful bucket-list courses to prepare for the 2020 season.
  2. Augusta National Women’s Amateur -The ANWA runs the week before the Masters and features a loaded field of the best women’s amateur players in the world. In the fourth edition this year, Rose Zhang beat Jenny Bae on the second playoff hole.

  3. Qualify for the Masters -We’ll let our friends at Augusta.com field this one. (Tip: Seeing as you’re probably not a professional golfer if you’re reading this, you might want to focus on the amateur events.)
  4. Report on the Masters-There’s an annual media lottery for a Monday round after the Masters, and a few Golfweek writers have won over the years. All media who travel to the course to cover the event can choose to enter the drawing. The lucky media winners are typically announced during the second round.

  5. Work as a volunteer at the Masters or for Augusta National -Volunteers get to play a round, but vacancies rarely occur, and when they do, there’s a wait. You know you’re doing something right when there’s a line of people waiting to work for you for free (with a round of golf on the side). Augusta National staff also get to play a round.

  6. Work as a caddie at Augusta National- If you work as a caddie for the golf club, you might gain access to play 18 holes, as one day is set aside for caddies to play.

Source: Golfweek

The Mystique of the Masters

When it comes to the history of golf and its most prestigious tournaments, the Masters Tournament, held annually in Augusta, Georgia, stands out as the premier event. From its humble beginnings in 1934 to the thrilling finish of todays tournaments, the Masters has long been revered as one of the most prestigious events in the sport.

The Masters is steeped in tradition and mystery. Each year, a select group of golfers are invited to compete for the famed green jacket, which is presented to the winner of the tournament. The tournament is played on the hallowed grounds of the Augusta National Golf Club, which is one of the most iconic courses in all of golf. The course features lush greens, beautiful azaleas, and a variety of challenging holes that have challenged some of the greatest golfers of all time.

The Masters Tournament is also known for its unique traditions. One of the most iconic is the Champions Dinner, which is held on Tuesday night each year. The dinner is a chance for the current and past champions of the Masters to gather, reminisce, and enjoy a meal. Another tradition is the Par 3 Contest, which is held on the Wednesday before the tournament. The Par 3 Contest is a fun tournament for the players and their families, and it is a chance for the players to relax and enjoy some time off from the serious competition.

The Masters is a tournament that captures the essence of golf and its rich history. From the iconic green jacket to the unique traditions, the Masters offers a truly unique experience for golfers and spectators alike. Each year, the tournament brings together some of the best players in the world, and the drama and excitement that comes with it is unmatched. Whether you’re a fan of the game or just looking to experience the mystique of the Masters, it's tough to find a sporting event that rivlas the Masters.

Close