The majors may be behind us, but don't put those clubs away just yet.
In my opinion, August and September are the best months of the golf season. Our games are in mid-season form, the weather is outstanding, courses are in incredible condition, and we've been treated to another fantastic year on Tour. Before you know it, the FedEx Cup will crown a champion, and the Presidents Cup will be here in late September.
There is still a lot of golf left to be played.
Go enjoy it.
3 THINGS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
1. 🎬 Will Ferrell's The Hawk
Have you watched Netflix's newest golf comedy, The Hawk?
Will Ferrell has made us laugh in just about every sport imaginable—Talladega Nights, Blades of Glory, Kicking & Screaming, and Semi-Pro. Now he's officially entered the world of golf.
I'm honestly not sure what I've enjoyed more—the show itself, which delivers exactly the kind of ridiculous Will Ferrell humor we've all come to expect, or watching him stay completely in character as Lonny "The Hawk" Hawkins throughout the entire publicity tour.
If Lonny becomes Will's permanent alter ego...I'm all in.
Give it a watch. It's good for a few "hits and giggles."
2. 🏆The FedEx Cup Looks Different This Year
With The Open Championship in the books, all eyes turn toward the FedEx Cup Playoffs.
If you've been paying attention, you'll notice something different.
The PGA Tour has eliminated the staggered starting strokes at the Tour Championship. Everyone begins at even par, and the winner of the final event earns the FedEx Cup.
The champion will still take home $10 million, before the Tour distributes another $100 million in season-ending bonus money.
Those numbers have gotten a little crazy.
With LIV Golf appearing to scale back or shutting down entirely over the next few years, I wouldn't be surprised if professional golf's financial landscape starts coming back down to earth. The money has been incredible, but it may finally begin returning to something that feels a little more sustainable.
One thing hasn't changed—it's still some of the most entertaining golf of the year.
3. ⛳ Is the Golf Ball Rollback Still Happening?
Short answer...
Yes—but not the way it was originally planned.
The USGA and The R&A have officially delayed the golf ball rollback until January 1, 2030, abandoning the original plan that would have introduced different rules for professionals and amateurs.
Why the change?
- Strong pushback from PGA Tour players.
- Concerns from manufacturers and retailers about managing two different golf ball standards.
- Testing suggested the original rollback wouldn't consistently produce the intended distance reductions.
The current expectation is:
- Tour professionals may lose 13–15 yards.
- Recreational golfers will likely lose only 1–5 yards.
For the vast majority of us...
Don't lose any sleep over it. Our fitters will find that extra 1–5 yards for you.
2 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
1. 🔥 Dial In Your Scoring Clubs
What's the point in smashing your driver down the fairway, leaving you a wedge in if you can't stick the pin on shot #2?
That's why we're excited about the new Cleveland RTZ 2 wedges, arriving this September with pre-orders beginning August 4.
So what's new?
Think more spin when you need it, a softer feel at impact, and more forgiveness on those shots that don't quite find the center of the face. Cleveland refined the ZipCore technology and face milling so you'll have more confidence attacking pins—even from the rough or when the morning dew hasn't quite burned off.
Translation?
- Your good shots get even better.
- Your not-so-good shots end up closer to the hole.
- And that's how scores come down.
Remember...
Drivers are fun. Wedges fill up the scorecard with birdie chances.
2. 🚀 Size Matters... Have You Tried a Mini Driver?
Do your highest scores usually begin with a tee shot?
If your occasional snowman starts with a drive into the trees—or worse yet, the cornfield—it might be time to try something different. The mini driver continues to gain momentum, and for good reason.
Will you lose a few yards? Probably.
Will you lose as many golf balls? Probably not.
For many golfers, giving up 10–15 yards is a small price to pay for finding a lot more fairways. We don't necessarily see the mini driver as a replacement for your driver. We see it as another tool in the bag.
Phil Mickelson carried multiple drivers depending on the golf course. Why couldn't you?
If you've never compared one against your current driver, book some time in one of our fitting bays.
You might be surprised.
1 MISSION MOMENT
One of my favorite days of the year is our annual Austad's Invitational.
Because it's about so much more than golf.
Thanks to the incredible generosity of our sponsors, customers, vendors, and employees, this year's tournament and auction raised meaningful support for organizations making a real difference throughout the communities we serve.
One organization especially close to our hearts is Neighborhood Soccer.
Neighborhood Soccer gives children the opportunity to play organized soccer in neighborhoods that might not otherwise have access to the game.
But the program doesn't stop there. Every Saturday after the games, they provide a meal—not just for the players, but for their families as well. It's amazing to watch entire communities gather around a shared table. In many cases, families don't even speak the same language.
One story from this year perfectly captured what this organization is all about. Two families, whose children became teammates on the soccer field, used a translator app to introduce themselves and eventually arrange a playdate for their kids.
Sports have always brought people together. Sometimes they even create friendships that transcend language.
Thank you to everyone who supported the 2027 Austad's Invitational and helped us continue investing in the incredible communities we are privileged to serve. Together, we're making a difference far beyond the golf course.
⛳ That's a Wrap...
There is still plenty of golf left this season. The best weather of the year is ahead of us. The courses are in fantastic shape.
Your game is probably in mid-season form.
Go take advantage of it. Chase down a few birdies. Enjoy every sunset tee time.
And remember...You can't make 'em if you leave 'em short.
