The leaves are changing, the temps are dropping, and, if you're like me, you're still telling your foursome, “We can get one more round in.” 🍂🎃⛳
If you're still wanting to hit the course for a few more rounds before the snow flies, make sure you check out our Fall Golf Checklist to make sure you're ready to hit the links prepared for anything.
3 THINGS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
1. 🏆 Scottie Scheffler: #1 Golfer AND #1 Sportsman?
Scottie is pretty clearly the best golfer on the planet. But what he did at the Presidents Cup was a great reminder that he's also one heck of a sportsman.
During a match, an overserved fan yelled during Scottie's opponent's backswing and disrupted the shot. Scottie could've just played on.
Instead, he gave his opponent a 32-foot putt.
Basically: “That one doesn't count. Go ahead and do it again.”
Think about that. Who is voluntarily giving their opponent a 32-footer? 😂
It reminded us of Jack Nicklaus giving Tony Jacklin a two-foot putt at the 1969 Ryder Cup to halve the match.
Golf has always had great moments of sportsmanship. It's pretty cool when we get to see them on the biggest stage.
2. 🏌️ How Many Golf Balls Did You Lose This Year?
It's estimated that 1.5 BILLION golf balls are lost every year. That's billion... with a B.
For the average golfer, that's roughly 3–4 balls per round.
Which leads us to a very important question: How long are you really going to spend looking for that ball?
Our advice? Don't burn 10 minutes crawling through the weeds trying to find the Pro V1 you snap-hooked into the trees three holes ago.
Take the L. Move on. We've got plenty of golf balls at Austad's. 😎
BONUS: If you like fun facts about golf (and who doesn't like a little golf trivia?), check out some of these interesting golf ball stats:
3. 🖥️ Foresight Just Got a BIG Software Upgrade
One of the most respected launch monitor companies in the game just rolled out brand-new software: Foresight+.
And it's a pretty big swing.
New courses. Better graphics. More in-depth analytics. Video integration. And the Premier version comes with 111 courses, including a bunch of the bucket-list tracks golfers love. Foresight is clearly making a big push to give golfers more ways to play, practice and actually get better with their technology.
Thinking about a simulator? Already own one? Want to get more out of your launch monitor? Talk to your Austad's Sim Caddie. We'll get you pointed in the right direction.
2 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
1. 💰🚶 Start Walking. Your Health Will Thank You.
I've always been a fan of walking the golf course.
You notice more. You have a little more time to think about your next shot. And there's just something about walking down the fairway instead of racing from ball to ball that makes me enjoy the round a little more.
Plus, it turns out golf is a pretty darn good way to get your steps in.
Walking 18 holes can easily cover 4–6+ miles and put you over that famous 10,000-step mark — all while playing the game you love.
A few things that make walking even better:
- 👟 Comfortable spikeless shoes — your feet will thank you around hole 14.
- 🎒 A lightweight stand bag — leave the giant staff bag at home.
- 🛒 A good push cart — save your back and let the wheels do the work.
- ⚡ An electric cart — if you really want to treat yourself, something like the Bag Boy Volt carries your clubs for you while you walk.
So before the snow flies, skip the riding cart for a round and give walking a shot.
10,000 steps while playing golf beats 10,000 steps on a treadmill every time. 😎
2. ❄️ This Year, You're Playing Golf Year-Round
Winter is coming.
Your clubs don't have to be banished to the timeout corner of the garage.
For just $250, you can play golf all winter long at your local Austad's. Our simulator bays are equipped with some of the best launch monitors in the game and GSPro, with thousands of courses to choose from.
One of my favorite things about GSPro? You can play the big-name courses like Pebble Beach, Augusta and TPC Sawgrass — but you can also play courses right here in your backyard.
My personal favorite? Hitting an approach into #16 at TPC Scottsdale with the crowd going absolutely nuts around you.
We've got limited memberships available.
Don't put the clubs away. Keep playing.
1 MISSION MOMENT
🏆 Team Ryan: Still Undefeated(ish)
Last month I teased our annual Austad's Boondoggle — our two-day Ryder Cup-style event with our staff and vendor partners.
The rain tried its best to ruin the party.
It failed.
We managed to get 27 holes in and, as predicted, Team Ryan once again defeated Team Dave.
We'll let Dave tell you his version of the story. 😉 But honestly, the golf is only part of what makes the Boondoggle special. It's two days to say thank you to our team and vendor partners, celebrate what we've accomplished, and get excited about what's ahead.
And there was plenty to celebrate this year: Our Austad's team fit more than 10,000 golfers this season — and we posted our highest fitting survey scores ever.
Our mission is pretty simple:
Help golfers play better and have more fun.
I'm proud of the way our team took a big step toward doing exactly that this year. But I can tell you this: Nobody on our team is satisfied.
We're back to the grindstone, working to make sure your next visit is even better than your last.
See you on the links.
— Ryan
