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I never seem to find enough opportunities to practice putting so having a better putting mat has been top of mind. Despite trying several options from Amazon and Temu, the results have been mixed. Some are a little slow, others are a little busy to look at, some just simply get too repetitive with limited options. My hunt continued. Did I finally find a winner in the Saplize Putting Suite?

The Problem

I have tried less expensive putting mats and the results have been mixed at best. While some work well enough, often they are no better than just putting on my living room carpet. The other issue (at least for me) is putting practice can be awfully mundane: the same thing over and over with practice that doesn’t necessarily reflect real-world situations.

The Solution

The Saplize Putting Suite aims to fix the problems by including a variety of features, plenty of accessories and combinations to make putting practice more engaging. Simply put, the Saplize Putting Suite and its accessories enable the user to practice the way they want and not get bogged down with the same flat, straight putts time and time again.

How I Found It

At this point, Amazon and Temu just keep recommending these to me on my “interested” lists but most of them are pretty standard and plain. I have had good luck with Saplize equipment in the past using their grips, regripping kit and another putting mat. So when the Saplize Putting Suite popped up on my recommended list, I gave it a deeper look. The price was right, the size looked bigger and it had features which others did not. This seemed to be exactly what I had been wanting.

How It Works (Or Doesn’t)

As mentioned, this putting suite is more than just a putting mat. It is a whole combination of accessories and features to help make practice more interesting and more enjoyable. Let’s run through what came in the box before diving into how the features work.

Northwest Ireland based in SligoNorthwest Ireland based in DonegalScottish Highlands Golf TripSt Andrews (Scotland) Golf TripEast Lothian (Scotland ) Golf Trip

If seeking out underrated golf experiences in far-flung destinations is your cup of tea, then steep your favorite bag of Earl Grey and nestle in. We have unearthed five of the best “hidden” gem golf tours in the UK and Ireland, each of which will not only give you and your buddies the chance to play some of the best courses across the pond but will also leave your friends at home wondering how the heck you found these diamonds in the rough.

Within each of the following itineraries, you’ll see everything from under-the-radar courses on the northern coast of Ireland to the unsung heroes of St Andrews, Scotland. The shadow of the Old Course, Royal County Down and Muirfield loom large, but those are far from the only vacation-worthy tracks you’ll find in the UK and on the Emerald Isle.

1. Northwest Ireland — Sligo

Perched on the edge of Ireland along the Wild Atlantic Way, Sligo’s riverside Glasshouse Hotel is the perfect home base for a week-long golf trip. Within an hour of the hotel, you’ll find five of Ireland’s finest courses: Carne Golf Links, Strandhill Golf Course, Rosses Point at County Sligo Golf Club, Donegal Golf Course and Enniscrone, known as one of the top links in the country.

2. Northwest Ireland — Donegal

Venture even further into Golfbreaks’ northwest Ireland trips and you’ll find this five-round, seven-night gem based in Letterkenny. You’ll be staying all seven nights at the Station House Hotel, a family-run  boutique that provides in-house dining plus easy access to the town of Letterkenny and the rest of northwest Ireland. You’ll play a round at five courses: Narin & Portnoo Links, Sandy Hills Course, Glashedy Links & Old Links and Old Tom Morris Links (yes, that Old Tom Morris).

3. Scottish Highlands

For No. 3, we’re headed across the Irish Sea to the Scottish Highlands, where you’ll find a unique combination of links and parkland courses. The seven-night trip includes five rounds of golf, each of which boasts distinctive Scottish challenges, from links on the coast to highland and parkland terrain. You’ll play Tain Golf Course, Brora Golf Course, Nairn Golf Course, Golspie Golf Course & Nairn Dunbar Golf Course, a group that includes Old Tom Morris-designed courses and one of the most northern courses in the entire country (Brora). Your lodging is the bed-and-breakfast-style Glen Mhor Hotel, made up of 11 different Victorian-era buildings and has views of the River Ness.

Professional golfers are relying more and more on strength training to keep them playing their best and you should, too. More power may lead to increased clubhead speed, which may lead to increased distance. More distance just might correlate to lower scores. Don’t believe me? Ask Lou Stagner, who recently shared on X (formerly Twitter) that 96 percent of amateur golfers perform better from 40 to 60 yards than they do from 90 to 110 yards. The farther you advance the ball, the better your odds of posting a lower score on that hole.

I’m going to share some exercises to help you become stronger and more powerful. The end result? Increased distance and, hopefully, lower scores.

Strength and Power

What’s the Difference?

It is important to understand the difference between training for strength and training for power. While both overlap, each requires a different approach to training. 

StrengthThe amount of force a muscle group can produce.Primary focus on compound movements like squat, bench, deadlift and overhead press.Lifting heavier loads at lower reps with longer rest periods between each set.PowerThe ability to produce as much force as possible in the shortest amount of time. Primary focus on plyometrics, ballistic movements and dynamic effort lifts.Resistance is lighter when training for power; the goal is to move the load as fast as possible.

Why Does it Matter?

While training strategies vary between the two, strength and power are relative in the general sense that those who are stronger are able to generate more power. Strength and power also have a direct influence on the golf swing. Building upon a strong foundation of strength should lead to an ability to optimize power output. Put simply: Get strong, increase your speed, increase your distance.

Building A Base

Being a stronger golfer can lead to being a more powerful golfer so let’s take a look at some exercises to increase strength. For some great core exercises, With most exercises you’ll see in this article, there are progressions and regressions you can perform to meet your fitness level. Not all readers will have access to a fully equipped gym so we will look at exercises that can be done at home with little to no equipment. I will list alternative exercises you can perform if you do have access to a gym, as well as set and rep recommendations for the hypertrophy (muscle building) phase of training. 

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler carded a final-round 68 to beat Ludvig Aberg by 4 shots and secure his second Masters title in the past three years.

Here are the best numbers and reactions from Scottie Scheffler's Masters victory.

Phil Mickelson said Sunday he "wouldn't be surprised if some or all of LIV events went to 72 [holes]" like the format of the PGA Tour.

Tiger Woods, 48, finished his final round at the Masters in last place at 16-over 304, the worst 72-hole score of his professional career.

Tiger Woods is back in action at Augusta National Golf Club. Here are live updates of his final round at the 2024 Masters.

Tiger Woods posted his worst score in his 26th Masters, a 10-over 82 in the third round of the tournament on Saturday.

The world of premium golf shafts is extensive and complicated. As the emphasis on proper fittings in golf has grown, so has the arrival of more competitors. One such company is Autoflex.

Who Is Autoflex?

Established in 2009 in Korea, Autoflex now is available in more than 40 countries. They promote their Korea Hidden Technology made by Dumina Designs which includes their patented combination of high-quality carbon fiber and additional proprietary materials to create a lightweight shaft with less distortion. 

Autoflex bucks the concept of traditional flexes and goes with a system that is more based on driver clubhead speed with six different shafts to match a golfer’s swing.

What Is Being Tested?

For this testing opportunity, we are selecting eight golfers to test, review and keep a new AutoFlex Dream 7 driver shaft. 

The new AutoFlex Dream 7 driver shaft comes in five colors and is their first shaft to include the seconnd generation of Korea Hidden Technology. With a new tip section for enhanced performance, AutoFlex claims this is the future of driver shafts. 

The Masters doesn’t make many mistakes—but it made one on Friday.

This is my favorite golf tournament of the year for a long list of reasons. The course, which proved fiery and highly entertaining on Saturday, is captivating in every way. The traditions, even if some of them are old-school, add to the majesty of the event.

As someone who attended last Tuesday and has been seven times, I drink the Kool-Aid on everything Masters. It is as close to perfect as we get in golf, even if there is minor nitpicking to be had. (Can we get more TV coverage so we don’t miss the leaders teeing off on Saturday?)

But even I am perturbed by the decision to ask Jason Day to remove his Malbon sweater vest during Friday’s play. That is, according to Day, what happened after he debuted a “busy” sweater that read “Malbon Golf Championship” in bold letters.

He started the morning wearing the vest during the completion of Round One but took it off before starting Round Two about 30 minutes later.

Once again, Scottie Scheffler reminded everyone why he's No. 1 in the world. On Sunday at Augusta National, Collin Morikawa, Max Homa, Ludvig Aberg and Bryson DeChambeau will try to catch him.

Scottie Scheffler leads the Masters after three rounds, overcoming a couple of rare mistakes to post a 1-under 71 on Saturday for a 54-hole total of 7 under.

Jason Day was asked to remove his white vest with the words "Malbon Golf Championship" across the middle, something he "respectfully" did.

Here are the full list of tee times for the final round of the 2024 Masters.

A demo for the Masters' newest app revealed clues into the future of golf's most famous event. What was the experience like? Incredible.

The post The Masters gave me a sneak peek into its media future, and it’s mindblowing appeared first on Golf.

Tiger Woods struggled mightily Saturday at Augusta National as he posted a 10-over 82, his worst-ever Masters round.

The post Tiger Woods stumbles in career-worst Masters round at Augusta National appeared first on Golf.

Complete 2024 Masters Sunday tee times for the final round at Augusta National, featuring Scottie Scheffler, Max Homa, Tiger Woods and more.

The post 2024 Masters Sunday tee times: Pairings for Round 4 at Augusta National appeared first on Golf.