News
Why Golf Needs to Test
With the complete lack of integrity in other sports, baseball and Barry Bonds confounding commissioner Bud Selig, Shawne Merriman violating the NFL drug policy and still being included on the All Pro team, the entire Tour de France, the NBA’s Tom Donaghy golf needs to make a stand. Now. Firmly. By not making some drugs against the rules professional golf condones their use. Unacceptable to me and to those whose achievements would be clouded by this specter. A policy needs to be implemented to allow the sport to maintain its integrity in a world that is losing that value rapidly.
Barry Bonds is being booed across America as he chases Hank Aaron’s home run record as Commissioner Bud Selig trys to stradle a very wide, very pointed fence(which explains the elevated pitch to his voice); the Tour de France appears to be comprised solely of pharmaceutically enhanced participants; Shawne Merriman makes the NFL All Pro squad despite a four game suspension for violating the league steroid policy; the NBA has Tom Donaghy dragged into the light from a very dark, fearsome hole. I went searching for integrity and this is what I found.
Not compelling enough for you? I know golf has nothing comparable, if we ignore Colin Montgomery and the washed out lie, yet. Golf is a game based on the integrity of it’s players but how long will that integrity go unchallenged in an era that makes a mockery of that virtue. With the promise of big rewards how long before someone is willing to take big risks? What are the options available today to allow golf to maintain the integrity of the game and it’s players?
Do nothing. Believe that the only drugs used in professional golf are of the recreational variety. These guys are above all that, besides there are no performance enhancing drugs that actually work for golf. If you subscribe to this I would advise you to discuss pharmacology with a pharmacist. There are numerous substances available today that can advantageously affect golf performance. Just because you don’t talk about the elephant in the living room doesn’t mean there is no elephant in the living room. To believe that someone on the cusp of getting, or losing, his card hasn’t chemically assisted pursuit of that goal denies the elephant.
But testing is a violation of my rights as an individual. Not so much, when what we’re discussing is a work place that has as its core value integrity. Does anyone truly wish to see Tiger Woods chase Jack Nicklaus’s major championship record surrounded in controversy similar to Mr. Bonds? Even the hint of drugs, anywhere in the game, brings into question every players achievements, clean or dirty. It’s a shroud worn by all if there is no method in place to exonerate the many. It’s the right all players to have their workplace proven to be drug free. By not making the drugs themselves illegal to use in competition, professional golf condones their use. If the substances are banned do we expect the users to call a penalty on themselves? In the eye of the public would that remove all question of the presence of drugs in golf? Testing is the only way to insure compliance and maintain the integrity of the game in a visibly public manner. If a player doesn’t want to be tested because it violates his rights so be it, he would need to find somewhere else to practice his craft. By choosing to play the game for a living you agree to play by the rules, all of them.
I like golf for a variety of reasons, one of which being it represents an outpost of values lacking in professional sports, and a large part of the world around me, today. While I take no pleasure in the necessity that requires drug testing in workplaces everywhere I understand the need to do so in a firm quantifiable way. To do anything else is unacceptably foolish.
A reminder from your friends at GolfWRX: Father’s Day is June 21. And as we do every year, we’re rounding up the best gifts for dad.
As we say every year, there’s no better golf-related Father’s Day gift than a round of golf with pops. Be it a country club or your favorite muni, take the time to get together to play 18 if you can.
Let’s get to the gifts.
Ghost Golf Qualifier Diamond Polo
We like the new polos that Ghost is offering, as the fabric and fit are so good. These new Qualifier Collection polos breathe well, are lightweight, stretch with your swing, and of course look great. You can wear them on the course, in the office, or just out at a casual event and they will fit right in.
STR8-Strip Grip Tape Remover
If your dad is an equipment aficionado and tinkers with his clubs, this tool works wonders. Removing grip tape has never been easier, just put a little head on the tape and the STR8-Strip peals it right off the shaft without any damage.
Why Golf: Putting Thing
When it comes to practice, it is good to have a purpose. This “Putting Thing” sure does it. We know from personal experience how challenging it can be and how rewarding it is on the practice green. This also provides some competition for your kiddo to see who will unload the dishwasher or do the next chore around the house.
OluKai Lae‘ahi Men’s Breathable Slip-On Shoes
Riding to and from the course in style and comfort is always a good thing. If you’re in a hurry, it’s a nice feature to slide into your shoes and get to the tee time. For the post-game shoe, at your locker or while putting your clubs away in the car. Nice to slide into a shoe that looks good anywhere. Pair that with meeting the family for dinner, no need to change!
Therabody Theragun Relief
A little wellness goes a long way. Keeping loose is a good way to go when it comes to the weekend game or treatment during the week. If there is a little ache or pain, the Theragun is there to help out. Help loosen up the back for a pre-game warm-up or cool-down.
World Cup golf apparel
Something for the soccer dads. Embrace the World Cup fever this summer on the course with custom gear to support the nation of your choice.
FootJoy Pro SL spikeless golf shoes
Give the old man a break and save his feet with the Footjoy Pro SL Men’s Spikeless Golf Shoes for some added comfort on the course.
Bushnell Wingman 2 GPS speaker
Combine all the hits as well as some game improvement with the Wingman 2 Golf GPS Speaker by getting audible distance readings from 38,000+ courses worldwide through the Wingman 2 remote or speaker.
Personalized Titleist Pro V1 golf balls
The No. 1 ball in golf is a safe bet, and the Pro V1 fits the largest chunk of the bell curve if you don’t know what ball pops plays. Add personalization for a, well, personal touch!
- GolfWRX may earn a commission for purchases made through links on this page, at no extra cost to you.
With the PGA Tour across the border in Canada this week, GolfWRX Tour Photographer Greg Moore stayed stateside and headed to the OccuNet Classic presented by Amarillo National Bank in Amarillo, Texas.
It’s always interesting to see what the guys are playing on the KFT, and this week certainly hasn’t disappointed so far, with some incredible wedge stamping on display.
Check out links to all our albums below.
General Albums
WITB Albums
- Ryan Palmer – WITB – 2026 OccuNet Classic (KFT)
- Mahanth Chirravuri – WITB – 2026 OccuNet Classic (KFT)
- Josh Creel – WITB – 2026 OccuNet Classic (KFT)
- Phichaksn Maichon – WITB – 2026 OccuNet Classic (KFT)
- Brandon Berry – WITB – 2026 OccuNet Classic (KFT)
- Ryan Burnett – WITB – 2026 OccuNet Classic (KFT)
- James Song – WITB – 2026 OccuNet Classic (KFT)
- Andrew McLauchlan – WITB – 2026 OccuNet Classic (KFT)
- Ian Gilligan – WITB – 2026 OccuNet Classic (KFT)
- Alvaro Ortiz – WITB – 2026 OccuNet Classic (KFT)
- Russell Knox – WITB – 2026 OccuNet Classic (KFT)
- Ian Holt – WITB – 2026 OccuNet Classic (KFT)
- Mitchell Meissner – WITB – 2026 OccuNet Classic (KFT)
- Travis Trace – WITB – 2026 OccuNet Classic (KFT)
- Bryce Lewis – WITB – 2026 OccuNet Classic (KFT)
Pullout Albums
Luke Potter’s custom Cameron putter – 2026 OccuNet Classic (KFT)
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals who all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, @HuskerFlyer is sharing a Scotty Cameron GOLO with a BGT Stability Tour2 2022 M Edition shaft. While the putter is certainly enviable, the Augusta-inspired shaft is equally noteworthy.
From the listing:
Scotty Cameron Golo 6 with BGT Stability Tour2 2022 M Edition Scotty Headcover 34″ $375
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules.
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Bud Cauley WITB 2026 (June)
Bud Cauley had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament. Driver: Titleist GTS2 (8 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura...
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john embry
Aug 6, 2007 at 4:22 pm
to be honest with you, i do not see how taking steroids or any other drug would give you any sort of advantage in the game of golf.. example – andres romero is 3rd in driving distance at 312.2 yds in pga tour events. he stands 5′ 10” and weighs 145 lbs. golf is too much of a skill game to give any normal meathead a true advantage. if all courses consisted of only 650 yd straight par 5’s w/ completely flat greens, this might be a different story. im not saying it should be ok for players to take anabolic steroids or any other illegal performance enhancing drugs, im simply saying that anyone who plays the game of golf should be able to recognize that the risk of using illegal drugs (bodily effects) would far outweigh any tiny advantage they could gain by using them. golf is a game that requires skill, natural ability, and strong mental focus and control.. not 20 inch biceps and a 400 lb max on the bench press, not to mention most of the people that possess both of those things couldnt even come close to having the range of motion necessary to complete a full golf swing.