Opinion & Analysis

Is CBD the next wave of pain relief for golfers?

Published

7 years ago

Feb 1, 2019

Ryan Barath

We’ve all been there before: hit one too many balls on the range or stood bent over those short putts for 15 minutes too long. The next step is usually right to an Advil, Tylenol, or any number of over-the-counter pain relievers to help with those aches and pains. But for golfers and athletes across the board, thanks to some new steps forward with the processing of hemp & cannabis products there are more options becoming available in the pain relief category including CBD (Cannabidiol).

CBD sprays and topical creams are one of the biggest trends in the market today, giving people options versus using the tried and true pain relief methods. We at GolfWRX witnessed this first hand at the PGA Show in Orlando where there were more than a handful of venders preaching the benefits of CBD.

Let’s be clear: yes, CBD is a product derived from cannabis, but it is a chemical compound found in the less modified hemp plant. It has no psychoactive effects, unlike its brother THC-delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (yeah, that a mouthful). CBD is in fact federally legal in all 50 states as a pain reliever and anti-inflammatory – meaning it’s also approved by the FDA. The big difference between hemp and a full breed marijuana plant is that marijuana has been continually modified to increase the THC levels to increase the mind-altering effects, while hemp has remained pretty much unchanged and is a common fiber used in clothing, rope, and a multitude of other textiles.

The most notable vendors at the PGA Show were Medterra, a producer of CBD products located in Kentucky, and FR Endosport, which also just recently announced an endorsement deal with PGA/PGA Champions player Scott McCarron. FR Endosport was also recently spotted on tour and became part of a discussion in our forums.

When you take out the fact that this is a pain reliever derived from hemp, and the misconceived notions about products derived from plants in the marijuana family, CBD is in fact a possible alternative for many individuals looking to try something new for those aches and pains, and we expect to see more CBD products at future PGA Shows and advertised on professional tours.

Opinion & Analysis

AVL: My U.S. Amateur local qualifying experience

Published

6 days ago

Jun 5, 2026

Andrew Von Lossow

This past Monday, I played in the U.S. Amateur local qualifier at Rock Creek Country Club in Portland, Oregon. A full tee sheet from 7:30 a.m. to 1:55 p.m., the top 11 scores would make it to the U.S. Amateur final qualifying.

I teed off at 10:48 a.m.. With the 7:30 am tee time, you can get a feel for the leaders’ pace, and they were off and running on the challenging setup at Rock Creek.

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Getting to the highlight of the round on the par five 17th, a drive up the left side and 212 yards left to the front hole location. I took out a 5-iron with plans of middle of the green. The ball ended up 8 feet left of the hole, pin high. A slight downhill putt dropped in for an eagle 3 on the 17th. With the cut line looking to be anywhere from -2 to even par. This was the boost I had been waiting for all day.

With making par from the trees on 18, it was time to wait for a potential playoff with a posted score of one under par 71.

Three hours later, it was playoff time. 8 players for 6 spots. I made par on the playoff hole, which was good enough to advance to the U.S. Amateur final qualifying in July. USGA qualifiers sure deliver on all of the emotions in golf!

Club Junkie

Building my 2026 gamer WITB: Ranking the contenders and new putter projects – Club Junkie Podcast

Published

1 week ago

Jun 4, 2026

GolfWRX Staff

The annual What’s In The Bag build is underway, and on this episode of Club Junkie, Brian breaks down the clubs currently leading the race for a spot in his 2026 gamer setup. From drivers and fairway woods to irons, wedges, and shafts, he ranks the equipment that’s performing best and explains what’s separating the front runners from the rest of the field.

Brian also heads into the workshop to discuss several putter projects currently on the bench. From head options and shaft choices to build ideas and testing plans, he shares what he’s working on and which putters could become serious contenders for the bag this season.

If you’re a gear junkie who loves equipment testing, club building, and the never-ending pursuit of the perfect setup, this episode is for you.

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Club Junkie

Tour Edge Exotics mini driver review + TaylorMade Spider ZT Max first look – Club Junkie

Published

2 weeks ago

May 28, 2026

Brian Knudson

On this episode of Club Junkie, I put the new Tour Edge Exotics Mini Driver to the test and break down the performance, forgiveness, distance, and where it fits compared to a traditional driver or strong fairway wood. If you have been curious about adding a mini driver to the bag, this one is worth a look.

I also dive into the new TaylorMade Spider ZT Max putter that was recently spotted and discuss the growing zero torque putter trend. Plus, there is a closer look at the new Project X Titan Yellow shaft showing up on the PGA Tour and what makes it different from other profiles currently out there.