Opinion & Analysis

Wedge Guy: Why do we REALLY play golf?

Published

6 years ago

Dec 2, 2020

One of the fascinating things about the 40-year golf industry career I have been blessed with is how much I have learned about golfers…just by asking. Over these four decades, I have repeatedly conducted surveys of golfers from multiple communities to help me better understand just what it is you all want from me as a club designer and blog writer.

I’ve surveyed buyers of the products I’ve designed and marketed over the years…and from golfers who engaged with those companies but did not “pull the trigger”. I’ve worked with the best market research companies in the industry to both study their own research as well as to conduct custom proprietary surveys to dive deeper into what golfers are really thinking and feeling about this game we all love.

You might remember that we even conducted a survey of you readers of “The Wedge Guy” column some time back, which also proved enlightening for me. Thanks to all of you who participated.

I would like to invite you all to participate in another survey, but this one is not as much about “how” you play the game, but rather “why”. What are the forces that keep you coming back time and again to put yourself up against the challenges this crazy game throws at you?

Is the experience more important than the numerical outcome? Or the number counts more than how it got there?

I’m going to ask you all to dive into this survey and share your thoughts and feelings. And just to make your time worthwhile, I’m going to give a new custom-built Edison Forged wedge away to one of you just to say thanks.

Please click on this link – SURVEY – and spend a few minutes sharing your thoughts and approach to the game. I will collect your responses for a week or two, then report back to you all what you shared, so that all of us can understand each other just a bit better, OK?

Thank you for your time and participation, and for reading this column each week. I totally enjoy sharing with you and plan to continue for as long as GolfWRX will have me.

Take the survey here.

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Terry Koehler

Terry Koehler is a fourth generation Texan and a graduate of Texas A&M University. Over his 40-year career in the golf industry, he has created over 100 putter designs and dozens of wedges. In 2014, he put together the team that reintroduced the Ben Hogan brand to the golf equipment industry with his TK 15 wedges and Ft. Worth 15 iron designs. Since receiving a U.S. Patent for his “Koehler Sole” in the early 1990s, he has been challenging “conventional wisdom” in the wedge category. In addition to inspiring multiple companies to emulate this sole technology, the performance of his wedge designs have stimulated all other companies to reposition some mass toward the top of the blade in their wedges. Terry is retired from his role as Chairman and Director of Innovation for Edison Golf, and remains active in the industry as an independent designer and consultant. But his most compelling work is in the wedge category. Since he first patented his “Koehler Sole” in the early 1990s, he has been challenging “conventional wisdom” reflected in ‘tour design’ wedges. The performance of his wedge designs have stimulated other companies to move slightly more mass toward the top of the blade in their wedges, but none approach the dramatic design of his Edison Forged wedges, which have been robotically proven to significantly raise the bar for wedge performance. Terry serves as Chairman and Director of Innovation for Edison Golf – check it out at www.EdisonWedges.com.

5 Comments

Jed Barish

Dec 2, 2020 at 9:29 pm

How would you know someone filled out your survey because it didn’t ask for email or name? I completed the survey anyway 🙂

Reply Report comment
- Zach
  
  Dec 3, 2020 at 11:00 am
  
  How will anyone win? I don’t get it. I filled out the survey too.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - O
    
    Dec 4, 2020 at 1:17 am
    
    If you leave your email in the space where it says email, I think that would help duh lol
    
    Reply Report comment
    - Nels55
      
      Dec 4, 2020 at 1:28 pm
      
      I completed the survey and there is no ‘space where it says email’.
      
      Reply Report comment
      - Zach
        
        Dec 5, 2020 at 10:10 am
        
        Exactly! No reason to be rude “O”
        
        Reply Report comment

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Opinion & Analysis

AVL: My U.S. Amateur local qualifying experience

Published

5 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!

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

Published

7 days 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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Instagram: @clubjunkiepod
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Tour Edge Exotics mini driver review + TaylorMade Spider ZT Max first look – Club Junkie

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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.