Steven is ready to jump from the kids' pool to the deep end with his first 18-hole round. David compares it to running a marathon and explains why you need to tape your nipples down (metaphorically speaking).

What we discuss:

• Why playing 18 holes is like running a marathon - you need to build up to it
• The mental wall that hits around holes 12-14 and how to push through
• Environmental factors: being soft indoor people vs. all-day sun exposure
• Steven's controversial takes on paddleboarding (spoiler: he hates it)
• Managing mental focus over 4 hours without "mailing it in"
• Setting realistic goals: focus on one skill instead of obsessing over score
• The "add one stroke" method - making par 4s into par 5s for beginners
• Why nobody cares about your score (it's like fantasy football teams)
• Essential 18-hole supplies: snacks, jerky, and looking forward to hole 13

Key moments:

• Steven's nipple-taping marathon knowledge
• The great paddleboarding debate (Steven dies on this hill)
• David's confession about playing 36 holes twice with "more than none" chafing
• The revelation that par 6 doesn't exist (but should)
• Why bringing jerky to look forward to is peak simple pleasures

Bottom line: Build up to 18 holes through multiple 9-hole rounds, expect to hit a mental wall, bring snacks, and remember - nobody cares about your score except you.

Steven wants to bring a shovel and baseball bat to golf. David explains why that's not allowed and breaks down the essential rules every beginner needs to know - from white vs red stakes to the 3-minute ball search limit.

What we discuss:

• Why golf rules matter: it's all about self-reporting and honesty
• White stakes = out of bounds (OB), red stakes = you have options --- See clarification below on this rule
• The Bagger Vance ball movement rule - is it real?
• When you can declare a ball "unplayable" and take relief
• Cart path relief and abnormal course conditions
• The 3-minute rule for finding lost balls
• Steven's creative equipment ideas: shovels, baseball bats, and hockey sticks
• Using ChatGPT as your personal rules referee
• Happy Gilmore accuracy check: what would happen with the alligator scene?

Key moments:

• Steven discovers you can't bring a shovel or baseball bat to golf
• The revelation that Happy Gilmore was wrong about the alligator rule
• David's frustration with Steven trying to "bend every rule like a lawyer"
• Learning that spike marks can now be repaired on greens
• The caddy who quit on them after hole 2 a decade ago

Bottom line: Golf rules exist to keep the game fair and moving. Know the basics (white=OB, red=options, 3-minute search), use ChatGPT for weird situations, and remember - it's all about self-reporting honestly.

Note: Steven's innovation attempts were thoroughly shut down by both David and the USGA.

Clearer of White Stakes Explanation:

White Stakes = Out of Bounds (OB)

• What it means: Your ball has left the golf course property
• What happens: Stroke and distance penalty

Your Options with OB:

1. Go back to where you last hit (most common)
2. Alternative (newer rule): Some courses offer lateral relief

#golf #golfrules #beginninggolf #fairwayfools #usga #whitestakes #redstakes #chatgpt #golfetiquette #outofbounds

Steven shows up 30 minutes early and crushes a full bucket before playing. David explains why that's warm-up, not practice, and breaks down what actual practice should look like after watching pros at a Corn Ferry event.

What we discuss:

• The harsh reality: golf pros come from money and practice obsessively

• Steven's current routine: 30 minutes early, full bucket, pitch and lob wedge only
• Why warm-up before a round ≠ actual practice sessions
• What David learned watching Korn Ferry pros: 3-to-1 time ratio revelation
• The scratch golfer who practices 3+ times per week minimum
• Why most amateurs practice wrong (hint: it's not just hitting balls)
• Steven's smart approach: targeting specific flags with specific clubs

Key moments:

• Steven's honest confession about his minimal practice routine
• The realization that we'll "never be exceptional players" due to lack of dedication
• David almost buying Costco irons for $350 (still tempted)
• Steven comparing golf practice to climbing warm-up routes
• The humbling reality check about what real commitment looks like

Bottom line: There's a difference between warming up and practicing. Most of us warm up and call it practice - which is why we stay terrible to slightly less terrible.

#golf #golfpractice #beginninggolf #fairwayfools #cornferry #golfwarmup #practicesession #scratchgolfer

Steven only knows Tiger Woods and "Scott something" from golf. David breaks down who actually matters in professional golf, from Scottie Scheffler's dominance to the PGA vs LIV drama that's splitting the sport.

What we discuss:

• Why Scottie Scheffler is the hottest name in golf (and betting favorite for everything)
• The PGA vs LIV split: Saudi money, Greg Norman, and changing the game
• Current stars you need to know: Rory McIlroy, Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm
• Tiger vs Jack Nicklaus GOAT debate (it's like LeBron vs Jordan)
• Why YouTube golf stars are bigger than actual tour winners
• The Ryder Cup: US vs Europe bad blood and genuine drama
• Golf betting reality check - Steven can't imagine the pressure
• COVID and social media's impact on golf's popularity explosion

Key moments:

• Steven thinks Scottie Scheffler is "Scott something"
• David explains why the tour is "an absolute grind" for 256 players
• The revelation that YouTube golfers are more famous than major winners
• Jon Rahm's "big old caboose" gets multiple mentions
• Why the Ryder Cup has actual bad blood and finger pointing

Bottom line: You don't need to know every golfer, but understanding the current stars, the PGA/LIV drama, and YouTube's influence helps you follow golf conversations without looking completely lost.

#golf #scottischeffler #pgatour #livgolf #golfpodcast #fairwayfools #rydercup #tigervsjack

Steven and David share ONE microphone to decode golf's confusing vocabulary. From "skulling it" to "fried eggs" to "good lag" (which might be an insult), we break down the golf lingo that makes beginners feel like outsiders.

What we discuss:

• Why Steven thought "hook" and "slice" were the same thing
• What it means to "skull it" and why it's called that
• Golf course terminology: cabbage, fried eggs, and being "on the dance floor"
• Handicap basics - why shooting 86 is actually decent
• The art of "good lag" and when it's secretly trolling
• Sandbaggers: golf's biggest cheaters and why we hate them
• Steven's plan to artificially create "fried egg" situations
• David's humbling encounter with a scratch golfer

Recording notes: This episode was recorded live with one microphone, which explains the occasional chaos and Steven's admission that he might push golf balls into sand to use new vocabulary.

Steven's $100 golf bag is driving him crazy, and David has gone through THREE bags already. We break down what gear you actually need versus what's just expensive eye candy.

What we discuss:

• Steven's golf bag nightmare - when kickstand legs attack your shins
• The great tee debate: wooden vs plastic (and why someone called plastic "an abomination")
• Why you don't need 14 clubs to play decent golf
• Head covers: protection or just style points?
• Golf shoes vs sneakers vs barefoot(!?) - what actually matters
• The towel, glove, and divot tool essentials
• David's confession: he's owned FOUR golf bags
• Why a $100 ball marker is ridiculous when a penny works

Key moments:

• Steven realizes he only needed 2 clubs for his entire executive course round
• The barefoot golfer who bombs drives with no shoes
• Why taking your glove off while putting prevents looking like a "newbie"
• David's advice: Get good with fewer clubs before buying more

Bottom line: Golf gear is fun to buy, but most of it won't improve your game. Focus on the essentials: decent bag, divot tool, and clubs you actually know how to hit.

Got gear questions? Hit us up @fairwayfools

#golf #golfgear #beginninggolf #golfequipment #fairwayfools #golfbag #golfclubs #newgolfer

David shares war stories from four straight days of golf, including players who ignored his wife, walked through putting lines, and tried hero shots from the rocks. Steven learns there's more to golf manners than just staying quiet.

What we discuss:

• David's four-day golf streak and varying etiquette experiences
• The unwritten rules: reading the room and following the group's lead
• Tee box hierarchy and choosing the right tees for your skill level
• Ready golf vs. traditional order - when to play fast vs. by the book
• Why women get overlooked in golf groups (and why that's terrible etiquette)
• The rocks story: when to take relief instead of being a hero
• Cart etiquette, music on the course, and moments of silence
• "Good golf is boring golf" - why hero shots usually backfire

Key moments:

• Player walks through everyone's putting lines like "a bull in a China shop"
• Two beginners try to drive the green, hit it OB, then ignore David's wife
• The importance of playing tees that match your skill level
• Why you should "suck faster" if you're going to suck

Bottom line: Golf etiquette isn't about being fancy - it's about respecting other players and keeping the game enjoyable for everyone.

Got etiquette questions? Hit us up @fairwayfools

#golf #golfetiquette #beginninggolf #golfpodcast #fairwayfools #golfmanners #dontbethatguy

Steven bought $100 golf clubs at Play It Again Sports and wonders if he made a mistake. David breaks down his "restart plan" for new golfers - and spoiler alert, it's not about expensive equipment.

What we discuss:

• Steven's Play It Again Sports shopping experience and the "fattest clubs" advice
• David's three priorities for beginners: lessons, expectations, and etiquette
• Why a $500 driver won't fix your swing (but a $120/hour lesson might)
• The brutal truth about virtual golf lessons vs. in-person instruction
• Course etiquette essentials - from divot repair to reading the room
• Steven's revelation about needing golf clothes (and his Caddyshack fashion goals)
• Realistic expectations: why Oak Hill 2027 might not be in the cards

Key takeaway: "Clubs don't make the player, the player makes the clubs" - focus on fundamentals first, gear second.

Got questions about starting your golf journey? Hit us up @fairwayfools

#golf #beginninggolf #golflessons #golfetiquette #playitagainsports #fairwayfools