Effectively, the 2024 professional golf season concluded last month with yet another U.S. victory over the International Team in the Presidents Cup. That’s 13 wins for the Americans in the 15 Cups that have been contested — the Internationals won in 1998 and the squads tied in 2003 — with the next Presidents Cup set for famed Medinah Country Club, outside of Chicago in September 2026. Numbers are what they are, and while the U.S. prevailed in Montreal, 18 1/2 to 11 1/2, there were intriguing statistics that emerged from the 2024 Presidents Cup that illustrated how close the matches were, in a sense. The figures also demonstrated the importance of being able to handle pressure down the stretch — which comes, in part, with having a purpose when you prepare for a round of golf through practice and in having your mind keenly focused on finishing strong in any given match. First, the numbers that showed how tight the overall play was … over the five sessions of the Presidents Cup, including fourballs, foursomes (alternate shot) and the 12 singles matches on Sunday, the U.S. won a total of 117 holes. The Internationals won 116. How about that! Now, the numbers that really count — during the fourballs and foursomes sessions on the third day of competition, with the team score tied at 5-5 going in, the U.S. tandems won 19 holes on the back nine. The Internationals won just eight. Not surprisingly, the U.S. captured six of the eight matches that day and took a four-point lead into the singles matches. In those singles, the Americans won 26 holes on the back nine to 23 by the Internationals. Closer, yes, but the damage had been done the previous day. No wonder U.S. Captain Jim Furyk pointed to the difference in the results as those weekend matches came to a conclusion. The U.S. was just better — and likely more focused — when it counted the most. And, sure, the U.S. had Scheffler and Schauffele and Morikawa and Cantlay. A more talented, and deeper bunch than the International squad. No question. Keep the Momentum Going: Follow the Professional Golf Season with Effective Practice So, what does this mean to your game, and how can TurfHound’s advanced synthetic surfaces help you, whether you may be the favorite or the underdog in a match? First, use any practice time /session as an opportunity to focus on improving your game. Whether it’s a pre-round warm-up or an hour dedicated to hitting balls, practice to targets/specific locations on the range. Don’t just hit balls! As noted earlier, have a purpose during that time, and especially work on the scoring clubs (wedges, 9-iron to 7-iron). They are the ones, along with your putter, that typically determine the difference on the back nine of a close team or individual match. TurfHound patented products provide a “Next level” hitting surface for you as a player, and for any golf course operator who wants to give their players an edge on the range. Our Performance Surfaces allow you to experience the same ball response and shot results hitting from a synthetic turf as you would from natural turf. Our Active Foam allows for the most realistic feel underfoot and for clubhead action through the ball. Take advantage of the benefits of TurfHound practice surfaces when you are preparing for a match. Focus on the task ahead of you, have a clear mind, and remember that golf is supposed to be fun and competitive. You can have both experiences, and coming through when it matters most, just makes the game that much more enjoyable! Ready to take your game to the next level? Contact us today to learn.

Having had the good fortune to be in the golf industry for the last 45 years, I have witnessed an incredible evolution of many aspects of the game of golf. For example, the transition from persimmon to metal woods. Did anything feel better than to hit an old MacGregor Eye-O-Matic off the screws with a balata golf ball. The change from steel to graphite shafts. The transition from metal spikes to Softspikes brand plastic cleats and putting on perfect greens all day while walking in comfort.  The new era is taking us from having no information while playing or practicing to having virtually every possible piece of data before, during and after each round. I think this can make the game more enjoyable for millions of players. I was watching The Open Championship this past week. It’s my favorite event, as I love getting up early and watching Championship golf on the great links venues with the great voices of the game narrating the coverage. During the practice rounds at Royal Troon, I noticed many players carrying around their Trackman and Flightscope launch monitors with them on the course, to help them evaluate each shot. On a magnificent links course that has stood the test of time for nearly 150 years, it was pretty cool to see the massive transformation from the concept of “digging it out of the dirt” to the world’s best players using modern-day technology to improve at their craft.  Old Tom Morris must have been in a state of shock as his ghost swam nearby in the sea. But I also think he would wholeheartedly approve of the advancements in the game he helped form. The fact is that golf launch monitors have rapidly become an essential tool for professional golfers worldwide. These devices use Doppler radar, photometric technology, or a combination of both to measure critical data points such as ball speed, launch angle, spin rate, and carry distance. This information is invaluable for understanding and improving a player’s ball flight and overall performance. Swing analysis software has taken the guesswork out of diagnosing technical flaws in a golfer’s swing. By capturing video from multiple angles and overlaying swing data, these programs allow coaches and players to analyze every aspect of the swing in great detail. In the modern era of golf, data analysis has become an indispensable tool for players and coaches alike. The ability to dissect performance metrics and statistics has revolutionized the way golfers approach the game, both on and off the course. This deep dive into the numbers allows for a more scientific approach to improving golf skills and strategy. The end result is very impressive, given the skill level of so many players today. I was intrigued to learn that manufactures of golf launch monitors don’t give the Tour Players their equipment for free — the players purchase their own golf launch monitors  because they understand the value of such a long-term investment.  Recently while speaking with a few PGA Golf teaching professionals, they informed me that they made an interesting discovery — they noticed that the information gathered on natural turf when using launch monitors was different when they switched surfaces to synthetic carpet. The data wasn’t consistent on the synthetic carpet to that of the natural turf. However, when they used their golf launch monitors on the TurfHound Performance-based system, the data was the same as the information gathered on natural turf.  It’s abundantly clear that the synthetic surface being used for practice sessions while using a launch monitor matters. TurfHound systems are performance-driven, and when it comes to investing in your game, they are the best choice. Dive into the features of our Golf Tee Stations by clicking here.