Hey golfers, Brendon Elliott here, PGA professional with 30 years in the game, and I’m here to set the record straight. There are a lot of myths in golf—things players believe just because they’ve been passed down over time. But just because you’ve heard something a million times doesn’t make it true.
Today, we’re busting three of the biggest myths in golf.
Myth 1: “Keep Your Head Down”
If I had a dollar for every time I heard someone tell a golfer to “keep your head down,” I’d be playing Pebble Beach every weekend. It’s just not true.
What you actually want to do is keep your head steady—not locked in place. A little bit of head movement is natural and necessary.
As you take the club back and load up into your trail side (right side for right-handed golfers), your head needs a little freedom to move. Keeping it completely still kills your ability to make a good, powerful shoulder turn.
Then, on the downswing, as you shift into your lead side, your head is going to move slightly back over the ball. Look at players like David Duval or Annika Sörenstam—Hall of Famers. Their heads moved, and they hit it just fine.
So the next time someone tells you to keep your head down, just smile and ignore them. Myth busted.
Myth 2: Golf Is an Elitist, Crazy Expensive Sport
I hear this all the time: “Golf is only for rich people.” Not true.
Yeah, golf can be expensive—like anything you love and get passionate about. But here’s the real deal:
The average 18-hole round in the U.S. is about $45. That’s a fact.
8 out of 10 courses in the U.S. are public—not private country clubs.
So sure, there are some high-end, private clubs. (And you’ll want to look like you belong if you go to a private golf club). But for every one of those, there are dozens of public courses where anyone can play without dropping a fortune.
If you’ve been avoiding golf because you think it’s only for the wealthy, it’s time to reconsider. Myth busted.
Myth 3: The PGA Tour and the PGA of America Are the Same Thing
This one really gets to me. People see “PGA” and assume it’s all the same. It’s not.
The PGA of America (which I’m a part of) is made up of golf professionals—the people who run courses, coach players, and grow the game at the grassroots level.
The PGA Tour is a completely separate entity that oversees professional tournament play.
Once upon a time, these two organizations were connected, but today? They have nothing to do with each other.
Lately, with all the talk about LIV Golf, PIF, and the PGA Tour, I see people blaming “the PGA” like it’s one big organization making all the decisions. Nope. The PGA Tour makes its own calls, and the PGA of America is focused on the everyday golfer.
Now you know the difference. Myth busted.
These myths have been floating around for far too long. It’s time to break free from bad advice and old-school misconceptions.
Takeaways
Let your head move naturally.
Don’t assume golf is out of reach.
Know the difference between the PGA Tour and the PGA of America.
Play smarter, enjoy the game more, and if you hear someone repeating these myths on the course? Send them my way.
Related Reading:
Author ProfileRelated Entries
Brendon is Class A PGA Professional and founded Little Linksters, LLC, and its nonprofit arm, the Little Linksters Association for Junior Golf Development. He won 25+ prestigious industry honors, including the 2017 PGA National Youth Player Development Award. He graduated from the PGA of America Management Program and has a handicap index of 7.8.He has played golf for over 40 years and currently plays twice a month at the Eagle Dunes Golf Club near Sorrento, Florida. He loves Srixon clubs and plays a ZX5 driver with Z 585 irons. He’s written over 60 articles on GolfSpan and specializes in sharing tips to improve your golf game. You can connect with Brendon at LinkedIn, X, IG, FB, his website, or BrendonElliott@pga.com.
Source link