Why haven’t golfers gotten much better?

Equipment is better. Instruction is better. Technology is better. But the average handicap hasn’t changed nearly as much as you might expect.

In this episode, we look at some of the reasons why.

We talk about who actually keeps a handicap, how much time and money golfers are willing to invest in improving, why age and life responsibilities matter, and why getting better becomes harder the better you get.

We also get into course difficulty, equipment, golf instruction, clean feedback loops, and why golfers tend to overreact to one bad shot instead of looking for patterns.

A good conversation about why golf is still so difficult, what actually helps players improve, and why better information doesn’t always lead to better scores.

What really separates great putters from everyone else?

In this episode of Golf Beneath the Surface, Chase and Raymond sit down with world-renowned putting coach Stephen Sweeney to talk about what goes into becoming a great putter beyond just having good mechanics.

Stephen shares his journey from growing up in Ireland to working with some of the best players in the world, and how his approach to coaching has evolved over the years. We get into the importance of understanding how players see and process information, why focusing too much on technique can actually hurt performance, and how the best players prepare their putting for tournament play.

We also dive into the mental side of putting, the difference between hitting a good putt and making a putt, and some interesting conversations around putter design, alignment, and zero-torque putters.

A great conversation about simplifying putting, practicing with purpose, and learning to trust what you're doing on the greens.

When does playing smart golf turn into playing scared?

In Part 2 of our conversation with Lou Stagner, Chase and Raymond get into the balance between course strategy, managing risk, and still being able to play freely. Lou shares how he uses stats with his players at Princeton, why avoiding big numbers can make such a difference, and how the statistically correct decision isn't always the best decision for the player.

We also get into the importance of working the ball both ways, some interesting stats about how golfers perform throughout a round, and how to get more out of your practice when you don't have much time.

It's a great conversation about using the numbers to make better decisions without letting them get in the way of actually playing golf.