The field book

Field Notes

Everything we’ve worked out about why a hole plays the way it does — researched properly, written plainly, and revised when the course proves us wrong.

The BagOct 8, 2026 · 8 min · HEAD TO HEAD
Golf GPS vs Laser Rangefinder: Which Should You Buy in 2026?
Buy a laser rangefinder if you want the number to the flag itself; buy GPS for hazard, layup and green-edge numbers without aiming. Here are 2026 specs and prices from Bushnell and Garmin, and what the Rules of Golf allow.
The BagOct 8, 2026 · 9 min · REVIEW
Is Steadfast Golf Worth It in 2026? The Jupiter Shafts, the Claims and the Fine Print
Steadfast Golf makes the Jupiter One and Jupiter Lite carbon-fiber wood shafts. The Jupiter One is a fair-priced experiment at $149.95, built to play length, but its test claims are the maker's own and its written guarantee offers a new flex, not a refund.
ScoringOct 8, 2026 · 8 min
What Is a Mid Handicapper in Golf? The 10-20 Range and the Rules Behind It (2026)
A mid handicapper usually means a Handicap Index of about 10 to 20, though it is not an official World Handicap System term. Here is where the range comes from and how the Index behind it is calculated.
The BagAug 4, 2026 · 8 min
Gifts for Golfers Who Play Every Week
A gift guide for the golfer who plays every week, organized by budget from under-$10 stocking stuffers to a splurge. Real picks anchored in golf culture, from the nineteenth hole to the breakfast ball, plus the gear a weekly player actually reaches for.
ScoringAug 4, 2026 · 10 min
Golf Slang Shirts, Decoded: Breakfast Ball to the 19th
From the breakfast ball to the nineteenth hole, here is what the golf slang on your favorite shirts actually means, taught one term at a time, plus how to match a tee to the golfer.
Paper GolfAug 4, 2026 · 11 min
Golf Wall Art: Concept Posters for Den & Office
A buyer's guide to seven golf concept posters for the den, home office, sim bay, or locker area, each one built on a real idea from the game, from the evening nine to the nine ball-flight windows.
Range WorkJul 13, 2026 · 6 min · REVIEW
Six Months With a Budget Launch Monitor
A six-month verdict on the sub-$600 launch monitor category for garage gapping. What these units measure well, where they fall short, and the golfer who gets the most from one — drawn from spec comparison and owner consensus.
The BagJul 13, 2026 · 6 min
Find the 15-Yard Hole in Your Bag
Most bags hide a 15-yard hole and a three-club logjam. Measure true carry, expose the overlaps, and fix the gaps without buying a full set — starting with the wedges where amateurs bleed strokes.
ScoringJul 13, 2026 · 15 min · LONG READ
The Mid-Handicap Course-Management Manual
Play your dispersion, not the pro's. The tee corridor, the short-side rule, the front number, the smart bogey, and the par-5 decision tree — a full manual for scoring lower without hitting it better.
Course CraftJul 13, 2026 · 6 min
Green Reading Starts at the Fall Line
Stop reading putts backwards. Find the high point and the fall line first, pace the depth, and read speed before line. The read and the approach are the same decision made twice.
Paper GolfJul 13, 2026 · 6 min
How to Actually Read a Yardage Book
A yardage book replaces the number you want with the number that's true. Decode the F/M/B stack, carry arcs, and fall-line arrows like a caddie, then build an accurate book for your home muni.
Walking GearJul 13, 2026 · 6 min · HEAD TO HEAD
Rangefinder vs. GPS Watch for Walkers
Laser precision to the pin or glanceable front-middle-back on your wrist? For golfers who walk, the choice comes down to pace, battery, and temperament. Here's who should carry which — and when to carry both.

What we’d put in the bag

The short list — the full ranking lives on Best in Bag.

Bushnell Tour V6 Shift Rangefinder
$299.99
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Voice Caddie SC200Plus Portable Golf Launch Monitor and Swing
$234.99
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Callaway 4-in-1 Golf Divot Repair Tool with Magnetic Ball Marker
$14.99
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