I suppose after nearly three years now of a golf obsession that’s caused me to neglect career and relationships (though apparently I’m not the first the sport has had this effect on), it was inevitable that I start a golf project.
And so I’m pleased to announce the debut of Golf Style, which is accessed via the new web domain .guru. I’ve always thought the best way of launching a site is with “guru” in mind.
The idea hit me about a month ago (can’t believe it took so long), as I was preparing to attend a summit in California for the Hack Golf initiative that TaylorMade is behind. It was a small gathering of industry bigwigs (how big? The president of the PGA was seated next to me), and I was the lone freelancer, having written that Wall Street Journal essay and begun contributing to Hack Golf’s site as a result. From there I visited my hometown, playing golf nearly every day. And while there were some meltdowns, I also shot an 85 on an Alister McKenzie course, which I’d never played, and with borrowed clubs, though I made sure to bring balls with me:
The course, called Northwood and located on the Russian River in Northern California, was designed in 1928 for The Bohemian Club by Alister McKenzie, the same golf course architect who designed The Masters in Augusta, whose annual tournament begins today and ends in the awarding of the famous green jacket.
I returned from the trip determined to launch a site that would celebrate traditional golf style with a modern sensibility — essentially what we do here.
June 1 will mark my 10-year anniversary as a men’s style blogger (I founded Dandyism.net in 2004, then Ivy Style in 2008), so I think it’s time for a new project. The golf site should be fun as I’m not planning any 9,000-word rise-and-fall essays. No idea if it’ll catch on, as the number of recreational golfers who appreciate saddle shoes and argyle sweaters may be far fewer than those who like to match their neon green shoes, hat and belt to their glove and driver.
After all, that putt I’m lining up above? Missed it. — CHRISTIAN CHENSVOLD
Are winter beards acceptable golf looks?
You mean in the springtime?
If one person stops themselves from buying a white belt because of your new site, then I will deem it the most influential and successful golf blog of all time!
Christian, this brings up a most important question:
Where do you stand on golfing in loafers?
Sounds like a stability problem. Nice homage to JFK, though.
Will you still be running and maintaining this site as a result of the new project?
It’d be nice to hear you’d miss me if I were gone, but please understand in my opinion the site is far bigger than me. There have been dozens of contributors, and Richard Press is a columnist.
I do have a lot of irons in the fire right now and will likely be increasingly in need of help here. Our assistant editor Zach just took a full-time job, so his time just became very limited. I’m meeting with someone else tonight who may be able to pitch in.
I see you’re evoking a little Jack Nicklaus with the glove whilst putting….
@ Christian: Instead of irons, trying throwing your woods in the fire.
Modern golfing attire is atrocious. I’m looking forward to your new project.
Very clever, Mr. Willard.
So now we’re supposed to believe that like jazz, golf has something to do with Ivy style?
The word “ivy” appears exactly once on Golf Style, and it refers to a hat.
@Dan
Yes, but what is a reference to golf doing on an Ivy style blog?
Congratulations on the new site. I think it speaks well of you that there appears to be not a whiff of plaid polyester in your attire.
Ahhh, The Bohemian Club….nice! Next trip, The Olympic Club.
Congrats on the new venture! Sample the goods!
Christian, do you have a favorite golfer?
I hope someday to see a lively discussion of Judge Smails hat …
Matthew, among the greats I enjoy watching Sam Snead and early Ben Hogan on YouTube. Of current golfers, Freddy Couples and Ernie Els for their smoothness, Mickelson for his daring and short-game skills, and of course Tiger is always the main attraction whenever he plays.
That’s a very “politically correct” answer…but the correct answer!
I think Davis Love III is the best dressed on the most recent tours. The late Payne Stewart was a classic dresser. Some of us even remember Doug Sanders who always dressed totally in pink!
As far as golf having something to do with Ivy Style, maybe the greatest golfer of them all, Bobby Jones, received an AB from Harvard where he belonged to the Owl Club. He was always on the best dressed lists and had classic movie star good looks! The Walker Cup is named after George Herbert Walker, not an Ivy grad but certainly Ivy Style. The Yale golf team has won 21 national titles. The Country Club in Brookline is the Waspiest course I have played, so prestigious it doesn’t need a name and started by Harvard grads as a polo club. Golf is the only sport left for gentlemen.