Are these golf opinions unpopular?

Let’s be honest, there has been a lot of chat about mini drivers within these weekly columns over the last few weeks. That theme is set to continue a while longer now as my new Cobra KING TEK Mini Driver is now safely in the bag and, quite frankly, performing as I knew it would. 

The Power of a Mini Driver

Height, power, consistency, hot, long, straight (x2), weapon, tight, and venomous are just a choice of the adjectives that have been used by a selection of playing partners to describe its performance in the flesh. 

So far, in three rounds, it has missed one fairway (foot slipped on a winter mat) and been hit into two groups that were putting out on a par 5 when there was no chance I was going to hit it that far off the deck when going for a green in two. It’s incredibly easy to hit off the tee and I'm finding it equally as easy to hit off the deck - albeit a lower, piercing ball flight that still carries a good distance. 

As soon as I fix my irons, wedges and putting, low scores are coming.

Spring Golf is Coming!

It’s actually been a really good week for golf, not only because there has been plenty of it (four rounds since my last weekly update) but two of those have been in shorts and polo and the other two in trousers and polo, but could have easily have been shorts had I teed off a little later in the day. Daffs are showing up left, right and centre, lines are appearing on fairways. It really does feel like spring has finally sprung properly and in just a couple of weeks the clocks change and it's all eyes on summer. 

This week doesn’t look as warm as I head into the final Winter Fourballs event of the 2025/2026 winter at Felixstowe on Tuesday and then a lesson on Thursday. I do have a bit to work on, so I'm looking forward to getting back in. 

Could This Change Your Golf Game?

One other thing I did forget to mention last week, which is slightly game changing for me, is the addition of contact lenses.

As a wearer of glasses (since the age of four I may add) I’ve never been able to wear them playing golf, they come off when I pull into the car park and on again as I put my clubs away. Over the last 18 months in particular, I have really started to struggle following the ball in the air. It’s fine to start with, but after about 150/180 yards it's gone. More so when I catch one out the heel or toe (that shockingly does happen from time to time, you know) and the ball doesn’t go off in the window I am used to. 

I am pleased to report that I can now follow every shot I’ve hit - and question why I didn’t do this sooner. It does take some getting used to though. Interestingly the first time I played with them I hit a driver on the 1st at Felixstowe and genuinely thought it had only gone about 180 yards as I followed the ball on its entire journey. Obviously, it hadn’t. But I am so used to seeing the ball disappear at that distance - being able to see it throughout was a strange sensation for me. So, for anyone else in a similar situation to me, don’t delay. Go and have a free consultation with Specsavers (other optometrists are available).

Are These Golf Opinions Unpopular?

(West Herts - Part of Golfshake's Hidden Gem Golf Courses to Play in The UK)

Last thing on my list this week to get the tongues wagging, was that I wanted to share a few unpopular opinions I have. Oooof. 

Firstly, can we please stop all the talk about The Players Championship being a fifth major? 

It’s not a major. It should never be a major. We don’t need a fifth major. It’s a serious golf event, on a serious golf course that attracts a great field that makes for great viewing over four days and never disappoints - I just don’t understand the clamour of even classing it as 'The Fifth Major' - just stop it now, please. 

Secondly, can we ban the use of the term 'Hidden Gem'. If a golf course is that great, we would have heard of it. If we haven’t, then it's probably because it's either A. Not marketed well enough or B. Doesn’t want or need to be marketed better. 

I hear it all the time: "This course is a hidden gem" or "that course is a real hidden gem", if it’s REALLY that good, we would know about it. Please. Stop it. 

And lastly, we play golf on COURSES not TRACKS. Tracks are what athletes run around. By definition, a track is "a rough path or road, typically one beaten by use rather than constructed." This is miles away from what a golf course is. In fact, it’s almost a complete opposite. The term 'track' when used to describe a golf course is a tragedy. Anyone using that term to describe a golf course should not be offended if it is met with a swift jab to the throat. Please. Stop it. 

And that’s me for another week, thanks for allowing me to get these off my chest. Reach out and let me know your unpopular opinions too. 

Have a good week.