Going Pro: My 2020 Wrap-Up - Episode 15

Thanks for spending your crazy 2020 with me and this channel. I'm looking forward to a big 2021 and can't wait to take you along on the journey. 

Make sure to follow @ronlunsfordgolf on Instagram for more tips and equipment reviews in the new year.

Going Pro: Why Does It Take Me So Long To Post? - Episode 14

Well it's been far too long in posting a video, and even worse that it took me almost 3 weeks to get it transferred over to the blog page, but it's here. If you've been following on the blog, here's the latest installment on the Going Pro series. Yes, I am going to make an active effort to get more done very soon, but again, between daylight, 2 full time jobs and the extra "school work" it really is time for me to find the spare time to get things shot, edited and uploaded. I'll keep trying my best to keep you up to speed though.

For now, jump over to YouTube and subscribe if you haven't already. Also, hit the little bell so you get notified when I post new content!

Equipment Review: Bridgestone Tour B XS Ball

After my review of the 2020 Bridgestone Tour B X (https://youtu.be/pnmgZsCIuyo) I received quite a few comments and messages about how there had to be something wrong with the cover that I used. So, that always leads me back to round two - or in this case, a different ball since both of my X's were pretty trashed after just a few holes. 

In this review, I take a look at the "Tiger" ball, or the Bridgestone Tour B XS. The XS model is designed for higher swing speeds and generates more spin than the X model does. It's almost like comparing the "ProV1 to ProV1x" in a way. Two great balls, just with different characteristics. How did the XS fair? You'll have to watch to find out.

Bridgestone Tour B XS 

Bridgestone Tour B X 

Bridgestone Tour B RXS

Bridgestone Tour B RX

Thanks for watching and make sure to subscribe!

Equipment Review: Skechers Go Golf Pro V.4 - Honors Shoe

Did I finally find a spiked shoe that can replace the uber-comfy Skechers Elite V.3 that I've been wearing the past few seasons? The tech in the Pro V.4 is pretty simplistic, but does it measure up to the big boys like FootJoy and Adidas? Can it compete with Cuater? Could they be niftier than Nike? Ok, this is getting ridiculous now, but you get the point.

Can this little shoe from Skechers keep up with shoes costing twice or even three times as much?

$150.00 - Skechers.com - https://www.skechers.com/en-us/style/54536/skechers-go-golf-pro-v-4-honors/bkw

WHILE SUPPLIES LAST!

$79.99 - Golf HQ (Black) - https://www.golfhq.com/skechers-go-golf-pro-v-4-honors-golf-shoes-black-white

$79.99 - Golf HQ (Charcoal) - https://www.golfhq.com/skechers-go-golf-pro-v-4-honors-golf-shoes-charcoal

Going Pro: What Just Happened? - Episode 12

I have to admit that this little journey has been anything but ordinary. From the beginning of this dream to the current state, the first year of my Golf Professional career has been interesting to say the least. Of course, the life balance and sheer number of hours being worked is hard enough, but when the one thing that made you think you should be here falls apart when you need it most, you almost begin to rethink your future. Until something like THIS happens. Make sure you subscribe to the YouTube Channel to keep tabs on what should be a very exciting summer in the Going Pro series.

Going Pro: Preparing For The PAT - Episode 11

Just about a month from now, I'll be making my next run at the Professional Golf Association of America Playing Ability Test to enter the Professional Golf Management Program. In This video, I'll highlight a bit of my practice schedule leading up to it. While my game is currently looking pretty sharp, I know the pressures of having to shoot a great number twice in one day will be weighing on me, so it becomes a necessity to have some go to shots to carry me through those times.

If you have any questions, feel free to shoot me a message or comment below!

Going Pro: The Ban Is Lifted - Episode 10

Finally getting back to things even after a few weeks of non-golfing fun. Sorry it's been so long between videos, but with "Crisis-Schooling" for the kiddo, keeping the bills paid and having a few moments here and there to hit balls into my backyard net (and a bit of indoor putting) I just haven't had time to get any great quality stuff done. Even this is more of a "trying to get something new up" video, but at least it is a bit of an update on my professional journey.

I'll definitely keep trying to step up the content throughout the next few weeks as I ramp up for my next attempt at the Playing Ability Test for the PGM Program, but I can't make many promises as we are still suffering through school cancellations and crazy COVID-19 scheduling issues.  For now, enjoy the update and I'll see you all again soon!

Product Review: A Shoe That Is At Home On The Course Or Just About Anywhere

This is a posting that I made to the Callaway Golf Community Page about the Cuater The Wildcard shoes that I was sent to review for that group. While I don't normally cross-post reviews, I felt like these $120 "golf shoes" deserved a bit of notice. If you are looking for a versatile golf shoe that is as much at home on the course as it is the office, this could be a great solution for you. Check out my thoughts on them and let me know if you have tried them on!

I'm going to start this off with the fact that I love to hate golf shoes. My biggest issue with about 95% of them is that I need a deep heel, one that really locks my foot in and doesn't let it move. When the opportunity came up to be a tester for the Cuater line, I hesitated at first because I didn't want to be "that guy" that offered up a horrible opinion of them because of my weird feet. That's enough of that story though, since I was chosen and received a lovely pair of The Wildcard shoes in the blue color. So, without further ado, here's my 15 cents worth on these shoes...

FIRST IMPRESSIONS:  I've NEVER seen a golf shoe like this. Upon opening the package, they looked like canvas shoes that I would have worn in my old BMX days in the 1980s, not golf shoes. I struggled to think how canvas was going to stablize my feet during the swing and how these gum rubber edges would hold the turf as I swung throught the ball. I then looked in the shoe and panicked - they had a shallow heel. Even though the shoe looked classy and amazing, I didn't think they were going to be the shoe for me to play golf in, or maybe even walk around in.

TRYING THEM ON:  Putting aside all my worries, I loosened the laces to put them on my feet for the first time. For a fitting note, I'm somewhere between a standard width and a single wide, but these guys were TIGHT! I mean, slipping them on, my foot didn't want to go in at all. I loosened the laces a bit more and and tried again. My foot went in with ease and almost immediately I could feel soemthing strange, stability. I walked around the living room a bit with them before lacing them up. I felt a bit of a rub from the top line of the heel, but my foot felt solid in the bottom of them. Ok, this may not be so bad.

WEARING THEM OUT:  After a few hours indoors (I always do this with new shoes so I don't trash the ability to take them back if they aren't comfy) I decided that it was time for a quick run through outside. We went for a walk around the neighborhood. After about 15 minutes, I was pretty in love with the comfort level of the shoes. They had a very stable bottom, but were still squishy and comfy. The heel rub that I was worried about never developed (though it was still just a 15 minute run through) and the line at the top of the heel completely felt normal now. I will chalk that one up to the lack of padding in the heel and not being used to that. So, after that little excursion, it was back to the house for the evening.

GOING TO THE COURSE:  The next day I headed to my day job with The Wildcards on. They felt amazing throughout the day. I felt like I could have used a bit more width, but overall, the comfort level was fantastic. The part that was still slightly amazing to me was the soft feel when walking but the immense amount of stability that they offered. After a long day at work, I headed out to the course for a quick 9 holes to really give them a good run through. I packed my Skechers just in case disaster struck, but I was feeling pretty good about it. I didn't have time to warm up at the course, just a few putts and off to the first tee. As I made my first full swing, I literally forgot I had The Wildcards on. They felt that stable. I will chalk this up to the fact that they build the side support of the shoe in a way that my foot couldn't move laterally at all - which is why they felt a bit tight in normal wear. It's a pretty ingenious way to stabilize a canvas shoe and it really works phenomenally well.

PLAYING A ROUND:  My first 9 holes in them was pretty uneventful, The course was dry, so I didn't get to check the waterproofing at all, but I could imagine that these guys would get pretty ugly fast in mud, so I would keep them for dry days only. I'm not saying that they couldn't perform well in the wet weather, but I think if I was going to spend $120 on a pair of shoes, I wouldn't want to get them dirty and nasty that fast. Back to the round, my feet felt very stable and on the harder fairways, the spikeless design performed amazingly well. The slight differences in tread patterns allowed me to grip uneven lies just fine and the stability of the base of the shoes gave me a solid platform to hit from. Even better, the heel rub didn't appear after nine holes of play, which again surprised me.

PLAYING MORE: I was able to get out for about 36 holes before the COVID-19 shutdown happened in Washington. I played those 36 holes in complete and total comfort in The Wildcards. I have to admit that I am shocked at how comfortable they are and how well they perform on the course. It's not a shoe I would have ever chosen for myself, and honestly I was bummed I didn't get The Ringer shoe in the test, but these have actaully become a daily wear shoe for me and one that I am very comfortable wearing out and about. 

TODAY: Well it just so happens that I am wearing them again today. Our golf ban is semi-lifted as of May 5th, so they will see the course again soon, but for now, they are just a daily wear shoe that is extremely comfy and they look fantastic when I pair them with kakhis or jeans. They could even go with some busniess casual outfits if needed. I think my only regret is that I don't have enough "blue outfits" to wear them more than a few times a week. Still, comfort wise, these are amazing shoes. As I said, I can't wait to get them out for a few more rounds, but for now, I definitely have happy feet in them.

Now, the TM Team asked me to give my impressions of the shoe and tell you all ONE thing that sets it apart from other golf shoes that I have worn. I would love to say that there is just ONE thing that makes it different, but when you look at this shoe, I think the one thing that really sets it apart from anything I've ever experienced is the fact that it doesn't LOOK like a golf shoe at all. It's a nice, dressy for a meeting, business/casual wear shoe that fits in on the course as well as it would on a date night. It is one of the most versatile shoes I have ever seen. I see this shoe being the go to shoe for those that love indoor sim golf, top golf, date nights at the range, etc... 

Take A Minute To Welcome "Golf Avenue" To The Affiliate Program!

Anytime I'm able to find affiliate partners that line up with what I'm trying to do, I try to welcome them with open arms. Offering golfer's the chance to play more golf for less money is exactly what Golf Avenue does, and their selection of quality new and used merchandise is amazing. Starting out, Golf Avenue offers up a complete line of clubs, bags, balls and more all at steep discounts over standard retail pricing. To make shopping even more fun, there's bigger discounts on used and previous season merchandise as well.



A perfect example is TaylorMade Pro 4 stand bag for under $100. When you add the BAGS15 coupon code to your purchase, you can walk away with a top quality TM Stand Bag for $85. If you happen to be in the mood to find some new irons, or maybe even a combo set, The Ave has you covered there as well. Great quality sets like the Cobra F-Max combo set are down as low as $279 and even the latest Apex irons from Callaway start at under $1000 a set. Picking from their used selection can save even more.



Of course, finding a deal that makes a deal even better is always welcome. This hybrid offering is pretty awesome and if you are looking at grabbing a 3 and 4 hybrid to replace those tough to hit long irons, this 20% off your second hybrid deal is pretty spectacular. Of course, always do you homework before you purchase anything, but once you know what you want, take a look at Golf Avenue's deals and see what you can find. Make sure to take the extra step of checking out their used inventory before you buy also. There's some really great deals hiding in that section, no matter what you're looking to find.

-- This post is to inform you that Back In The Fairway is now part of the Affiliate Program for Golf Avenue and that by clicking on a link in this article or other posts on this site, the writer may receive a small commission from the purchases you make. This commission will help offset the cost of the blog and support the writer's efforts to continue it.

Going Pro: Staying Home, Staying Safe - Episode 9

Welcome to Episode 9 of the Going Pro series. I wish I was able to just jump on here and say how great things are (and for the most part, I've tried to keep this video as upbeat and fun as possible) but our current reality is that there are much bigger issues than my little journey right now. The entire planet (or almost all of it) is under siege by the Novel Coronavirus-19. Schools, parks, golf courses and anything that has been deemed "non-essential" has been closed in Washington State. Needless to say, for an aspiring golf professional, it's a tough time to make any progress towards that end goal.

Still, I'm doing what I can under the circumstances to keep things sharp for when I am able to return to the course. From indoor putting with my PuttOut Golf trainer to some full swing work on my new back yard driving range, I'm trying my best to keep my game as sharp as possible and still meet the social needs of my family while we are all staying safe at home. That brings me to the next part of the "Stay Home - Stay Safe" order in Washington. Originally, the order was issued March 23rd and was to last for two weeks. That would have put everything back on track by the second week of April. Unfortunately, the spread of the virus didn't slow to the extent they thought it would and the order was extended to May 4th. Staying safe is obviously the most important thing right now, and is far more important than any part of my PGA Journey, so I understand the caution and appreciate the situation far more than you can even imagine.

Still, that May 4th date falls almost 2 weeks after the April 22nd date of my next PAT attempt, which now, has been cancelled. I'm hopeful that things are returning to a more normal state by the next date on the calendar which is May 25th. Other than that, I hope all of you are staying safe and wish you all good health for yourselves and your families. We will make it through this and we will see everyone back on the course as soon as it is safe to be there. Until then, hopefully I can make some decent stuff to keep you all entertained a bit.

7x7 Hitting Net (same style, but not same brand)
Three Grass "Turf Mat" (better deal thank I got - indoor/outdoor mat)
Used Titleist Golf Balls

Course Vlog: My First One Hole Course Vlog

Everyone was asking, so here it is. My first attempt at pulling off a Course Vlog, or at least one hole of it. This is the 370 yard, par 4, 4th hole at Snohomish Golf Course. This challenging uphill par 4 plays about two clubs longer than it reads and in damp conditions gets even longer.

Let me first off say that this was a blast and I did learn quite a bit from doing it. I have some much better ideas for the next one, and I'll take along a bit more gear for better audio and less shaky video, but for a first effort, I hope it looks as ok as it did in processing.

Hope you enjoy this because more are coming!

Golf Fitness: The Journey To 100 Continues - Week 1

No video this week as this is really just a launch into the first week of my efforts to drop a bit more weight and get back to where I was during The Reboot. I ended up that portion of The Journey just over 240 pounds last April(ish) and slowly drifted around 250-260 over the last year. The rough schedule and lack of monitoring what I was eating did take a bit of a toll on me, so the continuation that has started is more about getting back down to where I should be, not where I am.

There's some good news and bad news this week. The bad news is that I weighed myself the first day of The Continuation and I thought I was at 261, but I was actually a touch over 265. So there's an ugly start to this whole thing as I thought I only had 46 pounds to reach my old playing weight of 215, but it's really 50. That's just fine though, it's nothing but a number and it's already starting to fade, and that's where this week starts. Moving on to the better news, today I am down almost 2 pounds to 263.2 for the week. Again, a bit of a bummer since I thought I was going to make it back into the 50's this week, but it's a negative number and not a bad one for getting back on track.

The Journey To 100 Continues: Week 1 

Starting Weight: 265.4 
Current Weight: 263.2 
Goal Weight: 215.0 

 Left To Go: 48.2 pounds

Going Pro: My Bag, My Irons & My PAT - Episode 8

Welcome to Episode 8 of Going Pro. In this episode, I am hitting up one of the most common questions I've been getting lately on the internet and how I even got into the situation where it was able to come up. For those that don't know, last year, as I began my run for the USGA Mid-Am Tournament, I was desperately searching for a replacement to my faltering Wilson FG-100 irons. After testing quite a few clubs, I found, for lack of a better term, perfection in the Sub 70 Golf 639 MB blades.

Then as the season just started to ramp up, the goals changed and so did my mission. The need for a set of new sticks took on a bigger sense of urgency and I opted to play it safe with something new, but very familiar. But now, a year later, the questions are still being asked, what about those Sub 70 Irons and why aren't they in the bag today?

For additional information on Sub 70 Golf Products visit www.sub70golf.com

For additional information on Wilson Staff Model Blades visit http://bit.ly/StaffModels

To see my current bag setup visit http://backinthefairway.blogspot.com/p/whats-in-my-bag.html

Make sure that you let me know if you want to see that COURSE VLOG! Leave a comment on the YouTube Video and let me know you want me to try one. I know there's a ton of great ones doing it out there already, but I'm up for trying it if you want to see it!

Golf Fitness: The Journey To 100 Continues

For those that are new to the channel, The Journey To 100 is really where all of this "resurgence" into the game of golf began. In 2015, I was in very poor condition, although for a guy carrying around 350 pounds of weight, some might have said I was doing pretty well. What I found as I tried to get serious about my playing again was that my body just didn't turn the way it did when I was lighter, so I started making changes to my swing to compensate. Things like a lagging downswing followed by a last second wrist unhinging was generating the power I needed to play, but was ultimately leading to some very inconsistent scores.

As my aspirations to return to competitive golf started to come together, I realized that inconsistent scoring wasn't going to get me where I wanted to be and I needed to change myself to get where I needed to go. So, the first Journey To 100 began. Topping the scales at 349.8 pounds, I dramatically lost about 40 pounds in February of 2018. Unfortunately, my progress was stifled in April as I had to have surgery which put me on the shelf for a short time. As the summer came to a close, my wife and I began the Ketogenic Diet, which is where The Journey To 100 - The Reboot began.

With a new found effort beginning to take over, I started this crazy way of eating (do not call Keto a diet, because it's retraining yourself and your body to eat differently, not cut calories) and the results were amazing. Immediately after the first week or so, the weight began to peel off and I started to understand how burning fats instead of carbs would change how I lost weight. As I approached a year, I was down 75 pounds and feeling much better, but then another development stymied my progress yet again.

In April of 2019, I changed my golfing goals and in turn, really messed with the plan that was working so well for losing weight. As I accepted the Assistant Professional Position at Snohomish Golf Course, the long hours and crazy schedules began to wear me down and throw me out of the normal patterns that were working so well up until that point. After almost a year of "coasting" I am up 15 pounds and not keeping my macros where they should be to keep myself in a full Keto mode. This video is the start of getting back into that mode and getting things going again. To make this very long story short, welcome back to The Journey To 100 and my efforts to get myself in better shape to play more golf and play it better.

The Journey To 100 Continues: Week 1

Starting Weight: 261.0
Current Weight: 261.0
Goal Weight: 215.0

Left To Go: 46 pounds

How Good Is The 2020 Bridgestone Tour B X Golf Ball?

There is definitely some special sauce in the new Bridgestone ball line up. From the first shot rocketed from the tee box to the final putt dropped on the hole, my first impressions of the Tour B series is that they are LONG - REALLY Long. Not only was the distance phenomenal, but even the lowest spin model still pulled back hard on the greens. It seems like the perfect blend of design and technology...

But is that the entire story on these new Tour B's or is there more than meets the eye to these little guys.

 If you're looking for more distance from your golf ball, the Tour B series may be exactly what you are searching for. You can support this channel by purchasing the 2020 Bridgestone Tour B series balls from the links below.

Tour B X - http://bit.ly/RBGTourBX
Tour B XS - http://bit.ly/RBGTourBXS
Tour B RX - http://bit.ly/RBGTourBRX
Tour B RXS - http://bit.ly/RBGTourBRXS

Going Pro: Resisting Change & Dialing In - Episode 7

In the next installment of the Going Pro series,  I talk you through a quick update on what I'm working on and what I'm avoiding before my April PAT date. It's hot off the PGA Merchandising show where all the manufacturers brought out all their new clubs, ball and everything else under the sun for the golfing consumer to drool over. With new wedges from Wilson, new drivers from Callaway, TaylorMade, Cobra, and just about everyone else, the urge to change out some hardware is great, but with just 2 short months to go until one of the biggest events of my life, now is not the time to give in to temptation.

100th YouTube Subscriber Giveaway WINNER!

Thank you so much to everyone that left a comment on the giveaway video! Here is your winner... And no, I'm not telling you who it is in the text down here, you have to watch the video to see!

That said, thank you again for following along on my journeys. This has been an amazing few years that has changed directions quite a few times over the past 5 seasons. Thank you so much for letting me share my thoughts about playing more golf for less money and following a 40-something on the path to becoming a PGA Professional. While this simply started out as a bit of a diary, your support and comments have made it more of a group of friends rather than a private journal. So, again, thank you!

With all of that out of the way, I'm trying to line up some great stuff. Yes, I will still be trying to stay away from "club reviews" as I think the only true answer to equipment is to go in and get fitted, but I will certainly try to get more money saving training aids posted. I'm also highly considering doing a "Wish" special where I order a few golf products from Wish to see how they work. I know clubs have been done before, but do they have any of those expensive training items for dirt cheap? I'll see what I can find there and report back.

I also have a brand new product from Shot Scope coming soon that I will take a look at. There is also a new version of the Titleist AVX to hit as soon as the weather is better and possibly a few bag changes coming soon as I dial things in for the PGM PAT in April. It's going to be a busy spring, I just have to make time to get it all done.

It finally happened! 100 people are now subscribed to this channel and as a thank you, I’m giving away a sleeve of OnCore Golf ELIXR golf balls to one lucky US comment leaver below!

Thank you all for coming along on this journey and I can’t wait to continue the Going Pro series with you!

Make sure to follow me on social media...

Instagram - @backinthefairway
Twitter - @golfing4less
YouTube - bit.ly/WatchBITF

Going Pro: Welcome To 2020! - Episode 6

Welcome to 2020! In the Going Pro Series, I'm doing my best to tell you about my experiences as 40+ year old trying to becoming a PGA Class A Teaching Professional. Currently, I am a pre-qualifier in the PGM 3.0 Program, just needing to pass the Playing Ability Test to enter the program officially. After a missed opportunity in August of last year, 2020 beings with preparing for the first chance I will have to take it in April of this year. I will have a second chance to pass it in May before needing to retake my Qualifying Test in June again. The pressure is on and with the wet conditions that we are in right now, short game work is on the menu most days. Thank you so much for watching this video and make sure to subscribe to follow all the way through this epic adventure.

PuttOut Putting Trainer - https://amzn.to/39KBGLN

You can support me and this channel by shopping at the following places: 

GolfEtail - http://bit.ly/GolfEtailBITF
Rock Bottom Golf - http://bit.ly/RBGBITF
Amazon - http://bit.ly/AmazonBITF