Issue 2 - April 10, 2026

If you’ve ever hit a 150-yard sand wedge from a greenside bunker…

👉 you already know golf can be a cruel mistress.

“I know… it’s just a stick-and-ball game. Simple, right?”

Like tennis, baseball, and hockey.

And yet…

👉 somehow far more frustrating.

No matter how hard we try,
how many videos we watch,
or how many swing thoughts are bouncing around in our heads…

👉 it can feel like climbing a mountain that has no top.

So let’s try to make a little sense of it.

I remember a day on the range where I was teaching beside another pro. His student was really struggling — and I mean really struggling. You could see it in every swing.

After a few attempts, the student turned to him and asked:
“What’s the best tip you can give me?”

The pro paused… thought about it… and said:
“Take two weeks off… then quit.”

I nearly swallowed my gum.

Now, I’m fairly sure he was joking.
(Fairly.)

But it got me thinking…

How frustrated do both the student and the instructor have to be for that to even sound like a reasonable answer?

And more importantly…

Why does it get to that point so often in golf?

The Real Problem

Most golfers don’t lack effort.

They lack clarity and understanding.

They’re given:

So they bounce from one idea to the next:

Try this.
Now try that.
Keep your head down.
No, not like that.

And somewhere along the way, the swing becomes a collection of guesses…
and the golfer becomes confused, frustrated… and occasionally dangerous to stand beside.

The Truth About the Golf Swing

Here’s the part that most advice completely misses:

The golf ball doesn’t care what your swing looks like.

It doesn’t care if it’s pretty.
It doesn’t care if it’s “on plane.”
It doesn’t care how many videos you watched last night at 1:00 a.m.

It only responds to one thing:

👉 What the club is doing at impact

That’s it.
That’s the whole game.

Enter the 5C System

That’s exactly why I built the 5C Golf Performance System.

To simplify the chaos.
To take all the noise… and organize it into something that actually makes sense.

Every single golf shot — good or bad — can be traced back to just five things:

That’s it.

Five.

Not fifty.
Not “rotate your hips while shallowing the shaft and keeping your trail elbow in your pocket while keeping your head down and dragging your trail foot behind you”

Just five.

“Okay… That Sounds Simple”

I can already hear it:

“That sounds a little too simple.”

Fair enough.

But here’s the key:

Every piece of golf instruction you’ve ever heard… fits into one of these five categories.

All of it.

Even the guy in the stall beside you at the range — you know the one —
can’t break 100 but suddenly becomes a swing coach the moment you hit a bad drive.

Even he is (unknowingly) giving you advice tied to one of the 5C’s.

Let’s translate a few classics:

So no matter what drill you’re working on, or what change you’re trying to make…

👉 It always comes back to one (or more) of the 5C’s

Why This Changes Everything

When you start looking at the game this way, something powerful happens:

You stop guessing.

You stop chasing tips.

You stop trying to fix five things at once — which, by the way, never works.

Instead, you start to understand:

Every shot suddenly has meaning.

Even the bad ones.
(Especially the bad ones.)

A Different Way to Think About Your Swing

Most golfers go to the range asking:
“What should I work on today?”

A better question is:

👉 “What is the ball telling me?”

Because whether you realize it or not…
the ball is talking to you on every swing.

Sometimes in a good way.
Sometimes like a good friend…
who points out your mistakes in real time.
Immediately. Every time.

Where We Go From Here

Over the next few issues, we’re going to break this system down — one “C” at a time.

Because once you understand how these five elements actually work…

You don’t just hit better shots.

You understand why you hit them.

And that’s when the game becomes a whole lot more enjoyable…
and a lot less confusing.

Key Takeaway

The fastest way to improve your swing isn’t more tips —
it’s understanding what actually matters at impact.

Identify which of the 5C’s needs attention,
then work on the drills that actually improve it.

Everything else…

is just noise.

Let’s start with a simple truth:
Golf is one of the few games where you can move your ball… and still get in trouble for it.

And if you’ve ever stood over a ball thinking,
“I’m pretty sure I get relief here…”
— you’re not alone.

Let’s clean this up before it costs you a stroke… or a friendship.

Free Relief (No Penalty)

This is golf being generous.
(It doesn’t happen often — enjoy it when it does.)

You get free relief when something outside your control interferes with:

And yes — all three matter.

👉 It’s not just about where the ball is sitting.
If your feet are on something awkward — like your spouse’s last nerve — or you can’t make a normal swing… that counts too.

Common examples:

So if your ball is sitting beautifully in the fairway…
but your stance feels like you’re standing on a sidewalk — congratulations, you’re getting relief.

What you do:

No penalty. No guilt. No one judging you.
(Well… maybe your playing partners.)

Penalty Relief (Stroke Added)

Now we’ve moved from unlucky… to well, that was predictable.

If your ball is in trouble, you still have options — golf isn’t that cruel — but:

👉 You’re paying one stroke

Common examples:

Here, you get more flexibility:

But again — add one stroke and try not to think about it too much.

Why This Trips Golfers Up

Here’s what usually happens:

Golfers remember:
“I can move my ball.”

What they forget:

That’s how you end up with:

A Simple Way to Remember It

Is it perfect? No.
Will it keep you out of most trouble? Yes.

Key Takeaway

If something is interfering with your lie, stance, or swing — and it’s not your fault — you get relief, free of charge.

If your ball has gone somewhere it clearly shouldn’t have…
you’re paying for that decision.

Let’s take a moment and look at this from the tee’s perspective.

You reach into your pocket… and pull it out.

It’s been in the dark. Quiet. Waiting.

Then suddenly — light. Fresh air. The first tee. Possibility.

“This is it,” it thinks.
“This is my moment.”

And to be fair… it’s proud.

This is what it was made for.
Front lines. Big stage. Opening shot of the day.

No problem.

Then, without so much as a warning…

👉 It’s jammed into the ground like a tent peg.

“Alright… bit aggressive, but okay. Let’s do this.”

Next, a golf ball is placed on its head. Heavy, but manageable.

It steadies itself. Focused. Ready.

Then it hears it…

That unmistakable sound behind it — a driver being waggled like a medieval weapon.

“This seems unnecessary…”

And then—

CRACK.

Lights out.

Well… not quite.

Because now its head is somewhere near the ladies’ tees…
and its body is still stuck in the ground wondering what just happened.

It takes a moment.

Collects itself.

Looks back at the tee deck…

And there you are — already walking away. No eye contact. No acknowledgement. Not even a quick “thanks for your service.”

“Really?”

“I gave you everything I had… and this is how it ends?”

Now it’s just sitting there. Half a tee. Slightly offended.

And let’s be clear about something…

👉 It didn’t mind doing its job.

In fact — it was honoured.

But if we could just agree on one thing:

Show a little dignity.

Don’t leave it standing there like some forgotten monument to a questionable tee shot.

At least:

The Bigger Picture (Let’s do some questionable math)

Because this isn’t just one tee.

There are roughly 38,000 golf courses worldwide, with hundreds of millions of rounds played each year.

Do the math, and we’re easily north of a billion tees being used — and often broken — annually.

That’s a lot of brave little soldiers…
and a lot of questionable endings.

Next Time…

Next time you snap a tee and before you start walking down the fairway…

Just pause for a second.

Look.

Give a small nod.

Then pick it up and send it off properly.

Key Takeaway

Even the smallest parts of the game — like a broken tee — deserve a little respect.

Pro Tip

Pick up your broken tees — PLEASE

It keeps the course clean, helps the maintenance crew, keeps the mower blades sharp (which, trust me, will make someone’s day) and prevents your tee from silently judging you for the rest of the round.

Every year, it happens.

The first warm day of the season arrives, the sun is out, the snow is gone… and suddenly every golfer within a 50-mile radius has the exact same idea:

“I’m playing today.”

Courses are packed. Tee sheets are full. Parking lots look like a tournament is about to start.

And the round?

Well…

Let’s just say it’s not exactly flowing.

Five-hour rounds, a lot of “search parties,” and more than a few swings that look like they’re from the battlefield at Culloden.

But here’s the thing.

There’s something great about that first day.

It’s the reset.

New season. Fresh start. Optimism is high, expectations are even higher, and for a few holes at least… we all think this might be the year it finally comes together.

It usually doesn’t — at least not right away.

But that’s part of the game.

So if your first round of the year feels a little rough, don’t worry.

You’re not alone.

We’re all just shaking off the rust.

Key Takeaway: The first round of the season isn’t about playing well — it’s about getting back out there.

This is a question I get all the time from clients:

“Are those Costco clubs actually any good?”

Short answer?

Yes — they are.

Longer answer… let’s talk about it.

I’ve had quite a few students show up with Kirkland equipment over the past couple of years, so I’ve had a chance to see it up close — and test some of it myself.

I’ve used:

And I’ll say this clearly:

👉 The equipment is very good.

The wedges perform well, the putter has solid feel and balance, and the driver — in my opinion — is excellent. The technology is there, and the overall design is very similar to what you’d see in higher-end models.

This is where things really stand out.

Kirkland clubs are priced well below the major brands — and yet, in many cases, the performance is surprisingly close.

Are they identical to top-tier equipment?

No.

But for the vast majority of golfers, the difference is nowhere near as big as the price gap.

For some golfers, the hesitation isn’t performance…

It’s perception.

Let’s be honest — some players just don’t love the idea of having “Kirkland” stamped on their driver or sitting in their bag.

And that’s fine.

Golf has always had a bit of that “image” element to it.

If the branding is the only thing holding you back, there’s a simple solution:

👉 Grab a headcover from the used bin at your local golf shop.

You can easily pick up a TaylorMade, Ping, or Cobra or a similar brand head-cover and throw it on your driver.

Problem solved.

No one knows, and more importantly — it doesn’t affect how the club performs.

Of course, plenty of golfers are perfectly happy to rock the Kirkland head-cover and wear it proudly.

If you’re considering Kirkland equipment, here’s my take:

For a lot of golfers, it’s one of the best value options out there right now.

Key Takeaway: Don’t let branding make the decision for you — judge the club by how it performs, not what’s written on it.

Before you start trying to fix your swing this season…

👉 clean your clubs.

I know… not nearly as exciting as buying a new driver.
But stay with me.

Over time, your clubs — especially the grips — collect:

And all of that turns your grips into something that feels less like rubber…
and more like a bar of soap.

Which is not ideal when you’re trying to hold onto a golf club.

Now:

Then:

👉 Flip them back over and clean the clubheads the same way.

Your grips will feel:

Better feel → better control → fewer “where did that go?” moments

Clean grips and clean clubfaces can make your equipment feel almost new again…

👉 and it’s a lot cheaper than buying a new set.

Enjoying The Golf Scene so far?

👉 Have a question about your swing?
👉 Something you’d like me to cover?
👉 Or anything in this issue that stood out?

Just hit reply and tell me what you’re working on — I read every message.

My goal with this newsletter is simple — to help you better understand the game, better understand your swing, have some fun, and enjoy golf just a little bit more.

If you found this helpful, feel free to share it with a friend, family member, golfing pal, or colleague who might enjoy it as well.

And if you’re looking to take your game a step further, I’d be happy to help — whether that’s in-person or through online coaching.

David Govan
PGA of Canada Professional

Golf Excellence Academy
Modern Golf Instruction

Creator of the 5C Golf Performance System
👉 GolfExcellence.ca

Ps — Next week I will get more in-depth into the 5C Golf Performance System.