The excitement for golf fans continues. (Photo: Twitter @netflix)
The successful golf documentary “Full Swing” will return to Netflix in 2025 for its third season. After two gripping seasons offering insights behind the scenes of professional golf, fans can once again look forward to dramatic twists and thrilling moments in the upcoming season.
What the third season of “Full Swing” might bring
Although the themes of the new season have not yet been officially confirmed, speculation is already rife about which major storylines from the 2024 season might make their way into the series. Among the potential highlights are Bryson DeChambeau’s triumphant victory over Rory McIlroy at the U.S. Open and Rickie Fowler’s remarkable comeback. Xander Schauffele, who clinched two major championships in 2024, is also expected to play a central role.
The series will likely cover stories beyond the tournaments as well—such as the much-discussed arrest of Scottie Scheffler during the PGA Championship or Nick Dunlap’s sensational victory as an amateur. Netflix’s camera crews are known for delving deeply into the private lives of golfers, so viewers can expect to see both the personal highs and lows of the sport’s biggest stars.
Looking back: The dramas of the first two seasons
Since its debut in February 2023, “Full Swing” has offered viewers exclusive glimpses into the lives of the biggest names in golf. The first season followed stars like Rory McIlroy and Brooks Koepka through a year marked by the rivalry between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf. The cameras captured the drama as well-known players such as Ian Poulter and Brooks Koepka made the controversial switch to the Saudi-backed LIV Tour, while others, like McIlroy, stood firm in defending the traditional PGA Tour.
The second season, which premiered in March 2024, focused heavily on the historic merger between the PGA Tour and the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and the uncertainties that this alliance brought with it. The 2023 Ryder Cup, held in Rome, was also documented closely as the world’s top players vied for a spot on their respective teams.
Netflix hits the mark with “Full Swing”
Since the launch of “Full Swing” in 2023, the series has not only captivated golf fans but has also boosted the PGA Tour’s viewership. According to a Nielsen Media Research analysis, interest in golf spiked significantly after the release of the first season. Notably, newcomers who had previously never followed golf broadcasts began tuning in to live tournaments after watching the series.
Fans can expect plenty of excitement and drama during the Fall Season on the PGA Tour. (Source: Getty)
The FedExCup Fall Series on the PGA Tour promises more drama and tension than ever, as players compete in top-tier events to secure their PGA Tour status. The fall tournaments offer winners the same benefits as regular-season events – including a two-year PGA Tour exemption, 500 FedExCup points, and entry into prestigious tournaments like The Players, The Sentry, and the Majors that invite PGA Tour winners.
FedExCup Fall: Fight for PGA Tour Status and Signature Events
The FedExCup Fall is also the time when the 125 spots for full-field events are up for grabs, along with a coveted place in The Players tournament for the following season. After the conclusion of the FedExCup Playoffs, players who are ranked 51st and below in the FedExCup standings continue to compete for points in the fall. They begin this stretch with all the points they’ve accumulated during the regular season and the first FedExCup Playoffs event, the FedEx St. Jude Championship. Additionally, the top 10 players on the FedExCup points list at the end of the fall, who have not yet qualified for the Signature Events, will have a chance to participate in the two Signature Events following the season opener. This allows rising stars to test themselves against the best players.
Those ranked 51st to 70th in the FedExCup standings at the start of the fall have already secured their Top 125 eligibility for the following year but are competing for spots in the first two Signature Events. Players ranked 71st and above can earn one of 10 available spots in these Signature Events, while also fighting to remain in the Top 125 of the FedExCup standings by the end of the fall season. Players who finish between 126th and 150th on the final points list will gain conditional status for the 2024 PGA Tour season. Any player outside the Top 125 will have the opportunity to improve or regain their Tour status through PGA Tour Q-School.
Kulm Golf Course and Festival da Jazz (Photos jhogg-kulmgolf (left) and Juergen Linnenbuerger)
Immerse Yourself in an Exclusive World
After an impressive journey on the Rhaetian Railway, I reach the town in Graubünden, which stands for exclusivity and luxury like no other, in glorious sunshine. Its image as one of the world’s most glamorous winter sports destinations stems in part from the jet-set events held on the frozen Lake St. Moritz, where polo and cricket tournaments as well as horse races are held.
It has already hosted the Winter Olympics twice. Probably the best knownof all its claims to fame is the Cresta Run ice track, which has hosted the annual ‘Grand National’ since 1885. This is a race with a 35kg sledge called a ’Toboggan’ on which riders plunge headfirst down an ice chute, reaching a top speed of up to 140 kilometres per hour.
Cresta Rider statue and start of the Olympic Bob Run (Photo Juergen Linnenbuerger)
Perhaps equally famous is the Olympic Bob Run, which is the oldest bobsleigh run in the world and the last remaining championship track made of natural ice, which is prepared anew every winter.
Tradition and Style
The Kulm Hotel in the centre of St. Moritz is an icon of the Swiss luxury hotel industry. It is characterised by class, style and elegance. It was founded in 1856 by the visionary hotelier Johannes Badrutt, who brought tourism and winter sports to the town with its opening.
Entrance of Kulm Hotel and view from its terrace (Photos Juergen Linnenbuerger)
It impresses with its extraordinary location high above the lake, its fantastic views and its extravagant and stylish interior.
Extravagant hotel lobby (Photo Juergen Linnenbuerger)
My recently renovated room, of which there are 150 in different categories, is elegant and modern. It features local Suisse Pine elements, as does the inviting bathroom. Upon entering, the cosy smell of fresh wood immediately fills my nose.
Superieur Room with Sea View (Photos Juergen Linnenbuerger)
Five restaurants offer national and international cuisine at the highest level. The Pizzeria offers far more than just delicious round Italian dishes. Peruvian-inspired street food dishes are combined by Lima-born chef Claudia Canessa with modern fusion cuisine in the Amaru restaurant.
Michelin-starred chef Mauro Colagreco inspires in the Kulm Country Club (KCC) just a few metres away. I am spoilt with local dishes on the inviting terrace of the Chesa al Parc golf clubhouse opposite. From here, I have a marvellous view of two church towers, one of which comes very close to the inclination of the tower in Pisa. It is the town’s landmark.
View of the KCC and the leaning church tower (right) (Photos Juergen Linnenbuerger)
Wellness dreams come true in the 2,000 square metre Kulm-Spa St. Moritz. In the 10 x 20 metre indoor pool, I enjoy the magnificent views of the lake and mountains as well as the underwater music. In the spa area, I relax with a signature sports massage, in the steam bath, in various saunas and both in the indoor and outdoor whirlpools.
In summer, most of the hotel’s guests come from Switzerland, the United States, Italy and Germany. In winter, this group is traditionally expanded to include guests from Great Britain, who make up the largest foreign group. Guests from Asia are still in the minority, but visitors from India have already discovered the appeal of the hotel for themselves.
Spectacular Par 3 Course
Golf also has a long tradition in this typical winter sport. The hotel’s own Kulm golf course was founded in 1891 by British travellers, making it the oldest course in Switzerland. It was redesigned by the hotel in 2001. The nine-hole par 3 course, integrated into the marvellous landscape, is just a shot with the driver away from the hotel.
The nine varied holes, some of which are steeply uphill and downhill, are between 80 and 135 metres long. They offer breathtaking views of the surrounding mountain scenery and Lake St. Moritz. The downhill shots into the greens, which lie deep below the tees, are particularly attractive.
Kulm Golf Course and Lake St. Moritz (Photo Azalea – jhogg-kulmgolf)
This also applies to hole #5, which has to be played almost vertically 120 metres downhill. The green is protected by a small lake on the right and a bunker on the left. It is the most remarkable hole on a par 3 course that I know (see photo on the top of the article).
The Olympic bobsleigh run comes into play on hole #8. But only in the imagination, as it does not exist in summer. In winter, it runs directly in front of the green bunker across the hole and disappears into the depths on its right-hand side.
A very special golf hole (Photo Juergen Linnenbuerger)
Hole #9 is my personal highlight. It is the most difficult one, where the tee shot has to be played 120 metres steeply uphill into the invisible green. Not much was missing for my hole in one and the perfect finish to my round of golf.
Almost a hole in one (Photo Juergen Linnenbuerger)
Use of the practice facilities and playing on the course is free of charge for guests of the Kulm Hotel.
No One is Older
The Samedan golf course of the Engadine Golf Club in the village was founded in 1893. It is the oldest 18-hole course in Switzerland and one of the oldest on Continental Europe. It can be reached from the hotel in St. Moritz in 20 minutes by car.
The first amateur golf tournament was held here in the year it was founded and is still organised annually as the ‘Engadine Amateur Championship’. In 1988, the course was converted into a ‘New Course’ by golf course architect Mario Verdieri from St. Moritz, who also designed the Kulm golf course there. The view from the terrace of the clubhouse across the plain of the Flaz stream to the mountain panorama is impressive.
Imposing view (Photo Juergen Linnenbuerger)
The information boards on the path from the clubhouse to the driving range are interesting. The history of golf in the Engadin is presented on the WALK OF HISTORY. Caddies were common for a long time; boys and girls earned ‘pocket money’ by carrying the bags from a young age at the club.
Information board at the WALK OF HISTORY (Photo Juergen Linnenbuerger)
700 Year Old Larches
In the middle of it all are centuries-old larch trees, their tops battered by storms and lightning. To mark the 125th anniversary in 2018, 125 new trees were planted.
Bridge over the Flaz stream and ancient trees (Photos Juergen Linnenbuerger)
From the yellow tees, the course has a length of 5,919 metres, with a slope rating of 133 and a course rating of 71.7. The corresponding values for the red tees are 5,118 metres, 130 and 72.8. The damp water is not only available as a lateral or frontal obstacle, but in several places ice-cold spring water invites you to fill up your drinks bottles.
It couldn’t be fresher (Photo Juergen Linnenbuerger)
In the early afternoon, the dreaded Maloja wind regularly sets in from the south, which can have a considerable impact on the game. We start early and are lucky to be spared.
After nine holes, we stop off at the ‘Buvette’, a small wooden halfway house on the edge of the forest. Here we fortify ourselves with delicious sausage and cheese specialities and a bottled glacier beer.
I am pleased with the unusual length of my shots, as they fly about 10 % further than usual due to the altitude. The Samedan golf course is situated at an altitude of 1,700 metres, making it the second highest 18-hole course in Switzerland. Only the one in Arosa is higher.
The fairways run level and wide through the flat terrain. The lush green fairways, the bunkers with their white sand and the partly undulating greens are very well maintained.
You can play on the Samedan course from the beginning of May to the end of October whilst the Kulm course opens a month later. If you stay at least two days in certain hotels, you can play unlimited golf on these two courses as well as on the Zuoz-Madulain course, the second course of the Engadine Golf Club, for CHF 255 per person during your entire stay.
The Best Jazz in a Legendary Club
For 17 years now, St. Moritz has been all about jazz in July. Jazz at its finest is offered at twelve different venues over the course of three weeks. It all started in the private Dracula Club, founded by jetsetter Gunter Sachs, which is located right next to the start building of the town’s famous bobsleigh run. Today, the club is run by his son Rolf. The members-only club only opens its doors to the public once a year for this music series. It is the main stage, the heart and soul of the festival.
Entrance to the legendary Dracula Club (Photo Juergen Linnenbuerger)
I am lucky enough to be able to attend one of its few events with only 150 other guests. The jazz fans sit or stand close together in the rustic ambience. The atmosphere in the intimate, relaxed setting is unique. The music of the American artist Dana Winters and her trio, who are so close you can’t help but touch them, is met with thunderous applause from the knowledgeable audience.
Great atmosphere at the Dracula Club (Photo Juergen Linnenbuerger)
After the session, the jazz continues in the Sunny Bar of the Kulm Hotel, which is one of the two organisers and main sponsors of the festival and hosts many of the artists.
Not Only the Altitude is Top
Be it in the hotel, in the restaurants or in the golf clubs: I encounter the highest standards and professional, friendly service everywhere I go. It is often the attention to detail or small touches that particularly impress me. One example is the golfer-specific ‚Bett-Mümpfeli‘ at the Kulm Hotel.
Sweet goodnight greeting at the Kulm Hotel (Photo Juergen Linnenbueger)
These LIV Golf players currently find themselves in the "Drop Zone." (Photos: Getty)
With just one event remaining in the 2024 LIV Golf season, the battle intensifies for players teetering near the bottom of the individual rankings. Players who finish 49th or lower are placed in the “Drop Zone,” meaning they’ll have to compete in the LIV Golf Promotions to secure a spot for the next season. While captains and contracted players are safe from relegation, many others are fighting to stay on the tour.
Team Captains in Safe Territory
Captains like Bubba Watson and Martin Kaymer are immune to relegation due to their leadership roles, but for some of their teammates, the situation is far more precarious. Watson currently sits in 52nd place, but his captain status shields him from any consequences. Similarly, Kaymer, who leads Cleeks GC, is safe despite finishing last season in the “Drop Zone.” For other players, however, the final event could decide their future on the tour.
Varner and Perez: On the Edge
Harold Varner III (47th) and Pat Perez (48th) are two notable names hovering near the relegation line. Both players need strong showings in the final event, LIV Golf Chicago, to avoid falling into the “Drop Zone.” Varner, who finished 7th in last year’s standings, is particularly feeling the pressure after an unexpectedly poor 2024 season.
Vincent, Grace, and Canter: Last-Ditch Effort
Scott Vincent (49th) has managed to stay just above the relegation line, with top-25 finishes in the last four tournaments, but he needs another solid performance to secure his place. Meanwhile, Branden Grace (50th) and Laurie Canter (51st) are in similarly precarious positions. Grace has had an inconsistent season, mixing high points with disappointing results, while Canter’s limited schedule — just two events — has left him little opportunity to climb higher in the rankings.
Players at the Bottom
At the lower end of the rankings, Kalle Samooja (53rd) and Kieran Vincent (54th) are in serious jeopardy. Both players entered the league via the 2023 Promotions but have struggled this season. Samooja is firmly in the “Drop Zone,” while Vincent, with only 2.47 points and just one top-20 finish this season, has also been unable to escape the bottom of the leaderboard.
The Kilrush Golf Club in Ireland. (Photo: Kilrush Golf Club)
Kilrush Golf Club, located in Kilrush, County Clare, Ireland, stands along the picturesque Wild Atlantic Way. Over its 90 years of history, the club has become an integral part of the local community, offering a golfing experience for players of all ages and abilities. The course has evolved from a nine-hole layout into a mature, gently undulating 18-hole course through the efforts of volunteer members over the past 30 years.
Kilrush Golf Club: €35 Green Fee Year-Round
Kilrush Golf Club proudly offers a challenging round of golf with distinct holes that require careful play. One notable hole is the 168-yard, Par 3, 9th hole, which features a tee shot from an elevated position over water to a green set into a hillside, surrounded by sand and a stream. This hole demands precision with varying club choices depending on wind conditions. Players must keep their balls on the fairway to navigate the course successfully.
The club’s green fee is €35 year-round, including public holidays, and covers entry into weekend competitions for eligible golfers. New members benefit from a discounted rate, receiving a 60% reduction in their first year and a 30% reduction in their second year before paying the full subscription in their third year. Distance membership is also an option for golfers residing more than 60 km from Kilrush. Training courses are available during the summer months for junior golfers and beginner lady golfers, complemented by active senior sections meeting weekly.
Kilrush Golf Club extends a warm welcome to visitors and societies throughout the year, with further details accessible on their website. The club also features an on-site restaurant, managed by Martina Burke and her team, providing a comprehensive menu to ensure guests can enjoy a full day out.
A Short Interview with Kilrush Golf Club
Q: In one sentence: What are you particularly proud of at your golf club?
A: Careful nurturing, planning and planting by our volunteer members over the past 30 years has ensured that the original nine hole course has matured into a gently undulating course with eighteen very distinct holes.
Q: Our golf course is particularly suitable for…
A: …a pleasant but challenging round of golf in beautiful surroundings along the Wild Atlantic Way. The club has been an integral part of the town for over 90 years and has embraced golfers of all ages and abilities. Visitors and Societies are always welcome.
Q: What makes your signature hole special?
A: The 168 yard, Par 3, 9th hole. The tee shot is played from an elevated tee over water to an amphitheater green cut into a hillside. The green which is surrounded by sand and a stream requires an accurate tee shot which can vary from a short iron to a driver depending on the wind conditions.
Q: The quick insider tip for your golf course is?
A: Keep your ball on the fairway.
Q: What special offers (green fee bargains, discounted memberships, etc.) or training classes does your golf club offer?
A: Our green fee of €35 applies on all days, including public holidays. All of our weekend competitions are open to eligible golfers. For visitors, the open competition entry is included in the green fee. New members are offered their first year membership at 60% discount and their second year at 30% discount before paying the full subscription on their third year. Distance membership is available to golfers resident more than 60 km from Kilrush. During the summer months we offer training courses for junior golfers and beginner lady golfers. There is a vibrant Senior section of the club with ladies meeting on Tuesdays and men on Wednesdays. Further details can be found on the club website: www.kilrushgolfclub.com
Q: Anything you would like to add?
A: On all days of the year, we can accommodate visitors. Our restaurant is managed by Martina Burke and Staff and offers a full menu.
The Englishman currently uses the Ping G430 LST driver (10.5˚). With the Ping model, he finished twelfth in the “Strokes Gained: Off the Tee” statistics at the European Masters and eighth in driving accuracy. With the Qi10 Tour (16.5˚), he also has a TaylorMade club in his bag as a fairway wood. For the hybrid, Wallace currently relies on the TSR2 (18˚) from Titleist. The fourth brand in the 34-year-old’s bag is Callaway. From the 4-iron to the 9-iron, he relies on the Callaway X Forged CB model. The rest of the golf bag is filled with Titleist clubs. Wallace plays the Titleist Vokey SM10’s wedges with 46, 50 and 54 degrees of loft and the SM10-WW Proto model with 60 degrees of loft. The Titleist Scotty Cameron Tour Only T-9 putter and Titleist Pro V1 X-balls (2023) complete the set.
Matt Wallace, currently in 73rd place in the world rankings, improved to 22nd place in the Race to Dubai with his victory at the traditional tournament in Crans Montana. He is therefore currently safely in the top 50 of the season rankings. The top 50 players are allowed to compete at the DP World Tour Championship in November.
Thank you @omegaEUmasters for an amazing, unforgettable week. It’s a dream to win here. One of the most iconic courses and tournaments in the world. Great battle with Alfredo and Beef. Thank you to all my partners and everyone pulling for me. pic.twitter.com/OToIK8SSsP
World Golf Ranking: Matt Wallace after winning on the DP World Tour. (Photo: Getty)
The World Golf Ranking has seen some notable shifts this week. Rory McIlroy continues to be the highest-ranked British golfer. McIlroy holds the 3rd position, unchanged from last week. Tommy Fleetwood is the next best British player, holding the 11th spot without any change from the previous week. Fleetwood’s stability in rankings showcases his continued presence among the top golfers globally.
Aaron Rai has seen a slight improvement, moving from 24th to 22nd place, reflecting an upward trend in his performance. Matt Fitzpatrick, however, has dropped from 27th to 28th, indicating a slight decline. Robert MacIntyre stands firm at the 16th position, maintaining his steady performance week over week.
The biggest change among the British players can be seen in Matt Wallace. The 34-year-old won the Omega European Masters on the DP World Tour this week and climbed from 91st to 73rd in the World Golf Ranking as a result.
World Golf Ranking Top-10
In the Top-10 of the World Golf Ranking, Scottie Scheffler continues to lead, maintaining the 1st position. There have been no changes in the Top-10 ranks this week. The other notable golfers include Xander Schauffele at 2nd, Collin Morikawa at 4th, and Ludvig Aberg at 5th. Viktor Hovland remains at 8th place. The stability at the top of the rankings indicates a period of consistency among the world’s elite golfers.
World Golf Ranking: Scottie Scheffler on top. (Photo: Getty)
The World Golf Ranking has presented few notable updates for American players this week. Scottie Scheffler remains at the top position with no change in his ranking and an average points score of 18.12. Close behind him, Xander Schauffele holds steady at the second position, maintaining his ranking from the previous week with an average points score of 11.35.
World Golf Ranking: Third to Fifth Best American Golfers in the World Golf Ranking
Collin Morikawa continues to hold the fourth position, showing no change from last week, with an average points score of 6.46. Wyndham Clark remains in the sixth position, again with no change, and has an average points score of 5.70. Patrick Cantlay is ranked ninth, maintaining his previous position, with an average points score of 4.81.
Further down the Ranking Akshay Bhatia moved from 28th to 27th aswell as Justin Thomas who also climbed one spot to 29th.
Top 10 Analysis
The top ten positions in the Ranking have experienced minimal changes. Rory McIlroy from Northern Ireland stays at the third position, while Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg is steady at the fifth place. The seventh position remains occupied by Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama. Norway’s Viktor Hovland and Bryson DeChambeau from the USA close the top ten, maintaining their eighth and tenth positions respectively.
Solheim Cup 2024: Everything you need to know. (Images: Getty)
The Solheim Cup 2024 is one of the most important tournaments in women’s golf and will be held from September 13 to 15 at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Virginia. Every two years, the best female players from the USA and Europe compete against each other to win the coveted trophy. With a long history and a unique match play format, the Solheim Cup is a highlight of golf.
The format of the Solheim Cup differs from the usual tournaments. On Friday and Saturday, there are four foursome matches in the morning and four fourball matches in the afternoon. In the foursome, two golfers from a team take it in turns to play a ball. In the fourball, both golfers play their own ball, with the best score counting. The decisive individual matches follow on the third day, in which all 24 players compete against each other in direct duels. A total of 28 points are awarded and the team with the most points wins the Solheim Cup.
The venue: Robert Trent Jones Golf Club
The Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Virginia, will host the Solheim Cup for the first time in 2024. However, the golf club is no newcomer to international team golf: it has already hosted the Presidents Cup four times. The course, which stretches along the picturesque Lake Manassas, was opened in 1991 and is considered a masterpiece of the famous golf architect Robert Trent Jones Sr. With its challenging water hazards and layout perfectly integrated into the landscape, the par-72 course not only offers visual highlights, but also strategic challenges for the players.
Solheim Cup 2024: The teams
The Solheim Cup has been held since 1990 and the rivalry between the USA and Europe is firmly anchored in this competition. To date, the USA leads the overall standings with 10 wins to 8. Nevertheless, Team Europe arrives with an impressive winning streak. After a hard-fought draw in Spain in 2023, the Europeans retained the Solheim Cup and have already won in 2021 and 2019. Captain Suzann Pettersen relies on experienced players such as Leona Maguire and Carlota Ciganda, who scored crucial points at the last Solheim Cup and are also among the team’s mainstays this year.
The USA, on the other hand, under captain Stacy Lewis, will be relying on their experienced players such as Nelly Korda, Lexi Thompson and Lilia Vu to bring the trophy back on home soil. The home advantage on the challenging course in Virginia could prove decisive as the team battles for another victory.
New golfer: Andy Murray has won three Grand Slam tournaments, two of them in the tennis mecca of Wimbledon (2013, 2016). The Brit was ranked number one in the world tennis rankings for 41 weeks from November 2016 and is a two-time Olympic gold medal winner in singles (2012, 2016). After his quarter-final exit in the Olympic doubles at the Paris Games, Murray finally ended his great career a few weeks ago. And what does someone like him do now in sport? The question is answered when you take a look at his CV, where his place of birth is Glasgow. So it’s no wonder that the Scot is now turning to the traditional sport of his homeland. Murray announced it on his social media pages. “I played tennis. I now play golf,” he wrote under his profile photo. And the goal of Murray is also clear: scratch.
Andy Murray is not the only tennis star, who is an avid golfer
Andy Murrays former rivals, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic are also known to be avid golfers. Djokovic, who won a gold medal in Paris this year, competed in the All-Star match at the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome.
