AI Or Experience - Who Knows Golfers Better?
AI Or Experience - Who Knows Golfers Better?
When it comes to golf advice, everyone’s got an opinion. From the guy in your Saturday four-ball to the latest YouTube pro promising “one simple tip to fix your game.” But what happens when we pit modern technology against real-world experience? To find out, we asked the same question to two very different minds:
“What are the five biggest mistakes amateur golfers make?”
On one side, Artificial Intelligence—data-driven, impartial, and programmed to analyze patterns across millions of swings.
On the other, the club captain—in this case, Stewart’s own COO and resident golf historian, expert, and fanatic: Robert Hardie. A club golfer through and through, Robert has spent more time in medal rounds and match play than most of us have spent eating hot dinners.
So, will the AI’s clinical analysis stand up to Robert’s decades of tee-time wisdom?
Or does course-craft beat code when it comes to improving your game?
Let’s count down, from five to one, and find out who really knows where golfers are going wrong.
AI Or Experience - Who Knows Golfers Better?
When it comes to golf advice, everyone’s got an opinion. From the guy in your Saturday four-ball to the latest YouTube pro promising “one simple tip to fix your game.” But what happens when we pit modern technology against real-world experience? To find out, we asked the same question to two very different minds:
“What are the five biggest mistakes amateur golfers make?”
On one side, Artificial Intelligence—data-driven, impartial, and programmed to analyze patterns across millions of swings.
On the other, the club captain—in this case, Stewart’s own COO and resident golf historian, expert, and fanatic: Robert Hardie. A club golfer through and through, Robert has spent more time in medal rounds and match play than most of us have spent eating hot dinners.
So, will the AI’s clinical analysis stand up to Robert’s decades of tee-time wisdom?
Or does course-craft beat code when it comes to improving your game?
Let’s count down, from five to one, and find out who really knows where golfers are going wrong.
Mistake #5
AI: Ignoring Course Management
Too many golfers step onto the tee box with one thing in mind: smash it as far as possible. But just because you can reach for the driver doesn’t mean you should.
Smart golf is about playing to your strengths—and away from your weaknesses. That means thinking your way around the course, laying up when needed, and knowing where you don’t want to miss. Club members who play their home course every week still fall into the trap of autopilot golf. Next time, try asking yourself: what’s the smart shot here? Not just the sexy one.
Club Captain: Thinking Golf Is Just About Hitting A Golf Ball
In your four-hour round of golf you'll be swinging or putting for less than eight minutes. Those 90-odd swings and putts are of course crucial, but so many totally waste the rest of the time. Instead, think about what your strategy is going to be for the hole you're playing; forget your last bad shot and visualise only your next good shot; watch how the wind is affecting other players' shots; see how everyone's balls are running on the greens; keep hydrated and fed; conserve your energy.
Mistake #4
AI: Neglecting The Short Game
We all love a booming drive or a crisply struck iron, but it’s the wedge and putter that quietly do the scoring. Ask any club pro—they’ll tell you most golfers could shave five shots off their handicap by practicing 50-yard chips and six-foot putts instead of chasing the mythical “perfect swing.”
Especially in unpredictable weather, players need to master bump-and-runs and awkward lies. If you’re spending more time at the range than on the short game area, you’re hurting your own progress.
Club Captain: Watching Happy Gilmore Instead of Jurassic Park
Stay with me on this one. Having finished the previous hole many walk to the next tee, pull out their driver, and then start thinking where to aim. But that’s not how golf works. Look at the green first and work out what club you want to be playing into it, then work backwards to the tee from there. If you want to consider driver forget the Happy Gilmore run-up, think more about Jurassic Park: just because you CAN doesn't mean you SHOULD! The shorter the club you take off the tee the better chance you have to being straight with it, and golf is a lot simpler played from the fairway.
Mistake #3
AI: Playing The Wrong Tees
We’ve all seen it: golfers battling 420-yard par 4s from the back tees when they’ve no hope of reaching in two. Golf is supposed to be fun and challenging for the right reasons.
Many US clubs now encourage “playing it forward,” but ego still gets in the way. The right tees can mean more reachable greens, fewer three-woods into par 4s, and ultimately, a more enjoyable round. It’s not about proving anything, it's about playing the course that suits your game.
Club Captain: Thinking Rory’s Pars Are the Same as Their Pars
If you’re playing off an 18 handicap, the best chance you have to play to or even below your handicap is not to make birdies, it's to not make double bogeys: and the best way to not make double bogeys is to not try too hard to make pars. If you walk onto a 400+ yard par four with a stroke index of one, your first thought needs to be that Rory McIlroy is supposed to par the hole, you're not. The par of a hole is what a scratch golfer is supposed to play it in, so unless you're a scratch golfer don't think you have to par it.
You're not going to go from 18 handicap to single figures in one round: you'll do it by shaving off a shot at a time, and using the stroke indices properly can be like having a great caddy. Look at how many shots you get against your handicap and plan which holes to use them on, using the stroke indices as your guide. A 420-yard par four is scary: a 420-yard par five is way more attractive to play, and you'll make way more fours playing it as a five.
Mistake #2
AI: Letting One Bad Hole Ruin the Round
It’s a classic trait to mutter "well, that’s my card gone" after a triple bogey on the 3rd. But golf’s a game of recovery, not perfection.
Club golfers often carry a bad hole for the rest of the round, letting frustration turn into poor decisions. The best way to lower your score? Forget what’s behind you and play what’s in front of you. One bad swing doesn’t define your day…unless you let it.
Club Captain: Kidding Themselves That They’ve Got ‘Brysonpower’
Watches and rangefinders mean it’s never been easier to know it’s 166 yards to the flag but what use is that when you don’t know what club you hit 166 yards? PGA Tour pros hit their wedges 166 yards but you don’t, even if you tell other people you do. Go to a driving range, hit 30 balls with each club, record the carry and run-out distances, discard the outliers, then average out the rest. Write your distances down and take them with you every time you play, then keep updating them based on what actually happens out on the course.
This Is The #1 MISTAKE You’re Probably Making
AI: Not Getting Custom-Fitted Equipment
Many golfers, especially in the US’s club scene, are more than happy to invest in top-of-the-line drivers, iron sets, and putters. And why not? Golf is a passion and often a pursuit of perfection.
But here’s the mistake: buying premium clubs off the shelf without getting custom-fitted.
Even the best gear in the world won’t perform at its best if it’s not matched to your swing. Length, lie angle, shaft flex, grip size, these all influence contact, consistency, and confidence. It’s the same logic behind selecting the right electric golf trolley. Without the right setup, you’re not unlocking the full potential.
A custom fit turns good equipment into great performance. And for golfers who care about results, it's a no-brainer.
Club Captain: Buying Clubs, Not Lessons
If you're driving to the club and your car breaks down the first thing you do is call the RAC and get an expert to fix the problem, you don't just buy a new car. To often when a golfer’s swing goes wrong the first thing they say is "I know what I did wrong there" and if it keeps going wrong they go out and buy a new driver. Stop. Find a professional teacher you like and trust, then do what he or she says. And every $100 you spend on equipment spend another $100 on lessons with them!
So Who Wins, AI Or The Club Captain?
The truth? They both do. AI brings sharp, data-driven insight. Robert brings decades of real-world wisdom. If you want to get better, the smartest approach is to use both, combine knowledge with experience, and swing with intent.
Who do you think won this debate? Leave a comment down below.
Mistake #5
AI: Ignoring Course Management
Too many golfers step onto the tee box with one thing in mind: smash it as far as possible. But just because you can reach for the driver doesn’t mean you should. Smart golf is about playing to your strengths—and away from your weaknesses. That means thinking your way around the course, laying up when needed, and knowing where you don’t want to miss. Club members who play their home course every week still fall into the trap of autopilot golf. Next time, try asking yourself: what’s the smart shot here? Not just the sexy one.
Club Captain: Thinking Golf Is Just About Hitting A Golf Ball
In your four-hour round of golf you'll be swinging or putting for less than eight minutes. Those 90-odd swings and putts are of course crucial, but so many totally waste the rest of the time. Instead, think about what your strategy is going to be for the hole you're playing; forget your last bad shot and visualise only your next good shot; watch how the wind is affecting other players' shots; see how everyone's balls are running on the greens; keep hydrated and fed; conserve your energy.
Mistake #4
AI: Neglecting The Short Game
We all love a booming drive or a crisply struck iron, but it’s the wedge and putter that quietly do the scoring. Ask any club pro—they’ll tell you most golfers could shave five shots off their handicap by practicing 50-yard chips and six-foot putts instead of chasing the mythical “perfect swing.”
Especially in unpredictable weather, players need to master bump-and-runs and awkward lies. If you’re spending more time at the range than on the short game area, you’re hurting your own progress.
Club Captain: Watching Happy Gilmore Instead of Jurassic Park
Stay with me on this one. Having finished the previous hole many walk to the next tee, pull out their driver, and then start thinking where to aim. But that’s not how golf works. Look at the green first and work out what club you want to be playing into it, then work backwards to the tee from there. If you want to consider driver forget the Happy Gilmore run-up, think more about Jurassic Park: just because you CAN doesn't mean you SHOULD! The shorter the club you take off the tee the better chance you have to being straight with it, and golf is a lot simpler played from the fairway.
Mistake #5
AI: Ignoring Course Management
Too many golfers step onto the tee box with one thing in mind: smash it as far as possible. But just because you can reach for the driver doesn’t mean you should. Smart golf is about playing to your strengths—and away from your weaknesses. That means thinking your way around the course, laying up when needed, and knowing where you don’t want to miss. Club members who play their home course every week still fall into the trap of autopilot golf. Next time, try asking yourself: what’s the smart shot here? Not just the sexy one.
Club Captain: Thinking Golf Is Just About Hitting A Golf Ball
In your four-hour round of golf you'll be swinging or putting for less than eight minutes. Those 90-odd swings and putts are of course crucial, but so many totally waste the rest of the time. Instead, think about what your strategy is going to be for the hole you're playing; forget your last bad shot and visualise only your next good shot; watch how the wind is affecting other players' shots; see how everyone's balls are running on the greens; keep hydrated and fed; conserve your energy.
Mistake #4
AI: Neglecting The Short Game
We all love a booming drive or a crisply struck iron, but it’s the wedge and putter that quietly do the scoring. Ask any club pro—they’ll tell you most golfers could shave five shots off their handicap by practicing 50-yard chips and six-foot putts instead of chasing the mythical “perfect swing.”
Especially in unpredictable weather, players need to master bump-and-runs and awkward lies. If you’re spending more time at the range than on the short game area, you’re hurting your own progress.
Club Captain: Watching Happy Gilmore Instead of Jurassic Park
Stay with me on this one. Having finished the previous hole many walk to the next tee, pull out their driver, and then start thinking where to aim. But that’s not how golf works. Look at the green first and work out what club you want to be playing into it, then work backwards to the tee from there. If you want to consider driver forget the Happy Gilmore run-up, think more about Jurassic Park: just because you CAN doesn't mean you SHOULD! The shorter the club you take off the tee the better chance you have to being straight with it, and golf is a lot simpler played from the fairway.
Mistake #3
AI: Playing The Wrong Tees
We’ve all seen it: golfers battling 420-yard par 4s from the back tees when they’ve no hope of reaching in two. Golf is supposed to be fun and challenging for the right reasons. Many UK clubs now encourage “playing it forward,” but ego still gets in the way. The right tees can mean more reachable greens, fewer three-woods into par 4s, and ultimately, a more enjoyable round. It’s not about proving anything, it's about playing the course that suits your game.
Club Captain: Thinking Rory’s Pars Are the Same as Their Pars
If you’re playing off an 18 handicap, the best chance you have to play to or even below your handicap is not to make birdies, it's to not make double bogeys: and the best way to not make double bogeys is to not try too hard to make pars. If you walk onto a 400+ yard par four with a stroke index of one, your first thought needs to be that Rory McIlroy is supposed to par the hole, you're not. The par of a hole is what a scratch golfer is supposed to play it in, so unless you're a scratch golfer don't think you have to par it.
You're not going to go from 18 handicap to single figures in one round: you'll do it by shaving off a shot at a time, and using the stroke indices properly can be like having a great caddy. Look at how many shots you get against your handicap and plan which holes to use them on, using the stroke indices as your guide. A 420-yard par four is scary: a 420-yard par five is way more attractive to play, and you'll make way more fours playing it as a five.
Mistake #2
AI: Letting One Bad Hole Ruin the Round
It’s a classic trait to mutter "well, that’s my card gone" after a triple bogey on the 3rd. But golf’s a game of recovery, not perfection. Club golfers often carry a bad hole for the rest of the round, letting frustration turn into poor decisions. The best way to lower your score? Forget what’s behind you and play what’s in front of you. One bad swing doesn’t define your day…unless you let it.
Club Captain: Kidding Themselves That They’ve Got ‘Brysonpower’
Watches and rangefinders mean it’s never been easier to know it’s 166 yards to the flag but what use is that when you don’t know what club you hit 166 yards? PGA Tour pros hit their wedges 166 yards but you don’t, even if you tell other people you do. Go to a driving range, hit 30 balls with each club, record the carry and run-out distances, discard the outliers, then average out the rest. Write your distances down and take them with you every time you play, then keep updating them based on what actually happens out on the course.
This Is The #1 MISTAKE You’re Probably Making
AI: Not Getting Custom-Fitted Equipment
Many golfers, especially in the US’s club scene, are more than happy to invest in top-of-the-line drivers, iron sets, and putters. And why not? Golf is a passion and often a pursuit of perfection.
But here’s the mistake: buying premium clubs off the shelf without getting custom-fitted. Even the best gear in the world won’t perform at its best if it’s not matched to your swing. Length, lie angle, shaft flex, grip size, these all influence contact, consistency, and confidence. It’s the same logic behind selecting the right electric golf trolley. Without the right setup, you’re not unlocking the full potential.
A custom fit turns good equipment into great performance. And for golfers who care about results, it's a no-brainer.
Club Captain: Buying Clubs, Not Lessons
If you're driving to the club and your car breaks down the first thing you do is call the RAC and get an expert to fix the problem, you don't just buy a new car. To often when a golfer’s swing goes wrong the first thing they say is "I know what I did wrong there" and if it keeps going wrong they go out and buy a new driver. Stop. Find a professional teacher you like and trust, then do what he or she says. And every $100 you spend on equipment spend another $100 on lessons with them!
So Who Wins, AI Or The Club Captain?
The truth? They both do. AI brings sharp, data-driven insight. Robert brings decades of real-world wisdom. If you want to get better, the smartest approach is to use both, combine knowledge with experience, and swing with intent.
Who do you think won this debate? Leave a comment down below.
When it comes to golf advice, everyone’s got an opinion. From the guy in your Saturday four-ball to the latest YouTube pro promising “one simple tip to fix your game.” But what happens when we pit modern technology against real-world experience? To find out, we asked the same question to two very different minds:
“What are the five biggest mistakes amateur golfers make?”
On one side, Artificial Intelligence—data-driven, impartial, and programmed to analyze patterns across millions of swings.
On the other, the club captain—in this case, Stewart’s own COO and resident golf historian, expert, and fanatic: Robert Hardie. A club golfer through and through, Robert has spent more time in medal rounds and match play than most of us have spent eating hot dinners.
So, will the AI’s clinical analysis stand up to Robert’s decades of tee-time wisdom?
Or does course-craft beat code when it comes to improving your game?
Let’s count down, from five to one, and find out who really knows where golfers are going wrong.
Mistake #3
AI: Playing The Wrong Tees
We’ve all seen it: golfers battling 420-yard par 4s from the back tees when they’ve no hope of reaching in two. Golf is supposed to be fun and challenging for the right reasons. Many UK clubs now encourage “playing it forward,” but ego still gets in the way. The right tees can mean more reachable greens, fewer three-woods into par 4s, and ultimately, a more enjoyable round. It’s not about proving anything, it's about playing the course that suits your game.
Club Captain: Thinking Rory’s Pars Are the Same as Their Pars
If you’re playing off an 18 handicap, the best chance you have to play to or even below your handicap is not to make birdies, it's to not make double bogeys: and the best way to not make double bogeys is to not try too hard to make pars. If you walk onto a 400+ yard par four with a stroke index of one, your first thought needs to be that Rory McIlroy is supposed to par the hole, you're not. The par of a hole is what a scratch golfer is supposed to play it in, so unless you're a scratch golfer don't think you have to par it.
You're not going to go from 18 handicap to single figures in one round: you'll do it by shaving off a shot at a time, and using the stroke indices properly can be like having a great caddy. Look at how many shots you get against your handicap and plan which holes to use them on, using the stroke indices as your guide. A 420-yard par four is scary: a 420-yard par five is way more attractive to play, and you'll make way more fours playing it as a five.
Mistake #2
AI: Letting One Bad Hole Ruin the Round
It’s a classic trait to mutter "well, that’s my card gone" after a triple bogey on the 3rd. But golf’s a game of recovery, not perfection. Club golfers often carry a bad hole for the rest of the round, letting frustration turn into poor decisions. The best way to lower your score? Forget what’s behind you and play what’s in front of you. One bad swing doesn’t define your day…unless you let it.
Club Captain: Kidding Themselves That They’ve Got ‘Brysonpower’
Watches and rangefinders mean it’s never been easier to know it’s 166 yards to the flag but what use is that when you don’t know what club you hit 166 yards? PGA Tour pros hit their wedges 166 yards but you don’t, even if you tell other people you do. Go to a driving range, hit 30 balls with each club, record the carry and run-out distances, discard the outliers, then average out the rest. Write your distances down and take them with you every time you play, then keep updating them based on what actually happens out on the course.
This Is The #1 MISTAKE You’re Probably Making
AI: Not Getting Custom-Fitted Equipment
Many golfers, especially in the UK’s club scene, are more than happy to invest in top-of-the-line drivers, iron sets, and putters. And why not? Golf is a passion and often a pursuit of perfection.
But here’s the mistake: buying premium clubs off the shelf without getting custom-fitted. Even the best gear in the world won’t perform at its best if it’s not matched to your swing. Length, lie angle, shaft flex, grip size, these all influence contact, consistency, and confidence. It’s the same logic behind selecting the right electric golf trolley. Without the right setup, you’re not unlocking the full potential.
A custom fit turns good equipment into great performance. And for golfers who care about results, it's a no-brainer.
Club Captain: Buying Clubs, Not Lessons
If you're driving to the club and your car breaks down the first thing you do is call the RAC and get an expert to fix the problem, you don't just buy a new car. To often when a golfer’s swing goes wrong the first thing they say is "I know what I did wrong there" and if it keeps going wrong they go out and buy a new driver. Stop. Find a professional teacher you like and trust, then do what he or she says. And every £100 you spend on equipment spend another £100 on lessons with them!
So Who Wins, AI or The Club Captain?
The truth? They both do. AI brings sharp, data-driven insight. Robert brings decades of real-world wisdom. If you want to get better, the smartest approach is to use both, combine knowledge with experience, and swing with intent.
Who do you think won this debate? Leave a comment down below.
Mistake #5
AI: Ignoring Course Management
Too many golfers step onto the tee box with one thing in mind: smash it as far as possible. But just because you can reach for the driver doesn’t mean you should.
Smart golf is about playing to your strengths-and away from your weaknesses. That means thinking your way around the course, laying up when needed, and knowing where you don’t want to miss. Club members who play their home course every week still fall into the trap of autopilot golf. Next time, try asking yourself: what’s the smart shot here? Not just the sexy one.
Club Captain: Thinking Golf Is Just About Hitting A Golf Ball
In your four-hour round of golf you'll be swinging or putting for less than eight minutes. Those 90-odd swings and putts are of course crucial, but so many totally waste the rest of the time. Instead, think about what your strategy is going to be for the hole you're playing; forget your last bad shot and visualise only your next good shot; watch how the wind is affecting other players' shots; see how everyone's balls are running on the greens; keep hydrated and fed; conserve your energy.
Mistake #4
AI: Neglecting The Short Game
We all love a booming drive or a crisply struck iron, but it’s the wedge and putter that quietly do the scoring. Ask any club pro—they’ll tell you most golfers could shave five shots off their handicap by practicing 50-yard chips and six-foot putts instead of chasing the mythical “perfect swing.”
Especially in unpredictable weather, players need to master bump-and-runs and awkward lies. If you’re spending more time at the range than on the short game area, you’re hurting your own progress.
Club Captain: Watching Happy Gilmore Instead of Jurassic Park
Stay with me on this one. Having finished the previous hole many walk to the next tee, pull out their driver, and then start thinking where to aim. But that’s not how golf works. Look at the green first and work out what club you want to be playing into it, then work backwards to the tee from there. If you want to consider driver forget the Happy Gilmore run-up, think more about Jurassic Park: just because you CAN doesn't mean you SHOULD! The shorter the club you take off the tee the better chance you have to being straight with it, and golf is a lot simpler played from the fairway.
Mistake #3
AI: Playing The Wrong Tees
We’ve all seen it: golfers battling 420-yard par 4s from the back tees when they’ve no hope of reaching in two. Golf is supposed to be fun and challenging for the right reasons. Many US clubs now encourage “playing it forward,” but ego still gets in the way. The right tees can mean more reachable greens, fewer three-woods into par 4s, and ultimately, a more enjoyable round. It’s not about proving anything, it's about playing the course that suits your game.
Club Captain: Thinking Rory’s Pars Are the Same as Their Pars
If you’re playing off an 18 handicap, the best chance you have to play to or even below your handicap is not to make birdies, it's to not make double bogeys: and the best way to not make double bogeys is to not try too hard to make pars. If you walk onto a 400+ yard par four with a stroke index of one, your first thought needs to be that Rory McIlroy is supposed to par the hole, you're not. The par of a hole is what a scratch golfer is supposed to play it in, so unless you're a scratch golfer don't think you have to par it.
You're not going to go from 18 handicap to single figures in one round: you'll do it by shaving off a shot at a time, and using the stroke indices properly can be like having a great caddy. Look at how many shots you get against your handicap and plan which holes to use them on, using the stroke indices as your guide. A 420-yard par four is scary: a 420-yard par five is way more attractive to play, and you'll make way more fours playing it as a five.
Mistake #2
AI: Letting One Bad Hole Ruin the Round
It’s a classic trait to mutter "well, that’s my card gone" after a triple bogey on the 3rd. But golf’s a game of recovery, not perfection.
Club golfers often carry a bad hole for the rest of the round, letting frustration turn into poor decisions. The best way to lower your score? Forget what’s behind you and play what’s in front of you. One bad swing doesn’t define your day…unless you let it.
Club Captain: Kidding Themselves That They’ve Got ‘Brysonpower’
Watches and rangefinders mean it’s never been easier to know it’s 166 yards to the flag but what use is that when you don’t know what club you hit 166 yards? PGA Tour pros hit their wedges 166 yards but you don’t, even if you tell other people you do. Go to a driving range, hit 30 balls with each club, record the carry and run-out distances, discard the outliers, then average out the rest. Write your distances down and take them with you every time you play, then keep updating them based on what actually happens out on the course.
This Is The #1 MISTAKE You’re Probably Making
AI: Not Getting Custom-Fitted Equipment
Many golfers, especially in the USA's club scene, are more than happy to invest in top-of-the-line drivers, iron sets, and putters. And why not? Golf is a passion and often a pursuit of perfection.
But here’s the mistake: buying premium clubs off the shelf without getting custom-fitted. Even the best gear in the world won’t perform at its best if it’s not matched to your swing. Length, lie angle, shaft flex, grip size, these all influence contact, consistency, and confidence. It’s the same logic behind selecting the right electric golf trolley. Without the right setup, you’re not unlocking the full potential.
A custom fit turns good equipment into great performance. And for golfers who care about results, it's a no-brainer.
Club Captain: Buying Clubs, Not Lessons
If you're driving to the club and your car breaks down the first thing you do is call the RAC and get an expert to fix the problem, you don't just buy a new car. To often when a golfer’s swing goes wrong the first thing they say is "I know what I did wrong there" and if it keeps going wrong they go out and buy a new driver. Stop. Find a professional teacher you like and trust, then do what he or she says. And every $100 you spend on equipment spend another $100 on lessons with them!
So, Who Wins, AI Or The Club Captain?
The truth? They both do. AI brings sharp, data-driven insight. Robert brings decades of real-world wisdom. If you want to get better, the smartest approach is to use both, combine knowledge with experience, and swing with intent.
Who do you think won this debate? Leave a comment down below.
Great insight offered here. I’ve made all of those mistakes and continue to tell myself untruths about my skill and ability! What a great game!