Gary Van Sickle

Joined: Aug 3, 2022

Van Sickle has covered golf since 1980, following the tours to 125 men’s major championships, 14 Ryder Cups and one sweet roundtrip flight on the late Concorde. He is likely the only active golf writer who covered Tiger Woods during his first pro victory, in Las Vegas in 1996, and his 81st, in Augusta. Van Sickle’s work appeared, in order, in The Milwaukee Journal, Golf World magazine, Sports Illustrated (20 years) and Golf.com. He is a former president of the Golf Writers Association of America. His knees are shot, but he used to be a half-decent player. He competed in two national championships (U.S. Senior Amateur, most recently in 2014); made it to U.S. Open sectional qualifying once and narrowly missed the Open by a scant 17 shots (mostly due to poor officiating); won 10 club championships; and made seven holes-in-one (though none lately). Van Sickle’s golf equipment stories usually are based on personal field-testing, not press-release rewrites. His nickname is Van Cynical. Yeah, he earned it.

Golf

Ranking the Contenders in a PGA Championship Worthy of Another Kentucky Classic

NASCAR

With Mistakes at Amen Corner, Three Chasers Saw Their Masters Hopes Dashed

Soccer

Masters Rookie Ludvig Åberg Is a Contender Not to Be Overlooked

NFL

The Masters Opening Tee Shot Ceremony Was a Reminder of Our Own Mortality

Golf

Winners and Losers From the Players Championship Merchandise Tent

You can't attend a golf tournament without a merch run, and Gary Van Sickle found a few things worth buying (and not) at TPC Sawgrass.

Golf

From Retro Finds to the Latest Tech, the PGA Show Again Had It All

Avid gearhead Gary Van Sickle was in Orlando last week and found plenty worth putting in the bag for 2024.

Golf

With This Golf GPS Speaker, You Come for the Music and Stay for the Golf

The Player+ speaker and GPS unit from Blue Tees is irresistible if you like your golf with a soundtrack—just don't forget it when you leave.

Golf

Orca Golf Bags Are a Splash Thanks to Two Women Founders

In addition to its regular lineup of distinctive bags, Orca Golf's newest creations feature artwork from artist/conservationist Guy Harvey.

Golf

401 Feet! The Inside Story of the World's Longest Putt

On a Wisconsin September evening, a semi-retired advertising executive canned a putt longer than a football field—and now you can try to beat his record.

Golf

Light Is Right (and Long) With These Reimagined Woods and Irons

Cobra's Air-X clubs deliver on a promise of more speed, which Gary Van Sickle found translates to more distance.

Golf

Odyssey's Newest Putters Let You Look Under the Hood at the Tech

The AI-One series includes an insert designed for better feel in the battle against three-putts.

Golf

Q&A: Rob O’Loughlin, Golf Innovator, Has One Last Big Idea for Golf

Rob O’Loughlin changed golf with Softspikes, and he's hoping for one more breakthrough with bigger cups.

Golf

Save the Earth, If Not Strokes, With Sun Mountain's Best Stand Bag Yet

Golf

Q&A: Peter Jacobsen on the New World Champions Cup, Jake Trout and 'Tin Cup'

Golf

Discovering a Nine-Hole Fantasy Island Gem in Michigan

Golf

Q&A: World Long Drive Champ Kyle Berkshire on His Hair, Nickname and Driver Flex (It's Not What You Think)