Brian VanDongen - From the Drop Zone
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fromthedropzone.bsky.social
Brian VanDongen - From the Drop Zone
@fromthedropzone.bsky.social
Conversations you can have over a cocktail in the clubhouse. On a quest to qualify for a state championship.
You can have your Ohio State-Michigan or your Iron Bowl or your Maui Invitational. Thanksgiving weekend sports wasn’t the same without the Skins Game.

But it’s back this year!

open.substack.com/pub/fromthed...
The Skins Game Returns
A golf sicko's favorite Thanksgiving tradition is back.
open.substack.com
November 26, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Happy 153rd birthday, Donald Ross.
November 23, 2025 at 7:11 PM
A common rule change thought from golfers is that free relief should be given from a ball in a divot. But no one can define what a divot is under the rules. So play it as it lies.

open.substack.com/pub/fromthed...
Play It As It Lies
Because, what exactly is a divot anyway?
open.substack.com
November 19, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Today is the end of active golf season in many places, including my home turf in New Jersey. But it’s not a farewell, it’s a see you soon.

Read FTDZ No. 7 from the archive. open.substack.com/pub/fromthed...
Farewell, Active Golf Season
It's not good bye, but see you soon.
open.substack.com
November 14, 2025 at 4:30 PM
I caught up with Mark the Caddie (@caddietales over on X) to talk about golf and life from the other side of the bag.

fromthedropzone.substack.com/p/q-and-a-wi...
Q&A With Mark The Caddie
A conversation with Mark Milatz, a caddie at Whistling Straits (and @caddietales on X)
fromthedropzone.substack.com
November 12, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Fall ball at Forest Hill.
November 10, 2025 at 2:36 PM
54 holes. Now one of the core rebellions of LIV (hell, they named their league after the number 54) is gone: tournaments are 72 holes. LIV’s revolution just needed an extra day to get what they want … world ranking points.

fromthedropzone.substack.com/p/liv-become...
LIV Becomes Lixy
Or however you pronounce LXXII.
fromthedropzone.substack.com
November 5, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Nothing like a fall home game.
November 2, 2025 at 3:03 PM
“…that bridge, it has some haunted feel to it.”
October 31, 2025 at 1:26 PM
I’ll make sure my alarm is set.
October 30, 2025 at 1:44 AM
Frost delay. One of golf’s most deflating phrases.

But playing on frozen turf can kill the grass and destroy quality course conditions.

fromthedropzone.substack.com/p/the-pain-a...
The Pain and Purpose of a Frost Delay
Frost and fairways don't mix.
fromthedropzone.substack.com
October 29, 2025 at 3:22 PM
I haven’t played golf in three weeks. I need to play this weekend before it gets really cold. (I mean, it’s gonna be a high of 60, which isn’t bad, but a November 60 hits different.) But it seems like everyone else has that idea too, since the tee sheets are packkkedddd.
October 28, 2025 at 4:41 PM
MeTEEdeconk National.
October 27, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Somerset Hills at 6,000 feet.
October 20, 2025 at 7:29 PM
I’ve driven past the USGA Museum sign on I-287 more times than I can count, always thinking I’d stop “someday.” A few weeks ago, I finally did.

open.substack.com/pub/fromthed...
I Finally Took Exit 22A Off Of I-287 To Visit the USGA Museum
It's a gem hiding in plain sight.
open.substack.com
October 15, 2025 at 7:38 PM
If the last (at least) two years of the Ryder Cup taught us anything, it’s that the captaincy matters. So who should be captain in 2027 for the US team?

fromthedropzone.substack.com/p/who-should...
Who Should Be The U.S. Ryder Cup Captain in 2027?
And no, it shouldn't be Tiger.
fromthedropzone.substack.com
October 1, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Assuming Burns wins his match, the final score would be 14.5 to 13.5. With the envelope rule giving a withdrawn singles match a tie and therefore a half point. If that counted as a loss, the score would be 14 to 14, with Europe retaining the Cup.
September 28, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Rolex, please pay for another hour of commercial free golf.
September 28, 2025 at 8:35 PM
These matches are all really good today. This is the Ryder Cup we thought it would be.
September 28, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Gotta think the Nassau Players Club members aren't happy with how their beloved Bethpage Black is playing this weekend.
September 28, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Apparently, the motivational speech in the US team room for today was the 28-3 Super Bowl comeback. That’s only four scores. The US needs 9.5 scores.
September 28, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Instead of having an envelope, I think the Ryder Cup should go like the NHL emergency goalie they just pull a random guy out of the stands to play.
September 28, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Genuinely excited to watch the first four matches tomorrow.

Too bad it seems like the final result is not really in question.
September 28, 2025 at 12:46 AM
Is Luke Donald the European captain in 2027?
September 27, 2025 at 8:42 PM
The biggest European win since 1979 is 18.5 to 9.5 in 2004 at Oakland Hills. Just throwing that out there.
September 27, 2025 at 8:37 PM