The United States Golf Association (USGA) took the 2013 U.S. Open to the Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, just outside Philly. It was the fifth Open Championship to be held there in the 101 years since the East Course opened. Here, on this tight walking course, fairway accuracy was more important than driving distance. Yet, over the years, the driver has become the iconic tool of the game, and the distance of the drive a statistic that defines one’s golfing ability. Find out how evolving technology and engineering practices have changed the club over time in Science of Golf: Evolution of the Golf Club.

This installment of the Science of Golf series, produced by NBC Learn in partnership with the United States Golf Association (USGA) and Chevron, is one of ten that highlights the science, technology, engineering, and math behind the sport. And the companion NSTA-developed lesson plans give you myriad ideas for building lessons around them or incorporating them into your daily routine.

The videos are available cost-free on www.NBCLearn.com. Leave a comment and us know how you like them!

–Judy Elgin Jensen

Image of vintage driver courtesy of Craig Miles.

Video

SOG: Evolution of the Golf Club discusses the history and physics of golf clubs, along with ongoing research and development aimed at producing progressively better clubs.

STEM Lesson Plan—Adaptable for Grades 7–12

The lesson plan provides ideas for STEM exploration plus strategies to support students in their own quest for answers and as well as a more focused approach that helps all students participate in hands-on inquiry.

SOG: Evolution of the Golf Club describes how students might investigate a question about the design of golf clubs and how the design is related to its functionality.

You can use the following form to e-mail us edited versions of the lesson plans: [contact-form 2 “ChemNow]