This GHIN & Tonic ran in the September 23rd, 2026 edition of the No Laying Up newsletter. Be the first to know when a G&T drops when you subscribe to the NLU newsletter here.
GHIN
No, the Presidents Cup is not the Ryder Cup. Yes, it is far from perfect. But it is better than nothing. Here are five things I enjoy about it and plan to celebrate this week:
1.) It is genuinely cool to see how the International team has developed its structure over the last several years. The 2017 Presidents Cup was a complete humiliation, highlighted by the fact that the U.S. team partied on Saturday night when they almost clinched it before singles. Since then, the cups have been a lot closer (aside from 2024 after LIV decimated their talent pool). It’s easy to poke fun at the lack of wins on the International side, but they’ve got a ton of factors working against them. They’ve also made some pretty serious gains in recent years despite a significant talent gap. Sure, “The Shield” thing can be cheesy, but it’s more of an identity than the U.S. has managed to create, despite the fact that they play a team event every year.
2.) Despite the competition rarely being that close (2019 notwithstanding), once the actual competition starts, it’s kinda fun! There’s always some sort of manufactured controversy, funny antics, questionable decision-making, heroic shots, disastrous shots and energy moments. It lacks the 18-month build-up that the Ryder Cup gets, but once it’s here, I’m guessing you’re watching!
3.) It can be used as a bit of a training ground for future Ryder Cuppers on the U.S. side. We got a first look at Sahith Theegala in Montreal, and…listen, it didn’t go great. OK! That’s fine! Question potentially answered there. Back in 2022, it was Kisner and Horschel. They weren’t the future, either. We’re gonna be able to run the same experiment with Gotterup and Koivun this year. That’s exciting!
4.) The Thursday-Sunday setup is better for fans. It spreads out the first two sessions, which gives you more days of golf and more of an opportunity for the media to digest and break down what happened in the opening session before the next one.
5.) Lastly, matching up individual pairings is a lot more entertaining than blind entries. Steer into the drama!
TONIC
Things that are sick: When people take you up on your recommendations.
I'm obsessed with Amsterdam. I think it's the greatest city in the world, and I genuinely feel a responsibility to ensure that everyone who goes there has a great time and sees the best it has to offer.
So when Chad Coleman from the LPGA Tour asked me for recommendations for his free day in Amsterdam, I gave him my usuals:
- Rent a bike. Just do it. The most fun activity in Amsterdam is to bike around aimlessly until you see a nice cafe seat with a canal view and stop for a beer. It connects you with every part of the city, and it's not a gimmick; it's how people actually get around. The bike can get you to the Jordaan neighborhood, which has everything you could ever want.
- Food: Pizza at La Perla. Apple pie (with cream!) at Winkel 43. Drinks at any number of places, including Cafe P96 (on an actual boat in the canal), Cafe T'Smalle, Papeneiland, Cafe Tabac... or literally anywhere.
So when he sent me this text, my heart absolutely leapt: "Why - and I can not stress this enough - THE HELL did you ever leave this place!?"
That’s the best feeling.
If you're looking for a more extended list of things to do and places to see:
- Van Stopele for cookies. Touristy and a long line, but the one super touristy thing I highly recommend.
- Markets: Noordermarkt. It's on Saturdays in the Jordaan, and it's got great smoothies, cheese shops, sausages, hot stroopwafel and all other kinds of food. And if it's not a Saturday, the Albert Cuyp market is open six days a week.
- Visit the Brouwerij 't IJ brewery. You can have a beer in a brewery in a windmill.
- Foodhallen - massive food hall with all different kinds of food.
- Coffee: Lot 61 or Cafe Maha
- Dutch food to try: Bitterballen (fried balls of minced meat), Kaasstengels (their version of cheese sticks), poffertjes (small pancakes), Stroopwafel
I could keep going, but just promise me that if you get the chance to visit this city, you’ll take it.