Canadian teaching pro Philippe Gariepy turned heads–and camera lenses–when he rolled up to the green at the PGA Championship of Canada wielding the shortest legal putter allowed: 18 inches. In an era dominated by broom-handle long putters, Gariepy’s tiny flatstick appears closer to a child’s toy than a tool of elite golf, but it worked.
A video shared by PGA of Canada went viral within hours, capturing Gariepy holing a 10-foot putt with the mini‑shaft and later recording a hole-in-one on the course’s par‑3 second hole. His opening round, one-under-par 71, landed him tied for 16th in a field of more than 100 professional and club‑pro competitors. As Golf Monthly reported, he trailed the leader by six strokes after Day One.
An Experiment That Began Almost by Accident
This isn’t a gimmick or a publicity stunt. Gariepy first experimented with a miniature putter about a decade ago during a casual round, when he borrowed a child’s club and sank multiple putts in a row. The experience prompted him to custom-cut a putter down to just over 21 inches, which he later refined to a legal 18-inch version built from a $50 model with an adjusted head angle.
Gariepy, who stands 6-foot-4, explained the logic: bent-over putting led to back pain, so he adopted a wide stance and squatting posture. The shorter shaft also means, by nature, less wrist rotation, leading to greater stroke consistency. In his words: “It’s impossible to yip.”
What the Mini Putter Achieved On the Course
Even on slick Canadian greens that favored longer sticks, Gariepy handled the pressure. He began his round two-under through nine holes and stayed solid at one-under overall, despite a couple of bogeys on the back side. His performance earned him some serious attention, especially after the video clip exploded online.
That ace on the second hole helped push his scorecard to -1, raising eyebrows–especially given the unconventional nature of his gear. GolfWRX writers pointed out that although most professionals game putter lengths between 32 and 36 inches, Gariepy opted for the minimum legal length, and thrived.
Even when he mishit a short par‑5 on the second day–the result was a rare triple-bogey–it seemed to have little to do with the putter and more to do with pressure. Gariepy self-reported the error, shooting an 83 that cost him the cut, but his approach remained unshaken.
The Upside–and Limitations–of Putting Small
Putting experts say shorter shafts can yield better alignment, because you’re closer to the ground and over the ball more consistently. The reduced wrist action limits movement, creating a straighter stroke. Gariepy’s stance and mechanics seem tailor-made to exploit those benefits.
But it also comes with trade-offs: distance control is tougher, especially on slower greens. Gariepy admits he switches back to a full-length putter when speeds drop–a reminder that this style isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution.
Golf.com also noted that while names like Robert Garrigus have previously succeeded with putters shorter than average (around 28.5 inches), Gariepy’s length is unprecedented in modern competitive play–pushing the rules to their outer edge.
Rules of Golf allow a putter as short as 18 inches, but few pros ever push that boundary. Philippe Gariepy didn’t just push it–he embraced it, built around it, and used it to generate buzz and performance.
He might not be reshaping golf tradition, but he’s opened a conversation: if you’re struggling on the greens, maybe it’s time to get a little closer to the ball.
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