Undeserved Praise

photo credit: Dru Bloomfield – At Home in Scottsdale   Why do some players feel as if they need to give you a compliment after, what you feel, is a mediocre golf shot?  I’ve got a golfing buddy like that.  No matter what type of shot I hit, it’s followed by “nice shot.”  I know he means well but too many “nice shots” can be agitating to some, me included.

Don’t get me wrong, I like to be congratulated but ONLY when it is deserving and not until.  I’m there to play golf.  I enjoy having a laugh or two or smoking a good cigar and that’s as far as it goes.

Golf is what you make of it.  Playing golf to me, is a challenge, always has been.  I enjoy the competition but how do you tell your best friend, “enough already?”

Hitting a Draw or Fade

photo credit: JohnHallAssociates   Hitting a draw or fade is not complicated, read on:

Draw:  (ball curves slightly left)  Line up square to your target as you typically would.  Once you are in position continue to maintain the clubface line with the target.  Now, line your body up right of the target.  Use your normal swing and swing along the line of your feet.

Fade: (ball curves slightly right) Once you are lined up with your target in the same manner as before, keep your clubface aligned with the target.  Now aim slightly left of target with your feet.  Swing along the line of your feet.

Using a draw or fade is advantageous when the green is guarded by bunkers front left or right, or if the length of the green is is angled left or right.

THE FLAT STICK by Noah Liberman

photo credit: Pierre -M-   PGA Tour Pros make 99 percent or more of their putts from two feet or closer, right?  Nope.  They miss at least 6 out of every 100-an astonishing high number.  They make roughly one third of their putts from twenty feet right?  No again; they make no more than one in six.  As if the truth of putting weren’t hard enough, we make things worse by imagining it’s easier for the pros than it is.

Gay Brewer, PGA Tour Pro once said “putting is 90 percent mental.  If you think you you can’t putt, you can’t.”  On another occasion he said “the game of golf is 90 percent mental.  The rest is mental.”

PGA Pro, Frank Beard once said, “I’m having putting troubles, but it’s not the putter, it’s the puttee.”  he was implying that the golfer is controlled by the club, not the other way around.

Tommy Armour

photo credit: SD Dirk   Tommy Armour came to the last hole of the 1927 US. Open at Oakmont Country Club, near Pittsburgh, PA., leading the Championship.  In those days, crowd control wasn’t what it is today and the gallery often got close enough to talk with and sometimes distract or even heckle, the players.

After hitting a good drive, Armour approached his ball, selected the right club, and prepared to play his shot.  “You’re supposed to be such a great player, Armour,” said a man standing closely by in the gallery.  “Let’s see you get this one close.”  Armour hit his 3 iron approach ten feet from the hole.  “Will that do?” Armour politely asked the man.  “Yes, but just barely.” said the man, while smirking at Armour.

The Masters

i photo credit: nautical2k   In 1959, in the midst of Arnold Palmer’s remarkable string of wins in the Masters, a quiet, shy player named Art Wall won the Masters by making birdies on five of the last six holes.  Wall had already won 8 tournaments in his career but he was best known for his uncanny record on par 3 holes.

On the evening before the final round that same year, Wall attended a cocktail party and was approached by a local resident.

“Ain’t you Art Wall?” the man asked.  “Yes,” said Wall shyly.  “Ain’t you the guy what’s made all those holes-in-one?”  “Yes sir, thirty-four of them,” said Wall.  “Who you tryin’ to kid,” said the man.  “Bobby (Jones) ain’t made but three.”

The Amazing Lefty Stackhouse and Ky Laffoon

photo credit: mandj98   Lefty Stackhouse was a PGA Pro who had an explosive temper.  He was known to hit his head against trees for missing putts.  He’d also slam his head against his putter.  After missing a crucial put he punched himself and knocked himself out.  Another time Lefty missed a putt and threw the putter, along with his entire set into the water, he also tossed in his Caddie.

Ky Laffoon, another Pro, was so furious at his putter that he dragged it behind his car for 400 miles.  After missing a short putt he once clubbed his own foot, breaking one of his toes. 

As of late, Woody Austin on National TV., hit himself over the head five times after missing a short putt.  He blamed the outburst on his own insecurity.

Dave Pelz on Putting

photo credit: akeg   Quotes from Dave Pelz:  (1)  “When we aim for a spot an inch outside the cup, we’re playing 3 1/8 inches of break (from the center of the cup).  But we call it “an inch of break.”  (2)  “We typically read only 30 % of the real break on a putt, therefor, we miss by 65 to 75 percent of the break.  We miss 90 % of the putts below the hole!”  (3)  “It takes 100 repetitions to form a proper habit and 10,000 to ingrain and own it.”  (4)  “Our body is not to be trusted:  If you find a putting stroke that feels comfortable and natural, it’s likely to lead to disaster.  You must not do whatever feels right to you because it won’t necessarily produce an accurate, repeatable stroke.”

Golf in a Deteriorating Economy

photo credit: copelaes   On February 10, 2009 the president of the IMF. (International Monetary Fund) said,  ”the US. is now in a depression.”  He was the first public figure to call our economic plunge, a “depression.”  What will it mean for golf’s future?

A sagging economy means less play, more lay-offs, less course up-keep and generally deteriorating course conditions.  With course fees and memberships at astronomically high levels, most golfers will reconsider their options.

In my view, courses have to lower their fees to generate play.  Some just don’t get it.  They would rather face bankruptcy than lower their profit margins.  In today’s economy, just staying above water can be a challenge.  To remain solvent,  courses need to lower their fees: the sooner, the better.

Choosing the Right Ball

photo credit: Frank_BB   For years there has been serious debate among amateurs as to which ball is best.  The question is whether to play a high-end premium ball or a moderately priced sphere.  Manufacturers offer so many options that players become confused about making the proper choice. 

Hot Stix Golf recently conducted tests between balls with three-piece construction with urethane cover and balls with a two-piece cover.  The tests were to find the difference in launch angle, spin rate and all-around performance. 

Conclusion:  the 3-piece ball launches lower but spins more.  The 2-piece ball launches higher but spins less.  A ball that spins less (2-piece) can help golfers with slices or hooks. it will also add distance for those with lower swing speeds.  The 2 piece is preferable for those with slower swing speeds.

Six Best Caddie Replies

photo credit: pocketwiley   # 6 Golfer: ”This is the worst course I’ve ever played on.”  Caddie: “The way you play, it is a sin on any day.”

# 5 Golfer:  ”Do you think I can get there with a 5 iron?”  Caddie: “Eventually!”

# 4 Golfer:  “Please stop checking your watch all the time.”  Caddie: It’s not a watch , it is a compass.”

#3 Golfer:  “How do you like my game?”  Caddie: “Very good sir but personally I prefer golf.”

#2 Golfer:  “Do you think it’s a sin to play on Sunday?” Caddie: ”The way you play, sir, it is a sin on any day.”

#1 Golfer: “That can’t be my ball, it is too old.”  Caddie: “It’s been a long time since we teed off, sir.”

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