| T.R | Title | User | Personal
Name | Date | Lines |
|---|
| 143.1 | | DICKNS::F_MCGOWAN | | Sat Aug 29 1987 01:15 | 34 |
| Gary McCord, who does commentary on CBS (when he's not actively
part of the golf tournament itself) had a fairly dry comment to
make when one of the pros tossed (not "threw") his putter after
3-putting:
"There's Watson [or whoever it was], giving his putter a little air time."
Well, I found it somewhat amusing...
Has anyone started a note regarding boorish behavior? I guess we've
all had moments when we've "lost it," and given vent to our frustra-
tion, only to regret it a few seconds later when we've realized
our top-of-the-voice obscenities have been overheard by a foursome of
clergy on the adjacent fairway. However, much as I've wanted to,
I've never thrown or hurled a club (even my pitching wedge, which
so richly deserves it). I was appalled a while ago when my friend
and playing partner responded to a 3-putt by using his brand-new
Inertial Slotline ($65.00) putter as though it were the weight in
the hammerthrow...it looked like a helicopter blade as it rotated
off towards the woods behind the green. I made a point of telling
him that if he ever did anything like that again, he could find
himself a new partner.
The most amusing response to bad shots I've encountered (and possibly
the healthiest) was the one I witnessed last week: Whenever this
guy (let's call him Ralph, because that was his name) hit a clunker,
he simply let out a loud roar (my wife called it a primal scream),
which seemed to release the frustration, and he then calmed right
down and got on with the game. I guess it could get a little out
of hand (not to mention noisy) if everyone had that response, but it
seemed to work for him.
Frank
|
| 143.2 | Nothing worse than throwing clubs | ARMORY::WELLSPEAK | It's a Boy | Mon Aug 31 1987 17:09 | 23 |
| I remember a time about 4 years ago, that a friend of mine bent
a brand new Executive wedge throwing his club. He was on the right
side of the 7th green, about 15 feet off and was chipping, when
he hit a bad shot that did not even make the putting surface. Since
we were playing a match and I was putting for birdie from about
10 feet, and he wasn't even on the green in 3, he decided to let
out his frustrations by imitating a helicopter with his pitching
wedge. It was from a brand new set, used only twice before too.
It was an amazing imitation, until it hit the large pine tree
on the left side of the green. When it came to rest on the
ground, bent at almost a 90 degree angle, I naturally started to
yell at the club. "THAT'S WHAT YOU GET FOR NOT GETTING THAT BALL
CLOSE TO THE PIN, YOU IDIOT!!! HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL
YOU TO FOLLOW THRU, AND KEEP YOUR $%^#$^# HEAD DOWN!!!", I said.
The group on the adjacent fairway, must have thought I flipped,
and my opponent said, "Beak, will you stop it, you're embarrasing
me!". At which point, I calmly picked up his wedge and handed it
to him with a smile, and said, "Get the picture?". He then began
to laugh, and said, "Yes, next time I'll just yell at the club,
instead of throwing it". I just said well that's a start, anyway.
Beak_who_has_never_throw_a_club
|
| 143.3 | | DICKNS::F_MCGOWAN | | Mon Aug 31 1987 18:31 | 13 |
| The behavior of one's partners, playing companions, et al can have
a major effect on how you yourself play & behave. Yesterday I had
a partner who was virtually unflappable, regardless of what happened
to him. He's a pretty good golfer (high 30's/low 40's for 9), but
he can hit some pretty awful shots like all the rest of us weekenders.
The difference is, his reactions: the most upset he got (and he
had reason to be pretty upset when he tripled an easy par 4) was
demonstrated by a wry grimace! I found myself playing better (44
for 9, with two triples), and not behaving boorishly or getting
totally blown out by a bad shot or a bad break.
Frank
|
| 143.4 | smooth emotions for smooth swing | DIXIE1::KLEIN | | Wed Sep 02 1987 02:23 | 28 |
|
I used to be a 'club thrower' and now when I see people doing it
I realize how badly it looks, and how un-comfortable it makes
others feel. A couple of things that made me 'kick the habit':
1. If you shoot, let's say: 85, you have to realize that 1 bad
shot is only 1 stroke out of 85. You'll have PLENTY of opportunity
to make that up *IF* you keep your cool.
2. I'm sure everyone has had a horrible front 9 and just can't wait
to 'start over' on the 10th tee, and then had a good back nine.
You have to take that attitute a bit further. Start over on the
next tee after a bad shot or, better yet, start over on the next
shot (if you've cooled down yet).
3. Play more match play. The beauty of match play is that no matter
how bad you play on 1 hole, it doesn't effect the entire round.
The Stapleford point system is also like that.
4. Laugh it off!! Say something like: "Boy, that was a beauty!!"
Call yourself a Jerk and forget about it.
Isn't it funny how you've had a bogie on a hole and feel great about
it (scrambling to save bogie), and other times you've felt rotten
about par (reaching a par 5 in two and then 3-putting).
-Joe (I'm a 'scratch' golfer...I hit the ball, 'scratch' my head,
and wonder what went wrong)
|
| 143.5 | | DICKNS::F_MCGOWAN | | Wed Sep 02 1987 23:17 | 15 |
| Re. 4 - Yeah, it's the old saying, "forget the last shot - there's
nothing you can do about it now" approach to the game. But that
can be as hard to master as recovering from a buried lie in a bunker!
It is certainly the key to an enjoyable (or at least not totally
miserable round) though. Recently I committed one of my famous "snap
fades" (a/k/a "shank") on an approach, which, till recently would
have provoked something very close to a tantrum. This time I was
able to laugh about it, and it really helped me keep my cool and
par the next hole. It's too easy to put pressure on yourself to
make great shots all the time and reach some unrealistic goal you've
set for yourself. That can really take the fun out of the game;
and I agree that match or Stableford scoring is the way to go for
most of us weekend duffers! Meantime, I'm working to eliminate the
snap fade so I can save my sense of humor from being overworked!!
|
| 143.6 | Forget your troubles, come on get happy | BEES::SCHLIESMANN | None of the above | Fri Sep 04 1987 19:15 | 8 |
| A temper is the worst thing to carry with you on the golf course. I like
.-2's thoughts about match play. When on the High School golf team, I would
throw clubs, and swear. I spent the last 7 years away from golf (I lived
in Manhattan - not too many courses there), and started playing again this
year. Playing is *much* more enjoyable now that I've left my temper behind.
I complain a lot ("I pulled it!", "I left it short"), but the ability to
forget the bad shots and move on is invaluable. I was a 20 in HS, and now
carry a 10. I think it's all because I don't get mad anymore.
|
| 143.7 | True temper... | DICKNS::F_MCGOWAN | | Fri Sep 04 1987 19:50 | 19 |
| Re. 6
Your comments on temper are right on the money. I quit the game
for a full 10 years after doing something in a fit of temper that
could very well have injured the person who was with me very severely.
I was so shook up I sold my clubs and swore I wouldn't play again
until I could control my temper. Well, I started again last season
and, though I still have the same cheap Irish temper I was born
with, I seem to have it under much tighter reins. I still get steamed
at myself, but I don't let it get out of hand, and the game is a
lot more fun than it was when I was taking it all too damned seriously.
And my playing seems to be better (of course, it could be that I
can't remember that clearly back 11 or 12 years!). By the way, the
person who was with me that fateful day is now my wife (and herself
a pretty decent weekend golfer, who has come to understand just
how frustrating it can be to stub a chip shot from the fringe).
Frank
|