Wacky Golf Facts

photo credit: danperry.com     In 1920, Joe Kirkwood won the Australian and New Zealand Open golf tournaments.   Kirkwood was not only a tour player but was an accomplished trick-shot artist who used, what was reputed to be, the world's longest golf club – a driver that measured 10 feet long.   He also swung the world's tiniest club – an 18 inch wedge!   One has to wonder if he had a rules book with him?

Sam Snead never mistook his golf ball for that of another player.   Wilson Company imprinted balls especially for Snead with the number O on them.

In 1921, Emmett French played the very difficult Pinehurst Golf  and C.C.  with only his putter.   French finished the 18 hole layout with a stellar final score of 80!

What’s in Your Wallet?

photo credit: B Rosen     With the global recession getting worse, it's time for a reality check for golf courses.   Consumer spending is down in every area of the economy.   Some courses have been forced to cut their days of operation and, worse yet, many have already filed for bankruptcy.   Yet, it seems that course management is still operating with their heads tucked into the sand!

When the cost of a Coke,  at  the course, is  $4 (cost –  50 cents), and a hot dog $7 (cost  - 50 cents), it's time for consumers to start complaining.   Let me be clear, I don't begrudge profits but it's become obscene.   If courses want to generate more play and stay out of bankruptcy, they need to start making it more economical for the average  Joe  to play golf.    Think about it?

Golf Gear Oddities

photo credit: splashypants     In the 1930s, Walter Hagen's golf set consisted of  twenty irons and  four woods.   The irons were in  half-steps from one to nine (one – one and a half etc).   This occurred well before the 14 club rule.   Hagen's bag weighed  40 lbs!

In the early days of golf, a five  iron was called a “Mashie.”   The term was derived from the French word  masse, which is used today to describe the backspin put on a billiard ball.  

In a 1950s tour event, at the treacherous, wind-beaten, 110-yard 7th hole at Pebble Beach G0lf Links, Sam Snead teed off with his putter (rather than a nine-iron).   He purposely  bounced his ball down the hill and into a front bunker.   Snead made par.

Get There Early

photo credit: rioncm     All too many times players are late for their tee time.   Rushing to the tee to make your start time is not a good way to start your round.   Rushing, no matter what the reason, is a good way to throw your tempo off.

Tour Players get to the course very early, they purposely try to remain in a relaxed mode.   Notice how they take their time between practice shots.   They want to keep their pace relaxed.

Get to the course at least an hour before your tee time.   Take your time on the range and on the practice green.   Allow at least fifteen minutes, after your practice is finished, to unwind a little before you start your round.   Be early  and enjoy  your day.

What are Your Rights?

photo credit: Philip Larson     Playing with strangers is not my “cup of tea.”   Now don't get me wrong, I'm not unfriendly in the least, however, I go to the course to play golf, not to socialize.

I've often wondered why, as a paying customer, you are expected to team-up to play with strangers.   Should you have a right to refuse?   I believe you should have that right.   Aren't YOU the paying customer?   When you are forking over your hard earned money (in many cases greens-fees up to $200), you have the right of refusal.

If you went out to dinner and were seated at a table with strangers how would you react?   I rest my case.   If you prefer to play alone or just with your own two-some, insist to do so.

Information Overload

photo credit: allaboutgeorge     If you are new to the game, it's safe to assume that a large portion of information you consume, about the game, is meant for more advanced players.   When you read articles in various magazines, such as Golf Digest, the instructional information cannot be easily  understood.   Don't fault yourself, even advanced players cannot fully comprehend what is meant by “laying the club open at the top,” or “pro-nation” or “reverse pivot.”   It's really time that instructional articles explain things in a more basic understandable way.

On our two sites, www.golfinstructionblog.com and www.golfswingbook.com that's what we try to do.   No gobbledygook, just basic stuff.  

Being a new player isn't easy, in fact it's downright difficult and that's why we make every effort to communicate in an uncomplicated manner.

Unusual Golf Facts

photo credit: Chris Breikss     Fred McLeod defeated Willie Smith in the playoff for the 1908 U.S. Open Championship, Fred weighed only 108 pounds-the lightest golfer ever to win a U.S. Open title.

Caryl Meeks, of Stamford, Connecticut, buried some of the ashes of Stephen Signore, her longtime companion and an avid golfer, on the 9th fairway of Sterling Farms Golf Club-public course where he played until his death in 1997.   No one would have been the wiser, except that the ashes were dug up by the course superintendent's dog.

Tom Jewell is a self-admitted golf junkie-and a very polite one at that.   Since 1987, he has, without fail, written letters of congratulation to every winner of every single PGA, Senior PGA and LPGA tournament.

Woods Grilled

photo credit: katielips     As preparations began at the 2010 Open Championship at St. Andrews Golf Course in Scotland, Tiger Woods had his first European news conference following his self-induced sex scandal.   Woods, who is going for his third Open Championship, was evasive to some tough questions by an aggressive British press.

The most tense moment for Woods was when a reporter said “Tom Watson said you need to clean up your act on the course.   He's gone on record.   Many of us have heard you use the F word, we've seen you spit on the course and we've seen you throw tantrums and chuck your clubs around.   Are you willing to cut out those tantrums and respect the home of golf?”   Woods replied “I'm trying to become a better player and a better person.”   Time will tell. . .

Sand Shots

photo credit: bradleypjohnson     Many golfers fear sand traps, especially new players.   Once in, how do you get out?   Sand traps (bunkers) can present a problem to even the most seasoned players but a trap shot need not intimidate you.   Remember, a successful trap shot depends largely on the type of lie you have.

Tips:   1)   pick a target (landing area) on the green.   2)   open your stance, aiming  left of target.   3)    nestle feet into the sand an inch or so.   4)   use a sand-wedge and open the clubface.   5)   turn your right hand over (counter-clockwise) slightly.   6)   hit 1-2 inches behind the ball.   7)   break your  wrists early and bring the club back in a moe upright fashion.   8)   be sure to follow-through.

“What Train?”

photo credit: Harry Limey     Famed golfer, Joyce Withered, in winning the 1920 English Championship, sank an eight-foot putt on the 17th hole to beat Cecil Leitch.   As Wethered stroked the pressure packed putt, a train roared by in a track-rattling fury that shook the gallery but left her unfazed.   When asked how she avoided the distraction of the locomotive, Whethered said, “what train?”

Cy Julsebus, an avid golfer, played the game for 60 years without experiencing the thrill of a hole-in-one.   Then in 1996, the 75-year-old from Carroll, Iowa, nailed not one but three aces at the Carroll Country Club.   Cy tallied his triple play of holes in one with his 7-iron.  

Tell us about your hole-in-one experiences?   and learn more at: www.golfswingbook.com.

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