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MY THOUGHTS ON IMPORTANT MATTERS
"If profanity had any influence on the flight of the ball, the game of golf would be played far better than it is."
A vast majority if men, when turning on the radio in the morning, will turn to the sports news. People calling in will voice their opinions on why their favorite team blew it the day before. There will be a quick glance at the headlines in their newspaper, and then turn to the sports page. Presidents will make personal calls to individuals, or teams, who have achieved something of heroic proportions the previous day. Stadiums are built to accommodate large crowds of screaming spectators. Without sports for people to let off steam, can you imagine the hell that politicians would have to take from the masses.
Golf is getting so technical today that it is beginning to rival Einstein's theory on relativity. Announcers are continually commenting on the "routine" the players go through before hitting a shot. Unfortunately, many ninety shooters are trying to establish routines before hitting their shots, causing slowing down of play.
My golf started in the wooden shaft age, and I have had many routines over the years. They usually started with a prayer, and then facing as far away from the most severe trouble on that particular hole. My serious golfing days are now well behind me and now my main routine starts in the morning when trying to pick my choice of clothes for the day. My closet is divided equally. All basic browns are on the left and the blues are on the right. My socks are all rolled up in a drawer. I pick out a pair at random. If, upon unrolling a pair, one sock has a hole in the toe, I pick another. When I find a pair without holes, that is my color for the day.
The average golfer, who incidentally is the largest financial supporter of the game, goes out to the golf course with the intention of having a good time. Not being a good golfer, and not having too many opportunities to play, makes it important for him to get off to a reasonable start. All sports have warm up periods before starting. . Golf pros have extensive warm up periods before going to the first tee. Mr. Weekend golfer usually has no warm up at all, and his first shot can set the trend for the rest of the round. I am a firm believer that all golf courses should have very easy starting holes. In order for the golf traffic to thin out, the first par 3 should be no sooner than the third hole. And whenever possible, the last hole should not be going into the setting sun. Many of the newer courses have several sets of tees, which can help make the first hole easier. Let the masochists play the long tees if they want.
History has a habit o f repeating itself. Golf courses, and clubs, are listed very high as non-essential businesses. In World War II thousands of golf courses were closed, while some others reduced the number of holes. Those that were able to stay open, were having to go back to basic maintenance. Too many courses being built today are too elaborate and require too much costly maintenance. Golf courses should be made to encourage new golfers, both with simplicity, and lower costs to the golfer.
"If we played a golf course like this every week, there wouldn't be anyone left at the end of the season. We all would quit the game." Mark Calcavecchia.
So many parents have their youngsters take golf lessons to become another "Tiger." These parents do not have a clue as to what it entails. In some aspects it is similar to learning how to play a musical instrument, however t more complicated. Your musical instrument can be played and practiced at home. Usually at least an hour a day is required. Learning golf also requires practice every day, but where? If they do not have a place to practice, learning will become a long drawn out process, and with less than anticipated results.
I took up the trumpet when I was in the eighth grade. I drove everybody nuts with my practicing. One day my uncle came for a visit, and asked me how long I practiced. I told him an hour a day. He said he would give me a dollar if I practiced an hour. After about fifteen minutes he gave me the dollar to shut up. We had very nice neighbors, and didn't want to lose them, so I hung it up. I did master the triangle for the Christmas play when I was in the fifth grade.
All playing professionals practice constantly. That is their job. They are not salaried, and if they can't produce they lose their playing privileges, and have to play at a lower level. Similar to being taken off as a starter on the first team, and having to work your way back. Out of your top 150 players on the PGA Tour, you would not recognize the names of 125 of them. They are the ones who are just making a living and hoping to make cuts and win a little each week.
There was the case of a young pro who was having a hard time. His money had run out, and he had just missed the cut. He was sitting on the curb in front of the clubhouse wondering what he was going to do next. All of a sudden a gust of wind blew a little piece of paper in front of him. His reflexes made him stomp down on that piece of paper with his heel. It turned out to be a meal ticket and his spikes had punched out all of the free meals.