Golf by David McPherson I’m pretty sure that Paul Simon was not referring to a friend of his on the golf course when he penned this classic song. Golf is a game where pace of play is a concern. While the best way to succeed – from a mental standpoint – is to slow your mind down and get rid of unwanted swing thoughts, playing at a turtle’s pace is not welcome. There is a reason that most modern claubs employ a course Marshall – to monitor pace of play. I’m sure that each of you has witnessed this scenario: Years ago, I played often with a good friend. I nicknamed him Sergio after PGA Tour player Sergio Garcia – not for his ball-striking prowess or the finesse in his game, but because he was slow. Painfully slow. He didn’t just take one practice swing. He took three. He deliberated over every shot – even checking his breathing as if he were in a Lamaze class. Maybe one out of three ended up well. On the greens, he was painstakingly sluggish. There were times when I wanted to scream at him to just hit the ball already as he lined up his putt from every angle, even lying down to read the grain of the green so he would know the right break. Give me a break! It was especially embarrassing when there was a group pressing us from behind and I wanted to let them through, but his pride would intervene and he wouldn’t even realize how his actions were making the rounds of everyone around him miserable. It’s one thing to be methodical and study your shot from every possible angle if your putt is to win the Green Jacket but, if you are just out for a fun round with your friends, it’s far less appropriate; more often, it’s just plain annoying. I’ve been on the course many times when the group in front of us is taking forever to get off the green, while my father and I wait to hit our approach shots. My dad’s usually fairly mild-mannered, but I’ve seen him get oh so angry whenever we encounter slow play on the golf course. It drives him mad, literally. Slow play is one of many reasons cited that drives people away from this wonderful game. Look at some of the rising stars such as Rory McIlroy and Rickie Fowler: these PGA Tour stalwarts play fast; yet, they are still highly effective. If they can stay focused and play well while playing up to speed, you can too. So, how slow is too slow and how fast is too fast? And what causes slow play anyway, besides the aforementioned scenario of taking toomuch time preparing and practising prior to each shot? The No.1 culprit of slow play is not being ready. You hear the term, “Ready Golf.”What does it mean, anyway? Just like it says, it’s about being ready to hit your shot when it’s your turn. Wait, you cry, that’s against golf etiquette. The person with the low score on the last hole gets the honour off the tee? Agreed, but if you adopt a more laid-back approach, and whoever is ready tees off first, you’ll be amazed at how much time you will save during the round. If you have to take that extra practice swing or line up your putt from a couple of angles (I still highly advise against this), you can do it while your opponent is hitting their shot. I know that we all hate losing that brand-new Pro V1 we paid $... for, or the logo ball you bought during your trip to TPC Sawgrass, especially as retirees when you are on a fixed income – but let it go. It’s just a ball. Spend a few minutes looking for it and then call off the search party. Spending too much time looking for an errant ball is another cause of slow play. While you are bumbling around in the woods, searching for that little white sphere, the players behind you are catching up. Take too long to look for that ball and they’ll be ready to hit and have to wait. Another thing. We all have bad holes. This game is tough. Again, I know that you are all honest golfers and want to record your correct score on each hole. But, if you are really struggling on a particular hole, just pick up your ball, mark down the maximum score for your handicap, forget about it, and move on to the next hole. I’m sure that you’ve all played with that person who insists on lining up his putt and reading the green, even when it’s for a 10 on a par 3. Slow Down You Think Too Fast, Speed Up “Slow down, you move too fast, You’ve got to make the morning last.” - The 59th Street Bridge Song (“Feeling Groovy”) by Paul Simon 34 | www.snowbirds.org
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