Playing golf offers a roller coaster ride that many players ride with anticipation. Golfers are the eternal optimists who live in anticipation for 0.5 seconds at a time. From the point of contact until we actually see our ball flight, we ride the high of hope that of hitting that one uplifting golf shot that quenches our desires for excellence. Our intent is to always hit shots like these, but unfortunately there are very few instances where the thrill of hope lasts until our ball lands.
With all the shots I have hit over the years, I can say that at 10% or more held my attention until the ball came to a stop. I am not talking about watching a ball so I can find it, but focused on the results because I hit an amazing approach shot, a longer than normal shot, or one I hoping would not find danger. The perfect hole for hitting an uplifting shot is the sixth hole at Osprey Links.
The image above is of the sixth hole at Osprey Links from the white tee box. The telephone down the center of the image is the center of the fairway. I hit a 3 wood at that target (which is my normal shot), I wall be approximately 110 to 100 yards from the center of the green. A very safe and respectable location. The second telephone pole on the right is in direct line to the green. It is about 260 yard carry to get over the pond if I took that line, so not at all a possibility for my game. I play the safe shot 85% of the time when I play this hole.
If I am feeling aggressive, I will hit my 3 wood just left of the bench, which is about 5 yards left of the pond in the distance. This line rolls out to about 40 yards from the green and it sets up an easy flip shot to the middle of the green. The challenge with this line is that even if the ball lands on the line I chose, the ball could easily bounce into the pond. The risk is much higher on this line, but if the results turn out the way I plan, this shot is very uplifting to my game. For some reason my confidence builds as I watch my ball fly on the line and roll out to where I want it to.
For those asking, a driver is far too much club and I have rolled out in more trouble than not, so it stays in the bag. I have tried to cut a ball around the corner and I am uplift until my ball either lands in the pond or it rolls out into the rough or worse. Driver is the not really and option on this hole unless we are playing in a scramble.
Watching my ball flight on the sixth hole for the first 0.5 seconds after contact is a great example of how uplifting a golf shot can be. If successful, then good things will happen for the rest of round. If not, well I have 12 more holes to make up for my mistake. Regardless, it is a fun tee shot and sometimes we just have to go for the gold…..right?
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!
The Grateful Golfer 
Jim, ego-based players will pull driver on that shot to satisfy their need for length. Technicians will leave it in the bag and take satisfaction from par or birdie rather than bogey or worse. In fact, I’d rather have 100 yards in than 40. The former is a stock gap wedge, and at 40, I’d have to manufacture something with my lob wedge or bump something low and hope I apply the right amount of weight. In either case, I can get it closer 9 times out of 10 with something I practice regularly.
Stick with the 3WD. 🙂
Brian
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Brian,
I agree on the 3 wood. Normally, I would agree about the 100 yard shot over a 40 yard chip. In this case, however the 40 yard shot works better for the shape of the green. It is one of those unique holes where convention doe snot work.
Cheers Jim
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I don’t like the idea of allowing myself to feel better over a good shot taken on the risky line than a good shot taken on the safe line. I’m going to stare them both down though and while I will surely stare the riskier parts down more intensely, that is only natural because of the risk. What I want to feel as the only difference between those two scenario’s is some relief that I didn’t blow it by taking the riskier line.
The risk/reward adrenaline boost can be additive. Allowing myself to deem the successful completion of one as better than an equally good shot taken with less risk is a possible path to allowing less sensible decisions.
I want to see it as just one of many good shots, and one I got away with “this time”. That’s not how it works all the time of course. The hero shot is something we will always feel strongly about. I just try and temper that a bit. Then again, I’m more like a DJ in a normal round than a Reed at the Ryder Cup. I try and keep as even as possible through the good, the great, the bad and the rotten. It helps me to keep the good coming and the bad away as much as possible.
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Kevin,
I like your point about an adrenaline boost being additive. I can see how it would affect our thinking later in the round. However, I still like to feel the joy of hitting a good shot and find that it does help my mental approach for future shots. I too am very calm when playing; the odd boost is a good thing for my game.
Cheers Jim
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