Every golfer understands the main premise of playing is to hit as few strokes as possible. It is the one sport where less is more. My best rounds have been subpar and those scores brought me the most joy. It is kind of an odd approach to a sport, yet it is the foundation of participation. Keeping this in mind, I have a few false assumptions that amateurs make that flies in the face of the core tenet of golf. Additionally, the same amateurs focus their approach to golf that actually elicits higher golf scores; kind of strange, right?
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Intimidated By Your Opponent In Golf
Watching the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play yesterday sparked my curiosity. As I watched Dustin Johnson battle Brooks Koepka battle for the win, I wondered if either was intimidated by their opponent. Probably not because they are the tops in the world rankings. How about Shamus Power (42) or Corry Conners (35) who are ranked much lower in the standings playing their matches. I would suggest that many professional golfers are less intimidated during any match vice that of an amateur. Amateurs battle many other factors that could easily cause them to be intimidated during competitive matches.
Continue readingClosing The Door On Challengers On The Golf Course
Golf is all about being able to play our game when the pressure is increases. During in a tournament, the ability to make your smooth stroke after watching your opponent make a great shot is a skill that is developed over years. However, the real skill for any golfer to build is the foundation of play that allows you to close the door on your opponents when needed.
Continue readingGaining Strokes On The Field
This relatively new way of recording stats in golf deals with gaining strokes on the field. It is a interesting way to see how a player is fairing against the field. I am not sure as an amateur how this would help our game because it would be almost impossible to track, but as a professional I can see how it would help. For example, Cameron Smith gained 11.5 strokes will putting at last weekends Players Championship. I think with this stat alone it shows why he won. Knowing this, what really is gaining strokes on the field in golf?
Continue readingDo You Trash Talk Playing Golf?
I am not 100% certain that golfers do much trash talking. I understand we do poke fun during a friendly, however I am not so sure that it is acceptable to taunt your opponent during a tournament. I can say without hesitation that it has never happened during any group I played in during competition. Having said that, there does seem to be instances where trash talking / taunting is all part of the show.
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The Grateful Golfer 