Most golfers fight a slice their entire golf life. Why? If we’ve got 2 hours we can discuss it. But there’s one basic reason: no turn. Watch a 10 handicapper and you’ll see that the left shoulder (or right shoulder for you lefties) gets close to or maybe a tad behind the ball. Watch a scratch player or a pro and the shoulder is significantly behind the ball, setting up an inside attack – hence a swing path and ball flight to the right and at worst a straight shot. Maybe even a slight draw (a dream of mine).
My Dad had a “nanner” that caused him to practically aim out of bounds to the left! But he had the sweetest short game in the world. His nickname was “Shug”.
A close friend cuts across the ball on every drive and sometimes his left foot winds up a step to the left. But he powers through the ball and usually lands long, splitting the fairway. And he can make a 2 putt from Mars. Doesn’t matter if his lag is 12 feet short or long. In our group his last name is synonymous with a ridiculous 2 putt. But bless his heart if he can do it!
Call it a banana ball, a bad cut or fade or whatever, it’s been bank for club pro lessons forever!
But the sum total of many other little irritants in golf may be more frustrating that that cursed ball flight.
First the course damage left behind by lazy or inept players:
- The front end loader scoops left on tee boxes. I understand divots on a par 3 but on a par 4 or 5 tee box?!? We all hit a dropkick once in a while. But ever notice a gouge on a tee box that goes nearly perpendicular to the fairway? It defies physics! Don’t most carts have sand jars?
- Fairway divots. The worst things next to ball marks on a green. Again, use the sand jar! Or replace the turf. Would you leave that in your backyard? Well maybe you would. I have a friend that took such deep divots that we called him “backhoe”. I played with a co-worker that scooped such a deep divot that he held it up and called a beaver pelt! Playing with the company President!
- The unraked sand trap. I admit it’s taken me multiple attempts to exit a trap. And I’ve had to rake a trap the size of Myrtle Beach. I was in a footprint last weekend that was left by Sasquatch!
- And the worst, as mentioned above, ball marks on greens. Repair tools are really not that heavy. I’ve never seen one that didn’t fit in a pocket. For God’s sake at least use a tee! I guess for a guy that’s 97 or has a gut like they swallowed a red, white and blue ABA ball, it’s not easy to bend over 3 feet. We have one particular green that always resembles the artillery range at Fort Bragg. One day I fixed over 20 ball marks, forgot where my coin was for my own shot and bent over so many times that it took 10 minutes for blood to get back to my feet.
The leaning flag. Are players in that much of a rush to leave the green? OK, you 4 putted from 12 feet or you missed a 2 footer or you hit the green before the ball, but put the stick in the cup – straight. I’ve seen flagsticks leaning like they were in New Orleans during Katrina.
OB markers, or cart entry or exit stakes or rope poles. Did you hit it so badly that you don’t have 10 seconds to replace the stake? Speaking of stakes, we have 4 x 4 red post where you drop for a pond. A friend was 50 feet or so directly behind it and had 200 yards to go. He’s a big boy. He hit a 3 wood, it hit the stake and came back and him square in the _____. 3 groups played through with him flat on his back! The post didn’t need to be replaced, but I’m just sayin’.
This list is endless. Duffers, take heed!
Fairway Follies, Joe Hinson 