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  If the ball comes off the wall and hits your body, equipment, or caddie, you will be assessed a two-stroke penalty. You will have to play the ball where it lies. Move your equipment and caddie away from the shot and keep your body out of the line of the shot as much as possible. If your body is in the line of the shot, it may be better to declare the ball unplayable and take a one-stroke penalty, but make certain that your lie for the next shot improves.

  Some walls on golf courses may be considered an “immovable obstruction” from which relief is available. Local rules would apply.

  HOW TO THWART A CHEAT

  Cheating at golf is so pervasive it seems to be part of the game: even people playing alone do it. There are mulligans off the tee, gimmies on the green, and lots of ways to get an unfair advantage in between. Here are a few of the most common scams and how to recognize and defeat them.

  THE LOST BALL ROUTINE

  While searching for a ball lost in the woods, the player drops another ball that he has been carrying and falsely announces to the group that he has found his original ball. He has saved himself a penalty stroke and has positioned the ball as he pleases. A variation on this play is to find a stray ball, claim it, hit it, and move on quickly.

  1 Make a mental note of the markings on your opponent’s ball at the start of the round.

  Notice color, scratches, brand, and number.

  2 Always help to look for a missing ball, and keep an eye on your opponent as well.

  Two people searching also speeds up play.

  IMPROVING A LIE

  The cheat gently taps her ball with a foot or the club, gaining a more favorable position.

  1 Stand near your opponent so that you can see the ball at all times.

  2 Always watch your opponent, and, more important, let her know that she is being watched at all times.

  Subtle comments about her technique, her attire, or the nuances of her address will let her know she’s being carefully observed. You do not have to stand by her side all day long, but put yourself in a position where you can see any errant moves. Being under constant surveillance makes most people less inclined to bend the rules.

  3 Note how much of the ball is visible as you approach it, and mark its position in relation to nearby objects, such as roads, trees, and traps.

  As the cheat goes to take the shot, the amount of the ball that is visible to you, even at a distance, should not change. Watch also for substantial changes in the ball’s location; some players do not stop at simply tapping the ball to improve the lie.

  REPORTING FEWER STROKES

  On a hole on which everything went wrong, she drops a few strokes from the score before announcing or recording it. She realizes that most opponents will lose track at around eight or nine strokes, and may not question such a total for fear of embarrassing themselves or the player.

  1 Keep score carefully yourself.

  See “How to Keep Score without a Pencil“ on page69.

  2 Ask for a careful account of each stroke after every hole.

  Be supportive of your golfing companion. When she has a difficult hole, tell her to hang in there, that it happens to the best, and so on—but when the hole is complete, ask her to recap the hole in a friendly, sympathetic manner.

  PLAYING DUMB

  Though he has hit his ball out of bounds, into the water, or in any other situation where penalty strokes are applicable, he tries to take only one penalty stroke where two are warranted.

  1 At the completion of the hole, ask for a clear account of the score and applicable penalty strokes.

  2 If there is any debate, be courteous, but firm.

  If the scoring remains unresolved, take it up with the club pro at the end of the round.

  FAKE HANDICAP

  Someone who has a five handicap introduces himself to a group of strangers and announces a higher handicap. After shooting a 78, he claims that it was the round of his life, and is somewhat sheepish about taking everyone’s money.

  1 Take out your own USGA handicap card as you are having the discussion about handicaps.

  Tell the stranger that you have all agreed to show each other your cards before starting.

  2 At the end of nine holes, assess where this individual stands.

  If it is clear that things are not what they appear, demand an adjustment in his stated handicap. If he balks, play the back nine, but state that the competition or bet is off. If someone you just met dumps the front nine, scoring above his alleged handicap, be cautious about increasing (“pressing”) a bet on the back nine. It could be a setup.

  Be Aware

  • Keeping an opponent honest requires you to be observant and to hold everyone accountable for his or her strokes as the round unfolds. This may seem tedious at times, and may cause some odd interactions with your opponents. You must decide what is more important to you: interpersonal relations or winning.

  • Cheating can occur even when there is no betting or competition between players. A player seeking to claim a new course record or his own personal best score can seek to shave strokes from the scorecard. You can decide how involved you want to be.

  HOW TO STOP THINKING ABOUT A HORRIBLE SHOT

  1 Express your displeasure.

  It is important to express your anger or frustration with your bad shot so that you can let it go—just be sure to do so responsibly. Vent in a tactful way, in a manner that will not do damage to the golf course, your equipment, or another player.

  2 Praise yourself for what you did right—and for the good shots you have had.

  It is important to recognize your abilities. Pat yourself on the back. Do not get carried away, however; too much self-praise can lead to overconfidence.

  3 Try to relax.

  Breathe from the abdomen, in through the nose and out through the mouth.

  4 Accept the fact that you will hit a few bad shots in any round.

  If you know—but do not fixate on the fact—that you will hit a few bad shots during your round, your anticipation will replace your frustration. Create a checklist in your mind that includes potentially good and bad drives, approach shots, and putts. When you make one of your bad shots, simply check it off of your list and be glad it is gone.

  5 Know that you cannot change the past, you can only alter the future.

  There is no point in looking back to what was because there is nothing you can do about it.

  6 Concentrate on your shots one at a time.

  Each shot requires your focused attention based on the factors that are present at that moment.

  7 Find your zone.

  Learn to find that place where you feel empty just before you swing the club and let your shot happen.

  8 Hit your next shot with confidence.

  CHAPTER 2

  EQUIPMENT DISASTERS

  HOW TO STOP A RUNAWAY CART

  IF YOU ARE IN THE CART

  1 Attempt to shut off the cart.

  If the cart is electric, turn the ignition key to the “off” position. If the cart is gas powered, do not turn the key to the “off” position—leave it in gear.

  2 Try to engage the service brake.

  The service, or hill, brake is located on the top half of the brake pedal. Push it forward until it sticks. If it engages, the cart should stop quickly.

  3 If the service brake fails, wait for the automatic emergency system to stop the cart.

  If you are still moving, there has been a brake failure. Most late-model electric carts also have “downhill braking,” an automatic emergency system that is designed to stop the cart in the event of downhill acceleration. This emergency brake should now engage. Gas carts do not use downhill braking: They have compression braking, which uses the engine to stop the cart experiencing uncontrolled acceleration. This emergency system should also activate automatically.

  4 If the cart does not stop, attempt to ride it out.

  You should be able to steer a golf cart even with the key turned off. Stay in th
e cart and steer onto a gentle incline, which will slow or stop it. Do not jerk the wheel or make any sharp turns. If the car is accelerating downhill or into unsafe terrain and you cannot slow it down, prepare to exit.

  5 Jump out of the cart.

  Do not try to land on your feet. Leap out and away from the path of the cart, rolling on your side to lessen the impact until you are at a safe distance. Protect your head with your arms and aim for grass or other forgiving terrain.

  IF YOU ARE NOT IN THE CART

  1 Evaluate the situation.

  If an empty cart is accelerating downhill and you are far behind, you may not be able to reach it. If the cart is headed uphill or into scrub brush rather than a water hazard, and there are no people in front of the cart, it may slow down on its own. If the cart is headed toward people, a green, or another area where it may cause damage, you may be able to intercept it.

  2 Chase the cart and match its speed.

  Unless the cart is traveling in a straight line downhill from your position, run at an angle that will allow you to catch up with it.

  3 Grab the roof or a roof support.

  If the cart is a model without a roof, grab the back of the seat. Do not reach for the wheel before you are in the cart, or you risk turning the cart into your path and running yourself over.

  4 Swing your body into the cart.

  Do not dive into the cart head first. Pull yourself aboard using your arms. Swing your legs in.

  5 Turn the steering wheel gently to obtain control.

  Do not jerk it.

  6 Steer the cart up a rise or into a sand trap.

  The sand should slow it down and eventually stop it.

  Be Aware

  • The industry maximum speed for both electric and gas golf carts is about 14 miles per hour. (Special vehicles can reach speeds of 18 mph.) A runaway golf cart is usually traveling only with momentum, not with electric or gas power, and should not be traveling at more than a few miles per hour, unless it is going down a hill.

  • Always set the hill brake when leaving the cart, whether or not you have stopped on a hill.

  HOW TO GET A CART OUT OF A SAND TRAP

  1 Check that the rear wheels are on the ground.

  All golf carts are rear-wheel drive and carts have very little chassis ground clearance; they can easily get stuck on uneven terrain. If the cart is partially in, partially out of a trap, or if the trap is on a slope, make sure the rear wheels are on the ground.

  2 Attempt to push the cart onto the ground to obtain more traction.

  The average cart weighs about 800 pounds, but two or three players should be able to push it forward or back enough so that the rear wheels will grab.

  3 If you cannot get it onto solid ground, create traction.

  The tire treads on golf carts are very shallow and will not provide much traction. Try piling sand or small stones around the wheel to increase traction, or place jackets and other clothing under the rear wheels. An empty, collapsible golf bag may also work.

  4 Flag down a passing cart and ask for a tow.

  5 Tow the cart.

  Secure a long, sturdy rope or chain to a tow hook on the chassis in the rear of the cart. If no hook is available, secure the rope or chain to the chassis using several good knots. Secure the other end of the rope to the rear of another cart, on the chassis. A single golf cart should be powerful enough to pull a disabled cart out of trouble. Use slow, steady acceleration to tow the cart until it has become dislodged and can be driven. If no other cart is available, three to five people may be necessary to push or pull the cart out.

  Be Aware

  • Golf carts use an open differential drive train: the power will go to the rear wheel that has the most traction.

  • If the cart is stuck in a bunker on a hill, use caution when towing or driving out. If the hill is steep, do not attempt to drive the cart in a direction that is parallel to the slope of the terrain; you risk losing traction and slipping or possibly overturning. Golf carts are not designed to be used on hills with more than a 25-percent grade (14-degree slope). Be especially careful on wet grass.

  HOW TO START A DEAD CART

  1 Move the key switch to the “off” position.

  If you do not have the key, borrow one from another cart; most cart keys are interchangeable.

  2 Locate the battery.

  The vast majority of golf-cart power failures are due to problems with the battery connections. The battery (or batteries) is generally located under the driver’s seat.

  3 Cover your eyes.

  Put on glasses, sunglasses, or protective goggles before touching the battery.

  4 Move the tow/maintenance switch to “off.”

  Most electric carts have a towing switch that provides power to the electric speed controller. Turning it off will help to prevent arcing (sparking) across the battery. The tow/maintenance switch should be located near the battery. Note that instead of “on” and “off,” the switch may be labeled “run” and “tow/maintenance,” respectively.

  5 Check the terminals for corrosion.

  Look for corrosion where the wires meet the battery terminals. A poor connection at one of the battery terminals may cause the cart to stop running.

  6 Secure the connection.

  A loose connection can cause the amperage to increase, which can damage the cart’s electrical system and prevent it from running. Use clamp-on pliers or vise grips to secure the wire-to-terminal connection. Wear your golfing glove(s) for safety.

  7 Move the tow maintenance switch to “on” (or “run”).

  8 Move the key switch to the “on” position to start the cart.

  9 Put the cart in gear, depress the accelerator, and drive.

  STARTING DEAD GAS CARTS

  • Starter problems with gas carts are usually battery related. First check the battery connections. Repair as appropriate (see preceeding pages).

  • Check to see if you have run out of gas. Refill the tank if it is empty.

  • Check the fuel lines and filter for a blockage or faulty connection. If the problem is not apparent, abandon the cart.

  HOW TO PUTT WITH A DRIVER

  1 Choke up on the grip.

  A driver is longer than most putters. For comfort and control, place your hands lower than you do when you are using the club to drive.

  2 Keep your feet relatively close together.

  Stand taller than you normally do, playing the ball in a position opposite your forward foot.

  3 Move your hands in very close to your body and slant the club forward.

  Tilting the shaft toward the target will decrease, or “close,” the loft of the club face. Turn or adjust the face of the club into a square position.

  4 Position your eyes over the target line.

  Lean your body forward from the hips so your eyes are directly above the target line. You should be able to see the alignment of the club’s face more easily from this position, increasing your chance of making quality contact and rolling the ball with the proper spin.

  5 Do not hit the sweet spot.

  Hitting the ball thin, or low on the face, will give you better control over the distance that you are trying to cover.

  6 Hit smoothly.

  Make an even-paced, smoothly accelerating, and rhythmic stroke, not a popping jerk or a jab. Focus on getting the distance right on longer putts rather than on getting the line exactly right.

  HOW TO DRIVE WITH A PUTTER

  1 Use a sturdy, flange-type putter.

  Most modern putters are not built to handle the force that driving a golf ball produces. Try to use a heavier putter, preferably one with a steel shaft inserted securely into (rather than over) a thick hosel.

  2 Tee the ball up high.

  Since a putter does not have any loft, you will have to tee the ball up high, approximately 1½ to 2 inches off the ground.

  3 Play the ball well forward in your stance.

  Tee the ball forward of your fron
t shoulder.

  4 Take several practice swings to get the feel of swinging a putter.

  Putters are very light and will fly around much faster than a driver, and with much less effort.

  5 Make solid contact with the ball.

  Hit the ball on the upswing. Hitting cleanly is much more important than swinging hard when driving with a putter.

  Be Aware

  • Older, major-brand putters are less likely to break apart on impact. Used-club shops and club repair shops are the best places for finding a putter of this type, but you may find one in a sporting goods store.

  • There is a danger that upon contact with the ball, the head of the putter will fly off the shaft. Make sure no one in your group is down course.

  HOW TO KEEP SCORE WITHOUT A PENCIL

  Use mental tabulation to keep track of the number of shots over or under par you are for the round.

  Start at zero. If after the first hole you are two shots over par, you should remember your score as +2. After the second hole, if you are one shot under par, your score is +2-1, or 1. Shooting par does not change your total (+/- 0). At the end of the round, take the course’s total par and add or subtract the final number (72 + 9, for example). This method will only assess your cumulative score for the round. It will not help you keep track of your score on each hole.

  Use an alternate writing implement.

  • GOLF TEE—Scratch your score onto the scorecard using the pointed end of a golf tee. Press hard to make the number visible. Rubbing dirt lightly over the scorecard and blowing away the excess may make the numbers more legible.