Posts by gurugorilla:
The Ten Most Annoying Things on a Golf Course – Part II
October 13th, 2011Part I of The Ten Most Annoying Things on a Golf Course
6. Golf carts and trolleys on tees and greens.
Thankfully a rare sight nowadays is that of a golfer dragging his clubs, or a trolley or even an electric golf cart onto the green. Worse still is when they drop down their bag onto the putting surface and you know that where you wanted to aim your approach is now likely to be filled with pock-marks, dents and chunks of earth. There are those that decide to store their umbrella by sticking the pointed end into the green in between shots.
Obviously, there are some golfers who do require carts to go on greens, such as disabled golfers (These machines are designed to have approximately 20-40 kilograms per wheel so in no way can damage the green. They are often the same basic 3-point design as a green mower), but if you have no good reason to do so, leave your golf equipment at the side of the green or on the cart path. It’s highly unlikely they will be stolen by a passing gang of squirrels, nor will they start crying because they are not right at your side like a clinging child.
7. Temporary greens
…
The Ten Most Annoying Things on a Golf Course – Part I
October 5th, 2011What gets your blood boiling on a round of golf? Is it inner frustration, or are there external factors which can turn a pleasurable round of golf from being a stress relieving joy, into a slow descent into maddening fury? Listed below are the ten most annoying things you will come across on a golf course today.
1. Slow play
The bane of many a round of golf is when you and your partners, not to mention the 30 people behind you wait around at each hole for the four ball in front to finish. There’s the “after you Henry” groups of people who seem so intent on playing to The Rules, that they stand around applauding each and every shot, checking their yardage books, chatting about the weather, changing clubs three times before topping the shot 15 yards down the fairway to begin the process once again.
…
The Strange World of Golf Equipment Terminology: Version Pro V1.1 7A-X(2) Quad-Razor-Valve²
September 28th, 2011I consider myself to be nothing more than an amateur golfer, not an astoundingly good one, but not one either that would make you consider giving up the game and taking up something a little interesting; such as waiting for the next ice age to arrive.
There are many things that I love about this great game; the mental testing, the fatigue factor, that gust of wind which can change a hole from a benign par 4, into a test of beast of golfing ingenuity.
Then there is the camaraderie on the course from fellow players, John Daly’s dress sense, Tiger Woods saying “Tigurrrrrrrr!” every time he hits a bad shot (which is now worryingly frequent), Peter Alliss style of commentary, akin to an avuncular fireside chat over a packet of Werther’s Originals. There’s the delight of nailing a perfect approach shot to the heart of the green, watching that lengthy putt topple joyously into the hole and the all-too infrequent gasps of admiration from the watching crowd (in my mind…) as you thump a glorious drive 300 yards down the middle of the fairway.
But appreciate the strange world of golf equipment terminology? Not a chance; can you?
…
A Bent 7 Iron: The Damaging Effect of Frustration in Golf Course
September 7th, 2011Golf is a cruel game. It is undeniably brilliant, challenging, and deceptively simple to play yet almost impossible to master. It is a wonderful combination for competition, thrills and spills, but unfortunately can give rise to the invoking of the demon that is frustration.
Sadly, I am on all to familiar conversational terms with this embodiment of golfing negativity. In everyday life, I feel that I am a rather laid back, somewhat convivial chap. I’m happy to chat and generally have a laugh and joke about many things that other folks get into a tizz about. It would be nice if I could translate this generally calm demeanour out onto the golf course.
Admittedly, I do not have an explosive temper. If I hit my first tee shot wildly into the trees, I don’t fling my clubs away in disgust and stomp from the tee back to the car stating that I am taking up crochet instead. Instead, my frustration is what psychologists would call a ‘slow burner’, in that if I am having a poor round, these negative thoughts begin to build up in my mind, slowly battering at the walls of respectability and calm.
…
Golf Course Review: St Boswells Golf Club, Scotland
August 31st, 2011From the initial cheery phone conversation with the breezy secretary of the golf club to book the tee time, everything about the trip to St Boswells Golf Club promised much. The course is reputed to be one of Scotland’s hidden gems. A short but tight, 9-hole private course that runs along the banks of the River Tweed for much of the opening six holes and set amidst the famous rolling hills of the Borders, it was easy to see why several people had recommended the course.
…
A Personal Guide to Custom Golf Club Fitting
August 17th, 2011Having been an avid golfer for many years, I finally decided that after using a set of £200 clubs, bought over 15 years previously, that it may be time to upgrade. The clubs had served me well and though tired and pockmarked, they were still in workable condition and certainly usable.
There were two real reasons I felt the need for change, the first was when my brother bought himself a second hand set of new Ping irons and proceeded to smack seven and eight irons past where I could reach with a five or six. This state of affairs could not be allowed to continue, especially when this translated to him beating me with alarming regularity over 18 holes.
The second reason was that for the first time, I had enough spare cash available to ‘invest’ as I called it (‘waste’ my wife would contend) on a quality set of clubs.
LPGA Allows Transgender Golf Players to Compete
December 3rd, 2010The LPGA players voted to abolish the “female by birth” requirement on December 1st, meaning that transgender golfers can compete in tournaments. It took less than two months since Lana Lawless filed a lawsuit in federal court to change the LPGA’s rules. Ms. Lawless may now compete to qualify for upcoming LPGA tournaments so it is only a matter of time before we will see the first transgender participant.
Read more about this story in our previous articles here and here.
