LifeandGolf

“…we play the ball where it lies”

2009-09-22T11:04:00.051-04:00

On Thursday (Sept 24th), arguably thirty of the best modern day professional golfers tee off in the final event of the 2009 Fed-Ex Cup. This final tournament takes place at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia. Established in 1904, East Lake Golf Club is the home course of legendary golfer Bobby Jones and is the oldest golf course in the city of Atlanta.

As a tribute to Robert (Bobby) Tyre Jones, I along with 9 other bloggers, and lovers of golf, are writing about Bobby Jones this week. I'm blogging some of Bobby Jones quotes about golf, other golfers and life. Hopefully you will enjoy this series of blogs. At the end of this blog you will find the other blogs about Bobby Jones.

The Game of Golf

"It is nothing new or original to say that golf is played one stroke at a time. But it took me years to realize it."

"The toughest opponent of all is Old Man Par. He's a patient soul who never shoots a birdie and never incurs a bogey. And if you would travel the long road with him, you must be patient, too."

"The difference between a sand bunker and water is the difference between a car crash and an airplane crash. You have a chance of recovering from a car crash."

The Mental Game of Golf

"The object of golf is to beat someone. Make sure that someone is not yourself."

"Competitive golf is played mainly on a five-and-a-half-inch course, the space between your ears."

"Some people think they are concentrating when they're merely worrying."

"You swing best when you have the fewest things to think about."

"There are two kinds of golf – golf and tournament golf."

Other Golfers

"When he is in the right mood, he is probably the greatest scorer in the game…possibly that the game has ever seen." Speaking about fellow competitor Gene Sarazen.

"If I ever needed an eight-foot put and everything I owned depended upon it, I would want Arnold Palmer to putt it for me."

"Palmer and Player played superbly. But Nicklaus played a game with which I am not familiar." After Nicklaus won the 1965 Masters.

"At my best I never came close to the golf Nelson shoots." About Byron Nelson.

"The way he filled those 72 cavities during the last four days make me think maybe I was wrong." Bobby Jones had urged (Dr.) Cary Middlecoff to give up golf and go back into dentistry right before Middlecoff won the Masters by 7 strokes.

General Golf/Life

"Golf is like eating peanuts. You can play too much or play too little."

"Golf is assuredly a mystifying game. It would seem that if a person has hit a golf ball correctly a thousand times, he should be able to duplicate the performance at will. But this is certainly not the case."

"The more I studied the Old Course, the more I loved it; and the more I loved it the more I studied it." Jones' reaction to the course at St. Andrews, Scotland.

"The secret of golf is to turn three shots into two."

When told it was 105 degrees in the shade, Bobby said, "I'm glad we don't have to play in the shade."

When he was praised for calling a penalty on himself (which cost him the tournament!): "You might as well praise me for not breaking into banks. There is only one way to play this game."

Final Quote......

In 1948, Jones was diagnosed with syringomyelia, a fluid-filled cavity in his spinal cord which caused first pain, then paralysis. He was eventually restricted to a wheelchair. He died in Atlanta, Georgia, on December 18, 1971. Describing the rare incurable disease that afflicted him in his 40's Bobby Jones said:

"I tell you privately, it's not going to get better, it's going to get worse all the time. But don't fret. Remember, we play the ball where it lies."

___________________________________

Gayle Moss over at Golfgal has posted My Favorite Bobby Jones Golf Tips. She writes, "His swing was a bit unorthodox, but no one can deny his amazing talent. Here are some of my favorite swing tips from the self-taught legend - Bobby Jones."

Mike Southern at Ruthless Golf wonders Could Bobby Jones Have ‘Cut It' Against Today's Pros?, and shows us what science and Jones's own notes have to say about the debate.

Vince Spence from The One-Eye Golfer writes about An Affair to Remember - Bobby Jones and St. Andrews, as he looks at the affection of the champion golfer for the Old Course at St. Andrews, Scotland which started in 1921.

Greg D'Andrea at From the Rough talks about Golf's Proper Place. "Bobby Jones played competitive golf only three months of the year, always keeping in perspective the game's original intent - 'a means of obtaining recreation and enjoyment.'"

Charles Boyer from Me and Old Man Par has chosen Bobby Jones' Competitors: Many of Them Were Good, One Was Great. "It is often thought that Bobby Jones showed up and crushed his competition on the way to another victory," Charles says. "The truth is that he had many worthy competitors and one, Walter Hagen, stood above all the others as Jones' most worthy competitor."

Michael Green at Aussie Golfer tells about Searching for Bobby Jones, where a search for Bobby Jones in Australia finds remarkable similarities to modern day golf.

Jon Blackburn from The Common Golfer looks at Bobby Jones: Golf's Original Common Golfer. It's a celebration of Bobby Jones' life, and what made him unique amongst his golfing peers.

Apryl DeLancey at Women Like Sports features in her weekly Wild World of Wednesday post about how good friends Alexa Sterling and Bobby Jones continued to play golf during WWI in order to raise money for a good cause.

And Ryan Ballengee from Waggle Room sends us a vlog from East Lake about how Jones' spirit influences the club and community today.

Summer?, Fall?, Winter?, Spring?

2009-09-03T11:55:00.016-04:00

My wife likes the season of Spring. It's the time of year for "new life." Trees budding, grass greening, plants sprouting, animals birthing, robins returning - all wonderful and beautiful signs of creation.

But for me – GIVE ME FALL!!!

I love the Fall colors – the multi-hued trees, the vivid mums, the ripe orchards, the crisp mornings, and the look on the golf course. (What did you expect – eventually I would get around to golf!)

I grew up in New Hampshire and experienced the splendid change of seasons. Winter was okay, but it meant shoveling snow way too often; Spring was nice, except it meant getting dressed up for Easter Sunday (new shoes and maybe the only time I wore a suit as a kid!) and preparing the flower beds; Summer was fun, no school, beaches, swimming pool, but it also meant mowing the lawn way too often, weeding the flower beds and a summer JOB (caddying and later in age a variety of jobs). And then there was FALL – glorious, marvelous, stimulating FALL! (except, as a kid, the downside of Fall was the start of a new school year!)

In Fall the Summer job was over, no need for fancy clothes, AND it was the time that I could play golf. Fall was my time on the course – to play. In my life, Fall and golf are forever united. In Fall golf courses never look better - the fairways seem greener, the greens brighter, the tree lines more dramatic (but still as dangerous!) In Fall, the courses seem less crowded, flight of the ball seems longer, and the strike seems crisper. I would always try to schedule my vacations in Fall, just so I could play golf during the best time of year!

Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring – if I have a choice, and I guess I do – I CHOOSE FALL! How about you?

Golf & Gadgets

2009-08-28T14:58:00.005-04:00

What is it with the numerous gadgets in the world of golf? Reading some of their ads, you'd think you couldn't score at all unless you had the latest widget – the widget voted "the most innovative for 2009" at the World Golf Expo in Tokyo! (Or wherever the World Goff Expo was held, if there is such a thing.)

I started caddying when I was 12 years old. It was at the local 9 hole course. Back then (some time in the 1950's) a golfer had a bag, 14 clubs (Have you ever wondered why 14 is the magic number? – that's for another Blog), some golf balls and tees, a towel and maybe some head covers. That's all. (Oh, maybe an umbrella)

Fast forward to 2009.

To play golf today you are supposed to have:

Copper-plated Magnetic bracelets – to channel your energy properly and take away your aches and pains (Ibuprophen works for me)
A special golf necklace that will insure golfing success (I wear my wedding ring – that insures harmony)
Slanted tees, or brush tees, or plastic tees – forget the wood, it's no good!
Layered towels – wet inside and dry outside - to clean your ball and clubs (I use my shirt tail and pant leg)
A metal fiber brush to clean your grooves (I use a wooden tee)
GPS Location Unit (as if you were lost on the course!)
Rangefinder (fairway markers still work for me)
Photo-voltaic sunglasses (I wear a hat… It blocks the sun most of the time)
Sweet spot finder (Just putt the ball!)
Ball Finder Scout (We used to call this A Caddy!)
Nubrella (a hands-free umbrella) - Golfers sometimes don't know when to get out of the rain
Monogrammed Golf Balls – (I named mine Pinnacle & mark it with a Sharpie)
Zoo Head Covers!
Not to mention all those special clubs that will lower your score by several strokes.

And the list could go on.

The amazing thing to me is how gullible we golfers are – we believe if we just find (and buy) the right gadget we will all become Tiger. (Admit it; you have a gadget in your bag right now!)

I'm for getting back to simple golf... Just play and have fun…after all, it is just a game!

WEDGES

2009-08-26T13:24:00.017-04:00

Honestly…how may wedges do you really need? Wedges seem to be the hot clubs to have lately. Pitching, Sand, Lob, Gap, Attack, and ???. Most golf sites I visit recommend that we golfers carry four (4) wedges in our bag. Below is a brief description for each wedge from Golf Equipment Source

Pitching wedge
The loft on these clubs are found to be between 46 and 50 degrees. This club is used anywhere from 125 yards into the pin

Gap wedge
The loft on these clubs is usually found to be between 51 and 54 degrees. This club is used to fill the gap between the pitching and sand wedge.

Sand wedge

The loft on these clubs is normally found between 55 and 59 degrees. This club is used from 95 yards into the pin and also out of the sand traps or green side bunkers.

Lob wedge
The loft on these clubs are normally found to be between 60 and 64 degrees. This club is used for shorter very high controlled shots that stop quickly.

At the end of their description, Golf Equipment Source states. (and other resources state too) "As a general rule, it is suggested that the average player have a gap of 4 degrees between each (4) different wedge."

Oh really! And just where did this general rule come from? I understand the usefulness of a wedge and I also understand that professional golfers make their short game 'dance' with wedges…but what is the truth about us average golfers – people like you and me (probably more like you)?

First: Most of the years I have played golf, I've only had a Pitching and Sand wedge. And they have served me well. And continue to do so.

Second: I can't hit wedges as far as and as wonderful as a professional can. If I can't hit the two that I have, why do I need four?

Third: As much as we (average) golfers would like to place a wedge shot with in inches of the cup, we would be better served by practicing our chipping (with a 6, 7, 8, or 9 iron) and our putting, than try to pin seek with a wedge.

Lastly: Just because the Pros do it (and the manufacturers try to convince us we need it) doesn't mean we have to!

More than 2 wedges is just another marketing ploy to grab our golf money. Let me suggest that we take that $100 - $200 we would spend on 2 more wedges and instead play some courses in our area --- that will bring us a lot more satisfaction than those extra wedges.

CUPS

2009-08-24T15:59:00.005-04:00

How is it that CUPS came to be the foremost trophy of a championship? I know we have ribbons, medals, and plaques – but it seems that if a sport really wants to signify its true champion, it presents a cup. I don't know where the practice started but it surely is popular.

Here are just a few CUPS I can think of. Maybe you can think of many more. Leave a comment.

FIFA World Cup – Soccer

UEFA Cup - Soccer

MLS Cup – Soccer

Stanley Cup – Hockey

Grey Cup – Canadian Football

Champions Cup – European Soccer

International Cup - European Soccer

Ambassador Cups – Polo

Breeders' Cup – Thoroughbred Horse Racing

Winston Cup – NASCAR (Now Sprint Cup)

Solheim Cup – Golf

President's Cup – Golf

Ryder Cup – Golf

Fed Ex Cup – Golf

America's Cup – Yachting

Champion Cup (Series) – Motorcycles

Soccer and golf especially like CUPS for champions.

Now, how about BOWLS?

(PS: I was a catcher in baseball – and the most important cup to me was that uncomfortable athletic cup!!)

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

2009-08-23T12:28:00.003-04:00

Tomorrow (August 24^th) is the first day of school for public school students in Marion county Florida. A day of mixed feelings for many – students are unhappy to see summer freedom end; parents are (in most cases) happy to have their homes and their time back again; and teachers, well, I'm guessing they are the most conflicted on opening day. And how about those who are beginning school for their very first time ever!

Do you remember the very first day you started school? What were your emotions - any anxiety or euphoria? Were you by yourself, or did you have an older sibling helping you? How about Mom and/or Dad's reaction?

My first day of school turned out not to be my first day! The school was a small 4 room school in a small New Hampshire town. I lived closed enough to the school that I could walk. I showed up on the first day and was alphabetically seated in the little classroom. After we were seated the teacher went around the room and asked everyone their birth date. "January 11, 1945" , I replied proudly. And then I was stunned! The teacher told me I was not old enough to be in the First Grade and would have to wait until next year to start school! She said I would have to go back home right away. The next thing I remember of that day is running home, carrying my tin lunch box in my hand and crying all the way!!!! I was devastated and thought I had done something wrong.

I found out later that my sixth birthday could not be any later than the end of the current year. Well mine would be eleven days into the New Year and thus I had to wait another 12 months before I could call myself a First Grader.

This is my First Day of School story – do you have one? Will you share it?

GOLF SONG

2009-08-19T20:58:00.014-04:00

Does anyone know of a good golf song? I can't think of one. We've got songs about cars and motorcycles, about beaches and mountains, about love and hate, about peace and war, about dogs and cats, songs of just about everything….but not ONE about Golf!

It's not like golf doesn't have something to sing about. Golf has tigers and pink panthers – even lions (Daly's head cover). Golf has swingers, hitters, bags – and even crystal balls. It has sand and water, birds and eagles. Golf has Boo and Lumpy, Hart and Love, Tom and Collins, Couples and Flesch, Bubba and Bo. Golf has rough and holes, hazards and even places that are out of bounds. With all of this material available HOW COME WE DO NOT HAVE A GOLF SONG?

Let me suggest just a few titles for songs:

On the Green Again
My Achy Breaky Bogey
I Left My Heart at the Masters
Good Chippin' Gone Bad
Who Let The Caddies Out?
Don't Fear the Ranger
I Can't Get No Even Lies
Boulevard of Broken Clubs
You've Lost That Putting Feeling

Maybe someone (Alice Cooper? - Vince Gill? - Kenny G?) will read this who can write music and will compose us a wonderful golf song.Until then I'll have to be happy with "Take Me Out to the Ball Game"

Why Arnold Palmer is my hero.

2009-08-19T09:02:00.003-04:00

Recently on facebook, friends started a game where participants had to answer 20 questions about their life. Questions like: favorite movie?, worst vice?, first job?, etc. One of the questions was, Who is your hero? I had to think about that question for awhile. I grew up in the 50's and 60's with superheros like Superman, Batman, and the Green Lantern - and superstars like Mickey Mantle, Johnny Unitas and Ted Williams. It was also the era of JFK - John Fitzgerald Kennedy. It made sense that one of those would be my hero, but then I remembered golf and my love for golf. And as I thought about golf I thought about Nicklaus, Palmer, and Player - the trinity of golf as I was growing up. If you were a golfer during their careers, you wanted to be one (or all) of them - swing, wins, charisma - whatever it was they had, you wanted it.
So I knew my hero answer had to come from golf - but who was it and why. Nicklaus seemed to win everything, Player travel the world, and Arnie had an Army!

Who was my hero - all three were (are) wonderful and deserving of my hero worship - but I couldn't pick three, it had to be one? Finally I made my choice and I chose Arnie - Arnold Daniel Palmer - the "King". Arnie, with the wild swing, the hitching of the pants, and the massive crowds. I made my pick and filled out the rest of the questions. And I didn't have to give any reasons why - which is great. Except for this one about my hero. I want people to know why Arnold Palmer is my hero.

On September 10, 2009, Arnie will celebrate his 80th birthday. On the eve of that occasion, Tom Stine, Editor, PGA Tour Partners magazine, wrote a tribute to Arnie in the September/October issue. Below is his tribute - and the answer of Why Arnold Palmer Is MY Hero.

ARNIE IS TURNING 80, LONG LIVE THE 'KING'

On his 80th birthday on September 10th I shall hit my knees and thank God for Arnold Palmer. The world is a better place because of Arnold Palmer, and golf-the game, the business, the passion, the recreation, the industry, the mystique and the fundraising machine - would not be the same without him.

Without Arnold Palmer, there would be no "Charge!" in golf.

Without Arnold Palmer, an umbrella would only signify rain.

Without Arnold Palmer, television would have taken a lot longer to discover golf.

Without Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus might have had two more majors [1960 U.S. Open and '64 Masters], which would have made his record even harder for Tiger Woods to break.

Without Arnold Palmer, there would be no Arnold Palmer Children's Hospital and thousands of little kids wouldn't be happy and healthy today

Without Arnold Palmer, tens of thousands of people would be living on golf courses designed by guys named Mike or Bob or Ed.

Without Arnold Palmer, a golfer hitching his pants would mean the guy forgot his belt.

Without Arnold Palmer a guy named Mark McCormack may never have started a company that turned the game into a business, and that business spread the game for a lot more people to enjoy

Without Arnold Palmer, a guy driving an old tractor in a TV commercial would just be a farmer.

Without Arnold Palmer, tens of millions of dollars wouldn't have been raised for charities allover the country for the past 50 years, and that would leave a big void in many lives.

Without Arnold Palmer, we would have missed out on one of world's biggest heroes, one of the most recognizable faces, one of the most charming smiles and one of the most identifiable personas ever to walk the planet.

And without Arnold Palmer, golf would have no "King."

Arnold Palmer is a guy's guy and a lady's man. Mention his name in a bar in New Jersey, a sushi restaurant in Hong Kong, a piazza in Rome or a soccer game in Argentina, and you will find someone who knows about Arnold Palmer.

Without Arnold Palmer... well, we don't have to worry about that, because we have Arnold Palmer, and we will always have Arnold Palmer, and we thank God for that.

Happy birthday, Mr. Palmer!

Reprinted with permission from Tom Stine, Editor, PGA TOUR Partners Magazine.