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It's a funny old game... |
As Duffers, we have never found golf easy. Indeed, we think Gardner Dickinson, a fine professional in the '60s and '70s who modelled himself on the great Ben Hogan, found the right words: "They say golf is like life, but don't believe them. Golf is more complicated than that." For this reason we don't like the word "trivia", so often used in books, magazines and websites to describe those collections of odd golfing facts and anecdotes which keep us amused in the bar and help us to put our own joys or misfortunes into perspective. We prefer to borrow from our old friend Peter Alliss who, as usual, got it in a nutshell, by calling this page simply "It's a funny old game...". (Did you know his car licence plate was PUT 3?)We begin here a small collection of our favourite golfing oddities, and will add to it every day with a new "useless fact" on the home page. For the moment it is a random selection, but in time we will categorise the items for your easy reference. As ever, we would welcome your contributions by e-mail to share with your fellow sufferers. |
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Only one person in the history of golf can be said to have had a perfect playing career. In 1978, an anonymous Greek player made a hole in one on the 135 yard 8th hole at Edgwarebury, Hertfordshire, in England. He had never before hit a golf shot, and he (very sensibly) hit no more after that. "Keep a 10 off your card" is something on which even we Duffers might be ready to place a small wager. But think first of the hapless Scottish professional (no names) who began the 1935 Open Championship at Muirfield 7, 10, 5, 10, and went on to run up a 65 for the front nine. After another 10 at the 11th, and haved failed to extricate himself from a bunker after four shots at the 12th, he retired.  Phil Mickelson took 5 putts on the 10th hole at Ponte Vedra in the third round of the 2002 Players Championship. Putting up from 18 feet he went 5 feet past, and the second and third putts also went five feet by, the fourth ending up 2 feet away. He holed that for a turkey 8 (four over par).Dave Hill of the US took 6 putts at the fifth hole at Oakmont in the 1962 US Open, also giving him a turkey (4 over par). But Brian Barnes took 12 strokes from barely more than a yard on the short 8th at St Cloud in the 1968 French Open, albeit a combination of putts and penalties. After missing a few times, he hit the ball while it was still moving and then straddled the line of the putt, leaving him with a moa 15 (12 over par). And they say the fourth putt is the easiest shot in golf. |
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