Thinking too hard can put you off your putt

[Brent Hutto]

If ones train of thought includes knowing the distance...

Then glancing at a yardage book, yardage marker, rangefinder or listening to a caddie is not a break at all. Don't imagine that your own customary train of thought is the only valid or useful one there could possibly be. Tiger doesn't think the same as Jack and I don't think the same as Melvyn.

It would foolish for any of us to believe our own approach is necessarily superior to another's, don't you think?

[Lloyd_Cole]

Here is Mr Melvyn Morrow - "The article was a serious topic and worth looking into. As for my comment re aids it was tongue in cheek which went over the heads of must but not all."

I've been biting my tongue for months now but no more - Melvyn, if your arguments are consistently going over our heads, maybe you need to find a higher minded forum.

The British House of Lords used to run on an inherited peerage system until not that long ago. It was assumed that if your grandfather had a great mind then most likely you would have been sent to a good school and would be capable of passing judgment on Labour, Suez, etc. Eventually, thanks to a bunch of idiot peers, this was overturned and now we have Baroness Thatcher, et al, all of whom I place in higher regard than Melvyn.

And, bear in mind, I agree with MM on most of his 'America and Technology is killing golf' rants, to a certain degree at least.  I just do not agree with his logic or his holier than thou position, which undermine his assumed integrity.

His assumption that those who disagree with him 'just don't get it' reminds me of the stupidest anti establishment r'n'r characters I've met over the years - It's not that we didn't get the joke, it's just that... it wasn't funny.

[ed_getka]

Mr. Morrow,
   Thanks for sharing the article. It is interesting and falls in line with what I have always believed about putting. It comes down to confidence. If you are confident you are going to putt well you will, and if you don't believe in your putting you won't putt well. Why do you think all these pros buy/try new putters when they aren't making putts? Is the new putter really better than their old one? Of course not, it is confidence. Someone who is confident of success won't take a lot of time with a putt.

By the way, Tom Huckaby is one of the nicest guys you could ever meet and is agreeable to a fault at times, but to argue with someone as reasonable as Tom is not likely to win many converts to your cause. By all means continue to express your opinions but leave Tom out of them.

One other thing, I don't know anything about what has caused the rancorous feelings expressed, but that is because I don't read your posts. When you introduced yourself as a relative of Tom Morris as if it made you an authority on golf it made me inclined not to be interested in hearing what you had to say. I am only telling you this as an FYI to do with what you will.

[Bob_Huntley]

I come late to this discussion, as does Melvyn Morrow to Golf Club Atlas. I cannot think of any contributor to this forum that has such a superior attitude as to the purity of his opinion as Mr. Morrow.

His sanguine relationship to old Tom Morris is no imprimatur to the keeper of the flame. To blast Tom Huckaby as he did in this post is poor form and he should know it.

Huckaby has a love of the game as do few others and is my good friend, he has no animus to others with different opinions from him and welcomes the joust, however, Melvyn's take is just wrong.

Bob

[PThomas]

lots of good advice on this thread for you Melvyn ...consider chilling out a bit

hard to imagine anyone getting mad at Huck...  paraphrasing Seinfeld:  "Love the Huck!"

[Rob Rigg]

Seems like the article about putting can be applied to your entire game - no?

You can work on your swing or putting with a pro, but when it comes to executing, if you need to run through a ten point checklist you are not going to succeed.

My best rounds have always occurred when I have felt confident and played in a very natural rhythm. I would assume this is not unusual.

"na na na na na na, ta ta ta ta ta ta ta, noo noo noo noo" etc.

That was a lame attempt at the Chevy Chase putting sequence in Caddyshack . . . this thread needs all the "glass is half full" that it can get.

Having differing opinions is great, picking fights with someone who happens to disagree with you is garbage.

[Melvyn Morrow]

My, I have struck an accord. I must therefore thank all of you for your most kind words. It is what makes GCA.com worth reading and shows the diversity of opinions of its Members.

I am honoured to be singled out this way and would advise that I have as always read each and every thread. I understand and take on board your, lets call it your honest opinions of me but that does not change how I feel about the game and the way it is going in some countries.

You all have every right to disagree with my opinions, dislike my posts, and through them me – that is your choice, but whilst I have freedom of voice I will maintain my own opinions, liked or not – after all this is supposed to be a discussion group.

Melvyn

[Tony Ristola]

The following article appeared in The Daily Mail today and I thought I would share it with you.

In reading the above article it would appear that using aids and thinking how to do it rather than the time honoured method of looking and playing as most of us traditional golfers play seems to give some golfers a disadvantage. So Tom H am I yet again wrong or will you at last give me some credit for having a true and honest opinion.

It also may well speed up the game of golf if we stop thinking about things like where is the Range Finder, then using them and working out that we are 146 yards 1 ft 3.5 inch away from the flag, then think about it again as we put the Range Finder down, then take the shot. So Tom, you have been warned – not by me but by a Professor that golfers who think too much can damage their game. 

It would appear that the traditionalists are one up with this report.

Melvyn

Though I believe the results of the article, the conclusion seems like a stretch. Information, accurate yardage are not the same as micromanaging or over-analyzing a stroke that takes a second or less to produce. Timothy Galloway's book, The Inner Game of Golf offered good solutions to getting the brain out of the way.

For reasons similar to those in the article, after I've lined up my putt I don't look at the ball but my right thumb nail when putting. My grip is a lot lighter, I can see the ball in the periphery, but it's impossible to follow the putter head. As a result my head is steady preventing me from peeking too early. The feeling of the putting stroke and distance is sharper, and the contact is more consistent and pure. Interesting, from setup to pulling the trigger also take less time to get the ball going.

That should be good to screw up the putting of a few people here.
Happy New Year!

[Lloyd_Cole]

Melvyn

I've heard from reliable sources that your a lovely guy to have a drink with
I don't doubt it
I'm sure the same could be said of me
However, our online personas are the ones that matter at GCA and after all of the comments on that thread and others it seems like you still don't hear what we're trying to say
It's not your opinions that I was taking to task - I made it quite clear that we agree on much regarding walking, gadgets etc
It is your manner which upsets us
You present yourself as aloof, arrogant and The Authority on Pure Golf
Well, you're not
If you would start posting like a.n. other member of the board like the rest of us do, and sure, please share unique perspectives, then things would be fine.  Please stop implying that those who don't agree with you 'just don't get it', that never won Pat Mucci any arguments. Your rhetoric doesn't go over our heads. We get it, some of the guys just disagree.

[Andy Troeger]

Melvyn,
Please read Lloyd's most recent post carefully (not to mention many of the others above--they explain what I think many of us believe better than I've been able to do.

As has been said, its not your opinions, its your tone and the manner in which you present them and ridicule anyone who disagrees. For somone who appears so concerned with being heard, you consistently don't "listen" to anyone else's thoughts.

[Melvyn Morrow]

Tony R

Thanks for your input on the original topic, I will make no comment.


Lloyd

It is your manner which upsets us
You present yourself as aloof, arrogant and The Authority on Pure Golf
Well, you're not

I have NEVER Claimed to be, so let me be very clear I am no authority on pure golf, nor do I consider myself as aloof or believe that I am arrogant. Although I may well be guilty of some other bad habits. 

We get it, some of the guys just disagree  - Does that option not also apply to me

Melvyn

PS  Thanks Andy, but I do listen, just like others I sometimes just do not agree.

[Kalen Braley]

Melyvn,

Its simple...its like a mentor always told me when I was younger.

"You'll attract a lot more ants with honey than you will with vineagar" 

[Melvyn Morrow]

Thank You

Grasshopper for your words of wisdom.

Melvyn

[Jon Nolan]

"This sad little lizard told me that he was a brontosaurus on his mother's side. I did not laugh; people who boast of ancestry often have little else to sustain them."

-- Heinlein

[Melvyn Morrow]

Jon

A surprise and IMHO an unworthy comment for GCA.com. But if you feel you must have a go, please do so and don’t hold back. Prove how much of a man you are and how so brave.

Melvyn

[Jon Nolan]

A surprise and IMHO an unworthy comment for GCA.com. But if you feel you must have a go, please do so and don’t hold back. Prove how much of a man you are and how so brave.

Melvyn, you've never presented a humble opinion on this site.  Don't start now.

Surprise?  Perhaps.  I am not a prolific poster.  Even I am not sure of my style.

Unworthy?  Perhaps.  For others to decide.

Brave?  Not at all.  Even if you are possessed of mad ninja skilz I'm relatively safe at 6000+ miles distant.  There is no such thing as internet bravery.

Piling on?  (my words, not yours.)  Guilty as charged.

I am the consummate lurker.  I read just about everything posted here.  I have little to offer and much to learn.  Therefore I don't post much and when I do I usually dick it up from a GCA perspective in some fashion.  Most here are kindly corrective and tolerant of my misguided opinions.  I do appreciate that. 

I am vehemently opposed to electronic distance measuring devices - for myself.  I do not care one bit what the guy next to me is doing.  Even if he's slowing me down I just relax, look around and try to find something interesting or worth noticing.  BTW, I'm not convinced EDM devices slow down the game.  I believe slow players slow down the game.

I walk whenever possible and carry my own bag.  My clubs aren't ancient nor are they cutting edge.  I play with cheap two piece balls.  I have owned two drivers, two putters and two sets of irons since I started playing a dozen years ago.  I have no plans to buy new gear unless something breaks beyond repair.  Clearly game-ruining equipment is not my thing.

So... I read just about everything on this site and I generally agree with your premises.  Yet I'm struggling to mine the precious stones from the slag of your posts.  Between the anti-American / not-invented-here sentiment, name dropping and rigidly unyielding opinions I'm nearing a decision to skip your contributions.  My loss in some ways but I'll live.

Press on.  You're ignoring wiser advice than I can offer.  Hopefully there's no real animosity between we two faceless netizens but perhaps no real respect either.  I suppose that's where it will rest.

[Andy Troeger]

Thanks Andy, but I do listen, just like others I sometimes just do not agree.

I have no problem with that but then it seems you should be more understanding of our "listening" to your comments and just disagreeing with them.

[RJ_Daley]

What I have taken away from this thread, is how amazing it is that a gentleman like Jon Nolan is so keen and obviously familiar with the on-going debates and culture here on GCA.com, as a lurker.   He of so few posts, yet so much wisdom.   His last posts was like a "Pizza Man" moment. 

I have known Tom H., for almost a decade now, and have seen him perhaps at his zenith of pure golfing joy, while in the Sand Hills.  I have known him at KPs that I have been fortunate enough to attend.  He is the most persistently optimistic and strenuously willing to meet a person half way or more that I can think of. 

While I don't think I waded into whatever argument Tom had with Melvyn about attitudes of equipment aids or how integral walking is to the joy of the game, I suspect I'd be mostly on Melvyn's side.  But, it has been clear to me that Melvyn ought to consider a trip that would be somewhat of a cross section of golf culture in America, before he pontificates too much of how far assunder we have drifted.  I dislike much of what some American golf is these days at some places (exclusive, market consumer driven, status and pretense, etc... all of the old 'Bolshevik' stuff I usually rant  ), yet I would hold out as proud of many places I know and play, and attitudes about the joy and participatory ethic that is practiced of the game by way many more Americans than Melvyn could imagine, apparently. 

I'd be honored to host (in my own non-club member way of a public golf player) at any of numerous course settings I know about, and then listen carefully to what Melvyn had to say after he experienced such.   Hell, if he'd just enter our three day County Am., I'd be shocked if he could honestly say it was much different in culture or atmosphere than if he'd compare it to his own home sod links-residents only Amatuer tournament, except that we aren't fortunate enough to have links terrain.  The spirit of golf is as alive over here as there, Melvyn.  Although it is certainly not in the same condition here or there as it was there in 1900, and I doubt it ever will be.

And, the pleasure will truly be mine if I ever get to play another round with Huck...

[PCCraig]

I don't know about you guys but my idea of "Pure Golf" is;

A five-some of men each with their own golf cart, with 40" chrome spiners, with a flat screen GPS machine, a 30-pack of Busch Light, and a hot female caddy hanging off the cart to rake my bunkers and clean my clubs (which are in a 60 pound Tour Staff Bag) because I can't be bothered. All this on the soggiest Fazio golf course complete with waterfalls and snack bars on every hole. And if this course isn't accessable by private jet I'm not sure I would be able to make it.

Scottland can keep their game...I'll take my Pure Golf!!!  (Note the winks)

[Melvyn Morrow]

Pat

I hope you enjoy your new game of ‘Pure Golf’, but I’m not sure you could handle the pressure. Bet you would get lost even on a course you know once the GPS goes down – mind you with your luck that will be all that goes down 

Have fun but that hot female caddy might not be what you expect in these modern times 

Melvyn

[Joe Hancock]

I feel a Dan Kelly-esque emoticon rant coming on....

Joe

[PCCraig]

Pat

I hope you enjoy your new game of ‘Pure Golf’, but I’m not sure you could handle the pressure. Bet you would get lost even on a course you know once the GPS goes down – mind you with your luck that will be all that goes down 

Have fun but that hot female caddy might not be what you expect in these modern times 

Melvyn

Melvin-

I can assure you I will handle any pressure you could possibly bring. I don't care if I play you in the States or over "far yonder in your land," I'll outplay and beat you on any course in any style so bad Old and Young Tom will feel it.

[Tom Huckaby]

I am humbled, honored and greatly appreciative of the many words of support.  Thanks, friends.

Melvyn:  peace.  Hopefully in the words of others, you can understand why I reached my breaking point yesterday.  

But enough of this.  It saddens me this continues... the craziest thing being that as so many of you know, if Melvyn and I did play this game together, there is little doubt we would each enjoy the game.

TH

[TEPaul]

WHOAA, what's going on here?

BobH: Like you, I'm late to arrive on this thread---like right now.

Peace little brothers before Ran sends you all straight to bed without supper.

If there's going to be this kind of contentiousness and personal opprobrium on here, at least don't make it over something like thinking too hard about putting, make it over something really important like the architects and the architectural history of MERION!     


Joe Hancock:

Go for it with your emoticon gestalt. Let it all hang out. I want to see a virtual Sunday Revolution of the dozen or so smileys above.


PS:

How on earth can a guy like Lloyd Cole get sucked into a thread like this one and get criticized for anything he said? I've met Lloyd and my take on him is he's one of the most leveled headed and reasonable people on just about everything and every subject I've ever seen on here.

On the other hand, if you Munchkins want to fuss and fight some more, by all means let me be the one to invite you all into the virtual saloon in Dodge City. AND, better yet, I'm buyin'. Drinks for the house on me, no limit either!!!   

[PThomas]

I'm buyin'. Drinks for the house on me, no limit either!!!   

hope i can take you up on this someday Tom!