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PThomas

  • Karma: +0/-0
definitely worthwhile reading from Brad...some architecture talk but a lot of other great points and thoughts...a fresh, very different type of piece

199 played, only Augusta National left to play!

Brad Klein

  • Karma: +0/-0
http://www.golfweek.com/commentaries/klein-070908

20 years, 1,000 articles or so, and the first time I've written about my golf game.


Adam Clayman

  • Karma: +0/-0
I've concluded that for hacks like us it will best culminate in a cursing round on the Auld sod.
"It's unbelievable how much you don't know about the game you've been playing your whole life." - Mickey Mantle

John_Conley

  • Karma: +0/-0
20 years, 1,000 articles or so, and the first time I've written about my golf game.

Not only a scratch writer, you're also a scratch playing partner.  Been a while since we've played together...you always scored pretty well with me!

Jason Topp

  • Karma: +0/-0
Great article.  Much of my interest in architecture is also fueled by the fact I will never play as well as I would like to play.

RJ_Daley

  • Karma: +0/-0
Brad's pieces says:
Quote
For me, the issue is less the Rolodex in my brain than the tempo and feel of my body. In Starbucks parlance, I’ve got the pace of three vente double-shot lattes in what really is a decaf game.

A big part of what I now try to do is simply slow myself down. On a golf course, everything happens at twice the speed that you’re prepared for.

This resonates with me as well.  Unfortunately, I am of two minds in one broken down and untrainable golf body.  One mindset is my enjoyment of the golf course design, maintenance and grounds issues, and that evaluation sort of rolodex of subjects and issues.  But, that mind races during the course of the round.  It detracts from my simple enjoyment of playing the game.  I find that if I'm going to play decent for my skillset and find a level of satisfaction in my game (not to be confused with enjoyment for the game) , I have to somewhat ignore all the stuff in the rolodex, and as Brad says, 'slow myself down'.   

But, when I do that, I miss design or other things I've learned about golf courses and their maintenance over the years and in one and done or infrequent play of superior courses, I then overlook or forget things that should be memorable.  Sure, one can go with the basics of how- particularly template inspired holes- might be intended to be played in the classic sense which might factor into how you would 'try' to work the ball in your shot making attempts.  But, to look for all of that stuff on one or two plays, I find I have to either concentrate on the design and forget playing as well as I'd find acceptable for me, or I have to get into the slowed down, clear the mind, think about striking the ball more repetitively mindset. 

So, interior design VS GCA was a nice read for me. 

Questions for Brad...  In the slowed down mode, do you beleive this plays against many people saying rounds take too long? 

I don't necessarily put the two together.  I can still slow down mentally and get reasonably ready to hit when it is time to swing.  Yet, I play with many fellows who know the best way to beat me in match play is 'slow play me'.  Slow down in tempo for me can not be slow down in pace of play.  I go freaking nuts when guys take more than 2-3 practice swings, plumb bob from both sides, mark foot and a halfers... etc.  That then gives the rolodex time to spin, and get my easily distracted mind onto the other path and I start looking around for the architecture or course issues again and forget my feel for the game I'm playing...  ::)

and the other questions is;
Can raters play courses once, evaluate well and play well?  Or is that a myth?
No actual golf rounds were ruined or delayed, nor golf rules broken, in the taking of any photographs that may be displayed by the above forum user.

John Kavanaugh

RJ,

When a 14 handicap plays what they consider well they still see enough of the course to do a proper evaluation.

RJ_Daley

  • Karma: +0/-0
A 14 handicap playing well?  What is that on a significantly good golf course design, like shooting 95+?  Especially if playing it once?  What do you think they really see in terms of evaluation?  Is he a 14 due to fuzzy interior design, or distracted by architecture?  ;D
No actual golf rounds were ruined or delayed, nor golf rules broken, in the taking of any photographs that may be displayed by the above forum user.

John Kavanaugh

RJ,

I'm just saying that a 14 will see both sides of the fairway, most of the greensites and several hazards.  I'm afraid a scratch golfer is more likely to see only the middle of the fairways and have several kick in putts.  I also believe that 95% of all raters no matter what skill level have their mind made up in the first three holes.  This explains how Pacific Dunes gets a pass on the mundane back nine.

RJ_Daley

  • Karma: +0/-0
That is a very good analysis about seeing all of the course and hazards, and experiencing many more yards of putts. 
No actual golf rounds were ruined or delayed, nor golf rules broken, in the taking of any photographs that may be displayed by the above forum user.

Brad Klein

  • Karma: +0/-0
"Slow down" refers to mental tempo. By myself walking I usually take 2 1/2 hours, in a twosome with someone like Tony Pioppi or Lorne Rubenstein who can walk, talk and think while playing, 3 hours. There is no excuse for a fourball walking to take more than 4 hours, and even that pace seems glacial. I have a simple way of dealing with people who play slow. I don't play golf with them again.

My pre-shot routine is to hit the ball. When playing to my handicap index (12.3) I'll shoot mid/upper-80s. Obviously have many more mid-90s than scores in the high-70s, but enough of the latter to know that things are possible. Despite my recent wedge play, which has been disastrous (though today at a rare practice I found out why!).

Point is, the slowing down has to do with interior mental tempo and swing takeaway speed, not dawdling endlessly, fidgeting or starting to tell stories on the tee when it's my turn to hit. The time to start talking and thinking about history, architecture and the game is after a shot and as you approach the next one, not while you're standing over the ball.

Brent Hutto

If you play reasonably quickly (say 10-15 seconds to pull a club and pull the trigger once you're to the ball) and you shoot around 90 that leaves you upwards of 2-1/2 hours to chat, look around, take pictures, appreciate the scenery and design and generally have your thoughts to yourself. I'd think that is sufficient pondering time for even the Sistine Chapel.

TEPaul

Brad and Brent:

I've always been interested in the fixation some golfers have with quick play and the total aversion they have to slow play. Brent mentioned 10-12 seconds to hit the ball once it's your turn to play. Most association pace of play policies give players 40 seconds to hit the ball if they're being individually timed. 10-12 seconds is totally unrealistic to expect from golfers other than the total speed merchants of which I have seen a few.

I know I've never been a slow player individually but it occurs to me most all my golf for about 20 years was tournament golf and even if there sure was the occasion where excrutiatingly slow play (generally just in certain unique situations) got my attention basically I just tuned it out as I noticed most accomplished tournament players did.

In my opinion, if tournament golf is something you're into and slow play gets to you it's probably best to just consider not playing tournament golf. The last thing I ever wanted to see happen was for any slow player to ruin my day or my round and score so I just tuned it out. The best I ever saw that way was Buddy Marucci----he just totally tuned it out, generally wandering over under a tree if it was hot.  ;)

W.H. Cosgrove

  • Karma: +0/-0
My pre-shot routine is to hit the ball.

The trick is always to combine the two speeds.  They are linked by the pre-shot routine.  Not a problem for some of us, as I decide whether I am going to socialize or play, not smart enough to do both.  As I get older, I find I can't do both for the length of the round either.  ???
« Last Edit: July 12, 2008, 09:47:13 AM by W.H. Cosgrove »

Paul Carey

  • Karma: +0/-0
Golf=The Greatest Game

+3, 2, 10, 14, 36....any handicap....great column Brad

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