THAT'S SO TRUE


In the Spring of 2007 (Yes, some moments in time are unforgettable.), my friend Bill Hall and I were walking up toward our balls on our 7th hole, a 500-yard par 5.  Bill was in the fairway after hitting a very acceptable 240-yard drive.  As usual, I was 35 yards behind him -- and in the right rough.  Rather than dwelling on my next shot, which was going to require a low-rising fade that needed to dodge a few limbs and then run, I asked Bill why he liked golf.  I guess I wanted to take my mind off of my poor tee ball and the difficulty of my upcoming second.  He gave several solid but predictable reasons such as “the challenge of the game,” “fresh air,” “exercise” and then he said, “Golf tells me a lot about the personalities of my friends.  And I find that to be interesting.”   

As soon as he said that, I thought, “That’s so true.”

Since then, I have been collecting that’s-so-true golf quotes.  So what is a that’s-so-true quote?  It is a quote that is simple and obvious and yet screams “PAY ATTENTION!  I am worth remembering.”  A that’s-so-true golf quote can be funny or practical or whimsical or technical or observational or even profound.  Personally, I often go for the ones that might help me lower my handicap – or make me smile

Anyway, below are a few of my that’s-so-true golf quotes:

‘Try to remember that a person may be a most indifferent golfer, and yet be a good Christian gentleman, and in some respects worthy of our esteem.” -- English golf writer Horace G. Hutchinson. His book, Hints on Golf published in 1886 

“The average golfer doesn't play golf.  He attacks it.” – Jack Burke (born 1923) won the Masters and PGA in 1956

“Tennis players don’t sleep in parking lots on Saturday nights.” – Author David Owen, who has a wonderful golf blog, www.myusualgame.com.  For example, golfers routinely spend the night in Bethpage Black’s (NY) parking lot in order to qualify for a walk-up tee time. The T.W. Tillinghast design hosted the U.S. Open in 2002 and 2009. 

“A driver is the key to the golf round – the key that starts your car, the key that opens your house.” -- Six-time major winner Lee Trevino (born 1939)

“One reason you miss more short putts than you should is that you move your head or lower body during the stroke.” – Teaching pro Kellie Stenzel

“Some players are never satisfied unless they are buying new clubs.  That is not good for the player, but it is quite good for the clubmaker.” – Scottish professional golfer and course architect James Braid (1870 to 1950).  He won the British Open five times.

 
“When pitching from the rough, the secret is to keep the face from closing through impact.” – Tiger Woods, winner of 14 Majors

 On Match Play … “No matter what happens, never give up on a hole. . . . In tossing in your cards after a bad beginning you also undermine your whole game, because to quit between tee and green is more habit-forming than drinking a highball before breakfast.” – Sam Snead (1912 to 2002), winner of seven majors

“The common denominator for all golfers is tempo, so I advise every golfer, no matter their skill level, to think tempo – the smooth transition from backswing to downswing – as the primary swing thought.” – Hale Irwin (born 1945) won three U.S. Opens – 1974, 79 and 90

“Golf is 20 percent mechanics and technique.  The other 80 percent is philosophy, humor, tragedy, romance, melodrama, companionship, camaraderie, cussedness and conversation.” – Sportswriter Grantland Rice (1880 to 1954) 

Play Away!

Allan (a 12)


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