The Games That People Play

   That golf is a game is obvious; all sports are classified
as games. What isn't so obvious is that golf is really a game
of games. Each is different in purpose and many are different
in execution. Everyone knows that putters, drivers and irons
each represent different games and are each played
differently for different purposes. All, however, are played
toward one goal and graded against one standard...par.

   What may not be so obvious is that, in most players minds,
golf is divided into two major games: hitting the ball and scoring.
Not so obvious because everyone talks as though they would like 
to score better but really like best to hit the ball a long way. Some 
really think that length alone is the real key to low scores. 

   Length, admittedly, is an asset but is at least third in the list of 
factors important to scoring after accuracy and consistency. 
Most golfers more easily remember the one great drive they hit 
last month than they do the several sweet mid-irons they landed on 
the green, some within one-putt range. Most golfers, when they do 
practice, hit their driver more than all the rest of their clubs combined.

   The truth is, there is little ( but some) relation between length and 
low scores. Why haven't Davis Love III (years on tour) and, more
recently, John Daly dominated the competition? How many jokes 
have you heard about the frail septuagenarian who, though only 
capable of 175 yards off the tee, beats the pants off the young 
vacationing club champion? Like the other games within the game 
of golf, scoring is very different from hitting the golf ball.

   Back when the Scots invented this game clubs didn't have
numbers or even names but were divided into "play" clubs and
"green" clubs. Play clubs were to get the ball into scoring range; 
to put the ball in play and green clubs were to put the ball on the 
green; to score.  Full bags often consisted of four clubs plus a 
putter.  Now we can carry 14 clubs and can buy them rather than 
have the local blacksmith make one for us but the principle is still 
just as valid. Long clubs put us in range.  Short clubs make scores.

   How many times have you badly missed a tee shot and still been 
putting for par, particularly on a par five? A missed shot two hundred 
yards from the green can often be made up by a sharp short iron 
followed by one putt. That's called "turning three into two". 
Generally, however, any swing within 150 yards of the green goes 
on the score card. It takes confidence (read: practice) with those short 
clubs to do that, however.

     Confidence also comes from hitting shots that you can execute 
excellently 90 plus percent of the time. On the closing holes of a 
Senior Open Championsip Jack Nicklaus chose to hit his 1 iron off the 
tee rather than his driver or even his 3 wood. Why? He knew that he 
could put the iron in play with near certainty on a tough driving hole. 
The sacrifice in distance was more than compensated for by the 
increased probability of making par. Everyone can generally "think"
their way around the course in fewer strokes than they can "hit" their 
way around by using their brain more than their muscles.

   Next time you're out for a casual evening round, try playing a 
second ball from the tee with any club that you can hit 150 to 160 
yards. You're going to hit that club with confidence and be 
assured of a good lie in the short grass. Hit that same club again 
(300 to 320 yards total) and you will be within wedge range of even 
a longish par 4 hole. You should be able to put that wedge within 
10 to 15 feet of the hole (with a modicum of practice) 60 to 70 
percent of the time.  That's within reasonable one putt range. 
That's par, on a 420 yard hole, greater than 50 percent of the time. 
			That's also not bad.
 
   There are ten par 4's in every round. If you do no worse than bogey 
on 5 of them, and par the rest including the 3's and 5's, that's 77. 
			That's not bad either.

     We'll talk more about scoring methods in the future but I leave you 
with one consideration: 
	Be hesitant to bet with the golfer who carries three wedges.
(He probably read this article. He certainly understands "scoring").