TERRE HAUTE —
What is the affliction that can affect most any golfer from those who can’t break an egg to skilled golfers who can break 70?
It’s pressure! T.V. watchers who tuned in to The Ryder Cup last weekend got a glimpse of some of the world’s best players dealing with more pressure than most anyone could imagine.
Pity poor Hunter Mahan who was battling to keep the Cup in the U.S. when he had the misfortune to stub a chip shot that helped the Europeans to notch their seventh win in the past nine Ryder Cup meetings.
All in all, it was great theatre with the tournament coming down to the last twosome. Mahan shouldn’t hang his head in despair for the next two years. He simply had the bad luck to be in the deciding match.
Any of his eleven teammates could have played a tad better and brought home an additional half point. That would have denied the Brits a half point and given the U.S. a tie, which in Ryder Cup parlance would have meant the U. S., would have retained the coveted cup.
It has always been difficult to figure out how a tie simply means the Ryder Cup goes to the previous winner. It would appear that sudden death would be a viable alternative.
Although the weatherman threatened to turn the event into a swim meet, everything turned out well except for the final score. I believe that the Americans did well when you consider the match favored the home team. After all, they get many opportunities to become adjusted to the intricacies of their familiar greens.
What is this thing called “pressure?” Well, it certainly translates into something called “nervousness.” And the ability to control those nerves is what separates champions from “also rans.”
Let’s look at some golfers have to say about this situation. No less a sage than Lee Trevino has always declared, “Pressure occurs when you play for $50 a hole with only $5 in your pocket.”
Jack Nicklaus has stated, “All athletes, when they get in pressure situations, don’t revert to mechanics, they revert to feel.”
Trevino says, “There is no such thing as natural touch, it’s something that must be learned by hitting millions of golf balls.”
Others have said that the more you win, the less trouble you will have with your nerves.
• • •
Golf is full of circular reasoning. Want to make more putts? You must have confidence. How do you gain confidence? Go out and make some putts. Want to rid yourself of a bad case of nerves? Go out and win some tournaments.
No one ever said that logic and golf are bedfellows. In fact, you might say that cow pasture pool is one crazy activity. I’d delve deeper into this subject, but I’ve got to make my tee time.
• • •
Congratulations are in order for North junior, Rachel Welker, for a sixth place finish in the IHSAA Girls’ Golf Finals.
Topping that is the fact that Welker is also a talented pole-vaulter for the Patriots. I can’t recall another golfer, male or female, who also excelled as a pole-vaulter. Many golfers of yesteryear would not even pick up a suitcase for fear of losing their “touch” on the golf course. It would seem that participating in a strenuous sport along with golf poses no problem for Rachel. Next year promises to be a banner season for the dedicated young lady.
• Tip of the week — If you are fighting those nerves which manifest themselves with sweaty palms, dry mouth, trembling hands and difficult breathing, you should take deep regular breaths using the diaphragm. Also drink plenty of fluids during your rounds. And don’t gamble for more than you can afford to lose. You might find yourself in a “pressure cooker.”
Keep your head down and your shoestrings tied. We’ll be back.
Rub of the Green
BOB ARNETT: No matter what your level, watch out for pressure
- Rub of the Green
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Ryder Cub drama a great part of American sports scene
The recent Ryder Cup matches are over, but not done with! At the time the final match had concluded the “talking heads” had already gone to work assessing blame to those who didn’t live up to their preconceived expectations.
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Snedeker the big winner after FedEx Championship
The season-long FedEx Championship has finally come to an end and Brandt Snedeker may need a Brinks truck to haul his winnings to the bank.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Memories of Crooked Stick
The BMW tournament that concluded Sept. 9 at Crooked Stick in Carmel brought back a flood of memories.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: "Fair Joe" known expects rules to be followed in local hunts
Fair Joe is the name and golf is the game when referring to Joe Bukovack, who has sponsored hunts in Terre Haute as well as throughout Indiana during the past 25 years.
The “Fair” in Joe’s title refers to the fact that players who wish to participate in Bukovack’s competition must be willing to follow the rules of golf to the letter, otherwise they will not be invited to participate. -
RUB OF THE GREEN: Enjoying the game after all these years
When golf is referred to as “The Game for a Lifetime,” you’ve got to believe that description is definitely on target. For example, there is the Danny Williams hunt that converges on the first tee at The Landing on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings. Many players are in their 70s and retired dentist, Bill Aikin, has seen 92 birthdays.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Hunts still popular on golf course
There is something about golf that lends itself to some friendly competition and in times gone by, the competitions were called “choose-ups.” Somewhere along the line, choose-ups became “hunts.” Regardless of what you call them, they remain a most popular mode of play for Terre Haute divot-diggers on courses throughout the Wabash Valley.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Heat doesn’t deter Terre Haute golfers
“When you’re hot, you’re hot, and when you’re not, you’re not.” Those are the words of country singer Jerry Reed and they apply to golfers as well.
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Rub of the Green: Father’s golf imprint still evident today
I was lucky and I knew it. My father, Robert Erwin Arnett, was one of the best dads any youngster could hope for.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Hogan, small of stature, left big footprints
With the Crowne Plaza Invitational being played at Colonial Country Club today, it conjures up images of the man himself, Bantam Ben Hogan, who won so often at Colonial it became known as “Hogan’s Alley.”
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Rub of the Green: Bowling or golf? Both provide plenty of challenge
The question has been raised in the past, is it bowling or golf that is the more difficult endeavor?
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Sometimes this can be a confounding game
To be sure, the great Sam Snead certainly knew what he was talking about when he delivered his favorite axiom, “The sun don’t shine on the same dog every day.”
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Grayless takes over as golf professional at Hulman Links
Ed Grayless has assumed the “head man’s” position at the Links after Ryan Klopfenstein resigned as Hulman Links golf professional in order to pursue other interests.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Young players should match course to skills
One of the biggest mistakes a beginning golfer can make is to keep playing a golf course that is far too difficult for the ability demonstrated by that player.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: On the lanes or links, Davis is competitive
Darrell Davis carries a 240 bowling average which obviously puts him in some strong company on the alleys, but he feels that golf is a much more difficult sport than keggling.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Loquacious golfers can provide priceless quotes
Golfers always seem to have a great deal to say, but determining who said what and who said it first can be a problem.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Rick Fernandes can look back on a great golf career
What does an outstanding golfer have left when an accident has robbed him of the consummate skills he once possessed? The answer most assuredly would be one word, “Memories.”
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Feherty’s humor good for golf
David Feherty is an extremely funny man. If you have read his book written a few years ago, you might have guessed what to expect from him. The book, entitled “Somewhere in Ireland a Village is Missing an Idiot,” set the stage for his far out brand of humor, most of which is directed at himself.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: It's all in your head
A pair of divot diggers had been discussing their favorite sport when one could be heard saying, “You know, I think this game is 90 percent mental.” After a short pause his friend replied, “Well, I think you’re about 10 percent short in your estimation.”
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Golf: ‘The Game You Love to Hate’
Golf has been called “The Game You Love to Hate.” In addition, love-hate relationships have been around since the beginning of time.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Golf is only sport that offers both hilarity, pathos
It’s been stated more than once that “golf is a microcosm for life itself.”
This writer would heartily agree. No sport or game can offer combinations of happiness and sadness, hilarity and pathos as evidenced by an activity called “cow pasture pool” by some of its practitioners. -
RUB OF THE GREEN: Even golfers say there is drug problem on Tour
Are professional golfers using performance-enhancing drugs? This writer wouldn’t have the foggiest, but if you asked Gary Player, one of the game’s greatest, the answer would be a resounding, “Yes.”
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Not all golfers display their trophies
Back in the “old days,” let’s say the 1940s, most of the time when you won something in a golf tournament your prize came in the form of a trophy. That was it, just a dust catcher. Later, merchandise prizes were added.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Golf full of colorful characters
Every sport has its own cast of characters and golf is definitely no exception. Whether it is diving head first into a greenside bunker or tying an unreliable putter to a car’s bumper and dragging it down the road, golfers can do some strange things.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Winter made golf impossible this year
Old Man Winter along with Mother Nature must have something against area golfers. They have joined forces to sabotage a sport called winter golf, an activity many Wabash Valley players have enjoyed in years gone by.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Golf instruction a strenuous art
Few who have ever tried their hands at playing the game of golf would describe the sport as “easy”. In fact, just the opposite would be the case.
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BOB ARNETT: No matter what your level, watch out for pressure
What is the affliction that can affect most any golfer from those who can’t break an egg to skilled golfers who can break 70?
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RUB OF THE GREEN: THGA tournaments include variety, long history
In days gone by, the Terre Haute Golf Association has always offered more than just a 72-hole stroke play tournament.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: PGA playoff system still needs work
Is anyone fed up with the convoluted Fed Ex playoffs? The PGA has been tweaking its so-called Fed Ex playoff system for years, and they never seem to get it right.
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Rub of the Green: Golf can be roller coaster for young pros
Dustin Johnson may be best remembered for his appearances in the major tournaments in 2010, but not because he won. He didn’t win. But he came awfully close.
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Rub of the Green: One size does NOT fit all when it comes to golfing ability
Literally hundreds of books have been written on the subject of golf instruction, and we can be certain they all agree on one fundamental, always keep your head stationary throughout the swing.
Right? Nope, wrong as it could be! How’s that, you say? As examples both David Duval and Annika Sorenstam at one time were rated the world’s No. 1 professional golfers, respectively, and both swiveled their heads well before their clubheads reached the impact zone. In fact, Duval is one of a select few who has a 59 to his credit on the PGA Tour. - More Rub of the Green Headlines
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