TERRE HAUTE —
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.
Feherty’s latest project, besides working as an on course announcer for PGA Tournaments, is his own television show which my be viewed weekly on the Golf Channel.
Self-deprecation is part and parcel of Feherty’s comedy routines. He presents himself as a player who helped Britain lose the Ryder Cup to the U.S. in 1960.
The truth is Feherty defeated Payne Stewart in that competition and also helped himself and Sam Torrence, his partner, to a split in doubles competition. Some may remember that Bernard Langer missed a three-foot putt on his last hole to allow the U.S. to win the cup, otherwise the Ryder Cup would have ended in a tie and Britain would have retained possession of the coveted cup.
Feherty also tells it “the way it is” when he confesses his battles with alcohol and prescription drugs. He claims there was once a time when an entire bottle of whiskey was not nearly enough for him each day.
He credits his young daughter with being the catalyst for him en route to cleaning up, getting off and staying away from “the bottle.”
Among the guests he has welcomed on his program are: Lee Trevino, Johnny Miller, Ian Poulter, Rory McIlroy, Darren Clarke and Greg Norman.
Feherty has the uncanny ability to milk the humor from most any situation, and he does it in a manner that is unique to his own particular, peculiar style.
He has an appeal that would make you think he would be perfectly happy playing in a choose-up hunt at Rea Park or Hulman Links. I believe most would enjoy his book and watching his TV program.
• • •
Tiger Woods is much like a leopard, he doesn’t change his spots. In an Associated Press story published about a month ago, it detailed an interview in which he took 23 questions and then walked off without looking right or left and was then overheard muttering under his breath, “That’s why you guys listen, and I play.”
Tiger arrived on the sports scene more privileged than any other athlete, but his relationship with golf writers has not always been smooth. Now, after his widely publicized sex scandal, it will be interesting to see if he can come back and find that magic he displayed on golf courses everywhere or has that Tiger disappeared for good?
It would be difficult to bet against him, but realistically Eldrick is not getting any younger and it is getting more difficult to overhaul the new crop of young players who are ready and willing to win tournaments.
• Fair Joe Bukovac’s Labor Day Shoot Out at The Landing produced some close results.
With play based on a better ball, alternate shot basis, three tandems were deadlocked at the halfway mark. They were Mike Wagle and Lee Shipley, Dave “Al” Alumbaugh and Billy “Bum” Alumbaugh as well as Denny Overberg and Kenny Bosc.
At the end it was Overberg and Bosc in first place with the Alumbaugh brothers in the runner-up spot.
• The old saying, “The woods are full of long hitters” is not always true.
My scouts tell me that Mike “Goat Boy” Lacy can hit the golf ball “a ton.” That brought up the name of former Indiana State University basketball player, Elliott Booe. It was reported that he “flew” the ninth green at The Country Club of Terre Haute.
It’s easy to see that a driving contest is definitely needed.
• Don Tyler made his first eagle on No. 14, the 525-yard par 5 at The Landing recently. Although Don has made eagles before, this one was special; he only had to hole a seven inch putt to secure his three. Tyler works diligently to improve his game.
• Tip of the week — Long putters are “in” these days whether they are “belly putters” or the longer variety. Adam Scott has been making a case for his flat stick.
Regardless of whether you clamp the grip end of the putter against your chest or hold it against your belly, the results will let you know which method suits you best.
n Keep your head down and your shoestrings tied. We’ll be back.
Rub of the Green
RUB OF THE GREEN: Feherty’s humor good for golf
- 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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