Golfers Head

We've all probably seen some great players at our clubs, or elsewhere, players who are not on the main tour or even the minor tours. I've personally seen a couple of local club pro's who are outstanding, and have watched in amazement at some of the shots they play in practice. I've seen one pro hitting drive after drive down the 1st one evening, only to see his son with a bucket down the fairway catching each drive, one bounce and into the bucket. My own club pro hits an outstanding ball and makes the ball do whatever he wants. He's long, very accurate and rarely seen in the rough. He can shape shots either way, bend it around obstacles etc, etc, etc.

So what is the difference between a top tour pro' and a good club pro'. It must only be what goes on in the head. As an example I would back my club pro against Poulter, but suppose when the pressure's on Poulter would come through because he likes a fight .... Maybe my club pro's too nice to be a pro?

If niceness was a problem in pro golf then Luke Donald would be world number 1000 instead of number one. Mind you its a theory that would explain why Poulters had a decent career.

diggers wrote:If niceness was a problem in pro golf then Luke Donald would be world number 1000 instead of number one. Mind you its a theory that would explain why Poulters had a decent career.

Maybe Luke has mastered the art of a smiley face when playing. Maybe inside he's screaming expletives and wanting to punch the noisy gallery, or bollock his caddy. So maybe the theory should be that top tour players like a fight and are good character actors

My Mrs always says 'watch out for the 'nice guys'.

Mind you don't know where that leaves me!!

I think that as Doc suggested the difference is those that can still perform to their ability in a pressure situation.

We had a small example of this a couple of years ago when there was a EuroPro tour event at my club. One of the clubs young pros, a fantastic talent, playing with three members shot a 9 under 63 in the Pro-Am and they won it by a mile. Next day in the first round proper he shot 78...

I'm too nice to play good golf

My golf is so nasty I have to try and compensate by being nice.........

On a smaller scale, obviously, but I'm already thinking about how I conquer the nerves, etc. when I play in The Trilby Tour this year.

That's my biggest worry, but it's also the biggest reason I've entered. Can I control my head? It's a challenge I'm looking forward to because of what it will tell me about my mental strength.

Merc I mentioned on another thread about the guy at our place, who holds the record for the most Triby Tour wins. I said I didn't like him as he comes over as an arrogant git. So maybe thats the way of it, be an arrogant git.... you can't win if your nice

It worked for Tiger Doc...

Doc wrote:Merc I mentioned on another thread about the guy at our place, who holds the record for the most Triby Tour wins. I said I didn't like him as he comes over as an arrogant git. So maybe thats the way of it, be an arrogant git.... you can't win if your nice

Oh, just give me the title, then

Over the years, I've been accused of being arrogant and aloof, not that it's ever been a deliberate action on my part.

It's because of such (false) accusations that I find myself defending people like Poulter and Woods. Not everyone works the same and because someone doesn't seem to converse or engage a lot does not mean that they think any less of anyone else.

It's a cliché but such people are misunderstood.

Its not just in the head though a lot of it is.

Its also short game, the average club pro would be at least 2-3 shorts worse around the greens than an average tour pro.

This bears fruit when I've played at London Club withmy friend who is club pro there and Matt Haines ET & CT player. Nothing in it really on long game but chipping and putting difference is huge.

Then there is the head game, its not about being nice its about being able to brush off bad shots and holes as though they simply didn't happen then being ruthless enough to put your foot on someones throat(so to speak) when it matters to close them out and take the win yourself

Dunno really. I think some people are more determined to get there. Simon Khan was a club pro for many years... now a BMW winner. Poults was at Leighton Buzzard and played on various regional tours (and had a couple of Challenge events under his belt before getting his card).

Who's the guy in the US who plays on the PGA Tour whilst still having a pro shop on a public course (I'm thinking Kenny Perry but I'm not sure).

A lot is down to belief and attitude rather than just the fact that "they work in a shop so they just aren't up to it".

Mav has it spot on, the difference is short game mainly but also course management. A tour pro will make a bogey where a club pro or top am will make a double.

A classic example: A friend of mine went right through all the qualifying stages and got into the Open at St Andrews when Daly beat Rocca in a playoff (1995). He was very last game out on the Friday, 3 over par stood on the 18th tee. His caddy told him the cut was 2 over. So he pulled out the big dog, gave it a lash and knocked it onto the middle of the green, knowing he needed a birdie to make the weekend. 3 putts later he missed it by one. All down to not being able to handle the pressure as apparently he had been putting beautifully all week.

That's the difference............

I had an interesting insight into this last week, in Portugal. I'd won the trip in a matchplay comp with my regular golfing partner, and one of the organisers was a former Challenge Tour pro, Neil Clarkson. Just about the toughest course we played all week was Vilamoura Old, at least from the point of view of the difficulty of the greens. We played it on the Friday, and shot a betterball 77 or so. He played it the following day and shot 65, with a dropped shot on the first. When we spoke to him that night, he shrugged it off as nothing, and dismissed the idea that he might still be able to make it on one tour or another. He just wasn't up for it, didn't think he was good enough and even seemed relieved not to be having to play to earn his living. He even almost sounded proud of his 9 missed cuts in 9 tournaments, costing £11k, that brought his tour career to an end. If you don't really want to do something, no matter how well you're able to do it, it isn't the right thing for you.

Was that the howdididoo thingy SJ - in that case howdidyoudo?

oldshanker wrote:Was that the howdididoo thingy SJ - in that case howdidyoudo?

It was, OS. We ended up on 3 points out of 5, but because the 2 other teams on 3 were the 2 we'd lost to, we came 3rd out of 6. Brilliant week, though, and we've also established a 'WhyDidIBother' follow-on competition with the winners, to be played biannually and hosted by the previous losers. The inaugural event was held on the Saturday at Vale do Lobo, and the second will be at Crondon in 2 or 3 months' time The expression 'golfed out' sprang to mind when we had 8 tee shots between the 4 of us on the famous 16th!

Smithers love Val Do Lobo especially the Royal and its in much better nick than the Ocean. I think Ive got it right, the 16th is the par 3 at the oceans edge over the cliffs. For me thats not a patch on the other track. I also think the Old course is the best track of the Oceanico courses, yes easier than Victoria, but great looking and can be really tough greens

diggers wrote:If niceness was a problem in pro golf then Luke Donald would be world number 1000 instead of number one. Mind you its a theory that would explain why Poulters had a decent career.

Or any number of golfers.

Doc wrote:Smithers love Val Do Lobo especially the Royal and its in much better nick than the Ocean. I think Ive got it right, the 16th is the par 3 at the oceans edge over the cliffs. For me thats not a patch on the other track. I also think the Old course is the best track of the Oceanico courses, yes easier than Victoria, but great looking and can be really tough greens

I'm a bit confused, Doc? The Royal is the one with the famous 16th, although that is of course overlooking the ocean. Are you saying you prefer the Ocean course or the course with the hole overlooking the ocean? Not played the Ocean myself so can't say which is better. Agree the Old is best of the Vilamoura courses, although I don't know if I'd say it was easier than Victoria, different type of challenge but just as tricky in many ways. I think my favourite of the week was O'Connor, although that's probably because I played best there. We didn't get to play the Faldo course, will have to save that for next time!

Smithers this place confuses the hell out of me and think its because the ocean course doesn't do the ocean, except the 16th .... is that right?

From the clubhouse door the 1st tee straight ahead. Thats the best track. The 1st tee on on the other course is left of the previous and ius elevated?

The Royal is the one with the first tee straight in front of the clubhouse, between the clubhouse and the 'driving range'. The first hole must be the shortest par 5 in golf, about 420 yards at most. It is on the higher ground, and you only get to see the sea on the 15 and 16th. The Ocean course is on the lower ground leading down to the beach.

smithersjones wrote:

oldshanker wrote:Was that the howdididoo thingy SJ - in that case howdidyoudo?

It was, OS. We ended up on 3 points out of 5, but because the 2 other teams on 3 were the 2 we'd lost to, we came 3rd out of 6. Brilliant week, though, and we've also established a 'WhyDidIBother' follow-on competition with the winners, to be played biannually and hosted by the previous losers. The inaugural event was held on the Saturday at Vale do Lobo, and the second will be at Crondon in 2 or 3 months' time The expression 'golfed out' sprang to mind when we had 8 tee shots between the 4 of us on the famous 16th!

Sounds like you had a good time and met some new golf partners.

I saw your name on the list before Xmas and was going to comment, but it just flew out of my colander brain.