28 Jun A ‘game within the game’ one needs to learn

After flying to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, for the RBC Heritage, Mr Pars shot his two routine par rounds of 71 only to be informed that he missed the cut by four shots. This makes two consecutive weeks now of no income to help cover the cost of travelling, accommodation, caddie fee, etc.

A little disheartened, he’s hoping to turn his fortunes around this week at the Travelers Championship. A young player’s nerves are practically nonexistent when putting. As the years progress, what was once a simple exercise becomes an ordeal. But let’s don’t make our game harder than what it really is.

Putting is not a matter of nerve or will power at all, although I know that this opinion is directly contrary to the views you’ll hear most often. Many have tried the theory to reduce the art of putting to an exact science by some methods of controlling the club, which would make it impossible to go wrong. But the harsh reality is that this is a physical impossibility, for putting will forever remain a ‘game within a game’.

You’ll be play brilliantly at times and horribly at other times — the trick is to keep those horrible times down to a minimum. Those of us who try and play to the best of our ability, hard work and bitter experience has been our teacher.

Out of Bounds: Man is incomplete until he marries and plays golf. After that, he is finished.