I can’t believe it’s September, where is the year going? This also means that we’re almost approaching the end of the golf season, although not before the winners are decided in club knockouts, as well as those prestigious inter-club competitions. This leads me on to this week’s chat… gamesmanship.
Now, gamesmanship isn't cheating, but it's that subtle, often sly, art of using the rules (and sometimes just the unwritten etiquette) to gain a mental edge over your playing partners. It's the psychological warfare of the golf course, and if you’re up against it, it can be a frustrating part of the game.
I'm sure you've seen the classic examples. The player who takes forever to line up a putt, leaving you to stew over your own shot. And what about the a-little-too-enthusiastic compliment after your great shot, maybe just a bit too much to put you on edge for your next one?
There’s plenty more and PGA Professional Emma Booth has seen them all when playing high level county and amateur golf. In this article she provides tips on how to rise above gamesmanship tactics to best focus on your own game.
When the gloves come off at the Ryder Cup at the end of this month and at next year’s Solheim Cup, you can bet that the pressure cooker environment will bring out gamesmanship from players and fans.
How can we forget the famous incident in 1999, the Battle of Brookline. The moment everyone still talks about is when Justin Leonard sank a massive putt on the 17th hole to essentially seal the victory. Problem was, his opponent, José María Olazábal, still had a putt to halve the hole. The American team, fans, and even their wives poured onto the green in a wild, premature celebration and left a bitter taste for the Europeans.
Then there was Gimmegate at the 2015 Solheim Cup when American rookie Alison Lee missed a short putt on the 17th hole and then picked up her ball, thinking her European opponents had conceded the next one. But they hadn't said a word, and Suzann Pettersen rightly said the putt wasn't conceded, claiming the hole for her team. It just shows that in these high-stakes competitions, a little mind game can be just as powerful as a well-struck shot!
Emma Booth believes every golfer should know how to play the mind game when it comes to gimme putts. Offering a generous putt can sometimes make your opponent feel they need to return the favour later. On the flip side, not giving any putts at all can be seen as tight, setting a tense, "tit-for-tat" tone for the entire match. Nothing throws an opponent off their game faster than refusing to concede a short putt early on and watching them miss it.
So, in your next match, keep your eyes peeled. You might be surprised at what you see, and remember, the best revenge is a great shot and a big smile.
Happy golfing!
By Alison Root, Women's Editor Golf Monthly
