FAST GOLF FACTS
Why is the word “stymie” used in
golf?
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The
word “stymie” comes from the Scottish word styme, meaning a person
who is partially blind.
In golf, stymie rules used to allow a golfer to putt his
ball onto the line of his opponent in order to block the path
to the hold. Stymies
were taken out of the Rules in 1952, as they tended to lessen
the importance of true golfing skill and slow down the game.
Why do
some caddies tip the pin backward while tending it for their player
on tour?
Caddies
often tip the pin backward from the hole because it gives the
player a sense of line to the hole.
With the pin tilted backward, it looks like a
line being extended beyond the hole to the player.
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1x2 Driving Mat & Professional Cage
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Why do golfers
yell “fore” to warn others of an approaching shot?
Most experts think the term derives from a warning used by the British
Army in battle, which formed ranks of infantry at the front with artillery
located in the rear. Before
firing a volley, the artillery yelled “beware before” to the infantry,
who then lay down to let the cannon balls fly overhead.
Shortened to “fore”, the term eventually came to be used by golfers
to warn other players a missile headed their way.
Why are the Irish
rebellion and golf intertwined in British history?
King Charles I became a golf fanatic during his reign.
He was harshly criticized and forced to forfeit his crown because
he neglected his duties, allowing the Rebellion to take shape while
he was so often out playing golf. He actually received the news of the
Irish uprising while on the golf course.
Why is a putter
used from off the green called a “Texas wedge”?
Many
players from Texas used this technique because of the tough wind conditions
there. Using a putter keeps
shots low and the wind’s influence minimal.
Ben Hogan popularized the technique and the term in the 1950s.
Why do hooks
run when they land, while fades tend to stop more quickly?
A hooked or drawn shot is generally produced by a closed clubface,
a fade or slice by an opened one.
An opened face creates more loft and thus higher shot with more
backspin. The closed-face
shot tends to fly lower and have less backspin.
Why do many pros
insist that their caddies carry the golf balls in their pockets?
This
practice is called “warming the eggs”.
Many pros believe that warming the golf balls help them fly farther.
While warming does enhance the elasticity of the ball, it would
require illegal means to raise the temperature of the ball to get any
significant benefits from it.
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