Republic of Ireland
On the couch – tips to save your score.
Nov 05 2010 Posted in Golf News, Shrink Rap by GoKartThe first in a series of articles by our GoKart Shrink, Stephen Smith. This time it’s how to keep a score going all the way through the round. Sit back, read, then watch your numbers tumble…
“Golf is only played one shot at a time but it took me many years to realise that”
Bobby Jones
This statement is as true today as it was when the great Bobby Jones made it in the 1930’s. However, every one of us is still guilty of looking at the scorecard, realising that a good score is possible and then throwing it all away.
Yet we are told it is a simple issue to sort as all sport psychologists tell us we only have to “Stay in the present” to overcome this problem. And all golfers know that we should not get ahead of ourselves on the course – yet this is exactly what we all end up doing when there is the possibility of a good round on the card. To evolutionary psychologists this is not really surprising as they know that millions of years of evolution have geared our brains to do anything but “Stay in the present” – unfortunately most of us sport psychologists are only beginning to catch on that good process for 21st century golfers cannot ignore the impact that this evolutionary heritage is having on our brains and behaviour . Simply put, the reason why you and I are here is because we are the descendants of ancient ancestors who managed to survive the perils of ice ages, saber tooth tigers and rampaging woolly mammoths long enough to ensure that their genes were continued. (more…)
Add a comment TweetIn praise of Westwood, by Martin Vousden.
Nov 04 2010 Posted in Golf News, Martin Vousden by GoKartThought for the Day
So what’s the speed of dark?
The King is dead; long live the King
And so, after seemingly limitless discussion, debate and anticipation, Tiger Woods is finally dethroned as best golfer in the world and our own Lee Westwood is now, officially, The Man.
Phil Mickelson, of course, had several opportunities to install himself as Head Honcho over the last 12 months, and Martin Kaymer could have climbed to the top of the heap at the weekend but it is Westwood who now has a large target painted on his back, and is the guy for whom all the others will be gunning. I think he’ll cope.
He joins an elite, exclusive list, becoming only the 13th man since the rankings started in April 1986 to be able to say, with some justification: ‘I’m better than the rest’. The only potential downside for Lee is that he is currently (more…)
Add a comment TweetWe like Doncaster…
Nov 01 2010 Posted in GoKart News, Golf News by GoKart…because it’s where we mould the parts for the GoKart. But so does Lee Westwood as his racehorse ‘Hoof It’ had rather a tidy little win there last week. Number one golfer in the world, winning racehorse and he chooses a jacket like that (Wanna buy a Cortina?). Sorry Lee, you know we love you really.
Martin Vousden reporting
Oct 25 2010 Posted in Golf News, Martin Vousden by GoKartThought for the Day
How can there be self-help ‘groups’?
That winning (or sinking) feeling
That was a very odd weekend of tournament golf the week before last, with more ups and downs than an express elevator at the Empire State Building. In the Fry’s.Com Open in America, Rocco Mediate had the lead, lost it and then staged a remarkable recovery to win by a stroke. In Europe at the Portugal Masters, Pablo Martin had the lead, lost it, got it back and then blew it again over the last few holes; while in Malaysia Padraig Harrington cruised to his first tournament win for more than two years, in the Asian Iskandar Johor Open.
And while it is good to see the genial Irishman back on the winner’s rostrum, let us not delude ourselves that this is a momentous win by anyone’s reckoning (apart from Padraig himself, of course, who has been scratching around various tours for that elusive follow-up to his triumph in the 2008 US PGA Championship). Trailing in the Dubliner’s wake at Horizon Hills G&CC were golfing titans such as Noh Seung-yul, Lin Wen-tang (second and third respectively) with Mardan Mamat in fourth and Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Scott Barr equal fifth.
As Harrington himself said, winning is always important but we should perhaps bear in mind that, although this victory is a notch or two above the monthly member/guest at your home club, it’s not exactly a fifth major. (more…)
Add a comment TweetSpot the difference!
Oct 20 2010 Posted in Golf News by GoKart
Recently we’ve been fiddling around with a weird little golf ball called a Truvis. It’s constructed in the same way as a normal ball, in this case a Titleist, but with a special regular pattern printed all over it. The daft thing is, it’s the same size as a standard golf ball but it looks bigger when it’s sitting there waiting for you to bash the hell out of it. It just seems to stand up on the grass. And, somehow, you’re really aware of the 3D’ness – it kind of makes you want to hit it!
When you putt or chip with it, the pattern gives you a very clear indication of how cleanly you’ve hit the ball. You can see the spin really easily, which can only help improve striking and consistency. There’s a bit of science behind why your brain registers the pattern in a different way, making it easier to imprint good practice. In short we like it (but we’ve also realised how rubbish our putting is…)
The Truvis has been around for a while, and is being used with considerable success by notable players (and winners) on the Senior and Ladies tour. So keep an eye out, and if you notice someone teeing up with a miniature football, they’re not necessarily Arsenal supporters, but they may turn out to be very good putters.
Here’s a link to their site if you want to find out more; Truvis golf ball It does cost a little bit more than your average golf ball but look on the bright side; 1) when you hit them in the rough they’re dead easy to see and identify 2) you’ll soon get a reputation as a bandit putter – holing everything in sight. Should put you on the podium a bit.
Add a comment 3 Comments TweetRyders of the Storm. Martin on the Cup
Oct 05 2010 Posted in Golf News, Martin Vousden by GoKartThought for the Day:
Ole, Ole, Ole
Ryders of the Storm
I would imagine that the cardio-thoracic unit of Newport Hospital has been running at full stretch because if ever a sporting event was likely to give someone a heart attack, it was the final day of the 38th Ryder Cup. It seems as if this past week has had more twists and turns than Hampton Court Maze, and offered more excitement than a blindfolded drive through Paris in the middle of rush-hour. For us Europeans, watching that stunning Sunday performance when our players seized five-and-a-half points from a possible six, was almost too good to be true. To then see them play the first three hours or so of the singles in such authorative style that they opened up a significant and comfortable margin of advantage was even better.
But then, of course, as they almost always do on the final day of a Ryder Cup, the Americans dug deep and started clawing themselves back into contention – I swear they have a greater capacity to rise from the dead than Lazarus. (more…)
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