Jim’s 8-ft. putt, that would have forced a sudden death play-off, rolled around the rim of the cup but failed to drop into the hole. President’s Cup play usually starts in June and is undoubtedly the most popular men’s tournament of the year.
Last year 24 members signed up to play and by the end of the season bad weather prevented the final championship round. Kyle had to defeat his father, Chris, to make it to the final match.
Congratulations to Kyle who has now won this tournament twice. Now we’ll see if the young whippersnapper with his baseball bat can beat general manager, Paul Richmond, in their annual match. He failed to do so last year.
Carole Papa’s chip-in won the chip-in pool that had grown to $17.45. Carole Papa also won a special prize – a red, white and blue head cover for the drive closest to the line on the seventh hole. (Thanks to Carol Lindquist for her report.)
In second place were Jim Spinney and John Hanna and in third were Ken Anderson and Jay Morris. The over-all standings after three weeks of play have Spinney and Hanna in first place with five points; Papa and McDermott in second with seven points; and, John Ineson and Derek Deeger in third with eight. The team of Spinney and Hanna had the lowest number of putts with 11. Some guy with the last name of Laird was closest to the centerline on the seventh.
I did not hear a thing about the suggestion for us to play one Wednesday morning in ladies attire. I can only conclude that the guys are busy acquiring dresses, jewelry, make-up and wigs. Certainly president John Hanna will soon make an exciting announcement of the big day of play.
All Wawenock ladies will be invited to watch. Wicked good stuff can be purchased at the Miles rummage sale outlet. I have my camera and prizes ready. It will be a day to remember.
Her book is, “Choke: What the Secrets of the Brain Reveal about Getting It Right When You Have To.” In conducting her research she especially liked to study top golfers because their performance is fully dependent on themselves, and their failures are so obvious to everyone.
A prime example was Greg Norman in the 1996 Masters Tournament, when Norman, at the very top of his game, tied the course record in the first round and led the tournament by six strokes into the fourth and final round.
Everyone thought that he could coast in to win, but then it happened: five bogies, two double bogies and shots that went into the ponds on the 12th and 16th holes. Incredibly he lost to Nick Faldo by five strokes.
The problem, said Beilock, was, an “information logjam in the brain,” and “over thinking the task” in an attempt to control every aspect of his play. “This over taxes the working memory necessary to perform well,” she writes.
Her suggestions to golfers are 1. Be quick on the greens, not hurried, but not overly deliberate. 2. Find something to focus on like the manufacturer’s name and logo on the ball. 3. Use a one, two or three word mantra like “smooth,” while putting or “back and through” on a full swing. 4. Change your grip while putting to stop the yips. 5. Focus on the goal or target not on the mechanics.
She goes on to say choking is not a lifetime curse as Charl Schwartzel proved by winning the U.S. Open after blowing the Masters, both in 2011. She says that experience performing under pressure makes a big difference in performing well.
When faced with a difficult pressure shot, distracting yourself from the task is helpful and performing quickly leads to more success. So try out some of these ideas and see if they work. May you never choke!