Golf and Loss Aversion

Hazards of Egyptian golf

There's a really interesting article on Aussie Golfer about why golfers sink more par putts than birdie putts, when the putts are the same length.
(Aussie Golfer has consistently great golf blogs.)
Here's an extract from the Aussie Golfer article.

Israeli psychologist Daniel Kahneman released a book late last year called "Thinking, Fast and Slow" that outlines the problems with human reasoning. In the book he hints at why golfers miss many more birdie putts than par putts of the same length.
In the book (that has spent a considerable amount of time on the New York Times best sellers list) he cites a study published in 2009 by Pope and Schweitzer that looked at 2,525,161 putts attempted by 421 PGA tour players between 2004 and 2009. The results showed a significant increase in putts made for par than for birdie.
"When golfers are “under par” (e.g., shoot a “birdie” putt that would earn them a score one stroke under par or shoot an “eagle” putt that would earn them a score two strokes under par) they are significantly less accurate than when they attempt otherwise similar putts for par or are “over par”."
The reason expanded upon in Kahneman's book is that we are hard wired to worry more about loss than gain, and the performance (or in this case, the putting) gets better when you are trying to avoid failure. This, despite the fact that a birdie putt or a par putt are of equal value and are only differentiated because of the par assigned for the hole.
"Pope and Schweitzer theorized that players would try a little harder when putting for par to avoid a bogey than when putting for a birdie. They analyzed over 2.5 million puts in exquisite detail to test that prediction. They were right. Whether the putt was easy or hard, every distance from the hole, players were more successful putting for par than for a birdie.
The study looked at professional golfers but I'd be inclined to think a similar result may also be seen for amateur golfers with club handicaps who are putting for par equivalent or less on a hole.

It's a beautiful day here on the Kapiti Coast so when I play golf this afternoon, I'm going to change my thoughts when I'm standing over a birdie putt. Instead of "Good Lord, I've hit a hole in regulation! Birdie would be nice but 2 putts will still give me par" it'll be "I want birdie".


Agonising Golf and More Agonising Golf ebooks available
from smashwords.com

Detox Trundler Seat for Golfers

I read in our local paper about a wonderful new cushion for sale which, among other things, claims to "allow the lymphatic system to flush toxins easily through your body ... improve core strength ... help you lose weight by keeping the enzymes that burn fat working."
Sounds ideal for the modern golfer, I thought. I could adapt it for a trundler or a golf cart. With a round of golf taking up to six hours, a lot of that time's spent sitting. Why not use it to 'get healthy'?
So, a cushion that can do all this ... is there a special way of sitting on it? Do I need better balance than I manage through my golf swing? Do I need to keep my head down?
Nope, nothing that complicated. You just have to jiggle. A bit. Every now and then.
Every time I see a product advertised which either 'burns' or 'rids the body of toxins' I have to fight an overwhelming impulse to hurl at the ground whatever it is that I've read the offending advertorial in.
(Indeed, sometimes I suffer from 'toxin burning' flashbacks on the golf course when I hit a shot, obviously full of toxins, and I have to fight really hard to hold on to my golf club.)
After further research, I've concluded that the best way for a golfer to rid themselves of toxins is to have a couple of lessons.
There's nothing like a well-hit shot to expel anything toxic.

Agonising Golf and More Agonising Golf ebooks available
from smashwords.com

Protect Our Fish From Off Target Golfers

Golf course superintendants who are in charge of golf courses with ponds and creeks on them, be warned.
There's a very strong lobby group, Protect Our Fish From Off Target Golfers, who are gathering a huge force behind them to have your course closed.

Armed with photos, such as the shots below, they are organising petitions worldwide to insist that either the golf courses errect protection over the waterways or they shut down. 

As protection would not only be too expensive but would also be aesthetically unacceptable, the POFFOTGers know that closure is the only option, if they get their way.

According to POFFOTG, the fish in the pictures have been hit, time and time again, with golf balls.

(Those who believe in reincarnation think the fish were soccer players in previous lives, specifically those who would 'take a dive'.)

Unfortunately, the POFFOGT has teamed up with an equally strong group, Protect Our Fish From Club Hurling Impatient Golfers - POFFCHIG. They have collected data to show that out of every 20 balls that are hit into the water, 4.5 of the offending clubs end up in there too.

The bumps certainly look like injuries but there's another group, Protect Our Courses From Idiots - POCFI, who insist that these fish haven't been hit by golf balls or clubs. Their studies show that these fish are just myopic and bump into rocks or submerged branches or even the pond/creek edges.

Another group, POGCFWICL - Provide Our Golf Course Fish With Ideal Contact Lenses, (made up of Beauty Pageant competitors who saw this as a way to help achieve world peace) hopes to help solve the problem.

The fact that golf courses provide the best photo shoots for beauty queens is purely coincidental.

Golf Swings Match Personality

Have you ever noticed that golfers' swings match their personalities?
People who talk fast and walk fast always swing fast. And slow coaches not only take forever to get to their ball but, once they get there, they fluff around adjusting their glove and take ages to select a club.
And then change their mind and put it back.
(Don't get stuck behind these golfers when they're queuing for food. Especially if they've just been to the toilet - they never use tongs.)
So, does this mean that your personality has doomed you to always underclub? (Ultra-careful person who never takes risks.)
Or, you're just going to have to accept that every round will include a couple of quintuple bogies, because you're incapable of playing percentage when in trouble. (Stubborn person who refuses to alter their views.)
Or else you may not be able to 'restrict the damage' because you think you can pull off that one in a million shot. (Delusions of grandeur.)
Up until this year, the answer would have been 'yes'.
But, fortunately for you, Agonising Golf and More Agonising Golf (links below) will help you overcome all these maladies.
Here are a few tips to tide you over until you've read the ebooks.
You walk fast and swing fast?
Wear gumboots (one size too big) and heavy wrist bands. Guaranteed to give you time to complete your backswing.
Too slow?
Give the person who's marking your card an electric cattle prodder. (Test it on the neighbour's straying dog ... or the neighbour ... before playing. Guarantee your marker won't even have to use it.)
Can't stop a little trouble turning into a lot?
Carry a copy of your credit card statement and look at the interest charges before you attempt that 'one in a million' shot. (This personality type never pays off the total at the end of the month.)
With Ms Kallas-Way's techniques, you can be a better golfer.
Agonising Golf and More Agonising Golf ebooks available
from smashwords.com

Why do Golfers Wear only One Glove?

I have recently delved into the history of the golf glove, as I've always wondered why golfers, apart from Tommy Gainey, only wear one.
Personally, I don't wear a golf glove. You can get a reasonably quaffable bottle of wine for the same price as a glove, and there's no doubt which one I would rather have.
To solve the mystery, I had to go back to the invention of golf, which I've proved occurred way back in the neanderthal period.
(There is some disagreement on whether the naenderthal was a golfer or just a particularly bad tempered individual who enjoyed whacking stones and nuts at people. I believe cave drawings confirm the golfer hypothesis.)
Anyway, a close study of fossils and caves show that even back then, neanderthal golfers only wore one glove.
Why?
Could it be because a neanderthal golf pro had lots of beginner golfers order golf gloves and, to avoid looking incompetent because he'd run out, he told them they only needed one? Left or right didn't matter.
Perhaps, with neanderthals being so strong, if they used a two-handed swing the nuts/stones went too far so the single glove was a reminder to only use one hand.
A popular theory is that due to their large appetite, neanderthals were often tempted by edible animals on the course, which they pursued and thumped with their clubs. This made rounds of golf interminably slow, so wearing a glove was a constant reminder to play, not slay.
I now know that all those theories are wrong.
The unequivocal reason why golfers from all epochs wear only one glove is ... it's really hard to pick your nose with a glove on.

Agonising Golf and More Agonising Golf ebooks available
from smashwords.com

Mud Golf Tips

Golf is a winter sport in New Zealand so here are a few tips to help you enjoy your game.
1. Think positive swing thoughts i.e. mud is good for my complexion.
2. With the greens so soggy, it's your best chance to make your shots to the green stop like a pro's.
3. If you're on a hilly course, your 8 & 9 irons make good ski poles.
4. If you're a jabby putter, don't clean the mud off your ball - just distribute it evenly.
5. If the course allows placing, often you'll find a muddy lump or divot to tee your ball on.
6. In which case, remember, mud is good for your complexion.
7. Mud in your eye makes your shots look better.
8. Practice swings towards your opponent make them look better.



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

From Practice Fairway to Course

Had a very satisfying one and a half hours on the practice fairway today, working on the lesson I had a week ago. Hit the ball well with irons and woods so decided to play a few holes.
I wanted to see if my swing was transferable from practice to serious.
Drove well and took my rescue club for my second shot.
Nutted it.
Then hit my third skinny and right.
Alas, my swing is like a crossed cheque.
Non-transferable.
This happens time after time. I hit the ball nicely on the practice fairway but can't do it on the course.
I need some way to turn the course into the practice fairway.
Maybe I could go out before everyone starts and hide the flags...




Agonising Golf and More Agonising Golf ebooks available
from smashwords.com