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A few long putts from nirvana
Posted: Wednesday August 18, 1999 01:31 PM
Sports Illustrated senior writer John Garrity was a 42-year-old 8-handicapper when he suddenly lost his swing. Since December 1989 he has been looking for it -- a modern-day Odysseus adrift on the troubled waters of swing theory. As Garrity travels the world reporting on golf, he visits as many driving ranges as he can, avoiding the dreaded "mats only" ranges that prevent him from teeing it up. Here is the fifth installment of his story. Tuesday, August 17 KANSAS CITY -- I took only four clubs to Chicago -- a three-wood, four-iron, seven-iron and pitching wedge. I have this leatherette zipper-cover called a "Caddy Carry-on" that is supposed to let you take clubs aboard aircraft as hand luggage. Unfortunately, the airlines have decided that two or more golf clubs constitute a weapon, so now I have to check them. (Why is one club not a weapon?) I still love the thing. There's no point in lugging around your whole golf bag when you won't have time for a round. And that was my situation in Chicago during PGA Championship week. I got out twice to a commercial range in Hoffman Estates, one of the western suburbs. It's called the Boulder Driving Range, and the principal target is a junked fire truck. They also have a giant tire to aim at, maybe 125 yards out from the grass tees. I hit the ball extremely well, extending my run of good ballstriking. Meanwhile, I've been reading the mail inspired by this column. "Boy, oh boy, do I feel your pain," writes Pete Cole, an 80s shooter from Rockville, Md. "I've had onlookers say, 'Wow, what a great swing!' -- only to walk away once they have seen the flight path." Last year, Cole says, he was shooting "consistent 81's," but he recently suffered an attack of the dreaded shanks. He adds, "I have too much pride for lessons." Another sufferer, Brian from Atlanta, was on the threshhold of breaking 90 when his scores soared into the mid-110s. "I've come to the conclusion that golf pros are all crackpots," he writes. "I started out taking six lessons. After the sixth lesson, the pro said, 'You don't have to pay me. You were hitting the ball better than this before you came to see me.'" And here's one from Michael Friend, an amateur lexicographer in Suwanee, Ga. He writes, "I have heard a good player's swing referred to as a 'swart,' a combination of 'swing' and -- well, you get the idea." The subject of driving ranges interests some of you. "I also have searched high and low for grass driving ranges, and I believe I have found them," writes Robert Dollinger, a long hitter from Dayton. "They exist on Air Force bases. You have more room than is required, incredibly low fees for huge buckets, and the joy of knowing that your tax dollars are heading somewhere productive." From Bill Robertson in Lake Geneva, Wis., comes this query: "Have you ever hit balls off this awful stuff that is not quite grass and not quite mat material? In your column you brought up the absence of a divot when you hit from mats. This is also true of those darn pseudo-turf things." Bill may be referring to the system of sand and nylon fibers that tries to imitate real grass. Or maybe he means the brushlike strip of green porcupine quills that some ranges add to their mats. I actually prefer this brush stuff to your standard torn-and-blistered range mat; you can hit down and through the ball. But he's right, there's no divot to study. The brush also seems prone to "troughing" -- my word for the concave bowing that results from wear. It's the same effect you get when you spin your car wheels in snow. The webmasters thought I would appreciate advice -- they don't know me very well -- so I've gotten several well-intentioned and possibly valid swing tips. Steve Irvin, a wise man from Eugene, Ore., says, "Take whatever time and money you have and work on your short game. It's cheaper and less physically demanding than beating balls on a range, and you'll see the results immediately." This is excellent advice, but Steve obviously doesn't know that I am the author of Sports Illustrated's Putting, a short-game instruction book. Those who have seen me play can attest to the fact that I already one-putt nine out of 10 greens and hole out half my shots from 50 yards in. My trouble is the full swing. The short game is only useful if you can find the ball you hit off the tee. Seriously, I appreciate the advice and encouragement. "Hang in there, JG," writes Greg Di Biase, a mid-handicapper from Columbia, S.C. "You're only a few chip-ins and long putts from nirvana." He adds, "At least you get to travel to exotic locales to duff it." Amen to that. Watch this space for another installment of Mats Only. To send John Garrity advice, share your experiences, or suggest a driving range, click here.
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