Golf Is Not Fair

I was listening to coverage of the US Open while driving on Friday. The commentator said something that will ring true for most of us. A golfer made what initially seemed to be a great shot but ended up in trouble. The announcer said “Golf isn’t fair…but it is not supposed to be”. The great Jack Nicklaus agreed. He said “Golf is not, and never has been, a fair game”.

Who hasn’t been like that unfortunate golfer and hit it straight and long off a tee only to roll into thick rough. Almost everyone has hit that almost perfect long putt for birdie that lips out and leaves you a tough four footer for par. Or you could be like me and drive the green on one and make the two on the last practice hole and followed it with a seven on the same hole ten minutes later.  Many of us have shot a solid 38 or 39 in the practice round before Mens’ Night then follow it up with a 46 when it counts.

What we need to remember is that it goes both ways. Think of the shots on nine that go long and right before hitting a tree and bouncing back onto the green. Who has not hit a putt and said “That’s long”  before watching the ball hit the cup on the fly, pop in the air, and then drop back in the hole.  Many of us have struggled to break fifty on Wednesday afternoon then came back with a sub 40 round for Mens’ Night.

Like life, golf is neither fair nor unfair. It just happens. There are good rounds and bad rounds, lucky shots and unlucky ones. In most cases, you get a little bit of both on the same round. Take this past Wednesday for example. Scott Maynes had three birdies and three sevens. Or consider this morning. It’s Father’s Day and most of us would have the green light to golf yet it’s rainy, wet, and cool.

Golf isn’t supposed to be fair. You can play well and win no skins. You can play poorly and win money. You can shoot a 36 and pair with a 55. Or you can struggle to break 50 but get randomly matched with the guy that birdied the only two holes that you parred.

Speaking of skins…only two were won this past Wednesday. Keith Martin and Wes Arnfinson won $25 on #1 and Jason Hunter and Neuf combined for $25 on #9. Closest to the pins were Keith on #5 and Ron Anderson on #9. Mr. Martin also had the good fortune to score a deuce and split the $108 pot with Scott Maynes.

Jason Gorrell and Maynes moved into a tie for first on the ringer board, matching the -3 already posted by Rob Kimpinski and Brad Benton.

I just realized I have yet to post a ringer board score and I have yet to win a skin. Man, that just doesn’t seem fair.