[Hennybogan]

You boys are AMAZING!!! Y'all gotta love golf MORE than the dude hittin' the shots. This info is off the shingle good. One thing about The Machine is you can learn to strike a golf ball and control it. But y'all's stuff is about how to play think and score. I'd love the chance to play a round of golf with y'all.

Everyone talked about what detail Hogan used when preparing to play a golf course. Particularly at Carnoustie (right?). They didn't use "numbers" back then. What do you reckon those guys did?

HB and OK thanks a ton for an education!

Bucket,

I think that they used a variety of methods. One trick is to use a landmark (tree, trap) and remember you hit a seven from there. Another is to spend more time on the course. It is still an advantage for the veterans to have played the tour courses alot, but not as much as it used to be. On your home course, you know (or should) about what the various par threes play. You have a normal club for normal conditions and adjust from there. Pros often know what they want to hit on a par three before they even get the numbers.

My guess would be that the talent for feeling a shot would have been more important and developed in successful players of a previous era. Alot of tour players still trust that ability close to the green. We have already talked about using intuition as one of the factors. Another factor would have been local caddies. These days every player has a traveling caddie. In the old days the caddies would likely have a great deal of experience on the particular course but not much knowledge about the player.

I think that modern architecture plays a role in the need for all the numbers. I see more sharp edges, forced carries, etc. in modern courses. At St. Andrews and other firm courses with open run-ups, the numbers are just framework for the shot. So much more feel is necessary to play the bounces. It's quite a contrast from business as usual target golf on the PGA Tour.