IT'S called the placebo effect, the self deluding process which is generating fortunes for golf club manufacturers. And it goes a long way towards explaining why the game's authorities are in no way concerned about the dramatic claims for over size designs made from spaceage materials.
We're all familiar with the professional's reaction to putting problems. But does the mandatory change of putter mean that the new implement has magical properties? We would scoff at such a suggestion. So, why should the other clubs be any different?
Frank Thomas, the technical director of the US Golf Association, has clear views on the subject. Some of these were articulated on a recent visit to Royal Co Down, where he partnered John Hanna of Malone in a fourball against the host captain, Edwin "Buster" Holland, and past captain Brian Coburn.
His official position is: "We at the USGA are concerned about any technology that will give golfers even one more yard off the tee. Yet we are not concerned about any golf club currently on the market." Surely he accepts that there are many golfers convinced they are hitting the ball further with the new generation of drivers?
"Certainly," replied Thomas. "It's true they are achieving greater distance." But he insisted: "The distance, however, is coming from the golfers themselves, not from the clubs." In this context, a fascinating insight was provided in that recent fourball by Hanna, who played with hickory clubs: he reached the green at the 445 yard 15th with a driver and a four iron.
Thomas explained: "It's the placebo effect. Modern clubs are better because golfers think they're better. The only real advantage comes from longer shafts, which will clearly deliver greater distance. But along with that comes a loss of accuracy. So, fundamentally, there's no threat as tar as we're concerned."
According to the USPGA's expert, what happens is that golfers go through a sort of courtship with a club, based on the look or feel of it. So, after paying up to £200 for it, they promptly head to the practice ground and bash a bucket full of balls. They may even take professional lessons, determined all the while to prove they haven't bought a lemon.
As with all clubs, there will be some good shots and a lot of mediocre ones, and the self deluding golfer chooses to remember only the good ones. This engenders a sense of confidence which, in turn, actually leads to some longer, straighter shots. And to retain the magic, the golfer continues to practise more than would previously have been the case.
The USGA have what they call a 45 day rule. Executive director David Fay explained: "It's based on a theory of human kinetics whereby you can have an extended honeymoon with a golf club. But the magic won't last forever. We reckon the norm is about six and a half weeks."
Current TV advertisements have Jack Nicklaus extolling the virtues of a new driver - from his own company, naturally. Yet, when discussing the menace of modern equipment in tournament situations, he invariably points to the dramatic improvements in the golf ball. Which suggests that for golfing placebos, we must look beyond the pill.
I think it's just so terribly inconsiderate. I will hit into people. Celebrated US woman golfer Mickey Wright on slow play.
BEN HOGAN was 84 last Tuesday. Sadly, the man, who was born in Dublin, Texas never played in this country, though he came close to doing so in 1960. That was the year of the Canada Cup at Portmarnock, and while Hogan was originally named to partner, Sam Snead in the US line up, he stepped down in favour of Arnold Palmer.
When I was in Killarney for the Curtis Cup two months ago, Finbarr Slattery, a local golf enthusiast, showed me copies of two replies he had received to letters written to Hogan. The first was dated June 6th, 1989, on the headed notepaper "Ben Hogan, Chairman of the Board."
It read: "Dear Finbarr." Thank you for your very nice letter and for thinking of Val (Hogan's wife) and me. We are well and hope that you are too. I received a copy of the Golf Monthly Supplement and when I read it, it brought back a lot of pleasant memories for me also.
"I doubt Valerie and I will ever make a trip to the old country as we just don't travel anymore, but thanks again for biting. With all good wishes, I am, Sincerely, (signed) Ben Hogan.
IN a week in which the announcement of exam results brought book learning centre stage, a different sort of education took place at Royal Co Down. By competing in the Irish Close Championship, many of the country's young players made their first acquaintance with this truly great links. And it never looked better.
Even the local members couldn't recall seeing the course in such excellent condition, a fact which reflected much credit on the course manager, Alan Strachan. Quite the antithesis of the grizzled characters one tended to associate with such pursuits, the fresh faced Strachan learned his craft on the splendid Scots terrain of Royal Dornoch and Carnoustie.
Given the delightful weather for a stay at the hotel which bears its name, one could well appreciate the feelings of Bernard Darwin when he wrote in 1930: ". . . No other course of my acquaintance has any hill so magnificent as Slieve Donard towering above it. To see from one's window its crest just emerging from a great sea of early mist, is to taste one of the intenser joys of shaving on the morning of a workless day."
Darwin went on to describe Newcastle as "a course of big and glorious carries, nestling greens, entertainingly blind shots, local knowledge and beautiful turf . . . the kind of golf that people play in their most ecstatic dreams." What better education could a young golfer hope for?
FRIENDS of the Mullingar centenary captain, Joe Healy, will be pleased to learn that he is making a fine recovery from a recent heart by pass operation. Indeed his form is so sprightly that he found time to rebuke me for an oversight in last week's piece about the 1962 British Amateur champion, Richard Davies.
Healy wondered how I could make such detailed reference to the American without mentioning the 1963 Walker Cup matches at Turnberry. Quite so. The point is that Davies, still the reigning champion, was beaten on the second day at Turnberry by our own David Sheahan. Indeed the Dublin doctor completed a remarkable double in that he had defeated the reigning US Amateur champion, Labron Harris, on the previous day, also at the 18th.
"The pity of it was that I was afforded little chance of getting to know either of them socially," recalled Sheahan. "In fact I have never met them since. All I know about Harris is that he turned professional."
Indeed he did, but without any great success. After joining paid ranks in 1964, Harris eventually made the top 60 in the US money list in 1970 and again in 1974, before fading from the scene. His lone win was in the 1971 Robinson Falls tournament.
In brief: On April 16th, 1906, this newspaper reported: Skerries that pretty and most favourite of watering places north of Dublin has at last overcome all obstacles and established a golf links." Ninety years on, captain Eric Lewis and lady captain Pat Boylan officiated at the opening of its new, £800,000 clubhouse earlier thin month Charleville GC had the official opening yesterday of their new nine hole East Course giving the club a total of 27 holes . . . Pat Byrne the honorary secretary of Tullamore GC, reports the completion of major work on the course, which has been revised by Paddy Merrigan. With seven new greens and 11 new tees, the layout will be played for the first time in a Classic on September 19th and 20th as part of the club's centenary celebrations Four south east courses - Tramore, Waterford, Waterford Castle and Faithlegg - will be in use for the Tramore Golf Classic on September 23rd to 26th. Further information from Michael Bowe (051) 381728 The national trials for this year's Rover Cup four nations tournament will be played at Royal Port rush next Tuesday.
TEASER: The committee incorrectly calculated a competitor's handicap and posted it on the notice board as 17, when it should have been 16. The competitor won an 18 hole strokeplay event as a result of the error. May the committee correct the error several days later and retract the prize?
ANSWER: Yes. There is no time limit on correcting such an error. Rule 34-lb is not applicable since deals with penalties, not with committee errors. The competitor should not he disqualified, but his net score should he increased by one stroke.
