How to Enjoy Golf on Tv

Even if you are not a golfer yet, the next time you see golf on a sports channel in India, watch for a while and be amazed.

- Rishi Narain

A PROFESSIONAL GOLFER HAS TO COMBINE THE power of a powerful batsman with the deft touch of a billiards player and the skill of a darts player, all at once. Driving the ball distances of over 300 yards on every tee shot requires the golfer to generate club head speed of over 100kmph. That’s like hitting the ball over the bowler’s head and out of the stadium every single shot. Approach shots from 200 yards and less require accuracy and judgement of distance, similar to steering the ball between the fielders accurately.

When the golfer gets close to the green, within twenty yards, say, he is to lob the ball lightly like a champion darts player so it lands on the precise spot on the green, the size of a handkerchief. When he rolls the ball smoothly across the putting surface into the hole, he needs the sublime stroke of a billiards champion.

Combine these completely different skills with the fact that golfers are completely at the mercy of the elements. Wind, for example. A golf ball weighs as much as an ordinary chicken egg and wind speeds of 20kmph, which is just a strong breeze, can change the distance and direction the ball travels by some 30 yards.