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Here's a chance to test your golfing knowledge
The Cape Gazette
August 20, 1999

This week’s column asks for your comments and suggestions on a few items. There’s also a contest of your golfing knowledge. Prizes will be awarded!

Sandbaggers. Most golfers know what a sandbagger is, and it’s not good. For non-golfing readers, this means a golfer that cheats by artificially inflating his handicap to make it easier to win. (While sandbaggers come in both sexes, in my experience this is mostly a male phenomenon. Do you agree?)

David Owen writes about sandbagging in the September issue of Golf Digest. He suggests that the best way to handle being victimized by one of these cheaters is to simply refuse to play with them.

That idea doesn’t seem quite satisfying enough. On the other hand, shooting them is a violation of golf etiquette. A sting operation with a friendly cooperating club pro might work. Have any other suggestions? Send them in and we’ll share your ideas.

Gamesmanship. The golf course frequently provides great opportunities for teasing and other mind games. Several years ago I earnestly reassured a playing companion that he should give absolutely no thought at all to the huge body of water facing him on his next shot. Naturally, the ball went right into the pond. He laughed about it later, but for once I had the distinct impression I had gone too far.

A buddy of mine is really good at urging my putts to "get close" to the hole, usually during my backswing. If he times it correctly, I have to stop because I’m giggling too much.

Do you play any head games that work really well with your friends and competitors? Have you been a victim of a particularly good golf prank? Send them in and we’ll see which tricks are most popular in the Cape Region.

Cart paths and yardage markers. Several golf courses provide paved cart paths through the entire layout. On wet days (and on some courses, every day) golfers must keep their carts on the paths. This often leads to slow play, since golfers move back and forth from the cart to their ball while trying to figure out which club to use. Yardage markers are typically put on the paths at 200, 150 and 100 yards out, but they don't seem to help.

It might be better if the paths were marked in 10- or 20-yard increments, say from 220 yards to 50 yards out. Short posts marked with the yardage could be seen from the path and the course, and might make the club selection process easier. Or is this too much? Send in your ideas on how to speed up play on cart-restricted courses.

Golfing knowledge contest. Golf uses a whole set of its own slang terms. Here’s a short test. Send your answer sheet in by e-mail, or send it to The Cape Gazette, P.O. Box 213, Lewes, DE 19958, postmarked before September 6, 1999. The winner will be: (a) named in this column; (b) selected from those with the most correct and creative answers; and (c) receive a sleeve of golf balls from our friends at Golf Day, on Rehoboth Avenue Extended near Route 1.