Putt it there!

Just when you think you have mastered the art of putting, you three stab from a few feet and blame everyone but yourself, writes David Birtill.

Whether you’re a seasoned PGA Professional, a single figure player or a high handicapped beginner, watching your effort pull up short or drift beyond the target before holing out in three is frustrating to say the least.

The old adage Drive for Show Putt for Dough is still as relevant today as it was when Bobby Locke coined it all those years ago.

Question: Does the stroke create the putt or does the putt create the stroke?

Leading tour coach and PGA professional since 1988, Gary Nicol and performance coach Karl Morris, who have 60 years’ combined coaching experience, answer all the questions in their recently introduced excellent book The Lost Art Of Putting (www.sports-publications.com@SPPublications)

It’s their belief that golf is not about the finding the way to do it but more of a case of discovering, or perhaps more importantly, uncovering your way to do it.

In the foreword by 1999 Open champion Paul Lawrie, he says: “From the days I turned professional in 1986, I am proud to say I’ve always been prepared to work on my game in order to improve.

“Working hard is one think but working on the right things is undoubtedly more important. One part of my game which has at times been a great source of pride, as well as occasional frustration, is my putting. To become a happy, fulfilled and successful golfer, I firmly believe that the ability to hole putts when it really matters is what separates the best from the rest.” 

North West-based Morris has been involved in performance coaching for 30 years and has worked with multiple major winners in golf, Ashes-winning cricket captains and Premier League and international footballers.