Random Golf Thoughts

I know a lot of people talk about the whole laying back to your comfortable distance approach approach distance, but from a pure statistics, data driven perspective its not actually a beneficial approach.

Arccos data (so over 1 billion shots of data) says this for different handicaps

5 index

50-74 yards

GIR 71%

Proximity 35'

100-124 yards

GIR 59%

Proximity 45'

10 index

50-74 yards

GIR 66%

Proximity 39'

100-124 yards

GIR 51%

Proximity 53'

15 index

50-74 yards

GIR 62%

Proximity 44'

100-124 yards

GIR 46%

Proximity 60'

20 index

50-74 yards

GIR 57%

Proximity 46'

100-124 yards

GIR 40%

Proximity 67'

So, whilst you may feel more comfortable, in reality, you're hitting less greens and hitting it further from the pin when you are hitting the green. It might not feel like it, but if you're better from 100-124 than 50-74, then you're a massive outlier.

Hopefully some of those numbers might make people also feel a bit better rather than beating themselves up over an approach they don't stitch…a 5 index is still, on average leaving themselves a 35 foot putt with a short wedge in their hands

FYI
I know someone who this happened to a few years ago. They were able to claim on their golf insurance and not just the cart but the bag and most everything in it afaik.

Speaking of golf insurance - where do you go for that. I had a very quick Google and most golf insurance mentions stolen clubs and stuff. Do they cover whacking someone (unintentionally) with a ball too?

This is me too.

Commit to the shot is the big issue.

What i also try do is aim hit it further than i want. So if watch says front 60 middle 75 back 85.

Ill aim to go 80 yards and commit to going past the flag. I find it hard to do but even letting off a little still gets me on the green when i decelerate.

It's pretty obvious as a general rule that distance and proximity to the hole should be key indicators of scoring. I've studied science and work in IT so I've seen plenty of data along the way.

Stats are great as guidelines but are ultimately averages of conditions, abilities, course setups etc. They don't tell the full picture. They don't tell you if it's absolute death behind a green or that the ob stakes on the right are inside your typical dispersion range.

Golf is not the long drive c'ship nor is it just a 60yd pitching challenge. It's all of this and more.

Blindly playing robot golf bashing max distance without a care is not going to optimise anyone's scoring. Otherwise stats, well they are numbers in a vacuum. As handicaps come down the stats 100% become more reliable and beneficial. This is due to the consistency of the golf being played.

How to take the stats, course conditions (ie winter mud, wind), your strengths/weaknesses and apply all of this to play your best. This is what golf is about.

Most importantly it's putting it all together and that is the art of scoring. Arccos won't do that for you but it will highlight good and shite facets of your game. I do think it's a good product tbf but sometimes we can all get lost in the weeds of numbers. There is genuinely good individual performance data to help from arcoss or other vendors.

On the specific point of 100-120 vs 60 proximity. Very often this averages out as a chip near the green vs a long putt. Sure there's a slight edge on the green here, a small fraction of a stoke. Trust me when you're standing over a short game shot and fulfill the chunk prophecy, it runs into the next shots. The stats don't capture this. You have to realise the bigger picture within your own game.

Sure, I get that, stats can explain anything and there's no context, etc...

I'm only really looking at the anecdotal point of discussion which is a 60-75 yard vs 100-120 yard approach shot and the reality is that for 99.9% of golfers they'll hit more greens and hit closer to the hole with the shorter approach.

I'm not advocating for swinging like a maniac to maximise distance at all times. I don't do it myself, as many a boards golfer can attest to.

I'm purely saying that deliberately playing for a longer approach is not in reality a smart approach for the vast majority of golfers.

Don't forget the olde hole in one clubhouse bonus.

Had the pleasure of utilising it once..

I'm only quoting you to be able to post a pic I got sent the other day.

I don't know of a single golf club who doesn't include insurance by default in the annual sub. I actually thought it was mandatory. I know you can remove it if you are in a second club alright, as I am in 2 clubs but just pay it at my home club. does your club not include insurance in your sub?

when I say include…. it would be a separate line item on the invoice

Only for a while.

It's back on..

Golf Ireland has a Union charge of 30 euro which is mandatory.

Insurance some clubs have mandatory, ours is voluntary.

Personally imo it should be mandatory for all golfers.

Includes 250 bar receipts for hole in one or by agreement 100 in pro shop.

I guess there must be a number of different insurers so for this depending on which club you are in and what deal they have done with the insurer

we pay €27 but I have no idea who it is with

I'll have a google of the insurance and make sure that along with my clubs other peoples heads are insured too. My place (Deer Park) for some reason doesn't. I e-mailed and asked if it was an option to add and they don't offer it or recommend any particular one. It seems foolish. Even from the clubs point of view - I'm sure some people would try to take action against the club if they get hit.

Green fees and visitors for sure would claim against clubs Public Insurance, members of member owned clubs cant as they cannot claim against themselves.

Members of privately owned clubs can and do claim against clubs PI.

Therefore if we were both members of a member owned club and my ball hits you and does damage your only recourse is to claim against me.If for the sake of 25 yoyo i dont have insurance well then i will end up working to pay you or sell a house to pay you etc.

Silly not to have it really.

Please excuse me if already covered but has new GUI rule re paying 150? per annum in order to get handicap commenced yet?