Why is the most torturous format of golf also its best

exist USAas Rory McIlroy once called the United States, appears several times a year in the spare golf balls that are in our golf course life. We see it as a form of competition, a form of the Solheim Cup, the Presidents Cup and the Ryder Cup – that’s it.

But who among us actually made the replacement shot, aka Four? Although the novel may be included, at the end of the round, the American golf impulse is an individual score on the scorecard 18 holes. Foursomes are Scots of the bones, because golf is usually golf. Oakmont will host its 10th U.S. Open next week, just like the Inland American course.

Last week, I was at an old, traditional club in the suburbs of Philadelphia for a three-day four-person event, and I’m here to tell you that the five is a delicate form of torture.

There is a chance you don’t know: in a four-player group, you play in a two-team team. One player stands out in odd holes, the other player is even. After the tee shot, each player shoots until the hole is stabilized. Concessions are common. There are many coaches abound in the name of victory and friendship. Teammates, the most common question is, do you want this? The most common post-comment is this Quickie: Sorry!

I kept asking around and laughing at the internet, trying to learn about four people. It was a Scottish match, usually played in Prestwick on the west coast of Scotland, with the British Open being 24 times, although not in 1924. Here is the Muirfield manual from the club website:

“While recognizing the advantages of other forms of golf, clubs always prefer the two-ball quadruple for matches and backup matches over other competitions. Whether it is a formal club game or in a friendly gathering, the ethics of the team and the competitive power of the four-piece are at the heart of the club and at the heart of the club. The partners’ driving is ready to land as the ball is ready to play the second ball.”

What a neat writing.

Golf is the soul music of Scots to Americans. They invented this weird off-road game that the whole world likes and approached every aspect of it in a logical, sane way. Three hours round. On a dry summer day, brown fairway. Tee Times for Visitor play in every club. As mentioned above, on the Brora Golf Club website, the earthy work on the club brochure involves visits from Peter Thomson’s five-time winner Peter Thomson and his wife’s five-time winner Peter Thomson: “They paid a green fee at the Pro Store and enjoyed it.” You can play foursomes golf in Brora or whatever other form of hope. But be aware of the sheep and keep moving forward. Scotland played eighteen four-person golf anywhere in two hours and 30 minutes. Lunch call.

Redemption is a common theme in all sports, especially team sports, but in a four-person combination, waiting for redemption can be endless. Suppose you missed a meaningful short putter. Naturally, you will half read the next book you face while recognizing the opportunity to bury bad gifts. But given the changes in game golf, do you know how long it takes to wait for the next game? It may never arrive, not in that round.

As for finding effective swings, four-person golf promotes similar issues there. Suppose you hit a wild hook while driving at 6 o’clock. The next time you are on the tee, it is 8 shots 3 shots. By 10 to 10, it’s forever since you hit the driver. You hardly remember the tweaks you wanted to make from the 6 drive. Anything. What you have. . . Your partner.

That’s really the whole thing. You have a partner. Perhaps that’s why four-person golf has never been a thing in American golf. We reward our independence so much. This is a key aspect of our national characteristics (I would say it very much).

However, when it comes to American golf, we often do it as kindergarten participants in parallel competitions. Even if we were two goals, the better team play. In every hole, you have a chance to play the hero. Of course, there are two balls better golf courses and friendships. Still, in a two-ball golf game, everyone is a clean-up batsman. At least in your mind, you are the star of your own movie.

If I compete, the first day is a stroke race, determine which flight you will be on. I am the godfather of my partner’s son of the same name and we have been playing golf together for nearly 40 years, so we know each other’s actions. On the tenth hole, our tee (I played) was not very good, but it was OK. Burt’s second shot was solid and dripped on the solid green. I hit a bad chip, Burt hit a super lag putt, I missed 18 inches, we missed the top flight, all the charm was just one shot.

I said at dinner, “I blew it with that chip and that putter.”

Burt said he should talk to me as another club to serve as a bargaining chip. Burt quotes his putt here, and his putt is there. The fairway he missed was here, and he missed it. The green side of him here, and there is the wrong side of his green. He can describe, chapters and verses, every last three feet I Have done it Production, plus some cover shots.

This is the spirit of four-person golf. This is not our national character. Maybe it should be.

Michael Bamberger welcomes your comments via michael.bamberger@golf.com