Ode to the Long Putter

I ocassionally like using a long putter.  Over the long run, I think I putt better with it.  For whatever reason, long putters have never seemed to garner public approval, and you're always a little self-conscious when using it (or at least I am).  

This is a picture of the model I'm currently using.  I believe Tom Lehman used this long putter model for a while.  I picked it up used at Golf Galaxy for $10.  At that price, it was worth a try.  I have my eye on another model on Ebay I'd like to try if I can get it cheap enough.

First Round of the Year with the Long Putter

It's supposed to storm the next day or two, so I thought I'd squeeze in another nine this week.  Played with a long putter for the first time this year.  I've experimented on and off with a long putter for years.

It's Almost That Time!

Played the Par 5s Well

Hit my second shot on both par 5s to within 15 feet today.  The par 5s look short on the card, but they both play uphill.  Unfortunately missed the eagle putt on both of them.  Here's the card:

Lee Trevino on Why to Play the Fade

Here's a snippet from the Wall Street Journal:

Between 1968 and 1984, when Mr. Trevino won his majors, he was arguably the Tour’s best ball-striker, a skill he credits to the fade. “You can talk to a fade, but a hook won’t listen,” he is famous for saying.

“Fades, which curve from left to right for a right-handed player, are easier to control than draws, which curve in the opposite direction, because the ball doesn’t stay on the clubface as long and thus has less internal spin,” he said.

“In hitting a draw, the clubface releases, or rotates shut, quicker. That’s what gives draws extra spin and also makes them less reliable,” he said. “The timing has to be more precise.”

Feels More Like May

Temperatures reached the 70s today.  That's great for March.  Couldn't resist playing nine holes.  Besides, the club champion invited me to play.  How could I refuse?

I got off to a rough start but kept it together.  It was the first round of the year for the club champion, so he was a bit rusty.  I don't think he'd appreciate me posting his score.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Actually reached the 60s today.  People were out in full force to play their first round of golf of the year.  The soft conditions and slow greens made scoring a bit easier.  I think they will start mowing the greens next week.  Managed to put together a good round.  I'm afraid it is all downhill from here.

The Origin of “Leaky”

There is a misunderstanding as to how Bruce Lietzke got the nickname "Leaky."  I suspect that most people think that it is because he almost always hits a shot that “leaks” from left to right.  For example, Sports Illustrated wrote,

“That fade became the source of Lietzke’s enduring nickname—‘Leaky’—in reference to the way his ball always leaks to the right.”

However, that is apparently not the origin of the nickname.

Here’s how Lietzke’s brother, Duane, explained it:

“It was in college and it started when somebody couldn’t pronounce his name,” Duane said. “Everybody thinks—and he let’s them think that — that it came from fading the ball. His roommate in college was Phil Rodgers. And he liked for everyone to have nicknames and so he called him Leaky.”

So there you have it.

First Round of the Year

The weather is starting to break in these parts. Reached the low 50s today, so I thought I'd try to squeeze in a quick nine (back nine) on my lunch break. The course is short, so walking nine holes takes about an hour and half if there aren't any slow pokes out there. The course was in surprisingly nice shape. Here's the card. Not too bad just coming off the winter layoff.

"Little Leaky"

Ever since I read an article by Jim McLean in Golf Illustrated many years ago, I've been attempting to hit the ball like Bruce Lietzke—the over-the-top looping swing that results in a high fade. Somewhere along the line, Lietzke picked up the nickname "Leaky."

Lietzke is renowned for his ability to practice very little and yet perform at a high level.  Why wouldn't you want to try and imitate that kind of swing?

I'll be posting some of my scores and miscellaneous Lietzke information here at the "Little Leaky" blog.