We all know the old adage “beware the injured or sick golfer” but what about “beware the angry golfer?” The award-winning European Tour social media content team released a new video last week called “Angry Golfers”. It’s a supposed support group for members of the tour struggling with anger issues and is hosted by Tommy Fleetwood. Members attending the session are Henrik Stenson, Eddie Pepperell, Matt Wallace, Ian Poulter and new recruit Tyrrell Hatton. If you haven’t seen it yet go to the tour website and have a look. You’ll find it under “News” and then “Videos.” It’s hilarious and quite brilliant.

Tyrrell Hatton, second left, obviously paying attention in the therapy session led by Tommy Fleetwood [European Tour]
If you have played this game for any length of time at all, you’ve probably had a spell where anger has got the better of you. I remember being out on the course at Portstewart for nine holes with Dad. I was about 12 years old and things weren’t going my way so I worked myself up into a rage and tossed a club. Well, that was it. Dad came over to me and spoke to me in a very level, and serious, voice and said if I ever did that again he would walk straight in. I knew he would – empty threats were not his style – and I knew that I would be humiliated because I felt everyone else on the course would know exactly why Dad wasn’t finishing his golf – because of his brat of a daughter! I never threw another club and learning to control my anger certainly helped my game because, for most of us, performance usually goes south when extreme emotion comes in to play.
There are a few players, of course, who can harness their anger and turn it into a positive and actually improve their game. One pal of mine, Linda Bayman, was such a player. A late-blooming Curtis Cup player and exemplary ball-striker, Linda had scant time for her own shortcomings on the golf course. She and I partnered each other for many happy years in the famous but alas now defunct Avia Foursomes. I was always content when Linda’s patience with her own performance snapped because she would then unleash a series of phenomenally pure, laser-like woods and irons that even she could find no fault with. I simply had to hang on for the ride, keep out of her way and let her work her magic. What a privilege.
Trish Johnson was another prone to throwing the odd hissy fit, particularly as a junior. Speaking now as a coach, I don’t really mind kids losing their rags. It’s simply their passion for the game coming through and they are, at that stage, just not emotionally mature enough to know how to handle or channel their emotions to their advantage. Those are all skills that can be learned from the right people and it’s pointless outraged club members coming down on the youngsters without taking steps to help them work their way through this patch by introducing them to professionals who can help. Trish certainly worked her way through the red mist to a scintillating career of 27 worldwide victories and eight Solheim Cup appearances.

Trish navigated a few choppy waters with her temper as a junior but it all worked out in the end [Courtesy of The Legends Tour]

Always entertaining to watch, Helen Alfredsson has been a ferocious competitor for her entire career. [Courtesy of The Legends Tour.]
Monty was always a challenge too. I remember one year being assigned to the group behind him at the Scottish Open at Loch Lomond. I was down near the landing area of the tee shots on the par 5 3rd hole and when all of my group had played I ducked out from under the ropes to go and get the yardages for the second shots. Next thing I hear the galleries calling over to me and shouting my name. I look over and dozens of spectators start gesticulating towards the green which was over 270 yards away. The pin was central, only six yards on and Monty was twelve feet behind the flag, arms akimbo and blood boiling. I knew from his trademark, teapot pose that I was putting him off as I moved from one ball to the other in the fairway. He was not happy – even less so when he missed the putt. I made sure I kept clear for the next few holes!
I think we all have the capacity to be angry golfers but the smart players ensure their performance is enhanced rather than damaged. Hmm, now where do I sign up for that support group?
Hi Maureen
Love the blogs as always.
Have you any good indoor putting exercises/competition to keep us going during wet February?
Jane
Maureen
Great post as usual. Thanks. During lockdown, I saw Harry Bradshaw play Bill Casper on a re-run of Shell’s Wonderful World of Golf. Got a small book about him but didn’t show much of his swing. What can you tell me about him and his game?
Regards,
Will put my thinking cap on!
I had the pleasure of meeting Harry Bradshaw at Portmarnock where he was the pro. I was too young and too ignorant then to be aware then of his prowess as a player, but I remember him teaching me how to hole a left to right downhill putt on a very fast green! How? Hit the ball with the toe third of the blade – it deadens the contact and the ball comes off softer. Very effective in those days for the balls and equipment we were using.