golfdigest

Sep 27, 2024, 01:50 PM UTC

Never throw a club, except …

Golf tantrums might be wrong. But are they always bad? ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Golf Digest

Golf tantrums might be wrong. But are they always bad? ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Golf tantrums might be wrong. But are they always bad?

This is a special free version of Low Net, a Golf Digest+ exclusive newsletter written for the average golfer, by an average golfer. To get Low Net each week directly to your inbox, sign up for Golf Digest+ right here. Have a topic you want me to explore? Send me an email and I'll do my best to dive in.

The 17th green at my home course has a tricky hole location we call “the flag-punching pin.” This dates to the time the best player in our group was so enraged after four-putting, he walked up to the flag and punched it.

If you’re wondering, yes, this looked as ridiculous as it sounds—flagsticks don’t provide much resistance, so he almost dislocated his shoulder. My friend then proceeded to fungo his ball 200 yards into the water with his putter, at least showcasing more athleticism, but still the same absence of emotional restraint.

I’m not one to judge. One time after pulling a drive into the trees, I helicoptered my driver behind me, where it left a dent into the adjacent green–all in full view of the greens committee member who was my partner. Just last week, I was so frustrated by a bad shot, I kicked my bag over with enough force to convert a 40-yard field goal.

On the long list of irrational golfer behaviors, outbursts like these belong at the top. Most golf we play is highly inconsequential, yet we can react as if careers and bodily limbs are at stake. The time I threw my driver wasn’t even a tournament, but the difference between a 42 and a 44 on the front. The only thing worse than acting like an ass would be trying to argue there was a good reason.

Most golfers can admit these assorted acts of club-throwing and flag-punching reflect misplaced priorities, if not terrible etiquette. When my boys were younger, I told them I’d yank them off the golf course if they couldn’t compose themselves, but neglected to issue myself the same warning. But it’s one thing to recognize these tantrums as regrettable, quite another to wonder if they ever actually help. This is where it gets complicated.

READ THE FULL STORY

Follow Golf Digest

Want to change how you receive these emails? You can unsubscribe from this list.

Have questions? Take our survey or email us here.

Latest Emails from golfdigest

golfdigest

11:05 AM UTC

Wild ace not enough for Tiger & Charlie

5 late-season driver changes you may have missed GolfDigest View in Browser Team Woods Tiger's son Charlie makes a hole-in-one in the final round of the PNC Championship Charlie Woods made his

golfdigest

Dec 22, 08:41 PM UTC

Golf pong?

Your weekly round-up of the best gear and apparel. GolfDigest View in Browser APGA Tour's Adrian Stills Award winner went from architecture job to pro golf winner and mentor Michael Bradham quit

golfdigest

Dec 22, 06:20 PM UTC

Tiger, Charlie shoot 59 at PNC

A Coore and Crenshaw template, explained GolfDigest View in Browser Image Tiger, Charlie shoot 59 at PNC With his son, Woods has a shot at lifting his first trophy in five years. Read More READ MORE

golfdigest

Dec 22, 02:20 PM UTC

What we learned from pros in 2024

We break down the nuggets we've taken from tour players this year. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

golfdigest

Dec 21, 06:20 PM UTC

14 of the most underrated feats of 2024

GolfDigest View in Browser Fred Couples Only a couple of years ago, Fred Couples' PNC partner had no clue who he was Couples is playing in his first PNC Championship after hearing for years about

golfdigest

Dec 21, 02:20 PM UTC

Need a last minute gift? Gift Golf Digest+ 🎁

There's still time to gift unlimited access to Golf Digest's instruction, course rankings, Hot List equipment reviews and more! ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

golfdigest

Dec 21, 11:05 AM UTC

At 89, Gary Player has a new girlfriend

GolfDigest View in Browser Image In updating health, Tiger Woods admits this year was touch-and-go for family event In an encouraging sign, Woods walked his PNC Championship pro-am, but the issues with

golfdigest

Dec 20, 09:20 PM UTC

Gary Player reveals new girlfriend

Tiger Woods giving Charlie Woods swing advice after his opening tee shot is what the PNC Championship is all about GolfDigest View in Browser Tiger Woods Tiger Woods giving Charlie Woods swing advice

golfdigest

Dec 20, 07:50 PM UTC

Holiday gift ideas for the improvement-obsessed golfer

We asked five teachers for gift ideas for golfers who want to get better ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

golfdigest

Dec 20, 06:08 PM UTC

WHOOP, The Wearable for Golfers

‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

golfdigest

Dec 20, 12:10 PM UTC

48 gift ideas for every golfer on your list this holiday season

Your weekly round-up of the best gear and apparel. GolfDigest View in Browser 48 gift ideas for every golfer on your list this holiday season Make holiday shopping a little easier with these great gift

golfdigest

Dec 20, 11:05 AM UTC

Familiar face returning to Golf Channel

GolfDigest View in Browser Play in the snow There's no excuse not to play golf in the cold and snow, cowards In 1954, Golf Digest chronicled members at this New York club and their annual winter