CLUB HISTORY
Are you having trouble with your putting? Then maybe a tip from former EACC golf pro, Ed Pfister will provide the help you need.
In 1972 The Buffalo Courier-Express Newspaper ran a series of golf instructions from local club pros.
BUFFALO COURIER-EXPRESS, Sunday, June 11, 1972
Golf Tips —No. 10
Practice Putting Before Playing
This is the 10th of a weekly series of golf instruction written for The Courier-Express by area professionals. Ed Pfister of the East Aurora Country Club discusses putting today.
By ED PFISTER Professional East Aurora Country Club
PUTTING IS actually a pendulum motion, and is probably more mental than physical. It is 50 per cent of your game and something that golfers very seldom practice. If you were to spend 15 minutes putting before you start your round, you would save five or six shots per round. If you think about it you will find that the putter is used more than any other club in your bag. A golfer who averages more than 36 putts per round needs help in his putting.
There are many putting grips in use that give better results than others, but none are standard. The most widely used is the reverse overlap. The entire right hand grips the club, and the index finger of the left hand overlaps the right. Both thumbs are down the center of the putter’s grip.
THE LENGTH of the backstroke is determined by the distance of the putt. The follow through is directed along the desired line and must take into consideration the contour of the green. On long putts, pick a spot and try to stroke the ball smoothly and firmly. Remember, whether you are putting for a two, five or seven, you are still saving a stroke or more.
Don’t blame your stroke or yourself when you miss a putt — did you ever stop to think that you might have mis-read the green?
Finally, see your professional when selecting a putter. He can recommend a good one to suit your game.
Raymond Zorn, Club Historian