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News Commentary Opinion
Recently, while searching for a putting stroke
I had somehow mislaid, an acquaintance
walked onto the practice putting green with
the latest and greatest magic wand flat stick.
Never mind the brand name, this putter was
one you would instantly recognize from the
dozens of advertisements featuring a steely-
eyed professional whose endorsement
intimates verification of the manufacturer’s
claims. We waved to acknowledge each
others’ presence but after only a few minutes
he exclaimed in quite a loud voice, “I can’t
make a #*)?@^ thing with this!”
Not really wanting to become involved but at
least trying to commiserate with his problem
I said, “Yeah, some days are like that.” The
truth of the matter was, if my putting stroke
didn’t return I was thinking of making
inquires as to whether the golf club had a
croquet team or maybe my wife could teach
me a new pastime like tatting lace.
“I just bought this thing…two hundred bucks,”
said he. “What do you think? You want to try
it?”
I had somehow mislaid, an acquaintance
walked onto the practice putting green with
the latest and greatest magic wand flat stick.
Never mind the brand name, this putter was
one you would instantly recognize from the
dozens of advertisements featuring a steely-
eyed professional whose endorsement
intimates verification of the manufacturer’s
claims. We waved to acknowledge each
others’ presence but after only a few minutes
he exclaimed in quite a loud voice, “I can’t
make a #*)?@^ thing with this!”
Not really wanting to become involved but at
least trying to commiserate with his problem
I said, “Yeah, some days are like that.” The
truth of the matter was, if my putting stroke
didn’t return I was thinking of making
inquires as to whether the golf club had a
croquet team or maybe my wife could teach
me a new pastime like tatting lace.
“I just bought this thing…two hundred bucks,”
said he. “What do you think? You want to try
it?”
the one I’ve got,” but I did take it from his
hand and give it a glance. Handing it back I
said encouragingly, “Nice looking. Nice feel.”
A few more putts and my friend said with
heightened exasperation, “I just can’t get the
ball in the hole. I guess I should’ve tried it out
before I paid for it.”
Then it hit me. He had fallen victim to that
dreaded syndrome unrecognized as yet by
medical science, “Macho Purchasing
Syndrome.” Unconsciously under the
influence of the putter’s advertising and
seeing it in the golf shop rack he made the
purchase without testing much less the time
to have someone qualified look at his stroke
to see if the style was right for him.
Dumb. And not just dumb…expensive dumb.
Men, when it comes to purchasing almost
anything but especially golf clubs and balls,
sometimes don’t use the brains given them.
The buying decision seems to be based on
the words of some famous pro who’s been
paid lots of money or worse, buying some
club a golfing buddy waxed over
enthusiastically.
hand and give it a glance. Handing it back I
said encouragingly, “Nice looking. Nice feel.”
A few more putts and my friend said with
heightened exasperation, “I just can’t get the
ball in the hole. I guess I should’ve tried it out
before I paid for it.”
Then it hit me. He had fallen victim to that
dreaded syndrome unrecognized as yet by
medical science, “Macho Purchasing
Syndrome.” Unconsciously under the
influence of the putter’s advertising and
seeing it in the golf shop rack he made the
purchase without testing much less the time
to have someone qualified look at his stroke
to see if the style was right for him.
Dumb. And not just dumb…expensive dumb.
Men, when it comes to purchasing almost
anything but especially golf clubs and balls,
sometimes don’t use the brains given them.
The buying decision seems to be based on
the words of some famous pro who’s been
paid lots of money or worse, buying some
club a golfing buddy waxed over
enthusiastically.
be fixed, stupid is forever,” is alive and well.
So my friend is out a couple of hundred
dollars. Not the end of the world and in his
case he can afford it but watching him there’s
no chance he can ever take that puppy to the
course. Heck, most of his putts were lucky if
they stayed on the green.
“Macho Purchasing” is well-known to our
wives. As mine points out there are chairs in
the ladies department for husbands while
the better-half test wears a new frock. There
are none in your typical golf shop, which is
probably why there are more than forty
“unputtable” putters in my garage.
So my friend is out a couple of hundred
dollars. Not the end of the world and in his
case he can afford it but watching him there’s
no chance he can ever take that puppy to the
course. Heck, most of his putts were lucky if
they stayed on the green.
“Macho Purchasing” is well-known to our
wives. As mine points out there are chairs in
the ladies department for husbands while
the better-half test wears a new frock. There
are none in your typical golf shop, which is
probably why there are more than forty
“unputtable” putters in my garage.