For the benefit of golfiacs who depend exclusively on this department for
hope and inspiration we are “able to say” that poor putting is due, in
great measure, to the foolish notion that “perfect golf” allows two putts
to the green. A putt from any part of the green that does not sink is an
unsuccessful putt, and no amount of self-delusion can make it otherwise.
Hardly anybody tries to hole a long putt; the player is satisfied with
“laying it dead”; if it stops within two feet of the hole he is tickled
pink, and his companions congratulate him, saying, “Very good, Eddie!
That’s laying ’em up!” He ought to know—and we take pleasure in telling
him—that the only good putt is the putt that sinks, and that he will
never, except by accident, sink a long putt if he continues to cherish
the delusion that “laying ’em dead” is good putting.
In a word, an “approach” putt that fails to drop is really a re-proach.
The word approach should be eliminated from the game and pin or hole
substituted.