21 Golf Questions Of Christmas - SAQs - Should've Asked Questions

Y'know how you often see the 'FAQ' spot on a WebSite nowadays?

A great man once said, "Life's riches do not reside in finding the 'right answers' - but in asking the 'right questions'.

With that backdrop - and with my background as a 'left-over hippie', always questioning , 'why' - I want to introduce you to the...

21 Golf Questions Of Christmas - SAQ's - Should've Asked Questions

I'm reminded of a great Rules Of Golf story about the great Severiano Ballesteros.

Seve was playing in the final major of the year, the PGA Championship at Cherry Hills in Colorado.  He had hit his 2nd shot on the par-5 17th hole into

the sliver of Water Hazard just short and right of the Putting Green.

He began figuring out what to do.  He asked the PGA Master Professional Rules Official, who later would become an employer and friend of mine, a question: 'Can I drop right here?'

The Rules Official said, 'Yes'.

Yet the PGA Rules Official thought to himself, 'If Seve knew the rules better, or WHICH QUESTION TO ASK, he could be putting for birdie, instead of having to hit this difficult pitch out of this thick rough.'

You see, because it was a Lateral Water Hazard, Seve had 2 more options of where to drop that he, apparently, did not consider.  Yet, he asked the PGA Rules Official THE WRONG QUESTION!

Instead of, 'Can I drop right here?' - Seve should have more adroitly asked, 'Where can I drop?'

Then the PGA Rules Official would have enthusiastically volunteered the correct information - including the one option that would have put him on the edge of the Putting Green, with a putt for birdie, even after taking his penalty shot.

A funny, but very pithy story as well.

As I have helped players like yourself since 1987 - I'm often saddened to see you 'barking up the wrong tree'.  You are often giving much attention and effort to your Golf Game - and maybe even asking someone like myself a large number of questions.

Tomorrow, though, I'll describe more about how you can develop the 'Right Questions', the SAQs - Should've Asked Questions.

Each day, between tomorrow and December 31, 2009, I will answer questions asked by golfers such as yourself...but also how that question could've been more effective - just like Seve.

By the way, Seve proceeded to hit a great pitch, and made the tough putt for par....ah, the great ones...maybe not always great at everything, eh?