Stuart McLean on Ernie Els: Will He Make the Putt?

by Amanda on Oct 21st, 2009

Not only is Stuart McLean one of the authors of the recently released South Africa’s Greatest Golf Destinations, but he is also the editor of Golf Digest magazine.

In his editorial for the October issue, McLean addresses the importance of being able to putt well, turning the focus to one South Africa’s top golfers – but a man who has seen shaky form of late – Ernie Els:

Putting has always been the great leveller in golf. A person who putts consistently well, and holes out regularly from all distances, can compensate for any deficiencies which may exist elsewhere in his or her game. What’s more, sinking a 20-footer to save a par after hacking your way up a hole is one the best ways of infuriating and irritating your playing companions, opponents particularly. Especially if they have played the hole perfectly and walked off with the same score as you.

Paradoxically for a game where we work so hard on trying to strike the ball perfectly, spending hours beating balls on the range in pursuit of a repeatable swing, if you’re an above-average player on the greens you will always be a reasonable golfer and enjoy the game, no matter how you perform in other aspects. Conversely, striking the ball with authority from tee to green can amount to nothing if you keep faltering on the greens. A person with no confidence in their putting stroke is more inclined to think of giving up the game than one who hits a big slice off every tee. The ultimate satisfaction of golf lies in holing out successfully, because without that the game is pointless.