Different strokes for different folks

  As high achievers who love a challenge, it’s not surprising that many doctors (and eye surgeons) seem to have a natural affinity with golf.  Admittedly, finding the time a game involves can be more of challenge  than the game itself, but the effort pays off in a boost to the spirt that more than repays the effort. I once arrived for a conference in the Azores, those green islands (way) off the coast of Portugal, with a group of doctors most of whom were golfers; we were teeing off on the Batalha course within a half hour of the plane’s touching down in Ponta Delgado airport. Somewhere around the 7th hole, as my partner disappeared again in search of his ball, the caddy had something to tell me: ‘Your husband improves the lie of his ball every time he’s in the rough. You should have a word with him.’ Happily, he was not my husband .. and as for having a word with him..not likely!  In fact, I wasn’t even surprised. I once read that more than half of PGA Tour caddies have witnessed a player cheating during a Tour event. A GOOD WALK SPOILED The incident came back to me recently as I tried to come up with a really special gift for the golfer who has everything,. Clearly, something to trim strokes off the score- legitimately, without the need to reposition the ball- would be ideal. A quick trawl reveals lots of such gadgets out there. How about a ‘performance tracker..’ ? According to the manufacturer, ‘the system records every shot a golfer makes, analyses the data in real time and reveals strengths and weaknesses to enhance on-course decision-making.” Or perhaps a device to analyse his swing. One such app displays ‘an interactive 3D visual of the swing along with key data’.  It includes a ‘virtual coach to enable users to receive personalised lesson plans with tips and drills from golf’s top instructors’. But what about a Plan B? It's an old cliche, but golf has been described as a good walk spoiled.  A holiday in the Azores sounds better. Expensive but better.  With a base on São Miguel and a hired car, a golfer would be a quick drive from the 27-hole Batalha course. In his down-time, there would be sight-seeing or dolphin watching, the opportunity to sample fresh fish and local wine. ‘Enhanced on-course decision making’ and ‘drills from a top instructor’ could wait until next year.