We have had quite a few letters and emails from folks with ideas on making iQuest Golf better.  One of the suggestions we like is to allow all players to use their driver and putter.  This means taking the driver and putter cards out of the deck and dealing out the remaining cards.  This allows each player to use his/her driver and putter on the holes in play.  This has to be agreed at the beginning when you are defining rules for play. 

This suggestion allows for those that are more comfortable using drivers and putters more security.  Let me share a story to illustrate the reason for making this change…

I was invited to play with 3 players at a muni 20 miles north of where I live.  One of the guys, Keith, had played iQuest Golf  before and was excited to introduce the game to his friends.  We warmed up on the front nine and pulled the cards out on the 11th hole – a par 4, 420 yard, dogleg left beauty.  When I had dealt out the cards one of the players was visibly peeved he didn’t get to use his driver.  Mike uttered an off-color comment under his breath and teed off with a four-iron.  The ball rocketed from his club head and landed in the middle of the fairway positioned ideally for the dogleg.   His frown said plenty as he took his cards out of his pocket and stared at them as he walked to his ball. 

He was dealt the 4, 5, and 9 irons, SW and PW.  He muttered and grunted before hitting another four-iron.  We all couldn’t believe it.  His ball was on the green lying about 25 feet from the pin.  It was a great shot!  We all complimented Mike on his fortune as we made our way to the green.  Certainly, Mike was positioned to score well.

This is when Mike became Mr. Hyde.  He reached in his bag for his putter and headed for his ball.  Keith reminded him that he didn’t draw the putter card and would have to use one of the clubs he was dealt.  He didn’t like that, swore up a blue streak, and told use all to go to hades. “I’m not about to ruin this birdie,” he snapped as he lined up over his ball.  No one could dissuade him from his decision.  He just got more mad as he stroked his ball towards the hole.  The ball ran past the hole 6-feet.  That was enough to really strangle Mike’s goat.  Of course, he missed the 6-footer coming back and then tapped at ball while it was still rolling to try and force it into the hole.  Didn’t go.  Mike went into rage.  Needless-to-say, the rest of the day was ruined.

Looking back on the situation, Mike could have easily done well using the PW as a putter – even using the 4-iron again would have produced a better result than what we witnessed.  It’s about using your noodle with what you’ve got.  Mike has never played with us since. 

If you are playing with anyone that wants to continue to use the driver and putter make allowances.  iQuest Golf was developed to bring out the fun in golf.  Especially for those with higher handicaps, allow them to use the extra clubs.  It can make all the difference between having fun and watching a member of the group go ballistic. 

© 2010 The iQuest Group, LLC (No copyright claim on graphic)

allan@iquestgolf.com; www.iquestgolf.com