The frustration of hitting a slice or hook
Of hitting it out of bounds
Of hitting a shank
Of missing the green.
The frustration of finding the sand
Of leaving it in the sand
Of finding it wet
Of hitting a tree.
The frustration of watching it run off the green
Of leaving it short
Of misjudging the break
Of ringing the cup.
The frustration of selecting the wrong club
Of swinging too fast
Of thinking too much
Of taking bad advice.
And one other as well;
Arguably the worst of all.
The frustration of missing a putt
For a 69, 79, 89 or even 99.
And yet, and yet,
These painful frustrations
Will never diminish
A true golfer’s love of the game.
Leon S White, PhD
And Yet
November 18, 2025 by Leave a Comment
Birdie Flu
February 11, 2025 by Leave a Comment
Newspaper articles about the bird flu and the controversy regarding vaccinations (shots) got me thinking how these concerns might relate to golf. Here is the result:
Birdie Flu
I’ve got the birdie flu
And it's killing me.
No birdie two’s
Or four’s or three.
It starts with driving
Left and right
Birdie chances
Out of sight.
Second shots
Become the test
Pushes and pulls
Lead to pars at best.
With pitches and chips
They’re never near
Leaving putts that even
Good putters fear.
If you catch this bug
And you’re tied in knots
The only prescription
Find better shots.
Leon S White, PhD
Golf and Behavioral Science
March 31, 2024 by Leave a Comment
Thinking Fast and Slow by the late Daniel Kahneman has been on the New York Times best seller list for 387 weeks! In it, the Nobel Prize winner in economics includes some research on the psychology of putting to illustrate an observation on how golfers react to situations regarding potential gains or losses. I put the observation to verse.
The Psychology of Putting According to Kahneman
A putt for par, no matter how far
Is a cause for concern for a golfer.
His blood pressure rises, he wants no surprises;
If it misses, he’s liable to mutter.
Research reveals for a birdie putt
The pressure more steady and down.
No matter how far, it’s two in for par
So, a miss will at most cause a frown.
Losses are feared more than gains are valued
Say behaviorists who’ve studied the game;
So, next game track your par putts and birdie,
Is the stress that you’re feeling the same?
Leon S White, PhD
The Golfer’s Epitaph
October 30, 2023 by Leave a Comment
I recently found this poem among my golf poetry materials. It appears to be from a book, but I can’t provide a reference.
The Golfer’s Epitaph
When I have played my last stroke through,
When I have putted my last ball down,
Dig my grave ‘neath the sky’s own blue,
Far from the smoke and din of the town.
Plant me beneath the 18th green
With never a tear when I am done,
My epitaph by all men seen;
“Dead to the hole and down in one.”
Have You Met Him
March 15, 2023 by 1 Comment
Thanks for visiting again or for the first time. As you may know (from reading this Blog) I’ve recently published a book called If Golf Balls Could Talk – Collected Golf Poems (available on Amazon). Here is a poem from the book that tells a familiar story:
HE TALKS A GOOD GAME
He talks a good game
You know the guy
He judges each swing
With a critical eye.
He talks a good game
Awash with advice
He’s off to the races
When he sees you slice.
He talks a good game
He studies the pros
He is eager to tell you
All that he knows.
He talks a good game
Can he turn a phrase
He talks a good game
But it’s not how he plays.
He talks and he talks
With eyeballs that glisten
But even the duffers
No longer listen.
If you’ve met this guy, you are welcome to share the experience in the comments section.
What do you think?
October 14, 2022 by Leave a Comment
A succinct observation:
Comparing the Tour to LIV
What’s the Tour to LIV?
Maybe a mink to a skunk?
Or if that’s a bit too harsh for you,
Try Classical to Punk.
Leon S White, PhD
Vaccine for a Duffer
December 3, 2020 by Leave a Comment
I woke up early this morning with a poem idea. The result is below:
A Vaccine for a Duffer
2020, golf’s crazy year
When Covid made its call.
The Masters played in November
And the Open, not at all.
Quarantine closed the courses;
The return in fits and starts.
Partners socially distancing,
Riding in separate carts.
Now optimism’s in the air,
A vaccine’s on the way.
Though winter will be difficult,
We have hopes for a better day.
And as long as we are hopeful,
A second vaccine would be nice.
This, a duffers dream come true,
One to prevent a slice.
Leon S White, PhD
New Year’s Greetings
December 26, 2018 by Leave a Comment
New Year’s Greetings
Greetings my golfing friends
From capable to bad,
Next season remember
To smile not get mad –
When a putt rings the cup
Or a drive goes way wide,
It’s the work of the golf Gods –
You’re along for the ride.
Leon S White, PhD
Too Many
November 12, 2018 by Leave a Comment
My own experience. How about yours?
TOO MANY
Guitars or putters,
If you’ve ever bought any;
Chances are good
That you’ve bought too many.
Leon S White, PhD
Note: My book Golf Course of Rhymes is currently selling for $7.28 on Amazon (a 25% discount). Haven’t seen that before. Stories of golf and golf history illustrated with poetry going back to 1638. Put in two years of research; an interesting read if the link between golf and poetry is of interest.
Wood$
August 17, 2018 by Leave a Comment
My last Blog post looked at Tiger’s impressive return from the true golf fan’s point of view. Below is a more cynical view of Tiger’s latest comeback.
Wood$
Tiger’s play –
The best in years;
Golf’s retailers –
Leading the cheers.
Leon S White, PhD
Golf Course of Rhymes 
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