The trials and tribulations of being a left-handed golfer
In most sports where hitting a ball is involved, left-handers are quite common – cricket, baseball and tennis, for example. Yet in golf, we are a rarity.
I’m not sure why this is, but it got me thinking. Growing up, the only recognisable professional golfer who stood on the ‘other’ side of the ball was Bob Charles. But his best years were behind him when I began taking notice. Later, I found out pros such as David Graham, Johnny Miller and even Ben Hogan began as left-handers but changed early on to the ‘right’ side. When a teaching pro tried converting me at a young age, I flat-out refused.
Finding equipment was certainly an issue growing up. My first set didn’t have one matching club. They were a liquorice all-sorts pieced together from pro shop ‘bargain barrels’ (remember those?). Nowadays, there are plenty of options available as every golf manufacturer produces an array in the left-handed variety.
One reason I became a Ping player was because it was the only company that made a broomstick putter left-handed. A myth exists that all lefties are great putters, but I can easily put that to rest. It’s not true. I’ve even converted a couple of golfers from left-handed putters to right because, if you’re suffering on the greens, I believe you should putt from the side of your dominant hand. I’m possibly the posterchild for this since I now do exactly that – putt right-handed. It’s a long story.
When I was on tour, there weren’t many lefties around. Phil Mickelson, Mike Weir, Bubba Watson, Greg Chalmers and Richard Green the mainstays, and on the women’s tour I don’t recall any (apologies if there were). A few others came and went, but it was rare to have someone stand on my side of the tee (the left side) while waiting for playing partners to tee off. I enjoyed having my back to them when hitting because I couldn’t see all the shuffling about that no doubt plenty of right-handers have to deal with.
Something I haven’t asked other lefties is: when they see their own kind does it seem strange? It does to me. During the first lesson with my coach Neil Simpson many years ago, he demonstrated a move left-handed. I quickly said, “Just show me right-handed.” Early on before video cameras, I only saw my swing in a mirror as a right-hander. Everything else looked weird.
I am very proud to be a mollydooker though, so when the National Association of Left-Handed Golfers Australia (NALGA) contacted me recently about becoming more involved with them, it was an obvious, “Of course!” I can’t wait for the annual NALGA 72-hole tournament in November at Tocumwal Bowls & Golf Club. What a sight it’s going to be with a golf course covered only in left-handers. Ahh!
The 55th National Left-Handed Golf Championships will be held at Tocumwal Golf & Bowling Club from November 13-18, 2022. Cost for the full week of golf, welcome function, and presentation dinner is $360 per player. Registration forms can be found at www.nalga-riv.com
Photograph by Getty images: Ian Walton/R&A
