NCG’s Golf Glossary: What is a chicken stick?

This week’s word sounds like the sort of thing you’d pick up at a fast food restaurant.

“I’ll have that with fries, please.”

Word of the week: Chicken stick

I want to be like Rory McIlroy. I want to step up on every tee, get out the driver and smash it down the fairway.

There’s something really satisfying about crashing your longest club for miles. It soothes the soul.

But that’s why I am a 12-handicapper – because I’m brainless.

There’s a time for aggression and there is a time to be smart. I don’t know the difference.

None of us really do, though, do we? That’s why this term is almost always produced in a derisory context.

Dictionary definition: Slang. A play-it-safe club.

What this means: We all want to be heroes, of course.

Many is the time I’ve had a quite woeful round but then regaled the clubhouse with the tale of that hooded 3-iron bent round the trees and to the front of the green.

What I never reveal is that it was my fourth attempt. I’m like Roy McEvoy in Tin Cup – dropping balls out of the bag, trying to hit the green in two on the par 5 when a lay-up is the sensible play.

Will I ever learn that those who take the safe option are the ones that win the prizes?

Maybe one day I’ll reach for the ‘chicken stick’.

It’s the club a golfer goes to when he realises that 200-yard carry he’s considering taking on is just not a good idea.

It’s often the smart move – laying up when there’s water in front and a long carry or taking an iron off the tee when accuracy is paramount.

You might get some stick from your ‘pals’ when you make the safe play but you’ll have the last laugh. They’ll be in the trees.

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