Golf Tips

Yes it's true! Fly-fishing is being referred to amongst the business elite, as the new golf!

Ok, apart from the obvious dissimilarities, such as golf being played (mainly) on dry land with lush green fairways, and angling taking place on the river, lake or sea, how can golf be compared to fly-fishing?

The first close comparison between the two is that both golf and fly-fishing generally take place in attractive surroundings in a natural, semi-natural or attractively manicured man-made landscape.

The attraction of playing on many of the top links courses is that they are located adjacent to spectacular coastline. The satisfaction from playing golf within an area with such dramatic scenery can be compared to the pleasure taken from casting a fly on a Highland spate river or loch, set in breathtaking 'natural' surroundings.

There are cultural similarities between locations often associated to where the two sports are commonly enjoyed. For example, the food, drink, entertainment, accommodation and general 'craich' on offer are also where some of the finest golf courses and angling opportunities are to be found, such as in Scotland and Ireland.

The aesthetics of golf equipment and fly-fishing are directly comparable. There are collectors of antique fishing tackle and golfing equipment, both groups identify closely with and appreciate the innate beauty in the design and craftsmanship that has made the 'tools of the trade' they collect.

That appreciation in design and craftsmanship is also true for anglers and golfers buying and using modern day fishing tackle and golfing equipment. Who can fail but to admire the skill that has gone in to making a 'hand-crafted' 3 Wood, or like-wise for a Teal Blue and Silver trout fly?

Aesthetic beauty is not confined to the equipment alone. It also applies to the art and skill applied in participating in the sport itself. When watching a competent golfer swing the club to tee off or hit an approach shot, there is an elegance and beauty in the swing. Similarly with fly-fishing, the art of casting a fly; the parabolic shapes created by the movement of the rod and line as they travel through the air, are a thing of beauty.

Of course, the ability to hit a proficient golf shot is all about timing. The same applies to casting a fly over a reasonable distance with a degree of accuracy. Failure to time the swing properly and move the body to follow through will result in a poor shot, probably misdirected and certainly not achieving a respectable distance. Casting a fly without getting the timing right has similar consequences. Poor timing can result in a mass of line unceremoniously dumped in front of the angler, or tangled irretrievably in trees or bushes behind or to the side. Worse still, the line can end up wrapped tightly around the Angler's head!

Commonality between golf and fly-fishing exists in the tactics employed when participating in both sports. Using the right club or tackle for the job in hand is pre-requisite. Select the wrong club and potential golfing disaster can strike, with the ball landing long or short depending upon the error made. With fly-fishing, casting an ill-chosen fly to the only rising or moving fish of the day, or fishing at the wrong depth can be enough to ruin chance of success. Both sports provide little margin for error and success demands you get it right more often than you get it wrong.

Similarly, the tactics employed in how a particular hole is approached; need to be determined before the stroke is made. Whereas with fly-fishing, how a run, riffle or glide in the river is approached and fished will determine the Angler's reward. It is this aspect of both sports that may require use of either a knowledgeable Caddy or an experienced Ghillie to help out the unworthy, when faced with unfamiliar golfing or angling situation.

It is no secret that both golf and fly-fishing can be exclusive activities. Club Membership on the best golf courses is not an easy thing to come by. Similarly, securing membership to fish a prime Salmon River at the best time of year can be restricted to small group of carefully selected and well-heeled members.

Both green fees and the cost of a rod can also reinforce exclusivity on the best golf courses and fishing beats, with costs reaching levels far beyond the reach of mere mortals. However, golf and fly-fishing are affordable for most people at a level they can afford.

Playing golf or fly-fishing commonly forms the 'activity' element in an activity-based holiday. Fly to Portugal, Spain, even Scotland and Ireland and chances are you will see Golfers checking in their clubs at the airport. When I flew to Cork last year for a weeks Salmon fishing on the River Bandon, there were as many Golfers queuing with their clubs, as there were Anglers checking in their rod cases.

The key difference in golf and fly-fishing is probably related to the more 'solo' pursuit of fly-fishing. With Golf it is possible to enjoy - or endure - the company of others during a round, whereas with fly-fishing unless drifting on a loch with a fishing partner, you are unlikely to spend much time during the course of the day side by side. There is always the pleasure of meeting up for lunch or spending time talking when paths do meet on the bank-side though!

At the end of the sporting day there is the 19th hole for the Golfer or the local hostelry near to the fishery for the Angler to enjoy and time together to recount the long putt on the 7th that just failed to drop, or the fish that followed the fly and turned at the last. Stories, which characterize both golfers and fly-fishers equally after a hard day's sport!