A New Golf Word
 

"Hawk"

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP)—PGA Tour golfer Tripp Isenhour was charged with killing a hawk on purpose with a golf shot because it was making noise as he videotaped a TV show
Isenhour was with a film crew for “Shoot Like A Pro” on Dec. 12 at the Grand Cypress Golf course. The 39-year-old golfer, whose real name is John Henry Isenhour III, was charged Wednesday with cruelty to animals and killing a migratory bird.
The charges carry a maximum penalty of 14 months in jail and $1,500 in fines.

According to scottishgolfhistory.net, commonly used golfing terms are fairly recent in origin.

"Bogey" was the first stroke system, developed in England at the end of the 19th Century. A 'bogle' was a Scottish goblin as far back as the 16th Century and a Bogey-man was a widely used term for a goblin or devil. Golfers of the time considered they were playing a Mister Bogey when measuring themselves against the bogey score.

"Par" is derived from the stock exchange term that a stock may be above or below its normal or 'par' figure.

"Birdie" is certainly derived from the American vox pop term 'a bird of a score' and hence a Birdie. The Historical Dictionary of Golfing Terms (1993) believes that "Birdie", meaning a score of one stroke under Par on a given hole comes from the 19th century American slang term "bird", meaning anything excellent.

"Eagle", a score of two under par for a given hole, was clearly the extension of the theme of birds for good scores from a "Birdie" (see above). It would be natural for American golfers to think of the Eagle, which is their national symbol. A score of two under Par is, in some ways, a 'big birdie' and an Eagle is a big bird.

Three under Par is a very rare score and an "Albatross" is a very rare bird, and now three under Par is generally referred to an "Albatross". However nobody knows exactly when the term was coined and it appears to be quite recent. At late as the 8th April 1935, a day after making an albatross on the par-5 15th hole at Augusta in the Masters, Gene Sarazen referred to his shot as a "dodo". Ab Smith said his group used the phrase 'double eagle' for three under.

Some golfers use the term Buzzard for a double Bogey.

Given the publicity of this latest gaff and the obvious lack of judgement associated with it, a "Hawk" could be the next staple in our golfing vocabulary.

If you make "Hawk" on a hole, what would it mean??? :laughing9

Defining 'Hawk'
 

Good question, Bagger.

Tripp took out the hawk with a wedge from 75 yards. That accuracy has already taken a substantial psychological toll and could cost him a chunk of change and possibly jail time. Therefore, I would define a 'hawk' as follows:

hawk n. A poor score of any magnitude resulting from a shot hit just too straight for the player's own good.

Also:

hawk'ish adj. The adjective describing the offending shot. Usage: That was a hawkish shot.

:sad2:

For example, you would score a hawk if you hit the flagstick and the ball rebounds into a hazard. That happened to Charles Howell III last year when he was in contention. Also to Byron Nelson who made quadruple bogey 7 on the 12th at Augusta when he hit the flagstick off the tee and the ball rebounded into Rae's Creek. He then hit the flagstick again from the drop area and suffered the same cruel fate. [This is an example of the rare 'double hawk'.]

You could also make hawk by picking out a hazardous target you don't think you can reach, but do with a perfect or near perfect shot. [Note: the hawk designation always requires a well-struck shot. Thus, in this situation, a gross error in judgement coupled with a so-so shot would not qualify.] I once made such a hawk on an unfamiliar Florida course. Standing on the tee box of a dogleg left par 4, I picked out a little scrub bush (through the fairway at the dogleg) for my line. I smoked my drive, and darned if the ball didn't run right into the bush's roots. My best swing of the day, and I had to take an unplayable.

But, hey, that's better than doin' time!

:laughing9

More On Tripp's Fowl Shot
 

From the PGA TOUR's website:

Mar. 6, 2008

RESTON, Va. -- Professional golfer Tripp Isenhour has issued a sincere apology for a December 2007 incident in Orlando during which he hit a golf ball into a tree accidentally killing a red-shouldered hawk during the taping of a golf instructional video.

"As soon as this happened, I was mortified and extremely upset and continue to be upset. I want to let everyone know there was neither any malice nor deliberate intent whatsoever to hit or harm the hawk. I was trying to simply scare it into flying away. As evidenced by our family having adopted three cats from a local shelter, I am an animal lover. We ask that everyone accept my sincerest apology, and please be respectful of my family's privacy," Isenhour said.

This ain't going away. An animal rights group -- the Humane Society of the United States -- wants the full pound of flesh: http://www.thegolfchannel.com/core.a...0&select=25204

Here's Tripp on The Golf Channel giving his side of the story: http://www.thegolfchannel.com/core.a...0&select2=8818

The full interview will be aired tonight at 6 p.m. ET.

I doubt he tried to hit the bird - he isn't that good but we are held responsible for our actions regardless. Three cats- that's funny.

WWJD? The right thing.

Wow, what a great shot. :naughty:

I mean: "poor bird", but you have to admire the skill it took. :salut:

When is a Fluke a Hawk? When Tripp hears a "Who."

okay not good Suess but I need the posts

Tripp's Greatest Hits
 

$1,500 for a hawk...Vijay is paying $5,000 for every eagle he get to St. Judes :naughty: !

Oh yes he did
 

try to hit the bird.......he started at 300 yards and as it got closer


he got all pumped up.....and KILLED AN ANIMAL.........Then issues an apology saying he didnt mean to do it........give me a break.......


my suggestion is no jail time......but off the tour for 1 year

and 1000 hours working with animal protection services.


i ask only 1 thing here...lets take this seriously..........outright animal abuse......absolutely pisses (sorry delete if you care to) me off

hjack

Let the Punishment Fit the Crime
 

Seems a bit extreme to me, hjack:

Take away a man's livelihood for a full year -- his innocent family and charities suffer, too -- and demand a half year of his working life (2,000 hours is considered full-time) . . . for accidentally killing a bird?

And it was an accident. His intent was to scare it away, not kill it. And while he may have aimed at the bird, he had no real thought he could hit it, much less kill it. After the bird was down, he attempted to save it by calling in a veternarian. He's adopted three stray cats from his local animal shelter. Does this sound like the profile of an animal abuser?

It was a one-in-a-million shot for goodness sakes. He was almost a football field away with a golf ball -- not a gun -- and a very small hole in the sky through which to send it. In fact, had somebody handed him a rifle and told him to shoot the bird -- that definitely would have stopped the offensive noise -- there's no way he would have done it.

Tripp has already suffered significantly and is obviously remorseful. That was evident to anyone who saw his interview tonight on The Golf Channel. How is society served by inflicting such severe additional punishment in this freak situation? Even the law pegs the financial damage at only $1,500. Quite a difference from the price you would extract.

WWJJD -- What would Judge Judy do?

:think:

HJ,

I didn't start this thread as a discussion regarding the guilt or innocence of Tripp. This thread is about how a very public incident can work its way into our golf lexicon.

Other than Bucket's behavioral issues, promoting animal abuse isn't tolerated here. :)

Two thumbs up for Yoda's definition. I was thinking along the lines of "wayward shots that land you so deep in the woods you're in jail".