Why are women crap at golf? Nancy's 2nd theory.

So let's return to Nancy Berkley's theories about why women aren't really very good at golf.

Her second theory is about turf conditions (full text here). Curious? Well get this:

"Two turf conditions are making the courses harder for women. The first is better irrigation which decreases roll. Since most women hit the ball shorter than men, they are penalized on more strokes for lack of roll."

I could be missing something, but I'm a bit sceptical. What I don't understand is this: don't men have less roll as well? It is fair to say though, that we are penalised on more strokes for lack of roll, since we hit more strokes, as we've already established. This is starting to get a bit circular though, since the original question was about why we hit more strokes.

"The second factor is shorter grass on the fairways. Men like shorter grass because it promotes "spin" [but] The shorter grass makes it more likely that women could take a divot, and women don't like taking divots -- it's making a mess."

That's right, we don't like making a mess. We also like to cook. Don't forget laundry, that perennial favourite.

I do agree that women are less likely to take a divot though. In a serendipitous coincidence, I noticed this just a day or two before I read Nancy Berkley's article, when I played in a mixed fourball. One of the three men was particularly agricultural in his swing which is why I noticed it in the first place, but once I paid attention I realised all of them took divots, while my experience is that the women I play with rarely do, especially in dry conditions.

Want to know my theory about why? (I'm going to tell you anyway). Unlike Nancy's 'untidiness' theory, I think it's more to do with having less power in our girly swings. I think that taking a divot slows our already slow clubhead speed, resulting in a punishing loss of distance. On the other hand, a man with his more powerful swing can power right through the divot with a negligible loss of distance, and more chance for a better contact.

I'm open to other theories of course, but the housekeeping theory cuts through no dirty dishes with me.

Stand by for Nancy's 3rd theory.

Image taken from Reza Vaziri's Flickr stream, and I'm loving the tee holding trim on those pockets