I just recently had an 0-13 run playing A/S rounds. I realize some players quit, I know one cannot win all the time, but I've never experienced so many mis-shots, mis-putts and consistent crappy playing.
I'm not a very good player, my putting is borderline embarrassing. I know what my club distances are. I am pretty good adjusting for wind speed/direction.
While playing with other people, all I hear is "VEM this, VEM that, WGT sucks, WGT wants us to buy more balls", etc. everytime a ball goes into the rough, misses the cup, whenever the ball is not where the shooter wishes the ball to be.
All I know is that I tried very hard to play my game and my game all of a sudden went to hell, shots flying everywhere, putts going long, short, rimming the cup. Fellow players blaming WGT for all my shortcommings.
I found the secret to defeat all of this evil VEM bestowed upon me: PRACTICE.
I ceased playing multi-player rounds to spare innocent players from my "disease" and hit the practice courses. Tee up, check wind, club, spin, marker, note where ball "should" land and roll, and hit it and note what the result was. When my perceived idea and reality didn't mesh, I tried to figure out why. I found out a lot of areas that I "assumed" I had down that I was maybe off just a hair. And off "just a hair" can be the difference between the fairway and the rough, in the cup or lipping out, on the green or in the bunker.
This post is not intended to state there is no VEM. VEM has been documented, although there is absolutely no evidence of WGT's ability to select individuals to "turn up the VEM". This post is directed to all the players that "think" they have this game down, "think" there's no way in hell they could ever miss a putt or a fairway. Please spare me the, "Oh great, WGT at it again" statements everytime you choke a putt. Try hitting the practice course with an open mind and closed mouth. You just may do yourself and everyone you play with a huge favor.
Tyrone