Real-Life Math
You're a caddy for a golf player on the PGA tour. He has just hit a solid ball straight down the fairway. As you walk down the fairway with your player, you calculate how far you believe he has just driven the ball on this par-5 hole.
"It's important to be able to calculate numbers quickly and correctly," says Amy Lillibridge, a professional caddy. If you miscalculate the yardage, the player may choose an inappropriate club for the shot. This could potentially ruin the hole and even the entire game for the player.
"Math skills are essential as you compute yardages on every hole," agrees Dennis College. He is a caddy working on the LPGA tour. "A miscalculation can be very costly, as you will probably miss the green with your approach shot, jeopardizing making par."
You calculate that your player has just driven the ball 297 yards from the tee. On this hole, the total distance from the tee to the green is 470 yards.
Question A:
If the ball lands 297 yards from the tee, how many more yards does the player have to hit the ball to reach the green?
Question B:
Your player can hit his 4 iron about 195 yards, his 5 iron about 175 yards and his 6 iron about 155 yards. There is a tailwind that you think will carry the player's ball a further 10 percent of the distance of his hit. If this is the case, what club do you recommend that the player use for this shot?