A long-distance, high bit-rate optical communications link is described comprising an optical transmitter, an optical receiver, and an index-guiding microstructured optical fiber between the optical transmitter and the optical receiver, the microstructured optical fiber having a majority of the cross-section of the core and cladding regions occupied by voids. A proposed method permits the verbal verification of a spoken password sentence without computationally extensive large-vocabulary decoding. The base flange portion, the stem portion and the target portion are integrally and seamlessly formed with one another of a resilient material with a hollow passage arranged to be externally vented and collapsed upon impact by a swinging golf club.