Comments on: Technology, Tradition, and ‘The Facts’

By: nurseduffer

nurseduffer — Mon, 06 Mar 2006 20:22:05 +0000

I think the new equipment is great. When I got my new set of clubs, I could'nt believe how well I was hitting my hybrids. I think equipment advances are great for the not so talented amoung us. I look at it this way: Golf is a way of life....you are outside, active and keeping fit. It is a game we can all play for our entire lives. So it is a great lifestyle. And since it is such a hard game...if I can pay a few extra bucks on some great equipment to help me enjoy this healthy lifestyle more.. then great!
However it can get pricey. I wish that the greenfees would come down a little. There are some beautiful course that I would never play because they are several hundred bucks a round. That is unfortunate, because it somewhat does favor the wealthy. I would love some of the new drivers out there...but I am not going to cough up $500 for one.

By: Erik J. Barzeski

Erik J. Barzeski — Sat, 04 Mar 2006 13:55:43 +0000

Rando, golf equipment, adjusted for inflation, costs less nowadays than it did in 1996, 1986, and 1976. You know what costs more, even after adjustment? Greens fees.

There are still $199 starter sets and there are still 24-for-$9.99 deals on golf balls. And I've never paid more than $40/dozen for Pro V1xs.

By: rando

rando — Sat, 04 Mar 2006 10:42:00 +0000

very good article. i don't think golf is being ruined by pros hitting 320yrd drives
(both male and female), but more by the what is happening with sponserships. tell me what pro you know who has bought a ball since they were in highschool? if we need to ask why rounds played are flat, look at the cost of getting equiped just to go play.
hell, you could buy a used car for what it costs to get "name brand" clubs, balls, gloves, etc.
when you buy a bag of potato chips, you pay for packaging, and commercials. when you buy golf equipment, you are pay for these co's expences to pamper the pros, all for the sake of advertising! the more they pamper, and pay, the more $500 drivers they sell, and $60 balls we buy. stop the maddness!!!!!
tv ratings are down for one reason. i will say what no one wants to say, certainly the media.
TIGER WOODS
is this the only guy who plays golf? if i were from another planit, i would think it was the tigertour, and the rest are just supporting actors in this weekly show. too much tiger by the media!

By: Erik J. Barzeski

Erik J. Barzeski — Thu, 02 Mar 2006 18:52:14 +0000

There's a difference between standardized equipment (everyone playing the same specs, etc.) and standards for equipment, DFife. Let's get back on topic.

By: DFife

DFife — Thu, 02 Mar 2006 18:38:11 +0000

How is equipment not standardized if standards exist for the specifications of golf equipment? Wouldn't standards beget standardization?

By: Harold Olnhausen

Harold Olnhausen — Thu, 02 Mar 2006 17:32:23 +0000

This type argument is fruitless. It's sort of like the 14 club rule; hell, I couldn't shoot in the sixties if I carried 40 clubs; this rule should only apply to Pros. If you want to make a course tougher, just let the rough grow. Why do we continue to buy golf balls at $50/dozen (suggested retail), Drivers at $6-700, golf shafts at $300 plus etc. Because its just like the man once said. We'll buy anything. Just think, Gillette has made a fortune off the American Consumer by creating a (more blade) shaving blade; count em, its up to five blades in the new Fusion. How stupid can we get?

By: Eight Winners by the Numbers | The Sand Trap

Eight Winners by the Numbers | The Sand Trap — Thu, 02 Mar 2006 15:11:38 +0000

We've had eight winners on tour so far and they have been a variety of players… some long, some short. Some people have focused in on one type of player and ignored the rest. The numbers of all eight show us that things really haven't changed.

By: Erik J. Barzeski

Erik J. Barzeski — Thu, 02 Mar 2006 15:06:07 +0000

Yeah, gee, I'd like golf to be JUST LIKE NASCAR! Uhhhh, no… You can't standardize equipment because players have different swings. Batters don't use the same length and weight bats in baseball, bowlers don't use the same ball, tennis players don't use the same rackets, etc. Regardless of whatever standard equipment you chose you'd be penalizing the majority of the players. And guess what? We have standards. They're called the Rules of Golf and they govern equiment too.

By: DFife

DFife — Thu, 02 Mar 2006 14:54:39 +0000

I think the NASCAR analogy is apt. By standardizing the equipment. For NASCAR the car and golf the clubs. Wouldn't the only variable be the individual controlling the equipment. The driver or the golfer.

If the ball goes farther it's because he's able to hit the ball farther. If the driver wins the race it's becuase his reactions abilty to drive were better. Standardization of equipment is meant to make the athlete the sole variable. Golf's governing bodies could set standards such that the ability of the golfer would be what makes one golf better than the other.

By: Erik J. Barzeski

Erik J. Barzeski — Thu, 02 Mar 2006 14:18:29 +0000

Mike, I disagree that golf is becoming "tractor pullish." That's your opinion, and based on the people I know - regular golfers that both watch and attend tournaments - it's far from being the prevailing opinion. The USGA and the R&A have rules in place. However, unlike NASCAR, they can't govern the speed of the vehicle. In this case, the vehicle is the clubhead, and the guys swinging it can't be fitted with a regulator.