Ten ways to change the golf model??

By Charlie Rymer...what do you guys think?

http://www.thegolfchannel.com/shag-b...lfModel_101210

1) It makes no sense that recreational golfers (especially beginners) play by the same rules that pros and elite amateurs play by. Simplify rules for everyday recreational play. Would you ski off a double black diamond hill after your first ski lesson?
Agree to an extent to at least speed up play. BUT, this contradicts point number 9. CAn't have it both ways.
I do like the idea of non-league / non-handicap players who only ocassionally play be encouraged to speed up play by a few simple 'local rules suggestions' like: Play OB and lateral and water hazzards as the same; provide more drop areas over hazzards; 3-putt rule maximum on greens; etc.


2) Players choose which tees they play from. They should also be able to choose the size of the hole they play to. Courses should have a regulation hole and a 10-inch hole on every green. This would have a major impact on pace of play and enjoyment.
I believe players already choose which tees. Size of the hole? Meaning two holes cut per green? Not buying that speeds up play. Additionally, believe it would wear out greens faster. Even with the suggestions from #1, we need not forget that golf is a hard game. Charlie used an anlogy on #1....so will I. Tennis players don't use a larger ball or wider courts? why should golfers have larger holes? That suggestion is sill imo.

3) Get the pros out from behind the counters. Golf can be intimidating and confusing. Pros should meet, greet, and make golfers feel welcome. Let the grumpy rangers collect the cash. Quick tips on the range and advice on how to play the course should be the priority for pros. Who knows? This might even bring back pro shop customer loyalty and give those grumpy rangers more cash to collect. Golf pros don't need to be general managers. They need to be golf pros. Deal with the golfers, not the computers.
ding Ding Ding. Could not agree more. The more people oritented/people friendly the pros and assistatnt pros are the better. Focus a little less on selling lesson time and a little more on gettting players interested in golf. Not saying give away the farm on lesson time, but more time going over basics and less time printing receipts behind the counter would go a long way imo.
The aloofness of golf could be easily stripped away and replaced with people oriented fun and exercise.

4) Find ways to let seniors and juniors play 3-, 6-, and 12-hole loops walking. If regular play starts at 8 a.m., let juniors and seniors tee off the 12th or 16th tee at 8:30.
Agreed. Especially for juniors. What would be wrong with letting a 35 yr. old father / 8 yr. old son tee off on number 12 for 1/3 the greens fees?

5) Widen fairways and lower rough cuts. Nobody wants to have an Easter egg hunt on every hole. And more importantly, nobody wants to stand on a tee watching the group in front of them have an Easter egg hunt.
Depends on the course imo. not a cookie-cutter answer.

6) Educate golfers on the economic reality of high green speeds. Golfers need to appreciate healthy turf more than greens that roll 14 on the stimpmeter. Not only does this take pressure off the golf course owner but it also helps with pace of play.
Tough one. I like fast greens and jusdge a course by the ahspe/speed of greens. I'm a bad person to judge this suggestion.

7) Learn from bowling. Bowling was withering on the vine in the 1970s and early 1980s. People couldn't figure out how to keep score and gutter balls just weren't that much fun. Automatic scoring and retractable bumpers helped revitalize the sport.
Get the analogy,,,but there is no real suggestion here.

8) Push the physical activity and socialization button with seniors. Movement and activity helps fight heart disease and diabetes. Socialization helps depression and overall mental health. Nothing brings these factors together better than golf. Especially on a golf course with less rough and a 10-inch hole. Find creative ways to get seniors on the golf course.
Stop with the 10 inch hole already. Many courses I am familiar with ALREADY cater to the senior crowd to the detriment of the junior players.

9) Base handicaps on scores shot in competition and on designated medal play days. Illegitimate handicaps discourage many golfers from competing. The current system doesn't provide incentive for many golfers to take pride in their handicap.
Sounds good, BUT how many people actually play enough designated medal rounds to get a valid handicap. What shold be encouraged is teh integrity of the game. Getting back to suggestion #1. If you are an "everyday recreational" golfer then getting a handicap does not matter. If you are someone who wants to play in tournaments/leagues then they do matter and so do the rules of golf. We need to acknowledge two different types of golfers, imo.

10) Have golf courses prepped and ready for play at first light on weekends. This gives parents the opportunity to get in some golf and still have time to spend with the family. Recreational time can't compete with family time in this day and age. And rightfully so.
Aren't most courses already doing this?

I don't mind this, especially rules regarding clubs. Maybe all OB should be lateral hazard were you drop were the ball entered the OB, with one stroke. This will keep play pace up as well.

This is idiotic, leave the golf hole the same diameter.

With most courses this is tough because it disrupts tee times and can cause back ups. I say if they want, just play 9 holes. whats up with 12, 16, 14, just come back again some other time to catch the other 9 holes.

Never had an issue with this

Courses need to seed there greens more and keep them in better shape. what needs to be done is hand out free ball repair tools and give out instructions on how to repair ball marks. I like little flags on the pins that say repair ball marks, or maybe a small sign next to the green, like the ones that traffic carts away from the greens.

Re: Ten ways to change the golf model??
1) It makes no sense that recreational golfers (especially beginners) play by the same rules that pros and elite amateurs play by. Simplify rules for everyday recreational play. Would you ski off a double black diamond hill after your first ski lesson?

Many recreational golfers don't know there's a rule book. Teach them how to take a provisional and how to the respect the course and fellow golfers and that would be an improvement


2) Players choose which tees they play from. They should also be able to choose the size of the hole they play to. Courses should have a regulation hole and a 10-inch hole on every green. This would have a major impact on pace of play and enjoyment.

Who's going to enforce that? Just ask beginners to pick up once they're within 2 feet, until they have an index.

4) Find ways to let seniors and juniors play 3-, 6-, and 12-hole loops walking. If regular play starts at 8 a.m., let juniors and seniors tee off the 12th or 16th tee at 8:30.

Whatever gets more kids playing the better, but teach them some manners or ban anything with sugar and/or caffeine when they're at the practice range.

5) Widen fairways and lower rough cuts. Nobody wants to have an Easter egg hunt on every hole. And more importantly, nobody wants to stand on a tee watching the group in front of them have an Easter egg hunt.

Not a problem on every hole, but there are some bottlenecks on every course directly linked to lost balls. But . . . if you widen the landing areas and shorten the rough, hackers swing even harder and still find the bush. Where there's a will there's a way.

6) Educate golfers on the economic reality of high green speeds. Golfers need to appreciate healthy turf more than greens that roll 14 on the stimpmeter. Not only does this take pressure off the golf course owner but it also helps with pace of play.

No brainer - slowing the greens down means good putters probably make fewer birdies and hackers probably make fewer 4-putt triple bogeys.

7) Learn from bowling. Bowling was withering on the vine in the 1970s and early 1980s. People couldn't figure out how to keep score and gutter balls just weren't that much fun. Automatic scoring and retractable bumpers helped revitalize the sport.

Electronic balls or bumpers? Huh?

8) Push the physical activity and socialization button with seniors. Movement and activity helps fight heart disease and diabetes. Socialization helps depression and overall mental health. Nothing brings these factors together better than golf. Especially on a golf course with less rough and a 10-inch hole. Find creative ways to get seniors on the golf course.

Is a lack of seniors on the course a problem? I guess decreased fees is a problem - make the courses shorter and add more ball washers on the senior's tee. Those old guys love the ball washers.

9) Base handicaps on scores shot in competition and on designated medal play days. Illegitimate handicaps discourage many golfers from competing. The current system doesn't provide incentive for many golfers to take pride in their handicap.

OK. Guess I don't actually have an index now.

10) Have golf courses prepped and ready for play at first light on weekends. This gives parents the opportunity to get in some golf and still have time to spend with the family. Recreational time can't compete with family time in this day and age. And rightfully so.

A couple local courses aren't set up for non-member tee times before 08:00 (or even 08:30). In June and July in Canada we've lost over 2.5 hours of daylight by then.

57Ten ways to change the golf model
CHARLIE RYMER Posted 10/10/2010, 8:55 PM EST

I'd appreciate your feedback and any other suggestions you might have.

1) It makes no sense that recreational golfers (especially beginners) play by the same rules that pros and elite amateurs play by. Simplify rules for everyday recreational play. Would you ski off a double black diamond hill after your first ski lesson?
If some of CR's suggestions below come to pass, this would be unnecessary. "Double black diamond..." remark fits better with choosing your tees, rather than rules change.

2) Players choose which tees they play from. They should also be able to choose the size of the hole they play to. Courses should have a regulation hole and a 10-inch hole on every green. This would have a major impact on pace of play and enjoyment.
Players choose tees.... some courses have a hybrid set of tees which combine men's with seniors tees on different holes; senior tees mainly for holes with forced carries from men's.

10-inch hole? Let's not go there. It's not golf.


3) Get the pros out from behind the counters. Golf can be intimidating and confusing. Pros should meet, greet, and make golfers feel welcome. Let the grumpy rangers collect the cash... Golf pros don't need to be general managers. They need to be golf pros. Deal with the golfers, not the computers.
Ever heard of a business model? Pros at smaller courses, and some struggling country clubs, have to be a jack of all trades - they are the general manager . As for free golf tips, won't this eat into lesson revenues? How to play the course - most pros or starters will tell you this as long as you don't ask with eight people in line. Sorry, but golf pros are general managers. That's why teaching pro jobs at Golf Galaxy and Dick's are so attractive. You teach golf and rebuild clubs, but don't run the vacuum or restock the potato chips at 10 p.m.


4) Find ways to let seniors and juniors play 3-, 6-, and 12-hole loops walking. If regular play starts at 8 a.m., let juniors and seniors tee off the 12th or 16th tee at 8:30.
I'll be a senior in 21 days (60 years old), and I want to play more than three holes.

5) Widen fairways and lower rough cuts. Nobody wants to have an Easter egg hunt on every hole. And more importantly, nobody wants to stand on a tee watching the group in front of them have an Easter egg hunt.
This has the most merit. I stumbled onto a golf course architecture site last year, and it talked about the origin of narrow fairways: After WWII, courses started installing in center-pivot irrigation systems. The diameter of the spray was about 40 feet, so that became the new fairway width. Aerial photos of country clubs - taken in the 1930s - showed fairways about 60 feet wide. Also, way too many trees. Classic architects in USA build courses with strategically placed, large trees. Volunteer trees sprouted in the ensuing years, not to mention the Tree Blitz - again after WWII - where USA gave away trees on Arbor Day. Some greens committee presidents tought if it wasn't fairway, it should be deep forest. Excess trees not only get in the way, they cut down on air flow and create fungus gardens in lower areas of the course.

6) Educate golfers on the economic reality of high green speeds. Golfers need to appreciate healthy turf more than greens that roll 14 on the stimpmeter. Not only does this take pressure off the golf course owner but it also helps with pace of play.
Can't argue with this. Also, don't surround the entire green with a shaggy collar. Give a smooth run-up area from fairway - some courses do, others have made the chip-and-run nonexistant.

7) Learn from bowling. Bowling was withering on the vine in the 1970s and early 1980s. People couldn't figure out how to keep score and gutter balls just weren't that much fun. Automatic scoring and retractable bumpers helped revitalize the sport.
Very poor analogy. How would it help golf??? Bumper walls to keep balls in bounds???

8) Push the physical activity and socialization button with seniors. Movement and activity helps fight heart disease and diabetes. Socialization helps depression and overall mental health. Nothing brings these factors together better than golf. Especially on a golf course with less rough and a 10-inch hole . Find creative ways to get seniors on the golf course.
OK.... might start a FoursomeFinder web page for the area. Partners die or move to Florida, wrecking foursomes of many years. Help them find replacements, maybe even with people from different generations. Again, LOSE THE 10-INCH HOLE!!.


9) Base handicaps on scores shot in competition and on designated medal play days. Illegitimate handicaps discourage many golfers from competing. The current system doesn't provide incentive for many golfers to take pride in their handicap.
Whatever.

10) Have golf courses prepped and ready for play at first light on weekends. This gives parents the opportunity to get in some golf and still have time to spend with the family. Recreational time can't compete with family time in this day and age. And rightfully so.
Problem: The golf-pro general manager and the grumpy starter don't have time to arrange this. If you started a family golf group at the course, people could coordinate amongst themselves when they could play with the kids. Again, use a web page to coordinate things. Block off some time as family time, and coordinate among different courses: On Saturday, May 15, have males play at 8 am-11 am at Blue Springs. Have families play during that time at Red Rock. Rotate it around Sat to Sat. Males can move out quickly, families can enjoy themselves w/o pressure from 8 handicappers.

Problem with first light: You can't see. And, the dew makes it hard to find balls even in fairway. Might work if you had ball spotters on first five holes.

"Automatic scoring and retractable bumpers helped revitalize the sport."

The author is being selective, as bowling alleys always had bumpers. Automatic scoring was key to making the game easier to newcomers, but what really revitalized bowling was to change it from being a sport to a recreation. Bowling alleys are more like a club today with top 40 music blaring over their sound system while music videos play throughout the facility. The lights are usually turned off on half the lanes using glow in the dark lane markers and pins. People aren't going there to improve their bowling, they just go there to hang out, drink beer, eat fried foods and throw a ball down the alley when it's their turn. If this is what the author wants, then I suggest he visit some putt putt golf locations.

I am just started playing seriously, but I've always enjoyed watching the sport. It's hard not to be impressed watching a good golfer play if you've actually tried to play yourself. While I might find the game frustrating at times I don't want it watered down and simplified for my skill level. I want to earn the satisfaction and feeling of pride the first time I score a legitimate 100, 90, and maybe one day 80. What makes the sport great is that the rules we play by are the same as the pro's.

It's why I like running marathons, the course and the rules are the same for all of us and it's up to me to run faster if I want to place in the top levels.

wow what a load of rubbish I dont think I could disagree more, what makes golf special is that any player can take on challenges the best in the world face, what other sport can you truly stand in the shoes of the professionals and see how you compare to the them so accurately. Charlie get losted!!

Tennis, mountain climbing, skiiing, snowboarding, running, swimming, track, field (shot put, javelin, discus, etc), ad infinitum.

Edit: and of course, cycling

I guess no one's ever accused Charlie of being an intellectual.

They're all trying to figure out ways to bail out all these private country clubs that are going under or public due to membership reduction. The problem isn't with the rules or the game, it's the economy. When people have their disposable income reduced, they cut out non-necessities, golf being one. Lower the membership costs, lower the cost for a round, and cart rental and membership and interest will increase.

Charlie, I think your article can be classified as "Brain Fart"

My wife and I are both beginners. We wish we could play faster, but the fact of the matter is we simply take more strokes and have more shots go astray. It's just the way it is and the only way we can go faster is to adjust the rules. If there are people behind us, we drop another ball after a couple of minutes if we loose one in the rough, play OOB as a lateral hazard if we don't play a provisional, and we'll cap the number of strokes over par and then pickup the ball. Neither of us care about a handicap so the rule adjustments are just fine with us and hopefully keep the more experienced (and usually uptight) golfers off our backs.

As far as I know, I'm free to choose any T. Sometimes I'll golf from the forward Ts when I'm with my wife because it's easier or faster and I'm a beginner too. If anything, beginners should be encouraged to use the forward T's at first. Furthermore, I've spent my first golf season almost exlcusively on the driving range, 9-hole par 3 courses, and the front 9 at an executive length course which are appropriate for my ability. I think it would be tough for every course to be designed optimally for every type of golfer, but every golfer should be able to find appropriate courses in their area. I think the 10" cup is ridiculous.

I understand that golf courses try to operate lean-and-mean. But we all probably have dealt with businesses that have adopted a lean-and-mean business model with respect to customer service that has left us very dissatisified to the point of not buying a product or service from that company again. I absolutely agree that you need to be efficient, but I would argue that putting an inexpensive clerk (at least part time) behind the cash register to provide golf pros more time to help beginner golfers become regular golfers is worth more in the long run. The fact of the matter is that more golf pros probably find it easier (possibly preferrable) to deal with cash registers and computers than it is to deal with (and help) people. Because someone is designated as the golf pro does not mean that he/she is a "people person."

I think this is a good idea. More options and more flexibility can accommodate a wider range of golfer (and family) schedules. I will rarely have 4 hours to spend playing 18 holes.....at least until my youngest daughter leaves for college in 12 years. Then I'll be too broke to play.

See my comments for #2. Course developers need to be sensitive to the type of courses already existing in an area and develop different courses that meet the needs of different types of golfers. Each course cannot individually meet the needs of all golfers. It's not beneficial to have all courses in an area the skiing-equivalent of double black diamonds.

Sustainable golf course management is something that everyone needs to embrace. I'm not exactly sure what that is, but I'd be OK with less maintenance on fairways with more attention on and immediately around the greens. I'm not experienced enough to comment specifically on green speeds.

I love to take the family bowling occasionally and we do get a kick out of the black lights, whirling light thingys, and bumpers. I have no idea how this applies to golf except to somehow decrease the stodgy, intimidating, and confusing persona that generally surrounds the game. Golf just generally lacks "friendliness." I don't know how else to describe it, but as a beginner who often navigated my way around golf courses on my own I can tell you that it's there. For those who always golf with groups of friends, this may not be as evident. Maybe golf pros could link lone golfers or couples with others at their clubs of similar abilities?

Advertising golf as an exercise option is a great idea but why does it only apply to seniors when most of our population is overweight and childhood obesity is considered a major public health problem. BTW, why do most "experienced" golfers seem to take a riding cart instead of walking. I forced my brother-in-law to walk 9 holes with me this summer and it was the first time he didn't take a riding cart in 6 years!

I have no idea on this. I don't give a damn about handicap (at this point anyway).

Most courses already allow early start times. Since I'm a beginner, I usually let the early times go to the better golfers and I try to fit 9 holes in between mowing the lawn and taking my daughters to dance lessons.

1) It makes no sense that recreational golfers (especially beginners) play by the same rules that professionals and elite amateurs play. Simplify rules for everyday recreational play. Would you ski off a double black diamond hill after your first ski lesson?

Like what? When you get within fifty yards of the green you can pick the ball up and throw it.

2) Players choose which tees they play from. They should also be able to choose the size of the hole they play to. Courses should have a regulation hole and a 10-inch hole on every green. This would have a major impact on pace of play and enjoyment.

Why stop at a ten inch hole? Why not just shape all greens like a funnel and eliminate that bothersome putting altogether?

3) Get the pros out from behind the counters. Golf can be intimidating and confusing. Pros should meet, greet and make golfers feel welcome. Let the grumpy rangers collect the cash. Quick tips on the range and advice on how to play the course should be the priority for pros. Who knows? This might even bring back pro shop customer loyalty and give those grumpy rangers more cash to collect. Golf pros don't need to be general managers. They need to be golf pros. Deal with the golfers, not the computers.

Just get rid of the grumpy rangers and I'll be happy. And, more hot drink cart girls please.

4) Find ways to let seniors and juniors play 3-, 6-, and 12-hole loops walking. If regular play starts at 8 a.m., let juniors and seniors tee off the 12th or 16th tee at 8:30.

Having grown up in Tampa, I can say for a fact that there are plenty of seniors on the course. Seriously.

5) Widen fairways and lower rough cuts. Nobody wants to have an Easter egg hunt on every hole. And more importantly, nobody wants to stand on a tee watching the group in front of them have an Easter egg hunt.

Easter egg hunts would be a way to get more juniors on the course. I can't really argue against wider fairways, but again, I haven't really seen deep rough on any courses that I play.

6) Educate golfers on the economic reality of high green speeds. Golfers need to appreciate healthy turf more than greens that roll 14 on the Stimpmeter. Not only does this take pressure off the golf course owner but it also helps with pace of play.

Duh... funnel shape the greens and you don't have to worry about the condition/speed of the greens.

7) Learn from bowling. Bowling was withering on the vine in the 1970s and early 1980s. People couldn't figure out how to keep score and gutter balls just weren't that much fun. Automatic scoring and retractable bumpers helped revitalize the sport.

How about we put a Iron Byron on every tee box? Just hook up your club and let it take a rip.

8) Push the physical activity and socialization button with seniors. Movement and activity helps fight heart disease and diabetes. Socialization helps depression and overall mental health. Nothing brings these factors together better than golf. Especially on a golf course with less rough and a 10-inch hole. Find creative ways to get seniors on the golf course.

Again, are too few seniors on the course really a problem? What's next? Bingo?

9) Base handicaps on scores shot in competition and on designated medal play days. Illegitimate handicaps discourage many golfers from competing. The current system doesn't provide incentive for many golfers to take pride in their handicap.

No... fear of embarrassment keeps most golfers from competing.

10) Have golf courses prepped and ready for play at first light on weekends. This gives parents the opportunity to get in some golf and still have time to spend with the family. Recreational time can't compete with family time in this day and age. And rightfully so.

How about floodlights set up so people can play at 2:00 AM?

The recent Golf magazine which had those wacky pictures of Will Ferrer also had comments from the big Golf Club Maker CEO's (Calloway, et al) that said the same thing. Golf is broken because not enough new people are learning the game and buying gear from these CEO's.

For those of us who have settled in and play regularly, after perhaps a long and expensive learning curve, it's not broken. It's broken for the newbies and novices who find it hard to get into the game. Beats me how they fix it.

True and True

7) Learn from bowling. Bowling was withering on the vine in the 1970s and early 1980s. People couldn't figure out how to keep score and gutter balls just weren't that much fun. Automatic scoring and retractable bumpers helped revitalize the sport.

The answer to this is Wii golf.

I couldn't agree more. I have been playing forever and I still haven't broken 80--- Golf requires patience and it is not a sport that provides instant gratification and to make changes ala Rymer would only dumb down the game.

Driving ranges could get creative with gimmicks to attract people to the game but leave the course alone! People can find a local easy "dog track" where they can learn the game and play without major difficulty.