chspeed

Thanks, I think you're right. I don't come across well in this forum which I've noticed it over the years. I keep forgetting, so I go through short spurts of posting. I wish there was a read-only mode that wouldn't allow me to post. 😄

You talked about greed and hypocrisy. Those aren't golf terms. I was pointing out that IMO, those "golden years" weren't as golden as they seemed. Sounds right. Seems to me like they are in the driver's seat on this deal now, if they weren't already. Too early to throw up the white flag, but not by much I'm afraid. Aren't we all. Everyone's got a price 🙂

I get that. If they're hitting it 230 and can't reach in 2, then the par 4s they are playing must be about 420+. That's either a relatively difficult course from the whites or maybe only happens a couple of times a round? I doubt that. Really, someone who is hitting it 230 will only lose a yard or two. I doubt they'll even notice. Certainly not enough to quit golf IMO.

They're likely playing from the wrong tees.

You mean back when it was replete with sexism and racism? 🤷‍♂️ To each his own.

Their public face is a joke. PIF is basically a private fund for the royal family and its friends. Citizens of SA have no say nor the freedom to complain about its investments. Right. And I wouldn't be surprised if ten years down the road, it will end up being a very good investment. Say what you want about PIF (I do 😉 ), they're not dumb. Hope not! Golf is stronger than Twitter. 💪 Agreed. Especially if you buy the argument that they did this for negotiation leverage. One of the strategies discussed in this good Athletic article: Miller: Jon Rahm is going to LIV. Golf will be different now Rahm, the 2023 Masters champion, will reportedly receive more than a half-billion dollars to leave the PGA Tour.

I read the statement as noncommittal. I don't think they know if/how this change will help or hurt their golf ball business.

IMO, if deal is done, it's a pretty big one. He's probably the best combination of popular/currently-competitive player to make the move so far. Gives PIF more negotiating power.

How do you know they're not coming for your fishing gear next? Seems a bit too easy to catch those things. Heavier rods? 😜

True, and no reason to think that will change. Thx for link. Interesting that 30% of balls on market are already conforming to new rules.

Is there anything about manufacturers not being allowed to continue to produce non-conforming balls? If there's a market for it, they (or someone else) will keep on making them. That said, I would take any survey of what golfers say they will do in 5 years with a grain of salt. I'm firmly in the no-rollback camp. We'll see how this all plays out. Maybe there will be a giant class action suit and the whole thing will get delayed 20 years.

Certainly seems like it, since viewer numbers are very hard to come by, and they're clearly burying them. Did you find any reliable data on this? Just curious.

I hear ya. Apologies for the snarky answer. I own an IT company, so I tend to look at things through a dollar-cost vs time-cost lens. People generally underestimate their time-cost (i.e. spend a lot of time solving a problem) and overestimate their dollar-cost (e.g. buying new equipment). This problem, most likely, can be fixed with some very reasonably priced new equipment. EDIT: Never mind, you fixed it with VERY reasonably priced old equipment. 🙂

🫢 Dude, you need a hobby. How about golf?

I agree. Will definitely be fun to watch in the beginning, but can't see this really taking off. It's notable that the owner doesn't like the esports analogy. Sure it's different (physical athletes, etc.) But the fact is that esports, for all its hype, never really brought in the dollars it had promised, at least not in the US.