The Future of golf

[RussUK]

Picked up my monthly golf mag the other day and was interested to read what many top names in golf were predicting would come in the future and wanted to know your thoughts on them.

1. Short courses. For me this is going to happen, the modern player often has limited time to play 18 so 9 or even 6 holes are tipped to be the future of new buld courses. I have no problem with this, with new sites limited smaller courses will be the way.

2. Non conforming gear. Again, bound to happen at some point with manufacturers wanting to bring "fun" back into the game.

3. Larger cup size. This is where im a little torn. The traditionalist in me goes all English Gent and spits his tea and drops his monacle in outrage, but the golfer in me is thinking it would make the game more fun, more birdies = happier golfer!

It has been trialled at courses such as Woburn here in the UK with positive results. Im sure this will divide opinion.

4. Synthetic greens. They have installed these at my local Par 3 and im yet to try them. Would the bounce be different? From an enviromental viewpoint they are great and, according the the experts, we are not far from fully synthetic courses. not sure about this.

So, what are your thoughts, or what would you like to see as the future of the sport (the one we mortals play as opposed to the one the pros play )

[Spitfisher]

synthetic tee boxes, shorter rough (1.5-2inhes) max, fairways not cut as short, just about everything to make the game a little more enjoyable and easier. the cost of maintaining a course is not going down, recent majors pinehurst, chandler and even the kohler featured course where low maintence, easily grown hardy grasses are used, irrigation on in the landing areas and fairways only....letting evrrythig else be natural. Course of the future will not be these super lush emerald green, highly fertilized, heavily watered & manicured courses that we have seen in the laast few decades. some exceptions will remain but lookig ahead I feel we saw a glimpse of the future in these recent majors.

[Lihu]

I would probably agree that this the direction golf is heading. Non-conforming gear is fine, if they mark them as such. I'm sure some people will want to hide it, but it'll definitely make pace of play better. That's more important to me anyway.

[newtogolf]

• I think the push for 12 holes is gaining some momentum, at least I hear more people talking about it.  I'd guess new courses will be designed so that the 6th, 12th and 18th holes are near the clubhouse to better facilitate 12 hole rounds.  Existing courses will have some difficulty because the 12th hole is usually deep on the course without an easy way to get back to the clubhouse.

• Non-conforming equipment is already available but I don't know how well it sells.  I guess it's possible a Taylor Made devotes some resources to non-conforming equipment but given their financials I doubt they'd make the investment unless they were very certain they would get a return on their investment.  While distance is an issue for many, I think hitting the ball straight is a bigger issue.

• Larger cup sizes may show up on the new courses that are designed for 12 holes.  I can't see any private clubs adopting them nor semi-public courses that already have pretty full tee times.

Overall I think 12 holes will catch on the most because of the time issue most people complain about.  On some of the really hot humid days I wouldn't have minded ending the round at 12, so maybe 12 hole courses will gain popularity in the warmer climates first.

Equipment today is already pretty long.  I tested out the Mizuno MP-25's and EZ Forged yesterday and they both had really hot faces.  I hit the EZ Forged 6i an average of 180 yards and the MP-25 6i 170 yards compared to my current JPX 850 forged 6i I hit around 165 which I brought in with me to compare.   The EZ Forged lofts are the same as my 850 forged so they definitely did something to the weighting and face to get the extra 15-20 yards out of it.

[Lihu]

[LIST] [*] I think the push for 12 holes is gaining some momentum, at least I hear more people talking about it.  I'd guess new courses will be designed so that the 6th, 12th and 18th holes are near the clubhouse to better facilitate 12 hole rounds.  Existing courses will have some difficulty because the 12th hole is usually deep on the course without an easy way to get back to the clubhouse. [/LIST] [LIST] [*] Non-conforming equipment is already available but I don't know how well it sells.  I guess it's possible a Taylor Made devotes some resources to non-conforming equipment but given their financials I doubt they'd make the investment unless they were very certain they would get a return on their investment.  While distance is an issue for many, I think hitting the ball straight is a bigger issue.  [/LIST] [LIST] [*] Larger cup sizes may show up on the new courses that are designed for 12 holes.  I can't see any private clubs adopting them nor semi-public courses that already have pretty full tee times. [/LIST] Overall I think 12 holes will catch on the most because of the time issue most people complain about.  On some of the really hot humid days I wouldn't have minded ending the round at 12, so maybe 12 hole courses will gain popularity in the warmer climates first. Equipment today is already pretty long.  I tested out the Mizuno MP-25's and EZ Forged yesterday and they both had really hot faces.  I hit the EZ Forged 6i an average of 180 yards and the MP-25 6i 170 yards compared to my current JPX 850 forged 6i I hit around 165 which I brought in with me to compare.   The EZ Forged lofts are the same as my 850 forged so they definitely did something to the weighting and face to get the extra 15-20 yards out of it.

Non-conforming equipment increases accuracy of mishits, at least that's what I've been told by the people who use them. There are lots of people in their 70s and a few in the 80s who enjoy golf a lot more when they can no longer hit far enough to be on the 5800 yard tees anymore. This equipment has helped a few golfers I know play pretty nice golf. Off topic, how did you like the MP-25? Did they have a nice sound off the face? What kind of dispersion numbers did you get? I'm really anxious to test them out! Btw, are those carry distances?

[isukgolf]

I like playing 18 ... I am open to a larger cup and non-conforming equipment on some courses ... just need to play it to see if I like it or not. I am not hung up on tradition, so I like to think I am open minded. I have discovered that these topics on golf forums bring out the traditionalist, so it will interesting to see where this topic goes.

[newtogolf]

Non-conforming equipment increases accuracy of mishits, at least that's what I've been told by the people who use them. There are lots of people in their 70s and a few in the 80s who enjoy golf a lot more when they can no longer hit far enough to be on the 5800 yard tees anymore. This equipment has helped a few golfers I know play pretty nice golf.

Off topic, how did you like the MP-25? Did they have a nice sound off the face? What kind of dispersion numbers did you get? I'm really anxious to test them out!

Btw, are those carry distances?

If they are more forgiving then it will help them out.

I sent you a PM regarding the MP-25's so not to go off topic in the thread.  Numbers represented total distance but because of the trajectory I hit my irons carry was pretty consistently around 7 yards less.

[shooter]

Shorter golf courses make sense. The few new ones in my area top out at 6200. 12 holes, sure hope that never happens including larger cups. I don't see a point of it. Non conforming clubs have never helped a golfer bomb drives, pure irons or roll putts. It would seem golfers want the game to get easy instead building up there skill set.

[stealthhwk]

Just give me better pace of play and more executive or par 3 style courses. and yeah, shorter regulation courses would be nice too esp for those of us who cant hit it 280+ off the tee.

[nevets88]

12 hole courses, why not? Wanna play 18, just play 6 more holes.

[Pete F]

I don't understand 12 hole courses.

Why not 9 hole? Is a dozen somehow a better number?

[stealthhwk]

I don't understand 12 hole courses. Why not 9 hole? Is a dozen somehow a better number?

. Usually the more holes, the better i say but we already have nine or 18, so im with u. 12? I do t get it.

[DrvFrShow]

Picked up my monthly golf mag the other day and was interested to read what many top names in golf were predicting would come in the future and wanted to know your thoughts on them.

1. Short courses. For me this is going to happen, the modern player often has limited time to play 18 so 9 or even 6 holes are tipped to be the future of new buld courses. I have no problem with this, with new sites limited smaller courses will be the way.

2. Non conforming gear. Again, bound to happen at some point with manufacturers wanting to bring "fun" back into the game.

3. Larger cup size. This is where im a little torn. The traditionalist in me goes all English Gent and spits his tea and drops his monacle in outrage, but the golfer in me is thinking it would make the game more fun, more birdies = happier golfer!

It has been trialled at courses such as Woburn here in the UK with positive results. Im sure this will divide opinion.

4. Synthetic greens. They have installed these at my local Par 3 and im yet to try them. Would the bounce be different? From an enviromental viewpoint they are great and, according the the experts, we are not far from fully synthetic courses. not sure about this.

So, what are your thoughts, or what would you like to see as the future of the sport (the one we mortals play as opposed to the one the pros play )

1. The Play 9 initiative. I know very few courses in my area that offer 9 hole rates. So you pay for 18 holes and only have time to play 9. You won't play. Courses have to understand that perhaps 60% of something is better than 100% of nothing.

And I'd say new courses should be designed with more walking in mind. Have the tee boxes near the greens of the previous holes. Walking is good for the body and mind. However, people can't seem to tear themselves away from their electronic devices for more than one hour these days. So perhaps even have the course layout so that there's a four hole loop where you can continue or return to the clubhouse for those who are trying to squeeze in a few holes. This, however, would most likely give to the 6600 yd max length course and of course speed up play, however, and designers like to chest pound about designing for PGA tour events, however this leads to 7700 yd courses and large tracks of land with long distances between holes these days.

2. Non-conforming gear. With the talk at the US Open about changing the ball again to make it less responsive because the pros are crushing the ball. Perhaps it's time to start considering a two tiered system. If they ruling bodies have problems with the touring pros having these "outrageously long drives" with their equipment and are thinking about nerfing it, just nerf it for the touring pro, and leave us hackers alone. Us hackers need all the help we can get.

The problem with using non-conforming gear to hit the ball straight is that you still have to hit the ball. I don't think non-conforming gear would have helped me with the foot long beaver tail I took with my gap wedge yesterday - the ball went about 15 yds. This is the crap that kills my round. I hit a sand wedge just over the green on my next shot. I think my conforming clubs are pretty darn forgiving. They're Cobra BioCells. I can hit the ball off the toe or near the hosel and as long as I don't actually hit the hosel it will still follow the basic flight path of which I present the club face. They made fun of Cobra Bafflers a couple years ago because of their "weird shape" but they were probably the easiest clubs to hit on the market. And with drivers, people still need to learn how to swing a driver. They already make a very forgiving driver, but how many people do I see even trying the Cobra Fly-Z XL? Draw bias with offset. No, they have to go to the Taylormade R15, or the Aeroburner that they can't hit. I see hackers at the range still struggling with SLDRs they got at Dick's on sale because Dick's still has a ton of them in stock.

3. Larger cup size - a 5" diameter cup? I don't know. The biggest problem is getting the ball to the hole. Golf is hard. And for water hazards - the yellow ones with the forced carry. Put a DZ on the other side - two dunks and you carry over and drop there. Maybe not have this for the Pro Tour and high amateur competitions, but for the rest of us hackers, go for it. Yeah TPC Sawgrass, bite it - two dunks and it's on the fringe. I would say the same thing for bunkers for hackers - two hacks at the ball and a drop to the side of the bunker.

The putting stroke - I really think they should have left the anchored stroke alone for amateurs and banned it only on the pro tour. It was around since 1989 and didn't get any attention until 2010. Again, us hackers need all the help we can get. But what about those who want to be pros? They'll develop all these bad habits! You mean the 0.0001% who take up golf and have a chance at making the pro tour will develop bad habits? lol.

4. Considering the greens I've putted on this summer.... and the fact I finally know what putting on decent greens is like I don't know. The greens at the goat tracks around here are like putting on broccoli. You can't get a decent read on them and they don't putt true. I putt on fescue greens yesterday and they were wonderful. I was able to see the grain in the greens. I was able to see the slopes. They were like putting on a pool table compared to what I was used to. I don't think synthetic greens would be any worse than putting on poa annua ... meaning they'd suck.

[David in FL]

12 hole courses, why not? Wanna play 18, just play 6 more holes.

Or just play 6 fewer on the already existing 18 hole course.....

[Sante TwoGloves]

I sure like two hacks in the sand then lift out and drop. I say leave the hole the way it is. It's perfect. Nonconforming gear bring it on. Cobra fly-z XL is what I should seek to end my driving woes?

[DrvFrShow]

We call it "the old man driver". Even I have trouble slicing it.

[Sante TwoGloves]

We call it "the old man driver". Even I have trouble slicing it.

Straight and long.how long? Must know more

[billchao]

1. Short courses. For me this is going to happen, the modern player often has limited time to play 18 so 9 or even 6 holes are tipped to be the future of new buld courses. I have no problem with this, with new sites limited smaller courses will be the way.

My biggest problem with this is having limited options to play 18. Sure you can play a 6 hole loop three times, but you're also dealing with new people teeing off at the first hole changing the pace of your round. This is my problem with 9 hole loops, too.

I think there was some renewed interest in reversible golf courses and how they can save on real estate recently, but I think it's mostly been forgotten about already.

2. Non conforming gear. Again, bound to happen at some point with manufacturers wanting to bring "fun" back into the game.

This stuff can be made, it's not like there's some sort of technological limitation. I think the demand is pretty low though, otherwise more manufacturers would offer larger selections of non-conforming equipment.

3. Larger cup size. This is where im a little torn. The traditionalist in me goes all English Gent and spits his tea and drops his monacle in outrage, but the golfer in me is thinking it would make the game more fun, more birdies = happier golfer!

I've never tried this. It's probably fun to do once in a while. I don't know that I'd want to play the game like that all the time. Part of the appeal to me is the challenge. If you make the game too easy I'll get bored.

4. Synthetic greens. They have installed these at my local Par 3 and im yet to try them. Would the bounce be different? From an enviromental viewpoint they are great and, according the the experts, we are not far from fully synthetic courses. not sure about this.

We discussed synthetic courses in another thread once:

IIRC, the consensus is that people are willing to play on them but the cost of building them may be too high, and there's a heat issue in warmer climes.

I'm not sure what the future holds for golf, but some of this stuff seems gimmicky.