Future Obstacles to Golf?

[keiyoz]

i guess one of the biggest obstacles is the price factor. in this area, you have to fork out $50-$70 on the weekends.

this is why i usually play in the afternoon and take advantage of promotions.

[tm22721]

The biggest obstacle to growth of the game is difficulty.

With 6500+ yard courses, sloping/narrow fairways, small undulating greens, and impossible equipment geared toward the pros (45" drivers) why are we surprised at low participation ?

Why is 'par' set at what a PRO would score ? Par should be what the average golfer scores, which is 97.

[Shindig]

The biggest obstacle to growth of the game is difficulty.

Sloping fairways are the bane of my playing resort courses. I need to learn to play those. In the meantime, think of par as 'professional average result' - it will help you feel better after a bogey.

[lamebums]

That's not so much slow play as inattentive marshal. I started carrying my cell phone after hearing of things like this. Especially if you're on 13, the marshal should be able to get out there quickly enough.

Here's another problem, though. I think this was mentioned on the site last year, but the modern golf ranger has been completely pussified. He's no longer a figure commanding authority and respect: he's instead a customer support rep, and the last thing he's going to want to do is get into a fist fight over slow play. Especially since it's the greens fees that give him a weekly paycheck, and he's probably there for free golf himself, anyway.

[golf_junkie27]

Cell phones. To me, that's the biggest obstacle. So many people use them on the course. Why bother coming out? I can understand if you are a doctor or an expecting father. Otherwise, turn them off and keep them in the bag.

[Big_M]

The biggest obstacle to growth of the game is difficulty.

maybe difficulty is an obstacle...BUT

as to length and slope of FW... Most modern 6500 plus courses have SEVERAL sets of tee boxes. In fact most have some boxes that are shorter than older course that only have three sets of boxes. My wife likes the newer courses because many have boxes under 5000 yards, even around 4700 sometimes, whereas older courses often force her out to over 5000. Also, many newer courses have VERY generous fairways, even if they do roll a bit. Much more generous than older courses. equipment... There is more game impovement equipment now than EVER before. We even have drivers shaped like toasters to help cure mis-hits. We have closed face, offset, weighting, and other anti-slice options. What are you talking about? As to Par 97... That is absurd. Golf is built on tradition. I would be a plus 15 handicap, that would be stupid. Just accept the fact that you have a high handicap. There is nothing wrong with "most" golfers shooting over par. It gives us something to work at. Birdies and Eagles would loose all significance. Golf course design would be all jacked up. Terrible idea.

[pom]

What Amateur golfer would not want to shoot par. It gives all of us something to shoot for.How would the handicapping system work if we changed par on the course according to each golfers ability. No thanks I would just like to shoot 72 (PAR.)

[Shindig]

What Amateur golfer would not want to shoot par. It gives all of us something to shoot for.How would the handicapping system work if we changed par on the course according to each golfers ability. No thanks I would just like to shoot 72 (PAR.)

And if you ever need a pick-me-up after a bogey, look at what it is "net" compared to a scratch. When I bogey the hardest hole at my home course, I tell myself "that's a net birdie. Good job!"

I think Willie Nelson once mentioned that he owned a golf course and renamed a par-4 to be a par-23 and once darn-near birdied it.

[Jeepthrills]

I chose family obligations, however, it is really more work obligations. My hours are long and I often work late and on Saturdays. This keeps me away from home too much, making it harder to say "I'm going golfing, see you later." I play 9 holes early on Sunday mornings. My wife is my partner in my league. That gets me one extra round each week from May through August. Our best friends joined our league this year so we went out with them several times to play as well. I also take one golf trip each Summer with my brother and friends. Other than this, I will play a couple rounds with clients and an outing or two. We go to North West Michigan a handfull of times each Summer and I will get in a round or two each weekend I'm there.

I got my kids new clubs for Christmas so I will be trying to get them out with me more. Of course this now brings into play one of the other stumbling blocks. Expense. Taking my wife and two sons out to play can get very pricey.

[wodom1]

I voted 'other,' as my career makes it tough for me to find the time to play. Plus, the friend that I always play with works on weekends, which is when I am off. Cost really isn't an issue for me, as I typically play muni courses in Chicago or in the suburbs.

[lamebums]

I've noticed that 15 people (34% thus far) have cited "Too Expensive" as a major problem with the game.

What do you all think is the strength of the correlation between high greens fees and slow play? I think it's because of seven hour rounds that the rangers can only get so many additional people out there, which cuts into total rounds played for the day, which consequently cuts into the bottom line. It also is a factor in other problems with the game:

Because of long rounds, golf also runs afoul of the family: it's more difficult to get away for seven hours instead of three or four.

[Shindig]

I've noticed that 15 people (34% thus far) have cited "Too Expensive" as a major problem with the game.

I think another part of it is that there are people out there who will tell you that they paid good money for their round, and they deserve to play at their own pace.

[Jeepthrills]

I think another part of it is that there are people out there who will tell you that they paid good money for their round, and they deserve to play at their own pace.

My wife and I took our friends out to play over Memorial Day. They were new to the game and were slow. I tried to nicely keep them moving and finally when we started to fall behind the group ahead of us I told them we need to play faster or let the group behind us play through. My buddy's wife responded "Why? We paid the same amount they did to play." I explained that it does not work that way. After playing in our league all Summer, we took them to the same course on Labor Day weekend and got stuck behind a slow group. She admitted that she now understood what I was trying to explain to her in the Spring.

[Shindig]

My wife and I took our friends out to play over Memorial Day. They were new to the game and were slow. I tried to nicely keep them moving and finally when we started to fall behind the group ahead of us I told them we need to play faster or let the group behind us play through. My buddy's wife responded "Why? We paid the same amount they did to play." I explained that it does not work that way. After playing in our league all Summer, we took them to the same course on Labor Day weekend and got stuck behind a slow group. She admitted that she now understood what I was trying to explain to her in the Spring.

That's awesome news. Not so much that they were slow, but that they are now conscious of slow play and have tips to avoid it. You may have done something to positively affect pace of play!

[tm22721]

A large marquee at the end of each green could display minutes of play since teeoff. Similar to those speeding displays you see on highways.

Those wishing to play slow could do so by paying a hefty surcharge.

[lamebums]

A large marquee at the end of each green could display minutes of play since teeoff. Similar to those speeding displays you see on highways.

I have an idea, then - raise the greens fee by $20 and put a timestamp on their receipt. If they bring it back within four hours, they get a $20 refund.

[Lost Ball]

Lost Ball can't stand extremely slow play. Enjoy the game, Play the game, and move on in a nice fashion says Lost Ball