ThominOH

It's dropping.. According to the Super's and other golfing agencies.. The number of rounds are dropping and the number of golf course closings is becoming an issue for the last 5-7+ years.. I honestly believe the next generation just isn't picking up the clubs.. I know the First Tee program is trying to do all they can, but it might be too little, too late.. Kids today in general are finding other forms of entertainment besides picking up a club, ball or bat.. Especially one that cost money to play..

I know this seems to be a lil off topic.. but. I would LOVE to see 1 PGA Tour event where it isn't taken so serious.. meaning, NO CADDY or any of that other fancy dancy stuff.. Give the pro's a pull cart and go golf.. OH.. let them wear whatever they want to wear within reason..

The only way I would play Pebble is IF someone else is paying for it.. I always grew up being thrifty with money.. OK OK.. I squeak when I walk.. Anyways.. Can I afford to play Pebble? YES, but why? I can afford a Caddy too, but I like my Ford truck just fine :) To each their own.. I'd rather spend $500 on 10 different courses on a golf getaway, then just 1 round at Pebble..

I had mix feelings on this.. If I'm playing a new course, or one that I'm generally not familiar with, I like the visible 100, 150 and 200 yrd poles in the center OR side of fairway.. This helps me in getting an idea with lay up distances.. However, If it's a course I plan to play often such as a home course I prefer yardage plates every 25 yards in the center of the fairway.. These naturally would only be visible when you are close to them.. I've never seen a course with a mix of both..

I predict what will happen is that Tiger will come out swinging and shoot an opening 78 (+8).. He'll turn around and fire Foley as his swing coach and pick up our local golf guru Jimmy Hanlin.. Overnight Jimmy will show him how to use the long putter, and correct his swing watching old reruns of "Tee if up".. and Tiger comes back to win by 1 stroke..

Thing is.. What's next? Because I have low back issues.. I have to putt with a longer then average length.. (not belly length) I actually use a Odesey Rossie II.. and I stand closer to the ball then normal because of comfort, plus I can control my backswing more.. I go less offline because it's more of a pendulum swing, then a sweep... Will that be deemed illegal someday down the road? I have to laugh tho because I keep remembering a comment made here on the forums about people trying to justify banning the long putter, while ignoring "the 460cc frying pan on the end of a stick" driver..

I'm no Tiger fan.. but keep in mind.. The course conditions at the Open were benign.. Wet and little to no wind.. Tiger's strategy worked for him the first 2 days, and for that I applaud it.. I think more players should of done that.. However, come the weekend, especially Sunday, when the winds picked up, Tiger struggled more with long irons into greens from a further distance.. Tiger had 1 bogey on each round Thurs and Friday in easy conditions.. 3 Bogies on Saturday and 5 more on Sunday.. People might want to consider that maybe -3 was a perfect as he was going to every get with his strategy.. I do agree tho that Adam should of NEVER taken out a 3 wood on that 18th.. That second row of bunkers should of never been in play.. oh well..

Mine is Firestone North here in Akron.. I have played the South too, but with all the water on the North course, it was more intimidating..

I can't say I have a favorite designer.. I have played over 200+ courses in my life and can say I've had all architects make some great courses, and then design some pieces of junk.. Every designer has made a A+ and F course in their careers.. Regardless of the architect I like a course that is not penile golf where shooting from target to target is your only options.. Pete Dye of late has really emphasized that, which I dislike with a passion.. My opinion is that a great course is one that requires minimal earth moving equipment and allows ALL types of players to enjoy it.. Rather you be a target golf player or a links roller.. One shouldn't have to build the course, it's already there, all you are doing is removing some of the brush :)

That might be the case for some.. I know it wasn't the case for me.. I was much worse using a belly putter.. However, I really noticed a difference in using a "perimeter" weighted putter.. Will that be next on the chopping block because someone got their butts beat by someone using one? In fact I have yet this year play with anyone using a long putter.. It appears to me the only ones against it are the loud minority .. lol

HUH? I think you misread what I wrote.. I'm NOT comparing today's players with yesterdays.. What I stated was comparing the generations within themselves only.. What I was suggesting was I think it would be interesting to see how the top 10 of each generation stands up against the 40-50th ranked players of the SAME generation.. See how big a gap is between the two.. This gives you an idea how tight the field (generation) is.. This is like Stricker winning 3 John Deere's in a row.. Is he all that great of golfer, or is that the tourney traditionally has a weak field.. Or which is more impressive a player that travels and plays 25 tourney's a year with a 69 average, wining twice.. or a man that only goes to 15 events a year winning 3 times with a 68 average....

Are the players today better then they are decades ago.. SURE they are.. If you look at the PGA Vardon Trophy history, the average winning scores have been improving.. What I think would be interesting tho if anyone can find the numbers.. Is what is the strength of field? What I mean by this is that what is the margin between the #1 ranked guy vs. the #50 ranked guy.. I'm only guessing but I bet the field of pro's scoring average was closer decades ago versus today.. How many Vardon trophies did Jack win while earning his wins? Something to think about..

I don't think Chamblee's comment was much of an attack @ Tiger as it is against Foley.. Remove Tiger from Sean Foley's resume and what is left? Sean coaches a handful of players, the 2 most notable being Rose and Mahan. O'Hair left Foley and what has Ames done of late? Has Sean taken C quality or B quality players and turned them into AAA quality? I think not.. Personally I think using Tiger as the product of Sean's coaching is like coach Caldwell taking credit for Peyton Manninng's success.. I'm not sold that Sean Foley is the "be all , end all" of swing coaches.. I'm not much of a Tiger fan, but lets be honest here, Tiger will make any coach look good.. Personally this year, I think Tiger's success is more attributed to playing smart golf (like how he managed the Open), then just pure swing talent..

Yes.. Pro's should have a different set of rules.. Why do you ask? With today's technology, golf is evolving into something it shouldn't be.. The main areas that bother me is are: 1) The use of a professional caddy such as Williams, Lacava or Fluff.. lol A caddy is much more helpful to the pro, then most will comment on.. I can promise you this.. If Tiger for example has a Joe Smo caddy, he would of never have the record he has now.. We all know it.. Caddies should be there to carry the bag and clean stuff off.. NO INPUT should be allowed at all.. No yardage, No reading lines.. etc etc.. 2) Equipment should of remained as it was for most of the century, this meaning woods remain as persimmon woods, NOT titanium for example.. I give credit to Baseball for not allowing anything but regulated wooden bats.. 3) Golf balls should of been limited as well.. Now what companies like Titleist sell and market to us hacks.. LOL oh well.. Business is business.. However, the pro's should of been corralled into restrictive rules and requirements..

You missed the point.. I tried anchor putters.. I actually had a harder time putting with one and would never consider it.. Some actually use a standard putter and anchor it to their wrist.. Is that illegal too? In my opinion people going around saying it's NOT swinging a club.. Who is or was to define swinging in the first place.. I failed to read that swinging must be done with both arms.. In any case, long putters have been around for decades and it hasn't been in issue till recently.. Now as for the comment of the "spirit" of the game.. If one really wanted to preserve the spirit of the game, they would of never allowed woods to be made of synthetic materials such as titanium.. Same can be said about the change in golf balls.. Both of these changes effected the spirit of the game.. Par 5's became par 4's.. 7,000 yard courses became obsolete.. All these changes were allowed because of the almighty dollar and NOTHING to do with the game itself.. I'm 50 and hitting the ball just as long if not longer then I did 30 years ago.. I didn't become stronger and better, the equipment did.. BTW.. if one really wants to talk about the spirit of the game.. ELIMINATE all helping caddies.. Caddies have much more effect on the pro, then any club issue.. NOT all touring pro has access to an elite caddy to help them, unless you allow cloning Williams or Lacava.. The spirit of the game and rules say NO coaches or devices can used by the pro, but we allow caddies? Think about it..

I don't see what all the hub bub is about this putter length issue.. What happen at the Open this past weekend proved nothing.. a long putter WON the open.. and a longer putter LOST the open.. What's next? Banning putters with parameter weighting versus putters that are blade or mallet?.. ALL equipment used today has evolved and changed the game, rather it be the balls or clubs.. For the pro's to be whining as some is hypocritical in my opinion.. They all have benefited from the changes, some just like to "selectively" choose what is approved or not.. I don't see Tiger using persimmon woods.. do you?

I have to question this bit of drama.. Steve dude!.. Why seek out advice? It's not like you haven't played the course, and it's not like it's a major.. It's a weak field normally to boot.. I almost get the gut feeling this was just a PR stunt to get some drama and attention going for the event.. Like it'll make this John Deere more important then others.... Really? Have ya'll seen the gallery at the tourney this week.. Pretty slim if you ask me.. Steve, you are better then this, atleast I thought so..

WoW.. are you butt hurt because people don't agree with your opinions? Cry me a river

And if you really want to be fair about PERCENTAGES.. Lets keep in mind the total number of PGA events each have been in.... Which in my opinion does have an effect on performance... Tiger Woods 265 events Phil Michelson 422 events Jim Furyk 432 events Fed Couples 591 events Jack Nicklaus 594 events Jack has played in twice as many events as Tiger.. This does effect your percentages.. PLUS we all know that the more you play, the more it effects your performance, so Tiger should score well, and spend more time tweaking the game.. Did it work out for him.. Sure.. However, keep in mind that if everyone played the minimum tour events, there wouldn't be many events with a good field for TV ratings.. Tiger had the luxury of taking time off.. Other players didn't, couldn't or wouldn't..

Without knowing how the competition is going to be set up, that is too hard to guess.. I doubt the field will be as big or as strong as a major.... BUT.. If a significant number of Top 50 players are there, I would give it more "value" then your average tour stop.. Why? Golf in the Olympics hasn't been around for over 100 years.. Olympics only happens every 4th year, and there is no guarantee that golf will be around after the Rio games..... I'd take the GOLD if given the chance, and cherish it as much as a major..

Impossible to tell who is/was the best.. For the past 100+ years golf has witnessed amazing feats by amazing golfers.. Each living in an era with different equipment, course layouts, competition and life in general.. OH.. and don't forget the value of an elite caddy to help.. This is like asking, Which car is the best car of all time.... Good Luck.. Personally.. I like Sam Sneak in a 1974 Stingray Corvette.. LOL

My only issue with "dress" this tourney as to why I ONLY saw one golfer NOT wear pink, or wear a pink ribbon as requested by the PGA to support Mother's Day and Breast Cancer awareness.... Guess who that ONE person was, and why the media failed to take notice of it or mention it.... hmmmm

Wrong.. the Masters USED to have more then the afternoon coverage..

Yeah.. Coverage is a joke anymore on the majors... I remember when you could watch 8 hrs of coverage Thur - Sun., but not anymore.. I guess Golf majors don't get the attention that reruns of NCIS and CSI get.. LOL

WOW.. and you call yourself a professional? Really? Personally attacking someone because they aren't a Tiger fan.. you and your website are a JOKE .. a pure JOKE.. This is nothing more then a fanboys website to raise money..