lville lefty

Well seems like this idea is not meeting with much acceptance. Many of the reasons stated are quite valid. I do take exception to the idea of over exposure. This is the Ryder Cup. It happens only once every four years in the US. So if Augusta were to host the event it might be once every 24 to 48 years. That is not over-exposure. I just happen to think Augusta is most ideal course for the Ryder Cup format and would be the most exciting venue for both fans and players. The benefit to all is, increased interest in golf , which by the way is something the members at Augusta National seem to care about. At least that is how they talk about hosting the junior Drive, Pitch & Putt event. As far the difference in the type of fans found at the RC versus the Masters, I'm not sure what to make of that comment. I've been to both. Yes, the RC is a very different experience, but the overall behavior/manners are no different between the two.

Having just watched every minute of the Masters last week, the thought occurred to me Augusta National would be an unbelievable venue for the Ryder Cup. What are the chances golf fans from around the world could convince Augusta National members to host the Ryder Cup? Would the PGA of America and R&A; embrace the idea? I'm sure the golfers and fans on both sides of the pond would love it. Billy Payne, if you are listening, let us know what you think.

The Etiquette rules are printed on a 4''x6'' card. Exactly the same as a standard size scorecard.

Your skepticism is shared by quite a few I'm sure. The alternative of doing nothing to address the problem of poor pace-of-play etiquette is guaranteed to not "move the needle." Marshaling can help but sadly many golf courses today are not putting the needed resources behind such programs in terms of personnel, training, and most importantly consistent enforcement of the policies. An effective marshaling program requires a significant $ investment. 240 GOLF will be a process. The program includes a number of merchandising/education materials in addition to the brochure. Plus a series of videos will be produced demonstrating good pace-of-play etiquette. The program, if supported by the golf course, will in time provide all golfers fast and slow alike a common language to discuss pace-of-play and how to "pick up the pace." One of the most common suggestions is to play "Ready Golf." We agree 100%. The problem though is the term ready golf has devolved into nothing more than playing your shot when it is not your honor. That action is only part of ready golf, it is not however the full meaning. Ready golf is to be ready to play when it is your turn in a timely fashion. 240 GOLF reintroduces all of us to the true meaning of ready golf and goes a step further by educating golfers on how to be ready. So here's the vision. You step onto the first tee with three strangers. After introductions one the guys instead of saying "we play ready golf" says to you, "We play 240 GOLF." And you say, "Perfect. Love to play with guys that understand good pace of play etiquette."

Ernest, If you provided an email then you should have received a copy. You may want to check your spam folder. In either case you can download a sample copy at the website www.play240golf.com on the Etiquette Rules page. Most important though is encouraging your golf course to participate. Send them a copy of the research results;

Let me add a quick note to Erik's post. Let your pro know we will be at the PGA Merchandise Show next week. And if you are attending please stop by and visit. 240 GOLF - Booth #3303

A quick update on the 240 GOLF survey. The Pace-of-Play survey will be open through tomorrow evening, 1/14/13. Here's the link - http://bit.ly/UiS3CH After tomorrow evening you can still take the survey but your entries will not be included in the official results which will be completed and distributed on Wednesday. The results to date are very interesting and look forward to sharing them with all those that have requested a copy. A few people have commented golfers will not read the 240 GOLF etiquette card when it is given to them at the golf course. We agree but we never intended the for the etiquette rules card to be an instant panacea to slow play. The card is only one piece of a comprehensive education program. The idea is 240 GOLF gives us all, fast and slow golfers alike, a common language to discuss pace of play. We all know telling someone they are slow does not work and causes unwanted tension. With the introduction of 240 GOLF we can now discuss with other golfers the idea of being ready to play when it's your turn and the 30 second time frame to complete a shot. Being ready to play when it's your turn is good golf etiquette and is a surefire way to play on pace. Consistently taking longer than 30 seconds because of not being ready is poor etiquette and a surefire way to slow down the entire course. This is the essence of 240 GOLF. The goal is to educate golfers about this basic etiquette fundamental.

The Play 240 GOLF website is now live. www.play240golf.com If you have any comments you can post them here or on the 240 GOLF site. If you have not participated in the pace-of-play survey you can still do so at; http://bit.ly/paceofplaysurvey Thank you to all that have participated. Results to date are very interesting and will be made available to all that have requested a copy next week.

All of the comments on this thread and the ones provided in the survey are very helpful as we get ready to launch Play 240 GOLF. Would like to clear up one point. 240 GOLF is more than just the 240 GOLF Etiquette card to be handed out to golfers. We will be offering golf courses a comprehensive program that includes printed material but will also include other forms of communication. The program will create ongoing awareness and education about good pace-of-play fundamentals. Thanks to all that participated in the survey so far. Those that requested the 240 Etiquette card can respond to the email you received if you have any comments. For those that have not yet participated in the survey please do so at this link http://bit.ly/paceofplaysurvey We appreciate your participation.

Walk 18 - You are probably correct about slow golfers and this site. Golfers that are frustrated by slow play are most definitely on this site. That is based on many of threads about the subject. The hope is we can make a difference by educating those we know that are the cause. The program will allow all golfers (slow and fast) to participate and support the program. Really, TST is the ideal place to start communicating the program. Passionate golfers who care about the game and hopefully will actively take part in a an organized program to improve pace-of-play.

A new program will be launched in the next few days to improve pace-of-play nationwide in 2013. It is called Play 240 GOLF. The program is designed to educate golfers how to complete their round of golf in 240 minutes (4-hours) on most golf courses. The website will go live January 6, 2013 and the program will be introduced at the upcoming PGA Show - January 23 thru 26 in Orlando. 240 GOLF is a comprehensive program that provides golf courses a complete kit of merchandising materials designed to educate golfers about good pace-of-play etiquette. Individual golfers, frustrated by slow play, can also participate by sharing the rules and encouraging their favorite golf course to promote 240 GOLF. We hope you add this to your 2013 resolutions ... I will help improve pace-of-play by supporting 240 GOLF. The first thing you can do to make this resolution a reality is to complete a pace-of-play survey. The overall results will be presented to golf course operators at the PGA Show. You can request a copy of the results and more information about 240 GOLF at the end of the survey. Here's the link and thanks in advance for participating. http://bit.ly/paceofplaysurvey

Thanks for wishing me luck. The key to 240 GOLF having success is pointed out in your first sentence "...hasn't been discussed already." We all go on TST and other forums discussing slow play. What 240 GOLF brings to the table is a program all golfers and golf courses can do more than discuss the problem. 240 GOLF provides golf courses real tools to promote good pace-of-play etiquette. And it provides a method for golfers to address slow play in a meaningful way with other golfers. Maybe 240 GOLF will have a positive impact, maybe it won't. It is a reasonable attempt however to address the situation and certainly has a better chance of having an impact than discussions on forums. My hope is you and other golfers frustrated by slow play will support the effort and give it a chance. We don't have anything to lose by trying.

Iacas, thanks for asking. Believe me, I fully understand the challenge. Telling a golfer they are slow has little or no effect on their pace-pf-play. 240 GOLF is a comprehensive plan to address slow play and the first to organize golfers and golf courses. Unlike other efforts which have been top-down, this program gives golfers an effective way to communicate good pace-of-play etiquette with other golfers. Once the website is live I will be posting more information about the program. We will be attending the PGA Show next month to introduce 240 GOLF and start the process of enlisting golf course participation. In the meantime here is a short article that addresses your comment about how golfers rate their pace of play.

This new pace-of-play program will be great to send to this golf course. Our website will be launched in early January. Front and back cover of Play 240 GOLF etiquette rules card.

The two common stats for rounds under 80 are; seven greens in regulation 30 or less putts per round Do that and you will regularly break 80. How to reach these objectives is the hard part. The holy grail for most amateur golfers and one I rarely find. Lessons from a good instructor and practice, practice, practice. Neither of which I have ever done. Shame on me.

Shorty, the question is a follow-up to a previous thread posted about the importance of the FEC which garnered quite a bit of interest and comments among the SandTrap audience. We are all happy for Snedeker. And it was yesterday that he won. It is still fresh in everyone's mind so the timing is perfect to ask a question about the importance of the FEC. What you like to discuss if not the FEC?

The current format seems to work pretty well. The FEC is becoming my favorite. I love watching the majors but think the FEC is more compelling. Watching golfers in the last regular season tournament of the year fight so hard just to get into the playoffs makes for great TV. Then each playoff tournament has them fighting to get the next level. You can see golfers under pressure from the top of the leader board all the way down to the bottom whereas in all other events the pressure during the weekend rounds is only on those in contention for the win. Winning the FEC is the most challenging event on tour in my opinion.

There was a thread posted last month discussing the importance of the Fed Ex Cup versus the majors. Seems most felt the FEC would never equal or surpass the majors in importance. So, here's the question, If Snedeker was asked, "would you trade the FEC for a Green Jacket" how would he answer? As a side note, I love Snedekers pace of play.

That may be true. Certainly a valid point today as the FEC has not reached the same level as the majors from the fan's perspective. I do wonder though if Open winners Stewart Cink or Darren Clarke, really benefited financially a great amount more than the prize money.

I stand corrected. The top ten finishers next week get most of the winnings in cash. Found this tidbit on Wikipedia... "Because of possible legislation affecting deferred retirement plans, in the wake of business stories that speculated that Tiger Woods could amass a $1 billion retirement fund if he won the FedExCup six more times, the PGA Tour announced a change to the payout system effective in 2008. The top 10 finishers now receive the bulk of their FedExCup bonuses in cash up front; for example, the 2008 FedExCup champion received $9 million up front and $1 million in his tax-deferred retirement account. FedExCup bonuses to finishers below the top 10 are still paid solely into the players' retirement accounts.[6]"

Thanks for the mention. New styles with a more traditional look and all of the comfort will be available the end of October.

Would like to get an understanding of pace-of-play and determine if it is widespread or limited to just certain golf courses. If you choose to comment please include the slope rating for the course you play most often.

Not sure we do know the answer. Tiger and maybe few others certainly feel a major is more important. The rest of the field is looking at the $10 million prize. Hard to imagine the players not caring about that sum of money even if it is an annuity.

Total scam and has little to do with psychology. I was exhibiting at a trade show and the booth across the aisle was selling a "balance" bracelet. Over the course of three days I probably saw them do the demo 500 times. Halfway thru day two I figured out how they create the sense of balance when the "pigeon" was wearing the bracelet. It was really quite clever. They used only two fingers to move someone off balance simply by pulling ever so slightly away from the body. When the bracelet was on they pressed down and towards the body. Nothing more than a carnival act. But to their credit they sold enough to walk away from the show with a tidy profit.

In time, and assuming the prize money continues, a FED EX Cup win will be a considered a "major" on a player's resume. For all of you that are traditionalists and think not consider the history of the so-called majors. It has been correctly pointed out the first Open Championship was in 1860. The first Masters was not until 1934. It was not until 1960 when Arnold Palmer discussed the idea of a "grand slam" that the term "major" was relevant. 100 years after the first Open. The prize money available for the playoffs is incredible when you consider the player that finishes last at East Lake will earn $303,000 ($128,000 for the tournament and $175,000 for Fed Ex points). That is serious money. So while some of you may think it blasphemy to consider the FED Ex Cup a major, I have a strong the suspicion the players think otherwise.