. . .Lots of talk about speeding up play on the Golf Channel and in the Industry pubs, but not much in the local locker rooms. It seems that the industry leaders are raking the “bunkers of their minds” trying to convince us that it is to our benefit to shorten the time it takes us to play a round of golf, a cynical view would take that to mean, “that they can then see an increase in revenue by getting more players on the course in the same amount of time.”
. . .but for me it seems that it is more of an acceptance of the pace of modern life that we have all bought in to and are willing to sacrifice the serenity and tranquility of a more leisurely day at the course in order to appease other “needs”.
. . .tradition be damned!
. . .this is not to say that we shouldn’t take a look at this, almost universal, problem. Not many of us enjoys being stranded behind a group who is loosing contact with the group in front of them little by little hole by hole and, at the same time, has so little regard for the traditions of the game of golf that they refuse a request to “play through”.
. . .I understand that at some courses an average round can take as much as six or seven hours.
. . .maybe Brian Adams has the right idea when he asks if we are playing from the right tees. . .or maybe Jack’s idea of shortening the game to twelve holes would makes sense; although be more difficult to put in to practice.
. . .recently spoke with a golfer who said he hadn’t played the last three holes at his home course in more than a year because, “a round of golf should be played in four hours; when I have played four hours I get off the course”. I told him that the last time I read the rule book I didn’t see a time limit for a round.
. . . know of other golfers who are setting up their own courses, within a course, by electing to play from a mix of tee boxes and effectively shortening the course to suit their game.
. . .less time? Yes.
. . .better experience? Yes.
. . .hitting more appropriate clubs on to greens? Yes.
. . .more enjoyable? Yes.
There are formulas that you can use to recalculate the slope and rating of “your course” and still post scores to allow you to maintain your index.
. . .seems that Brian Adams just might be on the right Fairway. . .try it you just might like it.
Willie
