Blog

What do these numbers have in common? They were all rounds shot at pro tour events this season by much better players than I ever hope to be and likely better than you, too. However, as a result of these low scores, golf's governing bodies, along with the media, are in a frenzy to roll back the ball, limit distance, throttle technical advancements in equipment, and find other ways to prevent low numbers.  (more)

1. These scores were shot be the best players on the planet who work tirelessly on their games when most of us are earning a living doing something else.
2. These scores were recorded on golf courses where the conditioning levels are extreme and where a premium is placed on agronomic perfection.
3. Stuart Appleby's 59 was recorded on perfect putting surfaces softened by rain.
4. Years ago, a couple of 59s were posted by Sam Snead and Al Gieberger in the days when equipment and golf course conditions were far inferior to what we see today.
5. Modern putting surfaces are perfect for tournament golf, producing near perfect ball roll for the world's best putters.
6. If you watched the final round of this year's U.S. Open you saw Davis Love III take his putter back six inches on a 15-foot downhill putt and the ball roll off the green.
7. Most PGA Tour players don't even practice on greens where the green speed is slower than what they encounter when paid to play.

So now the ruling bodies are worried that the ball goes too far, clubs allow us to hit it too far, and a well conditioned golf course is a bad idea? Hold on. Let's not overreact based on the results of those who are paid to play and do so far better than 99.9% of the rest of the world. At a time when the game is in trouble, the worst thing we could do is turn more people away.

What we need to do is make the game fun for the 20 million of us who realize we are not going to win a major or even play in one, plus the countless millions more who don't yet know the satisfaction of a well struck shot. The global governing bodies need to take a breath and understand that lessening the enjoyment of hitting a ball far and occasionally making par will do more damage to the health of the game than letting a few pros shoot career rounds (which, let's be honest, is pretty exciting).

Golf is a great game. However, its worst attribute is its strict adherence to the past. Stay connected to golf's history and great traditions, yes. But let the future be limitless when it comes to fun.