Over the past six months there has been a lot of discussion, in and around the golf world, about bifurcation (one set of rules for amateurs and one set of rules for the pro's) being adopted in the next couple of years.
My question is....what's taken so long?
The game of golf is the greatest game in the world, something that you can play from the time you are 8 years old until you are 80 (or older!), and that is something that very few other sports (yes golf is a sport) can offer. Yet, we have seen participation decrease over the past decade on a consistent basis. Oh yeah....and we have been experiencing this decrease and we have had the most recognizable athlete in the world as our posterboy. If we can't see dramatic growth with Eldrick driving the ship, who is going to help us? Ricky Fowler....Bubba Watson....Webb Simpson? puh leez.
These guys are great players, but are they going to bring more golfers to the game? I don't mean the guy that used to play on a regular basis and then he had a few kids, took a decade off and now wants to start playing again. I am talking about he man, women or child that has NEVER picked up a club. Who's going to attract these people?
Let's be serious, golf is TOUGH....for some people VERY tough. Yet when we introduce someone to the game we give them a little tiny ball and say "See that flag 440 yards away....knock this little ball into that ridiculously small hole and I will count how many shots it takes you!" Are you freaking kidding me? Just the thought of this is comical, but that's how we sell the game to new players. It's crazy!
Bifurcation will allow the top level pros to play by a certain set of rules (that make the game challenging for them) and amateurs will play a different set of rules. Sound crazy? Well it's not!
Don't you think that most people would benefit from a ball that went 50% further? They can make the ball go further...don't you worry about that! Kids, seniors, ladies, beginners would actually hit the ball further and enjoy the game more. Period.
The next thing we do, is make the hole twice the size, YES...twice the size. Who came up with the current size anyways, its ludicrousto think someone should hit anything into something that small. Pace of play would increase dramatically, scores would be lower, people would make more putts, chip in more frequently and have a TON of fun! You would hear people screaming all of the course! It just make complete sense.
I know the hardcore guy, is going to say "Well thats not the way that the Scots intended when the invented it 4 zillions years ago!" Get over yourself, the game we playnow is nothing like what happened five hundred years ago, so why are we so afraid of change. If we don't change now what is going to happen in two, thirty or fifty years. Golf will go the way of the Dodo!
Peninsula Lakes is going to help with this transition in 2012! Yep, that's right....we are going to make the game more enjoyable for everyone. For the month of April on our Orchard 9 we are going to cut two holes in each green. One the traditional size (for you hard-line old school types) and one twice the size (for people that want to play better,learn the game and HAVE MORE FUN!). I realize it won't be for everyone, but I gurantee that if you give it a shot...you will love it!
Stay tuned for more info on how "Peninsula Lakes is going to guarantee you play better in 2012"
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