Golf course architect Arthur Hills has an interesting perspective on the advancements in equipment technology, and why it hasn't impacted amateur golf nearly as much as it has the professional game.
Statistical studies show that the average handicap of recreational golfers hasn't come down in the past decade, despite the emergence of hot-faced drivers and soaring golf balls. Of course, those studies can't quantify the enjoyment factor of launching a golf ball farther, even if it's in the wrong direction.
"Amateurs are less consistent and, therefore, do not experience the full effect of this technology," said Hills, the Toledo-based past president of the American Society of Golf Course Architects who holds degrees from the University of Michigan and Michigan State University. "Often, they are at a disadvantage with this technology because the errant shots are traveling farther off-line then they did previously."
Hills also cites the lack of attention and time devoted to the short game by recreational golfers, and the changes in golf course design and set-up, as reasons scores aren't coming down.
"Green speeds are vastly quicker then they were five, 10 and 20 years ago," he said. "Due to improved grass cultivation techniques, new and finer strains of both warm- and cold-weather grasses, as well as new rolling and cutting procedures, we are seeing green speeds at much higher levels than ever before."
Nick Schulz is the Editor of Tech Central Station and has worked in media circles and the ideas industry as a writer, editor, television producer and policy analyst. His writings have appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, Slate, The National Post of Canada, The Baltimore Sun, Investor's Business Daily, The Washington Times, National Review, Reason, Policy Review, and several other publications. He is also, it should be said, a rabid sports fan whose fandom is inversely proportional to his overall athletic ability.
1. Primis on July 28, 2005 08:45 AM writes...
One thing I don't like about comparing the Tour game to the Everyday game is that there are larger disparities in other areas than people would like to admit. And if you bring the disparities up, some people react like you've broken some sort of taboo and some people get really angry...
For one thing, guys on tour are shooting to greens the size of Alaska. Most amateur golfers are fortunate if they get to hit to greens *half* as large as the ones on tour. If I were shooting onto a green that size every hole, then yeah I could probably aim for the stick every time and make my a fairway wood shot stick to the green too because the green is endless... I also think those greens mask shortcomings in many short games on Tour (which is why when they go over to the British Open or down to Augusta you see a lot of guys that dominate elsewhere completely fold and other guys rise out of nowhere). Yeah those guys can definitely putt, but a lot of them aren't really so hot on approach or chipping as you might think. It's much easier to go right for the stick when you have 75 yards of green on every side in case of an errant shot (and no, pin placements generally *aren't* really any tougher than on an average municipal course, regardless of false claims otherwise). And I don't care what excuses *anyone* makes for it, those greens are ridiculous in size and there's no reason for them to exist in that size. Most amateurs can't shoot at ths stick not because they don't have the skill to, but because the greens aren't nearly as forgiving as the greens on tour in general.
Secondly, yes the short game in general is largely ignored by amateurs anymore. Most don't care if they shoot a 6, 7, or 8 on every hole so long as they feel their drives are impressive. They then wonder why their scores never improve. Some people though, like myself, have no real game off the tee or in the fairways but can often make up for it around the greens with a consistent good chip and a one-putt. People don't realize how many strokes are spent around and on the greens... and despite all the short game gurus' efforts, most average amateurs golfers still have an infatuation with the drive and ignore the rest.
The real problem with amateur golf though is a mindset, an infatuation with the latest fad technique and driver tech of the day, when simply spending a couple hours on your short game just one time would yield far better results. And no tech can help your short game, only practice and recognition of situations will.
Permalink to Comment