GolfStinks

A Golf Blog for the Rest of Us!

3 Reasons Recreational Golfers Need A Rulebook

| By | 10 Comments

Can all those USGA rules be hurting golf? (photo by Sonny Vega)
Can all those USGA rules be hurting golf? (photo by Sonny Vega)

Believe it or not, the USGA doesn’t govern all of golf. And it certainly doesn’t preside over recreational golfers like you and I. The USGA, along with its rulebook, does have a place in golf. But the idea it’s the supreme ruler of all things golf is a rather widespread misconception (this goes for the R&A as well). That being said, I outline below why most recreational golfers should cast-aside the USGA rules in favor of something written more for, well…recreational golfers.

1) The USGA rules weren’t really written for recreational golfers
Let me begin by stating in no way, shape or form am I advocating we throw-out the USGA rulebook. Those rules are absolutely necessary to achieve the USGA’s founding mission: To determine the best golfers in the world. This history is clearly recounted on their website:

“1894 – In September, William G. Lawrence wins a ‘national amateur championship’ at Newport (R.I.) Golf Club. In October, Laurence B. Stoddard wins a ‘national amateur championship’ at St. Andrew’s Golf Club. C.B. Macdonald, runner-up in both events, calls for the formation of a governing body to run a universally recognized national championship.” – USGA.org

Today, the USGA is basically still doing the same thing for the top amateurs. In addition, the PGA has adopted the USGA rulebook too. This all makes sense for determining the best golfers in the world.

But what about the rest of us? All golfers – from the youngest to the oldest; the worst to the greatest; are forced encouraged to play by the USGA rules. This notion is foreign to many of the other major sports that also have youth and recreational participation. Think about your son or daughter’s little league; or your work softball team – do those strictly adhere to the rules of Major League Baseball? Of course not – the rules have been modified and/or made simpler to encourage new players and promote fun.

So that begs the question: Why isn’t there a separate set of rules for recreational golfers? For all that the USGA rules have done for the elite players in the game, the reality is the complexity of those same rules have hindered golf’s growth over the years – in particular with regards to recreational golfers (the vast majority of the game’s participants).

It should also be pointed out that while the USGA has been around for over 120 years, the game of golf was around for about 5 centuries before that. Makes you wonder how all those recreational golfers ever got by without the USGA rulebook.

2) Alleviate slow play
It’s no secret slow play is rampant in golf – from the pro tours all the way to your local muni. It’s perhaps the biggest complaint amongst average golfers and the current rulebook is (at least) partially to blame for this. A set of simpler rules for recreational players would go a long way in unclogging the links.

Why does there have to be out-of-bounds? If your ball goes into the woods, drop one near where it went in, take a stroke and move on. Why do we have to go through the entire “tend the flag” ritual? Leave the flag where it is and if the ball hits it, it counts as in. Why do we have to wait for the person furthest from the hole to play first? Instead, we should all be playing ready-golf.

I understand some folks are sticklers for this stuff, but these are the golfers a separate rulebook would help the most! A simpler rulebook would remove the hesitation some golfers have in bending the USGA rules in the first place, thus resulting in a speedier round for everyone.

3) Attract new players; and help keep the ones already playing
Try telling a newbie golfer about grounding his club in a hazard. Or that she has to walk back to the tee and re-hit if she loses her drive. How about that he or she can’t touch their ball until they are on the green. And if their ball lands in a divot in the fairway…oh well, sucks to be them. And the truth is, non of the aforementioned rules sound any better to veteran golfers either.

Watching golf on TV already has issues attracting potential players, but then the few that actually do want to try the game are met with this beast of a rulebook? It’s just not right. We should be doing everything possible to woo new folks to the game. And, part of that should be a simple set of rules that encourages fun out on the course.

Adding a rulebook specifically for recreational golfers won’t solve all of golf’s problems, but it will certainly help – especially in the longterm. And it won’t take much to implement either – there are already organizations out there like the U.S. Recreational Golf Association (more on them in a future post) who are trying to accommodate recreational golfers (including those golfers who keep a handicap) – whereas accommodating recreational golfers clearly isn’t the USGA’s priority.

Would you Play a 12-Hole Golf Course?

| By | 16 Comments

Can 12-hole courses save golf? (photo by Greg D'Andrea)
Can 12-hole courses save golf? (photo by Greg D’Andrea)

A 12-hole golf course? Yep, they do indeed exist. And more might be on the way. Jack Nicklaus originally proposed 12-hole courses back in 2007, but he was largely ignored.

He brought it up again in 2011 as a way to save golf, which he pointed-out was struggling to engage the younger generation. This time, he wasn’t ignored, but rather criticized. You see, Mr. Nicklaus had recently built a 12-hole golf course and many accused him of just trying to boost his business.

But over the past few years, the golf industry has indeed grappled with ways to attract Millennials. And it’s no secret the game loses participation (from both potential and current golfers alike) because it takes far too long to complete a round – in some cases pushing towards 6-hours for 18-holes (especially on public tracks).

To combat this, the USGA launched a dedicated initiative to encourage more 9-hole rounds (our friend Stacy over at Golf for Beginners touched on this last week). But let’s face it, as long as it takes to play 18-holes, playing only 9 just doesn’t seem like enough. I guess those of us on a time-crunch could frequent more par 3 or executive courses, but shortening the length of the holes and subsequently not being able to hit your driver? To me, that really changes the game.

Ideally, what golf needs is a course with less-than-18, but more than 9 full-sized holes – including par 5’s. Thus the 12-hole (or even 14-hole) golf course might be just right. First off, greens fees would come down since there’s less course to maintain. And with less holes, walking courses would become more prevalent too. How many times have you become fatigued over the last few holes while walking 18? Well, that won’t be an issue if you’re only playing 12.

And it stands to reason if you cut the number of holes by a third, it should take only two-thirds of the time to complete a round. So if it typically takes you 5 hours to play 18-holes, it should take just under 3.5 hours to play 12. This is a much more manageable timeframe and it fits much better into a busy weekend schedule. And if you only have 90 minutes or so, just play the front (or back) 6!

But what about the handicap system on a course with less than 18-holes? Well, that can be adjusted fairly easily according to the USGA, which has stated they “would consider rating 12-hole courses in the near future.”

So what’s the issue?

It appears the biggest hurdle is the mindset of current golfers and golf course managers. “But par is only 48!” We golfers have a hard-time considering anything but the traditional 18-holes. In my opinion, it’s this kind of stubbornness that is holding the game back. We need to be reminded that 18-holes is a relatively recent (last century or so) standard number of holes a course has. In the past, courses have featured 5, 7, 12 and even 22 holes!

And likewise, you can put golf course managers in the same boat. When a course is about to fold, most managers don’t even consider selling-off acreage and creating a 12-hole (or even 9-hole) layout. They simply take the loss and close their doors.

Yet on the whole, it appears 12-hole courses would be good for golf – not only helping the industry economically, but also helping with participation from new and current golfers alike. Now if we can only get folks to start thinking outside the box, we might just be able to make golf a better game for everyone.

Feel free to throw in your two cents in the comments – I would love to hear your opinion, either for or against a 12-hole golf course.

To Hell with the Rulebook: We Test Polara Golf Equipment

| By | 4 Comments

polara golf
Stinky Golfer Greg playing the Polara Advantage driver and XDS ball (photo by Pete Girotto)

You’re a weekend golfer. Of course you want to play better, but you don’t have the time or money to invest in all the lessons and practice necessary. After all, you have a life; commitments; and family that take precedence over your “hobby.”

You’re not looking to be a pro, but wouldn’t hitting a few more fairways and greens in regulation boost your enjoyment out on the course? Well, we kind of agree. And on that note, GolfStinks decided to test some equipment that can do just that: Let you spend more time in the fairway and less time being frustrated.

Of course said equipment doesn’t conform to the USGA rulebook, but you have to ask yourself: Does that really matter? If you were a pro golfer it would, but that’s like 1% of the golf population. As for the rest of us, it shouldn’t matter…not even in local tournaments (more on that in a moment).

In the meantime let’s look at the equipment: Polara Golf (in full disclosure, GolfStinks received several dozen Polara golf balls and three different Polara drivers free to test-out over the past several months).

First, let me say that aesthetically, Polara equipment looks no different than what you’ve got in your bag currently – there’s nothing strange or wacky about the way they look or feel (in fact, they may look and feel better than what you’re using now).

As for performance: Separately, the balls and driver can limit slices to help keep you in (or at least closer to) the fairway. But use ball and club together and weekend golfers are in for a treat. I average 93 strokes for 18 holes. When I play the with the Polara ball/driver combo, my average drops to 87. My short game hasn’t improved, but I’m shaving strokes by staying in-play off the tee, which is what Polara equipment has been created for.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s hard to always know when the Polara gear is working (on occasion, you’ll have a sense the shot ended up better than expected). For the most part, the performance enhancing abilities are subtle. But after a few rounds, you’ll notice your scores have improved. And you’ll realize you’re not only in (or near) the fairway more often, but you’re also having more fun because of it.

Elaine with the Polara Ladies Advantage driver
Elaine with the Polara Ladies Advantage driver

To offer another perspective: One of the Polara clubs we received was a woman’s senior flex. As such, I was able (through a mutual friend) have “Elaine” test the club/ball combo out. Elaine reported that “using the club and ball resulted in straighter shots” and “increased my distance off the tee by about 20 yards.” Elaine also stated she will continue to use her Polara club and purchase Polara balls, despite the equipment not conforming to USGA rules.

Let’s get back to the USGA rule thing for a second. Unless you’re playing on a pro tour or in amateur competition, using non-conforming equipment really shouldn’t matter. I realize that not following the rules doesn’t sit well with most people, but remember – the USGA rulebook was really written to identify the best golfers in the world. If you’re not one of (or trying to be one of) the best in the world, then what you need is a basic set of guidelines and etiquette to follow instead (see the USRGA.org rulebook). Trust me, it will make your golf life so much easier than trying to remember crazy rulings.

Now, if you’re playing for money, that’s a bit different. You should be upfront – let your opponents know about your equipment. Give them the opportunity to use it too or simply adjust the amount of strokes being given based on how you score with Polara gear.

And if you’re playing in a local tournament, tell the officials what you’ve got in your bag. Give them an option – your handicap using the Polara equipment or your higher handicap without using it. The CEO of Polara says he uses this approach at every tournament he plays…and most of the time they take his lower handicap and let him use the Polara stuff!

Like Elaine, I’ll continue to use the driver I received because it really works. And the balls work too, but once my supply runs out, we’ll have to see – I’m partial to using refurbished balls and I don’t think I will find refurbished Polara balls anywhere.

But the truth is, I am having fun spending more time in the fairway – it really does make my round that much more enjoyable (less time in the woods or in the adjacent fairway, etc.). And for me (as well as so many other weekend golfers), having fun is really what golf comes down to, isn’t it?

Check out the Polara Golf site HERE.

Book Review: You! A Golf Guru!

| By | 2 Comments

You! A Golf Guru! by Philip Rennett / 2015
You! A Golf Guru! by Philip Rennett / 2015

As usual, the books we read here at GolfStinks are not intended to fix your grip, swing or putting stroke. Rather than tell you about the latest gimmick or trick to lower your handicap, we are hell-bent on helping you have more fun playing golf…regardless of how you score.

One such publication is; “You! A Golf Guru!” – a book that was recently written by Phil Rennett in the UK. Mr. Rennett took-up golf in his 30’s and over the course of the last 20 years, he has figured out what most golfers never do: That to truly enjoy this game, you have to be at peace with your score and find the real reasons you play golf.

Mr. Rennett is quick to point out the book isn’t an instructional manual. As such, he devotes a good portion of its pages to the many pleasures of golf beyond just playing well – highlighting the chance to get out in nature and converse with friends.

This relatively short (103 pages) book is packed with advice that will teach you to see the good through the bad. For example, don’t let a poor shot get into your head – instead, “relish the opportunity to create a memorable moment for yourself with the recovery shot.” As Mr. Rennett pens at the very beginning of the book: Always walk off [the 18th] with a positive.

Perhaps most appealing is his “Lessons for Life” chapter towards the end of the book. There, Mr. Rennett reminds us to not worry; be patient; and accept the skill set we have. Only then can we see golf (and maybe even life) in a new light…and begin to find true enjoyment in the game.

Mr. Rennett’s book resonates a message we’ve been shouting here at GolfStinks for years: That golf is a game and you should have fun playing it! Go HERE to get your copy of “You! A Golf Guru!”

What Makes a Good 19th Hole?

| By | 5 Comments

19th Hole bar
What does your course’s 19th hole look like? (photo by Rama / CC BY-SA 2.0 FR)

I’ve played hundreds of different golf courses over the years. Some of them nice, others not so much. Some of them famous, others just local munis. And yet despite the vast differences in layout and scenery (or lack thereof), these courses all have the ability to cheer you up after a poor round; provide the backdrop for you to celebrate an ace; or just continue the camaraderie indoors after your round is over.

I’m talking about, of course, that after-round watering hole…where finding the drink doesn’t involve a lost ball or two-stroke penalty: The 19th Hole. But just like the golf courses they’re attached to, not all 19th holes are created equal. Golfers want a place where there’s good beer on tap; decent bar fare; and sports (especially golf) on television.

But what makes a good 19th hole? Well, I’d say the first step is to actually have one, which believe it or not, a couple courses I’ve played failed to do. One place was actually a pretty nice 18-hole course, so I was quite surprised to find the only refreshments on premises were contained in two vending machines in the pro shop. A golf course stands to make a good amount of dough from a 19th hole, so not having one is somewhat of a poor business decision. So for all the courses out there that actually do have a 19th hole, let’s discuss what makes a good one…

Drinks

Let’s talk about beer first. Courses should have a good selection on tap. After all, the 19th hole is first and foremost a bar. And while there are still many folks who love nothing more than to drain a bottle of domestic libation, increasingly people in general (golfers included) are wanting a good selection of imported or craft brew on tap. In this, many 19th holes, at least here in the U.S., fall short.

What about spirits? Again, this is a bar and someone back there needs to know how to mix a drink – especially the classics. Golf is a classic and somewhat sophisticated game – and maybe just sometimes, we golfers need to be treated as sophisticated folks. And while I’m at it, a modest selection of cigars would be a good idea too – even if we have to puff them out on the patio – which leads me to…

Ambiance

A patio is definitely a plus – preferably looking over the 18th green so you can heckle your pals putting-out in the group behind you. But with or without a patio, ambiance is kind of important. Golfers like to relax in a little bit of class. Too many 19th holes look like a crappy diner inside. This may not bother everyone but to me, you should put as much thought and care into the bar as you do the fairways and greens. A nice-looking 19th hole will bring in more patrons and keep them there longer.

Food

Some 19th holes try and do too much. That’s fine if you can pull it off, but most of the time a simple tavern menu will do: A high-quality burger; tuna and/or turkey club sandwiches; a salad option; and then some appetizer-type selections (wings, cheese fries, nachos, etc.). And when golfers are sitting at the bar, have some stuff for them to snack on – the classic bar mix is great but even just pretzels will work. Folks like to munch on something when they drink – and they drink more when they eat a salty snack.

Friendliness (of both the staff and patrons)

Too many courses treat their 19th hole as an afterthought and as a result the staff does too…sadly, poor service is commonplace. But many times the staff isn’t the only problem – the regular patrons are sometimes snooty cliques that don’t like unfamiliar faces drinking their beer. Perhaps nothing feels more uncomfortable than walking into a bar where everyone looks at you like you don’t belong. Golf courses need to welcome folks to their 19th hole with open arms. Hell, all courses should advertise their 19th hole on the 17th and 18th tee-boxes.

Done right, a19th hole can be a successful bar that adds profits to a golf course. And it should offer the drinks; menu; ambiance; and hospitality people look to immerse themselves in after a round of golf. My perfect 19th hole experience would be sitting out on a patio watching golfers finishing-out on the 18th; drinking a Belgian wheat; chowing a juicy grass-fed burger on an artesian roll; and capping-it-all-off with a nice robusto cigar. But that’s just me.

How about you?

Questions / Advertise

info@golfstinks.com

Disclaimers

See here

Privacy Policy

See here