What don’t people get about the idea that I play golf for fun? When I tell people that I’ve been playing golf as long as I have and I’ve never taken a lesson, they look at me like I have three heads. Maybe it’s just me, but I will never fully understand this.
Recently, I went over this with someone I know. This person happens to be an avid biker (bicycle, not motor). When he heard what I shoot, he questioned why I’ve never taken a lesson. So I asked him if he’s ever paid someone to teach him how to ride his bike. He understood my point. He, like me, participates in his sport because he enjoys it, nothing more.
I’ve made similar comparisons before. I’ve played softball for years, but I’ve never paid a batting coach! I played for fun, not to get on some professional level. Same with basketball. I played pickup games every weekend for who knows how long. But I never hired a coach to help me with my shot.
The thing is, I played all three sports (golf, softball and basketball) for the same reason…fun! Everyone laughs at the coach-hiring jokes for basketball and softball. But why is it that no one can understand why I don’t really care to take a golf lesson?
What is it about golfers that make them take their sport so serious? What is it that makes them pay for lessons? What is it that makes them pay for expensive equipment? What is it that make them buy expensive apparel? Is that expensive new shirt going to help you hit your drive farther?
Someone hiring a swing coach for rec-league softball sounds just plain silly, right? But golfers do it on a regular basis. Someone has to help me understand the draw. Most of these people who pay a pro for lessons are going to go about as far in golf professionally as I will in softball. So again, why?
Is it because you can play golf for longer in life? Is it because you are holding out hope to maybe possibly make the senior tour? Is it just because you want to be the best of your golfing buddies?
Honestly though, I’m not poking fun. I just don’t understand. I’m not a good golfer by any means. But I play a sport I enjoy. I’m happy doing that, just like any other sports I have played. Why are things perceived to be different in golf when, in reality, they are no different than participation in these other sports?
I’m just looking for some answers because, like I said, I just don’t understand.
Swing ’til you’re happy!
Have You Ever Rented Golf Clubs?
I have never rented golf clubs. As a matter of fact, I’ve never rented anything golf-related except a cart. I guess I’ve just never had any reason to rent clubs. And since I never have, it kind of makes me wonder who does rent clubs, and why?
Just to show that I have actually put some thought into this, I’ve considered four separate scenarios for playing golf and if there would be any chance that I would need to rent clubs.
#1. A regular round of golf – By regular round, I mean my buddies and I have planned a round of golf for a weekend. This one is pretty simple. Why would I ever need to rent clubs for this, unless I was a complete idiot and forgot my clubs at home. In that case, I don’t deserve to even play that day. It’s like going camping and forgetting your tent.
#2. An unscheduled round of golf – For instance, I’m at work. Another stinky golfer calls and says he has a tee time for 5:30 to play nine before it’s too dark. OK, I can see how someone wouldn’t have their clubs ready for this. But not me. During the golf season, I put my clubs in my trunk, and that is where they stay just in case a situation such as this arises. They will stay there for the entire season…maybe longer.
But even then, I mentioned nine holes. Is nine holes really important enough to rent clubs if I didn’t have them with me? I mean, the clubs may cost more than the round itself.
#3. A golf trip – Now, it’s a golf trip. Why on earth would I not have my clubs with me? Why would anyone go on a golf trip without their clubs? The only reason I can think of is people are worried about bag fees. I’ve seen bag fees range anywhere between $50-$100 round trip. But I’m sure they go higher. In a case like that, I guess I can understand to a point.
But when you consider that renting clubs can cost anywhere between $15-$50, if not more depending upon the course, wouldn’t you just rather bring your own clubs rather than use the rentals?
#4. A non-golf trip – OK, in this situation I can see how you could be stuck without your clubs. But all it takes is a little verification before the trip, and you can be prepared. For instance, this past summer, my wife booked us and another couple a trip to Key West. This was not a golf trip. However, I made sure to check ahead of time if the other guy is a golfer. Sure enough…even though this was not a golf trip, we managed to get a day in at the Key West Golf Club. Just a little preparation and I got to play a course I wouldn’t have had the chance to. And I did it without having to rent clubs.
So to anyone who has rented clubs before, what was the situation? Why did you choose to rent clubs rather than just use your own? Did I miss something above? Let me know. After all, I’m a stinky golfer and there’s a good chance that I just don’t get it.
Swing ’til you’re happy!
The Road To The PGA Championship
It’s Sunday afternoon and me and a couple buddies are watching my Patriots finish off the Jets, their biggest and most hated rival. During the game, we’re talking about some other teams (one of the guys is a Cowboys fan and the other is a Vikings fan) and some other sports – namely the MLB playoffs.
It’s during these discussions that I start to consider the regular season schedules and playoff scenarios of the major sports in the U.S. For some reason, I compare this to golf, particularly, the PGA Tour.
Back in February I wrote a post about the need for a real PGA Championship. The question remaining though was, how do you get there? Is the final tournament based on the world golf rankings? Is it based on the money leaders? Hopefully not. But if not either of these, what then? Well, I’ve added another idea to the mix, but it would require a radical change.
Currently, we play Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday tournaments. At the end of the tournament we emerge with one winner. But what if we used those days to play a series of one-on-one matches? What if a player could emerge from a weekend with a record, say 3-1, rather than finish “16th, nine shots back.” What if, rather than a money list or a ranking system that no one understands, there were actual golf “standings” with a win-loss-tie record?
I’m sorry but, whether you are a golf purist or not, I feel like I’m onto something here. Imagine opening up the sports page of your local newspaper or checking the standing on your favorite sports/golf website, and instead of seeing Luke Donald is #1 on the money list at $5,837,214.50 with Webb Simpson in second trailing by $68,971, you this:
PGA Tour Standings
Luke Donald 52-35-4
Webb Simpson 48-36-7
Nick Watney 47-36-8
Etc….
I gotta tell ya, this is a hell of a lot more interesting than looking at a money list. It’s a hell of a lot more interesting than looking at a ranking list. And it sure makes each match mean a lot more when you are working your way toward an actual PGA Championship. Plus on Sundays, when many players are out of reach of the tournament win, this format would give each player a shot at still playing for an individual win rather than an additional $500 or $1000.
Each player becomes, for lack of a better term, a one-man-team. An individual rather than a nameless face in the crowd. Players will have a chance to pull away from the pack to give themselves better playoff seedings. And guys who are lower in the standings have the opportunity to play spoiler.
OK, so it’s still a work in progress. But it’s also a refreshing change to a stale sport. I’ve still got a few kinks to work out, but I’m sure I’m onto something. I know there are going to be plenty who hate this idea. But I also know there will be many who may see some potential. But in the end, all I’m trying to do is come up with some ideas to pump some new life into a great but fading game. And hey, whether you agree with me or not, you sure can’t fault me for that.
Swing ’til you’re happy!
Chicks? No. Dudes Dig The Long Ball!
Quick, name five players on the LPGA Tour. Ha! It wasn’t as easy as you thought, was it? Don’t worry, it wasn’t for me either. As a matter of fact, I scrolled down the money leader list and by the time I reached the bottom, a list of about 150 names, I was only familiar with eight or nine of them.
So what’s the problem here? Is it the same as the PGA Tour? Well, yes and no. I guess the actual problem is the same, but how they got there is a bit different.
We all know about the PGA’s player recognition deficiency. And we all know about the lack of player promotion by the PGA, the sponsors and the media. But this problem is compounded for the LPGA by dealing with the problem that any women’s sport deals with. That problem? Simply, it’s not a men’s sport.
Take a look at the WNBA for a second. These women are some of the best female basketball players in the world. The last player on the bench on a WNBA team can destroy me, and most men for that matter, in a game of one-on-one. As a matter of fact, some of the women who have been cut by WNBA teams will destroy most men in a game! But despite the fact that these women can play, the game isn’t as physical (and subsequently isn’t as exciting) as the NBA – and that causes a lack of viewership, a lack of support at the gate and an overall lack of interest.
This same problem transfers over to the LPGA. Forget for a minute the fact that any one of the women on this tour will beat you. But take into account that, again, these are the best female players in the world! But when it comes to viewership, tournament turnout and sponsorships, that’s not what matters. It’s a female sport, so what matters again to viewers (especially male viewers) is the longball.
The old joke was “Chicks dig the longball.” Well, guess what…dudes love the longball as well. This is why guys carry big drivers in their bags. It’s why we watch the long-drive contests when they’re on TV. It’s the reason we watch the Home Run Derby. It’s why we prefer men’s sports over women’s. It’s not right. But that’s the way it is. But what can be done to change this? Actually, is there any way to change it at all? Well, the way I see it there are two. However, one is highly unlikely and the other is just not a good one.
Idea #1 – The media needs to start pushing some women’s sports to the forefront. I understand that this is a long shot, but no one is asking for it to be permanent. It just needs a little more attention. We Americans want to see excitement and physicality. We are not so much interested in the fundamentals, even though they are the foundation of the sports we love. But if ESPN would take the time to make the WNBA Championship games, or women’s golf tournaments a little bit earlier in their broadcasts, it may do something to help attract more attention to sports that deserve it. However, I understand that this is highly unlikely.
Idea #2 – I’ll go on the record as saying that I hate this idea. But it’s an idea nonetheless, and one that has worked in the past. Maybe the LPGA needs to sex it up a bit. Again, I don’t like the idea of using your appearance to somehow boost attention to your sport, but you can’t deny the effect. Looked at women’s tennis. Anna Kournikova became more well known for her looks than her game (or lack thereof). Ever since then, many of the women of tennis are given a fair amount of attention for what they look like. And guess what, it’s been good for viewership and attention to the sport.
Want the perfect example? Think of some of the best women’s soccer players in recent memory – Marta, Mia Hamm, Abby Wambach, Hope Solo. But years from now, just as it is currently, one name will always be remembered right alongside these – Brandi Chastain…and we all know why. That one celebration is now a permanent highlight of any women’s soccer promo. And the stir that moment caused did wonders for the sport. Again, is this the right way to gain attention? Probably not. But will it work?
I guess the bottom line is women’s sports in general, but golf in particular, need a boost and it’s got to come from somewhere. Is the media going to do it? I doubt it. The leagues themselves? I’m sure they’re trying. But if not the media or the leagues, then where? The answer is, it has to come from us, the viewers. But are we going to do it? Well that remains to be seen…
Swing ’til you’re happy!
"Are You Kidding, I Play For Fun!"
The words above were the actual words spoken by a guy I work with during our last conversation about golf. Such a simple statement, but yet so appropriate for the stinky golfer attitude. And it’s funny because I thought I was a stinky golfer. But my co-worker has got me beat.
Now this guy, he’s a married father of two. Monday-Friday are wrapped up in a relatively demanding job. His weekends are pretty much occupied by his wife and kids. Free time for him, apparently, is a rarity. So when he gets the chance to play golf, it’s a luxury. It’s a treat. It’s his fun time, and he plans on having some fun!
He pretty much summed it up for me in that recent conversation. I was talking about the new golf shoes I had purchased, or more specifically, the reason I purchased them. “My shoes were terrible” I said. “My feet would be hurting by the 11th or 12th hole.” He gave me a look that I can only describe as confused astonishment. “You walk when you play?” he said to me. I said that I try to as much as I can because it’s good exercise. His response? “Are you kidding, I play for fun! Exercise! #$%& that!” I laugh, but for the most part I agree with him. He goes on to say, “I bust my ass and get tired all week! Why the hell would I want to do it when I’m supposed to be having fun?”
I started thinking about my answer to this question. Do I say that it’s better exercise? No, I’m not out there for exercise. Do I mention how I can get a better “feel” for the course if I walk it? What am I a PGA pro?! I couldn’t even explain how a course feels if I laid down naked in the middle of the 15th fairway. So I can think of no other response other than to agree with him. After all, I actually do agree with him!
So I begin to think to myself, how is this not my mentality? I want to play well, but I am also out there to have fun! Why am I exhausting myself? Why am I making stupid excuses? I work hard and get tired all week and it’s no fun. I don’t want to do the same things out on the golf course. I want to relax and enjoy myself. I don’t want to get tired of the game. But if the game turns into work, that’s exactly what’s going to happen.
But now I wonder further, is this part of the reason I’ve had such a lax attitude toward the game this year? I didn’t play nearly as much as I could/should have this year. The opportunities to play were there, I just didn’t purse them. Is it because I’m looking at the game with the wrong attitude? Am I starting to look at the game with less fun than I used to? Did the idea of doing things to try to improve my game, such as the custom-fitted clubs and a balance bracelet, take some of the fun out of it for me and put more of a focus on improving my game? If so, then in my mind I’m heading in the wrong direction with this game.
I never wanted it to be this way. I just wanted to have fun. I didn’t want it to become work. I didn’t want it to become anything more than a good time with my buddies. I think I’m going to have to rethink my feelings toward this game. Is it possible that I’ve begun to take this game too seriously? No, that’s not it. Maybe just a little more serious than I ever wanted to.
Swing ’til you’re happy!
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