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Variations on the Game of Golf – Project Flogton

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alt golf project flogton
The Alternative Golf Association created Project Flogton. But can it help golf?

I think we are all in agreement by now that the game of golf needs help. We all know that fewer and fewer people play the game every year, and even less take up the game. Private courses are going public and public courses are closing their clubhouse doors. TV ratings aren’t all that great and even worse if Tiger isn’t playing.

So what can be done? How do we get more people out on the golf course? How can we get more people interested in the game? In my search to find the answers to the above questions, I’ve stumbled across an organization who is looking to get more people out on the course by using one simple idea…make the game of golf easier.

The Alternative Golf Association, or Project Flogton (Flogton being “not golf” backward) has come up with several ideas aimed at making the game easier, and therefore attracting more players. Now I’m all for getting more people out on the course and more people learning the game, but I have a few issues with some of the ideas here. Let’s take a look at a few:

1. In flogton, a player can put some type of lubricant or shield on the face of their driver, therefore allowing the ball to spin less and fly straighter. I don’t know about you, but to me that sounds like the golf equivalent to either corking your bat or a pitcher rubbing something on the ball. That’s not making the game easier…that’s cheating.

2. Mulligans are legal. OK, I really don’t care all that much about this one. Every once in a while, everyone takes a mulligan. But in flogton, it’s one per hole. One per hole?! Again, in comparison to other sports, that’s like a do-over on strike three! Or a do-over after throwing an interception! That doesn’t make the game easier, it just helps lower your score!

3. How about the “bump” rule? That’s where you can move your ball to anywhere else on the course as long as it’s not closer to the hole. Talk about not playing the ball as it lies! Let’s do the comparison thing again. So a ball is hit to left field for a single. But you think it would be better if the ball landed in the gap so you have a better chance at scoring on the next hit. OK, just move the ball to the gap and take second. What??!!

4. Bump rule not enough? How about the hazard bump rule? Yup. It’s exactly what it sounds like. Ball in a trap? No problem! Just move it out!

5. “Tee up the ball on any shot except on the green.” That’s literally what it says in the “guidelines.” Not rules…guidelines. Does that mean you can tee it up in a trap? Can you tee it up if you’re in the woods? How about if you’re out of bounds? Oh wait…

6. There is no out of bounds! Look, I can appreciate what they’re trying to do here. Is this going to get more people to play golf? Maybe. But if they’re not actually playing golf, but altering the rules instead, then what are they really learning?

For me, I’m not sure this is helping popularize the game of golf. While some of the ideas they have in their guidlelines are things that are somewhat done anyway in a casual game (mulligans, gimmes, etc…) or temporarliy while someone is learning the game, I wouldn’t base an alternate game’s existence on them.

Look, either you’re going to play the game or you’re not. You don’t change the rules of the game because it’s too tough for you. Is that the right thing to do? Do you want your kid to cheat on his tests at school because it’s too hard or do you want your kid to work harder? Do you want your kid to play little league baseball where they allow four strikes? Or a do-over if you drop the ball? What’s next, bigger holes? Moving up the tee-boxes?

Now, all that being said, I think something like this sounds like a lot of fun! I think it would be fun for outings and tournaments! Hell, if I had the chance to play in one of these, count me in! As much as I don’t like the idea of, what one could consider to be, pansying the game down…it sure does sound like it would be fun to try out. I read on the website that they had one tournament where the players were “not allowed, required” to throw the ball rather than swing at it at least once per hole. Now that’s funny stuff! Myself, I feel like the game of golf could benefit by relaxing the rules.

However, I don’t necessarily believe that has to be done on the professional level. I think more along the lines of just you and your golf buddies bending, not breaking, the rules a bit. I play by the rules for the most part, but I bend them once in a while also. We all do. I believe part of the issue with the declining participation in the sport has to do with the rules and the people who are sticklers for them.

Too many golfers are so fixated on the rules of the game that they forget it’s just a game. All they are doing is justifying the stereotype. Put fun first. Play the game for the fun of it. If you don’t take the game so seriously, you’ll have a hell of a lot more fun playing it! It seems that the people at Project Flogton and Golfstinks do in fact have the same idea in mind.

Swing ’til you’re happy!

Prepping For The New Golf Season

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It’s late March and for the first time in 2011 I was invited to play 9. I politely declined. Why? Well, it’s still just too cold. While the sun was shining and there was not a cloud in the sky, the temps barely rose above 40 degrees. And as I’ve mentioned before, I don’t play if the temps are below 50 degrees.

But being asked to play today has made me realize how close golf season actually is. Additionally, it had made me realize how unprepared I was! Practicing over the winter, equipment, apparel…I see now that I had better get on the stick! So I got started right away.

I’m all set with the basics – clubs and a bag. Although my bag, well one of the legs anyway, is in rough shape, it will hold up fine for this season. The clubs have only a half-season on them, so those are fine also. But I’m sure going to need something to hit, right? So balls are the first thing on my list. Turns out, this is a nice time to buy golf balls! I found myself a couple of boxes of Callaway Diablos, normally $25 to $30 for a box of 12 that must have been left over from last season, for only $13! Hopefully I’ll have the same luck with some of the other accessories I still need.

Next on the list for me are new shoes. I’ve been kicking myself since attending the Connecticut Golf Show last weekend and not taking advantage of the deals some of the retailers were touting. I’ve been pushing the same pair of Foot-Joy’s for a while now and it’s certainly time to let them go – No more just changing the spikes.

Last, but certainly not least, is practice. I simply haven’t practiced enough this winter. I’ve only been to the indoor facility twice, and one of those times was just to play the simulator with my kids! So I haven’t worked on my swing, drives, short game, putting…nothing! Now, as you may or may not know by now, I don’t particularly care how well I play. But, I do want to at least give myself a chance and somewhat appear to know what I’m doing. Will that happen without any off-season work? I’d rather not find out. So it looks like I’ll be planning a last-second trip or two to the range.

So, for us golfers here in the Northeast, the season is right around the corner. Hopefully, you’re better prepared for it than I am. And for those of you living where there is no off-season, aren’t you glad you don’t have to go through this every year?

Swing ’til you’re happy!

I Bought My First Golf Gimmick! Or…Did I?

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Have you ever seen those commercials for the bracelet that supposedly gives you super-human strength, x-ray vision and allows you to access areas of your brain giving you Stephen Hawking-like intellectual abilities? No? OK…how about the one that improves your balance? Sure, we’ve all seen that one. And most of us have probably thought the same thing…”Yeah right, another gimmick.”

Well up until Saturday I was among the many who would be doubting the supposed abilities of something as simple as a wristband. But my mind was changed after attending the Connecticut Golf Show on March 19th. That’s when I tried out the EFX Performance wristband* for the first time.

Lori Baker of EFX Performance, after explaining how and why the wristband works, demonstrated the product on Stinky Golfer Greg first with a simple balance test. After seeing Greg’s surprised reaction, I had to try it our for myself. The same balance test was performed on me, both with and without the wristband, and sure enough it did exactly what she said it would. My balance was almost instantly improved. I took the wristband off, and my balance was right back to where it was before. I was pretty impressed.

But I still had questions. So we spoke for a bit longer, asking about the differences between EFX’s holograph technology and its effects on the bio-electric field of the human body, in comparison to magnet technology, which another buddy of ours attending the show with us, swears by. We learned that holograph technology, besides increasing balance, may also help to increase strength, flexibility and endurance while also reducing pain, stress and tension. All of this sounds like something that could be beneficial on a golf course, no? So, pretty satisfied with what we had heard, as well as the demonstration, both Stinky Golfer Greg and I were willing to fork over a few bucks to give it a shot.

Now, I realize this may all be in my head and only time will tell for sure, but I really started to notice something when, after wearing the bracelet for an hour or so, that my sore lower back began to feel a little better while still walking the show floor. Again, was this all in my head? I don’t know. But I’m sure willing to give this thing a chance for a while. And I certainly can’t wait to try it out on the course.

The possibility of increased balance, strength, flexibility and endurance are all factors that can lead to a better all-around game. And if I feel less pain and soreness after walking 18? Even better!

Golf season here in the Northeast is just around the corner. So I’ll keep this wristband on when I first get a chance to hit the links this season. Stay tuned, and I’ll follow-up with a post about the differences I may or may not see and feel. Did I purchase a golf gimmick? Maybe; maybe not. But I’ve got to say, so far anyway, I am pleasantly surprised.

Swing ’til you’re happy!

*You can learn more about EFX Performance by visiting http://www.efxusa.com/.

Introducing: The Stroke Clock!

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golfstinks golf stinksSlow play. It’s probably at the top of most golfers’ complaint lists. Everyone is in such a hurry to get through the game that they can’t stand to be held up for even a minute. But if everyone knows how much it burns other golfers, then why do they do it?

Many have brought up the idea that the it’s the pros who cause the game to be played so slowly. I can understand that. Watching the pros at a tournament can be flat-out boring at some points. Taking an endless amount of practice swings, wandering around the ball for a little while, then taking a few more practice swings before they finally hit the ball…my goodness! Just wake me up when he’s done already!

It’s remarkable how much that sounds like the schmuck in front of you, isn’t it? That’s because the schmuck in front of you watches the tour and thinks he can/should do what they do. Well guess what slow guy…you can’t and you shouldn’t. And I’m not one to normally complain about slow play – I feel that if you’re expecting to hurry, then you’re playing the wrong game. But when someone is deliberately that slow…, you know what I’m getting at.

So in another effort to help improve viewership of the sport as well as, indirectly, improve the pace of play on the course for the rest us, I offer you another idea from the minds of golfstinks – The Stroke Clock. As you could probably figure, the stroke clock would work much the same as both the shot clock in basketball and play clock in football – You have X amount of time to get your shot off.

Think about that for a second. Another element of competition added to a sometimes pretty dull sport to watch. Not only are you playing against the field and the course, but now you are racing a clock as well! Some benefits to the clock? Well, picking up the pace of the game for starters. No more “play suspended by darkness.” No more watching a player wander around his ball and take enough practice swings that you’d think he’s in the middle of a lesson. Just get to your ball, focus and swing already!

And of course, the benefit for the rest of non-pros, speed of play on the public tracks we hack our way through every weekend is bound to speed up as well. All of those players who take their time because that’s what they see the pros do, will have a whole new outlook on the pace of the game! Well, theoretically anyway. But one could hope!

The NBA adopted a shot clock in order to improve the pace of play, therefore increasing scoring and amping up the excitement of the game. The NFL did the same when they adjusted the play clock from 45 seconds down to 40. Even MLB occasionally attempts to speed up the pace of play by putting the pitchers on a clock. And there are penalties for not abiding by each. In the NBA, you lose possession of the ball. In the NFL it’s a five-yard penalty. And in MLB, when enforced, it’s an automatic ball for the pitcher. How about losing a stroke in golf if you don’t get your shot off within 45 seconds of arriving at your ball? Seem a bit harsh? Well, maybe for a season they administer one or two warnings before assessing the stroke penalty. But after that season…you know the rules.

And lets face it, in a sport that has as many ridiculous rules as golf does, one to speed up the pace of play and possibly make the game more exciting might be one to consider implementing.

Swing ’til you’re happy!

Golf Simulators: Good Practice or Giant Video Game?

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Stinky Golfer Chris letting it rip in the golf simulator (photo by Greg D'Andrea)
Stinky Golfer Chris letting it rip in the golf simulator (photo by Greg D’Andrea)

This past Friday night I got a text from Stinky Golfer Greg asking if I can hit the indoor range Saturday morning. Unfortunately, due to my kids basketball playoff schedule, I’m unable to commit to it because I don’t know how far the team is going to advance, so therefore, don’t know when I’ll be free. We plan on trying again in a couple of weeks.

However, it turns out they don’t advance very far, getting knocked out in the first round. This now frees up the afternoon. Still with the indoor range on my own mind, the kids remind me that I promised to take them to the indoor spot to use the golf simulator. So it looks like I’m going after all. I call ahead to make sure a tee time is available (yes…you need to make a tee time), and we’re off.

Now I’ve used the simulator before, so it’s not new to me. I take it as just an opportunity to get a little swing practice in. But for the kids…this is a giant video game! And after listening to their excitement and the way they are looking at it, I start to realize that their right. It’s just a giant video game. But never did that become more apparent than when I absolutely crushed a beautiful drive off the tee to the tune of…156 YARDS?!

OK, I’m not saying I’m capable of hammering out 300 yard drives on a regular basis. But I certainly am capable of of driving farther than 156! So I put it behind me until it’s my turn to tee off on the next hole. Once again, I hit it pretty solid. The result…163! What is going on??!! Now it’s no longer a game. I realize this is pretty inaccurate and go back to focusing on my swing.

This experience got me wondering – Is the golf simulator a useful tool? Or is it just the giant video game my kids view it to be? I guess the answer is.., it’s both. I’m not playing out on an actual course, so course and weather conditions never came into play. Also, you don’t putt on the simulator, so my semi-normal three-putts never come into play either (you always one- or two-putt, based on distance from the hole). But at the same time, the inaccurate readings of distance certainly did force me to concentrate more on my swing. After all, I certainly can’t allow a 10 and 12 year old to out-drive me!

In the end though, I got both a little bit of fun and a bit of practice out of the simulator. The inaccuracy of the simulator did force me to focus more. However, it was a rainy day in early March – not typical golfing season or weather…but there I was (according to the simulator anyway) in Myrtle Beach at Arrowhead Country Club (kids choice).

Oh yeah, and just to prove how inaccurate the simulator really is…I shot an 89. My twelve year old…a 91. And my ten year old….95 (including back-to-back birdies). In reality, I have never broken 90. But you know what? The three of us had a damn good time. And if it did something to keep their attention on the sport, even if it was just a video game, then that’s just fine with me.

We swung ’til we were happy!

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