Quote:
Originally Posted by Golf Fanatic
I think this was a knee jerk reaction to the players reaction. Personally, I think it is worse than the cut policy they replaced, especially if there's rain delays. First, the third round will continue to have backlogs. Second, it will take time to decide a 54 hole cut. I can't wait to see how this fiasco pans out in a rain delayed event.
--
I heard the PGA was thinking of the top 65 and ties after 36 holes. That would probably solve the whole issue while simplifying the process. The European tour has a cut at 65, and the Nationwide at 60. Reducing the cut to top 60 and ties would be a simple way to ensure the final two round got completed more quickly.
|
Re the second paragraph there, I agree completely. It is just an arbitrary number. To quote Tiger on if you didn't make the cut or were one of the "made cut did not finish" players: "Play Better". They brought it on themselves with their slow play, so now the number 70, which was arbitrary to begin with, should now be 65 or 60 or 62 or whatever is needed to adequately bring the pace back. Just because the number 70 has been used for 20 some-odd years now, doesn't mean it is sacrosanct. It is and was always just an arbitrary line.
-----------------------------------
Like I said in the other post on the pro's slow play, I like the idea of giving every player a set amount of time total for all of his "play" I.e. give each player a running 45 minute (when in three somes) or hour (when it is just pairs) countdown, don't count the time walking between shots or when others are hitting. Also don't count time needed to get rulings or decisions. But, when you are close to your ball and it is your turn, you get put on the clock.
The nice thing about a running clock is that if you've put yourself in a tough spot and need to think about your shot longer, or want to take 15 practice strokes to ingrain the feeling you are looking for or to make sure that you are hitting through the grass with the right speed, with a total running clock you can take that extra time if needed -- you will just have to make up the time later by playing some of your other shots faster. If you want to spend 2 minutes reading the green on every putt, you can, but you'd better be playing your fairway shots and initial drives quickly to "bank" that time. When the player runs out of time, he can "buy" an extra 2 minutes or something like that with a penalty stroke.
This isn't as short of a time as it seems, because you will always have other members of the group with you. You will always be able to plan your shots and read the green and think about what you want to do next while the other guy(s) are hitting.
Sure, this system isn't perfect -- every group would have to have an official time keeper walking with them -- but, it would be easily possible. The player could be notified of how much time is left whenever he asked, and the time keeper warns the player when there is 15, 10, 5, 2, and 1 minute(s) left.
The biggest thing is that the TOUR has chosen not to enforce the rules, and that is just ridiculous. The TOUR members are such horrible examples for the average amateur, and it doesn't take too many slow amateurs to slow up an entire course. One or two slow foursomes is enough to ruin a lot of players' day. When people give up golf, they cite two main reasons: cost and time needed. If people could know that they were going to only spend around 4 hours (because they are following the example of the now-speedy TOUR players) instead of anywhere between 4 and 6, maybe more players would come back to the game.