Another aspect, and quite possibly the most telling, of why length and the quest for it, dominates golf today.........Look at the Top 5 players in the World Golf Rankings. There's not an average length player in the group.
And not one of them is on the top 10 of accuracy. That's where the changes need to be made. Penalize these long guys for missing fairways. If they think "OMG I missed the fairway!" They'll think twice before hitting it into trouble. Hitting it past the trouble areas just means the trouble areas need to be moved. Miss the green? more deep rough and more trouble.
And not one of them is on the top 10 of accuracy. That's where the changes need to be made. Penalize these long guys for missing fairways. If they think "OMG I missed the fairway!" They'll think twice before hitting it into trouble. Hitting it past the trouble areas just means the trouble areas need to be moved. Miss the green? more deep rough and more trouble.
Yet these guys are also the best players in the world because they're among the best chippers and putters in the world. Changing the courses doesn't mean the best still won't win...in fact, I'd say they'll win MORE, because the tougher courses tend to bring the cream to the top.
And not one of them is on the top 10 of accuracy. That's where the changes need to be made. Penalize these long guys for missing fairways. If they think "OMG I missed the fairway!" They'll think twice before hitting it into trouble. Hitting it past the trouble areas just means the trouble areas need to be moved. Miss the green? more deep rough and more trouble.
Then every course becomes a US Open type course and I don't think anyone, players or fans, wants to see that. I don't disagree that changes of some sort are in order, but taking the driver out of the hands of the best players in the world isn't the answer. Professionals don't want to play courses that take driver out of their bag (see Fileygolfer's example in post #73 of this thread) and golf fans don't want to see players forced to lay-up all the time. Every time courses think they've found a good middle ground, the equipment or the players get longer and we're right back where we started.
Just to drag this thread (kicking and screaming) back on topic...
It would certainly be nice to see some of the WGC events played internationally. The sad fact is pro golf is a buisiness and is run as such.
Would it be good for the game of golf to hold some tournaments in countries other than the U.S.?
Of course it would!
Should it happen?
Yes!
Will it happen?
Only if pressure is brought to bear...like Tiger and Ernie are attempting to do.
I personally don't care where they play them. If they play one over 100 miles from my home I'll be watching it on TV just like the rest of the world so what difference does it make? Does it really matter to the average golf fan where they're played if that fan doesn't have the opportunity to attend? Speaking of attendance........Do the 100,000 fans that actually attend (and that's a high end estimate) really make a difference in the organizers plan of where to play these events. I don't think so. I think it's all about the money, and the exposure for the sponsors. Until the world of international golf can find a way to compete with America in those regards, the WGC events will continue to be played where the most stand to gain the most.
Play a World Event in Australia and televise it live worldwide.
The US would have to watch it in the middle of the night.
Is this another reason to keep events in US?????
Play a World Event in Australia and televise it live worldwide.
The US would have to watch it in the middle of the night.
Is this another reason to keep events in US?????
That's part of what I meant. No one here would watch golf "in the middle of the night" and tape delays just don't work (ask the Champions Tour about that). If sponsors thought they could make money they'd be playing in Anarctica.
BTW The Australian Open used to be a huge event and now even some of the best Australians don't play in it. What's up with that?
Does it really matter to the average golf fan where they're played if that fan doesn't have the opportunity to attend?
I think it does.
The exposure accorded the event would be higher in the country where the matches are played. It would serve to increase the interest level of the fans in that country for any furure events as well.
Quote:
Speaking of attendance........Do the 100,000 fans that actually attend (and that's a high end estimate) really make a difference in the organizers plan of where to play these events. I don't think so. I think it's all about the money, and the exposure for the sponsors. Until the world of international golf can find a way to compete with America in those regards, the WGC events will continue to be played where the most stand to gain the most.
You'll get no argument from me on this point. I just feel that attitude is short sighted and does nothing to grow the game on an international level.
The exposure accorded the event would be higher in the country where the matches are played. It would serve to increase the interest level of the fans in that country for any furure events as well.
I agree that the exposure would be higher in the country that hosts the event but where in the world does a sponsor get more exposure than in America?
Quote:
Originally Posted by colonel
You'll get no argument from me on this point. I just feel that attitude is short sighted and does nothing to grow the game on an international level.
Is it a sponsor's job to promote golf, or to promote their products/services? The PGA Tour is promoting it's products/services better than anyone else right now. When other golf organizations around the world step up and can compete with the PGA Tour then they'll stand a better chance of changing the WGC venues. The PGA Tour faces the brunt of criticism when I feel it should be directed at the sponsors of these events.
BTW The Australian Open used to be a huge event and now even some of the best Australians don't play in it. What's up with that?
Somebody offered all the players too much money to play in another country and then made the Australians ask permission to go back to Australia to play.................any guesses who??????????????? Now do you see the impact USPGA has around the world and why some people oppose it.
I seem to remember you laughing at my World Tour concept where the Australian Open would have been restored to its previous prestige.
Somebody offered all the players too much money to play in another country and then made the Australians ask permission to go back to Australia to play.................any guesses who??????????????? Now do you see the impact USPGA has around the world and why some people oppose it.
Nobody twists anyone's arm to force them to play on the best tour in the world.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lefty
I seem to remember you laughing at my World Tour concept where the Australian Open would have been restored to its previous prestige.
I'd much rather see one powerful tour than a bunch of watered down tours. It should be left to the Australians to do whatever it takes to regain their prestige, not to the benevolence of the PGA Tour.
Then every course becomes a US Open type course and I don't think anyone, players or fans, wants to see that. I don't disagree that changes of some sort are in order, but taking the driver out of the hands of the best players in the world isn't the answer.
Excellent points, League! And they can not be overstated. You simply can not take a golfer's advantage away from him if you want competitions to maintain their integrity.
And you can not inordinately penalize a long bomber simply because he is long. In my opinion, the answer lies in a new golden era of course architecture. Any dogleg hole which allows players to aim 40 yards wide of the fairway and bomb their ball 330 yards and over all the trouble is an ill-conceived hole.
The answer is forcing...not encouraging...players to show great ball-striking skills. Players must be forced to shape their shots both left-to-right and right-to-left. They must be called on to hit varying shots on different holes. Some holes must force low runners while other call for high, target shots. It's the variety of skills displayed which makes golf competitions great. And course architecture is the answer. A higher quality must be demanded. More imagination and creativity is required.
Nobody twists anyone's arm to force them to play on the best tour in the world.
But they do insist on making them ask permission to play their home events, and can deny it. Ask Ernie.
Quote:
I'd much rather see one powerful tour than a bunch of watered down tours
So you like the World Tour concept then,that's what I want. It would strengthen all the tours if managed ona World basis. Instead of one tour (USPGA) weakening all others by sucking them dry.
February 16th, 2006, 12:29 PM
I don't disagree that changes of some sort are in order, but taking the driver out of the hands of the best players in the world isn't the answer. Professionals don't want to play courses that take driver out of their bag (see Fileygolfer's example in post #73 of this thread) and golf fans don't want to see players forced to lay-up all the time. Every time courses think they've found a good middle ground, the equipment or the players get longer and we're right back where we started.
). If sponsors thought they could make money they'd be playing in Anarctica. 
Linear Mode
Similar Threads
