Smaller Hole?

[Glenn Spencer]

Is it the scores that are being shot or the way old golf courses are being played that is upsetting most people these days? Would making the hole smaller be a solution at all?

[Dave_Miller]

Is it the scores that are being shot or the way old golf courses are being played that is upsetting most people these days? Would making the hole smaller be a solution at all?

Glenn:
It would appear to be primarily the way the older courses are being played tee to green.  It doesn't appear to me a smaller hole would help.
Best
Dave

[Tony_Muldoon]

In the 30's there was a an experiment in Florida to have professional tournaments with the hole larger, to diminish the importance of putting.  It ended up helping thsoe with a sharp short game like Paul Runyan.

Somehow I feel making the hole smaller would have exactly the same result!

[Paul Payne]

I think I just had a stroke.

Are you serious? I have a tough enough time already trying to be a good putter. Maybe if there were tour hole sizes and hacker hole sizes.

[rjsimper]

In the 30's there was a an experiment in Florida to have professional tournaments with the hole larger, to diminish the importance of putting.  It ended up helping thsoe with a sharp short game like Paul Runyan.

Somehow I feel making the hole smaller would have exactly the same result!

I thought about the Runyan example as well...wouldn't this suggest that perhaps making the hole BIGGER would be a better solution, as it was proven that the short but finesse player can suceed (excel) in such a format?

[Glenn Spencer]

Paul- you can't be as bad on the greens as I am.

Maybe, a larger hole is the answer, I was thinking about scores when I suggested smaller. I think a larger hole and unraked bunkers would be a fair tradeoff.

[ForkaB]

This is slightly OT, but Pajaro Dunes has one half-sized hole on its practice putting green.  Wow, does that focus your mind (and expose your putting stroke)!

[Doug Siebert]

If the hole is much smaller, it would be impossible to hole shots from off the green.  Even ignoring everything else, that one factor alone makes it ridiculous to even consider.

Anyway, you obviously aren't paying attention because within GCA at least no one really cares what scores are being shot.  Its the fact that holes that were designed to be a driver/long iron are now driver/PW due to the distance the ball travels being totally out of control that is the concern, its hazards and doglegs that are now meaningless when it is possible for more and more of the field to simply fly over everything.  Making the hole smaller might mean fewer birdies after a PW to 12 feet, but it isn't going to make it any less boring to watch the whole field hitting wedges at the pin whether the hole is 3" in diameter or 8".

[peter_p]

smaller hole = longer rounds