Golf's version of 20/20 cricket created

[Scott Coan]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3960701a1823,00.html

LONDON: First there was Rugby Sevens then Twenty/20 cricket; now make way for PowerPlay golf.


Former Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup captain Peter McEvoy, director of a company called Playgolf, has come up with the idea to make golf a shorter, more accessible and more popular game.

Several reporters were invited along recently to Northwick Park on a frosty but sunny morning to witness PowerPlay golf in action.

"All the stats are saying people are leaving the game because of the time it takes to play. We want to introduce an element of choice," said Playgolf chief executive Dennis Piggins.

The shorter game is played over nine holes, with two flags on each green, one white and one black.

The black flag marks the more difficult pin position and it is up to the player to nominate, at the start of each hole, which he will aim for.

POWERPLAY OPTION

The game uses the traditional stableford method of scoring and players who nominate a black pin and pick up a birdie or better, gain extra points.

Players must select this 'powerplay' option three times a round.

The final hole represents a bonus fourth and final 'powerplay', the only difference being that a 30-foot diameter circle is placed around the black flag. A shot inside the target area is rewarded with three points while a failed attempt means two docked points.

The format is quick to learn and play.

"I wanted to have as few rules as I could," said McEvoy.

PowerPlay golf looks most suited to the world of corporate days out. The speed of completion is paramount since it would allow for conferences in the morning and golf in the afternoon.

Piggins said: "We have aspirations to move this on to the pro game. I can see golf clubs staging regular PowerPlay golf events as part of their annual schedule.

"We are in discussions about creating a Professional PowerPlay golf event and believe it has enormous TV potential.

"Twenty/20 cricket created a huge buzz from a standing start and we hope PowerPlay will have the same impact in golf."

[Tom_Doak]

He has invented nine hole golf?

Mr. Pioppi should sue for patent violation.

[Garland Bayley]

Sounds similar to the golf I learned to play, except the group in front of you elected which hole you would be playing to by moving the flag to the other hole while the smoothed a path in the sand and putted to the hole where the flag was when they started the hole.
 

[Tony_Muldoon]

Another 'innovative' new idea in London is top golf which is a range with chipped balls and targets divided into zones. You get more points the nearer the centres of each target you hit and more for hitting the further away targets.

http://www.topgolf.com/corporate/global/default.asp

I know many people who have had a go and likened it to a fun night out at a 10 pin bowling range.   Few made a regular habit of it, similar to my observation of the majority of people who go 10 pin bowling.  My feeling for the last couple of year’s has been that this had little to do with golf. Golf is a difficult game involving many skills and most people need to dedicate themselves to it, or at least get sucked into the need for regular socialisation on a course.

Last week I heard of two relatives of my wife’s who have only ever hit balls at Top golf (it's expensive),  are now taking lessons and have asked me to take them out on a course this summer.  

[ForkaB]

"20/20" golf has been played for years.  It's called "Match Play."

72-hole stroke play is the golfing equivalent of a "Test" match.

[Matthew Hunt]

Nicely said, Rich.