"What is it then, exactly, that we Americans are doing on a golf course? "

[Ronald Montesano]

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/opinionpapazian_.html

Since I can't find the golfer's five-feet shelf in the IMO section, I'm addressing Gib Papazian's question with this answer:  we are escaping.  We are escaping the lives to which we are not 100% committed, which may or may not include spouses, offspring, jobs we despise, revile, or mildly dislike, and the other mundane chores and tasks that are not golf.  We are dreaming.  We want to be these titans whom we witness in person and on television.  And we can be them, just not consistently.  We are bonding, doing the only male mating dance that is accepted by macho alpha males.  We are chillaxing, chilling and relaxing.  Put them all together in the Kingdom of USA and four to six hours is about right.  Without golf in America, the jails would be filled to capacity, the bars would have run out of booze, and the women would beg the men to PLEASE find something to do

[Kalen Braley]

Gee Ronald,

I always just thought it was chasing a little white ball across the some mown grass cause I got nothing better to do... 

But I can settle for titan-hood and dancing.

[Rich Goodale]

Ronaldo

I think I can speak for Gib in saying that you can do anything and everything in your post and still get around 18 holes walking in 3 hours, and if you want to spend 6+ hours away from the "trouble and strife" just go for 36.

Ricardo

[Matthew Rose]

Waiting for the group in front of us.

 

[Peter Pallotta]

Ronald - nice! And you've got Gib's patter down perfectly.
"An opportunity to indulge and to learn about ourselves - perhaps".
Peter

[Ronald Montesano]

Ronaldo

I think I can speak for Gib in saying that you can do anything and everything in your post and still get around 18 holes walking in 3 hours, and if you want to spend 6+ hours away from the "trouble and strife" just go for 36.

Ricardo

Truly, Ricardo, but why hurry it?  For many of the unwashed masses, 36 in 6 hours is a long march toward the everlasting sea.

[Rich Goodale]

Ronaldo

I think I can speak for Gib in saying that you can do anything and everything in your post and still get around 18 holes walking in 3 hours, and if you want to spend 6+ hours away from the "trouble and strife" just go for 36.

Ricardo

Truly, Ricardo, but why hurry it?  For many of the unwashed masses, 36 in 6 hours is a long march toward the everlasting sea.

Yet another benefit of my thoughts, Ronald.  Thanks!  We'll get rid of those lemmings who are overcrowding our golf courses in one fell swoop.  And, to be slightly more serious....if you want to spend 6 hours away from the family, 3 hours of golf and 3 hours of apres golf is far preferable to a 6 hour round.  In fact, the ideal Scottish day of golf is 3 hours/18 holes in the morning, 3 hours beer, lunch, claret, port and Kummel, 3 hours/18 holes in a gentle haze and then a sober drive home to domestic bliss.

[Jon Nolan]

Marshals?     

[Gary Slatter]

Ronaldo

I think I can speak for Gib in saying that you can do anything and everything in your post and still get around 18 holes walking in 3 hours, and if you want to spend 6+ hours away from the "trouble and strife" just go for 36.

Ricardo

Truly, Ricardo, but why hurry it?  For many of the unwashed masses, 36 in 6 hours is a long march toward the everlasting sea.

Yet another benefit of my thoughts, Ronald.  Thanks!  We'll get rid of those lemmings who are overcrowding our golf courses in one fell swoop.  And, to be slightly more serious....if you want to spend 6 hours away from the family, 3 hours of golf and 3 hours of apres golf is far preferable to a 6 hour round.  In fact, the ideal Scottish day of golf is 3 hours/18 holes in the morning, 3 hours beer, lunch, claret, port and Kummel, 3 hours/18 holes in a gentle haze and then a sober drive home to domestic bliss.

Rich, that's almost the script for the Thursday Club.  3.5 hours max on the Old Course followed by the same amount of time lying about our rounds followed by a walk home (or a second round in the summer). I am delinquent today due to meeting with PGA officials for Scottish Senior Open. Hoping to make the apres golf!

[Melvyn Morrow]

Rich - one of the Wise Men of Golf

He does not speak with a forked tongue, but fully understands the game of golf.

3 hours to Heaven or 6 hours in Hell, the choice is in your hands – some who are destined to live eternity in the heat of Hell need their 6 hours a day to acclimatise. 

Ronald – lost in the embers of his own life, still seeking the real meaning of playing a game of golf will regrettably be confined to the realms of  6 plus hours a day – A man with time to burn, beware it could become a Groundhog Day, Day, Day, Day, Day………

All hail the 3 hour game – the Devil take the 6 hour players with their carts, Range Finders and all the toys they need to try and play a real game of Golf - Scottish Style – Any other form is a poor excuse for the original.

Don’t worry Guys we will keep “The Spirit of The Game’ alive whilst others around squander it or are daft enough to try and drink at the Well of Life.

From a believer of the 3 hour Round

Melvyn   

[Anthony Gray]

  I would love to comment but I'm in rehab.

  Anthony

[Melvyn Morrow]

Anthony

Not before time – not surprised at all, with all those OT posts lately.

Hope it's working, but I fear it will be just a waste of time & money – old rogues never change.

Melvyn

[Adam Clayman]

RM, aren't the prisons already full?

[Tom Huckaby]

All hail the three hour round, without a doubt:  the quite obviously best way to play this game.

But all hail GOLF also, in all of its forms.

And that is rather the Spirit of the Game.

TH

[Melvyn Morrow]

Tom

Still suffering from heat stroke – the true believer plays only one form of Golf, all others as I said are just poor excuses for the original.

But don’t worry I fully understand, play your games, perhaps one day you will see the light, or again perhaps not. 

As for the Spirit it comes from the original game, all others are just a mirage with no real substance.    Oops, there I go again misunderstanding you, but its fun.

Melvyn

[Kyle Harris]

Tom

Still suffering from heat stroke – the true believer plays only one form of Golf, all others as I said are just poor excuses for the original.

But don’t worry I fully understand, play your games, perhaps one day you will see the light, or again perhaps not. 

As for the Spirit it comes from the original game, all others are just a mirage with no real substance.    Oops, there I go again misunderstanding you, but its fun.

Melvyn

If you'd like to join Cory Lewis and I, or Joe Bausch and I - you'd better speed it up.

Also, if you're so in love with the golf course why are you so eager to leave it? 

[Tom Huckaby]

Tom

Still suffering from heat stroke – the true believer plays only one form of Golf, all others as I said are just poor excuses for the original.

But don’t worry I fully understand, play your games, perhaps one day you will see the light, or again perhaps not. 

As for the Spirit it comes from the original game, all others are just a mirage with no real substance.    Oops, there I go again misunderstanding you, but its fun.

Melvyn

It surely is all fun, Melvyn.

But I fear it is not ME that you misunderstand, but rather what exactly is meant by the true Spririt of Golf.  Hopefully you do get it some day - I have great hope for you.

Because you see, the true believer plays ALL forms of the game, and enjoys what's put before him rather than bitching about what's not.

All the best,

Tom H.

[Melvyn Morrow]

Kyle

Eager to leave - I have always said Am & Pm games total 36 holes - its the only way to play the course and enjoy the day.

As for speeding up - I am way ahead not needing to stop for yardage info

When will you Guys understand there can only ever be one way

Melvyn

PS Tom  Don't worry keep taking the pills, one day you will see the light and feel so much better, until then I fear for your sanity, but I am always there to help if you need it

[Kyle Harris]

Sorry Melvyn, you play too slow to join us. We might get to 3 hours if we play 27.

[Paul Stephenson]

Kyle


When will you Guys understand there can only ever be one way

Melvyn

I hope you mean in playing the game and not the course.

If we we constantly strive for more options in how to play the course, why not the game as well?

[Melvyn Morrow]

Kyle

Not if you are following a group of Americans with caddies that 4-6 hours just for the first 9. Something to do with the speed they play back home.

27 holes in 3 hours, playing real golf. Give me the total distance and I work out the average speed per hole. Fast forward speed on DVD does not count. Think you are the ones eager to leave the course.

Can't see how that can be fun and enjoyable.

Melvyn

Paul  there is only one way to play golf

[Tom Huckaby]

Melvyn:

And I too will continue to pray to the golf gods for you.  My prayers are:

a) you never do have to come to America and see our realities; and

b) you continue to live in your blissful golf world, with head in the sand.

It seems to make you happy, and in the end that is all that matters.

Hopefully some day you understand that we can be happy too.  But no matter.

TH

[JESII]

Melvyn,

Are you saying there is only one way to play golf or that you have only ever played golf one way?

[Melvyn Morrow]

Jim

Yes  - with clubs, balls, legs, arms, eyes and brain.

No carts, electronic aids, distance crap or any outside help. You, the golfer against the course, unaided. Simple but its surprising how many seem unable to play that way anymore – expect like TH, they are looking for the easy options.

Melvyn

[Tom Huckaby]

Melvyn:

Again you assume far too much.  You know not how I choose to play.

The point remains that I take what is given rather than bitch about what is not.  I have a true love for the game.  I truly wonder if you do also.  Oh you have a great love for YOUR game... but for THE game?

I wonder.....

TH