Jim & Tom
I fully understand your opinion and that carts are American and used in a big way over there. That fine, I do not have a problem with that, but and it is a big but the subject is very important to many.
I expect that you may have grown up with the ubiquitous cart but we have not. I and my friends have seen the courses we loved scarred with these bloody unsightly cart tracks. Whilst I will not go as far as to say ruined, we feel they are destroying the courses just because modern Man is just becoming more lazy.
I have no wish of interfering in the enjoyment of others on a course as long as their activities do not interrupt our enjoyment of the game. Carts and their tracks are certainly doing that and they do interfere with our game.
So, I am sorry you are frustrated with some of us talking about it but in our eyes it is destroying the game, certainly in our country. You can play the Nero and do sod all as Rome burns, but some of us feel that we need to keep the subject to the forefront. It also reflects upon the GCA and financial burden of clubs, which in this day and age is rather serious. Yes, we may certainly be in the minority and have very little hope of any changes in the immediate or distant future. But, Golf is and always has been a walking game. It was in India, Australia, South Africa, etc. etc, who also have rather dry or hot, wet and humid climates but they stayed true to walking, until someone came along and wanted to make the game easy for themselves. I expect they just could not hack it unlike all the previous generations.
I cannot talk for others but when I worked in the Tropics in the 1970’s, I worked in the hot, dry as well as wet and humid conditions, I played in the same conditions, air conditioners was not the norm back then nor did they have carts. In Africa, I played on red earth with the odd blade of grass spaced every foot or so, it was very hot.
This subject will not go away, its here and until the problem is faced it will keep reoccurring. Carts are here, that I accept but what about the Golfer who just wants to play his traditional game without the eyesore or distraction of carts or paths. Is it not time that clubs and architects recognised that golf is first and foremost a game based upon Walking and provide the amenities to play traditional golf. Want carts, fine, but hide the cart paths, keep them well clear of the Fairways, Greens & Tees. If the development forces a long distance between Green and next Tee then the design of the whole needs to be re-considered as again Golf is not about long distance between Greens & Tees. Yet the attitude seems clear just bang in cart s and paths that will resolve the problem – the easy solution, sod the game of golf is what these people are actually saying and expect us all to accepting it. Come on guys this is not the spirit that founded America or for that matter The USA. Your forefathers thought that certain things were worth fighting for, that’s just as true today as it was back then. But don’t let apathy win – it has the habit of screw up everything in the end.
Yes, apathy and not understand the full consequences of the issue has allowed this course of events to occur. It is never too late to correct a wrong. The fight continues and is fundamental to modern golf course architecture IMHO.
As we understand your frustrations, please understand ours.
Melvyn