As Mac mentioned he suggested that I make a list, I took it in the manner it was made and produced my ‘tongue in cheek’ list of my The Ten Golfing Commandments.
I am surprised by the reaction of some, however I really should not be when we consider that the fundamental part of the game is totally prostituted through the wishes and desires of a number of large lazy, selfish and inconsiderate people. They are willing to change the face of golf to suit their purposes, then attack those who point out that golf is a walking game.
If totally able bodied and you ride in a cart when playing what you call golf, then you have betrayed the principal way the game has been played for Centuries. Moan, complain, call me names do what the hell you want but that betrayal of golf is totally down to you, has nothing to do with me apart from daring to expose the great nearly unspoken secret that carting is not GOLF.
You and your fellow carters have deliberately set out to change the game, IMO to undermine its basic values and the rewards the game of golf gives the player. So don’t come up with excuses, just be man enough to admit it. If you can still face being honest call your game cartgolf or cartballing but not golf for the very fact that you ride and do not walk.
As for my topic, I would like to answer some of the replies
Bill
“To thine own self be true” I am trying to practice the very thing. Regrettable those who say they love the game of golf then go and hop onto a cart and ride around the course breaking with centuries of tradition of walking. Do not remember you sprouting your words of wisdom at them, but then let’s not forget I have been branded as anti American as well as my comments and opinions being described as ranting.
Jim
“Thou shalt remember that thee are not Me” Happily, most happily, I can never match a man that by the very fact of walking (or is that riding) into a room can turn cream for the coffee sour within 50 ft of him.
Tom
Because 15,000 courses are over a certain length does not make them right, perhaps one day you will be allowed to prove your worth to golf (not that I am saying you have not). I happily live in the 21st Century with the ability of playing many links courses (when my body allows) that far outweigh some of the expensive modern rubbish that has been produced over the last 40 years. Thank God for Scotland and the rest of GB&I. As for nearsighted, I feel that would be a better claim to fame that being part of the generation that over saw the demise of great golf course design. Thank God its only opinions that are being passed around.
Tim
Alcohol would be covered by one of the sub sections under Commandment 8
As for Women, they my friend, have equal rights to men in my eyes.
David
You may well be right and if that is the cost, then so be it – could result in seeing the 3 to 3.5 hour round come back into play. That alone in some places could be a good reason to endorse the Golfing Commandments
Mac
I blame you for all this and I have not forgotten and taken into account that you ride and use artificial aids. The flames of hell shall burn around you for a day short of eternity, then I will take you out for lunch and show you how to play real mans golf, on TOC. Don’t worry we will both have to help the other around the course.
Bill
I am not on a mission to do anything re American Golf. In fact, I am more than happy you have called it American Golf as that is all the distinction I was or would be after. As for self righteous or a bit misguided, that label is more appropriate on those who wish to change the game from centuries of walking to riding. However if it is your sincere opinion, then I regret it but it will have no baring on our friendship (if indeed it still exists)
Garland
Thank you, the cheque is in the post, but can’t you do something with the orange pants, perhaps more appropriate do something to the guy who wears them. He is given American Golf a bad name over here unlike Bill who is the classic rogue model (ops or should that have been roll model).
Anthony
Stick and stones (Woods & Irons) may break my bones but colours will never hurt me (if I am wearing my shades on the course). After a few hours in the pub, I would have no problem with orange, pink etc.
Jason
Public Enemy No1 or a Defender of the Faith is more how I may see it, whatever if it keep walking as the prime way of playing golf world wide, then call me what you want. I may be too old to play you when we may finally meet, would it be OK if I use a cart, but then it would not be a proper game of golf.
Ian
Good Call, but by walking when you play you are already have fun (laughing at the able bodied guys on the carts who think they are playing golf, he, he)
Bill Brightly
More than fair minded of you. However, why allow one swing when none should be the order of the day. Good call on the rest, but killing is more than being a traditionalist/purist and should only be reserved for drunks on carts, even that is too good for them.
David
Amen to that
Tom Mac
We have never agree upon so many points, as for #5 its requires the use of eyes, brain, body co-ordination, something we do naturally from the time we wake in the morning until we go to sleep at night – well excluding those that need to use distance aids to do their thinking for them. As for #7 that refers to Golf as a walking game vs. riding which IMHO should be called cartballing or cartgolf but is not golf in its true meaning or sense.
JC
Prove he/she does not exist and I am with you on that one
Bob
You have a good point; I just wish we did not need any
Orange Man
He is already at the spirits at this time in the morning
Mike
No, not redundant far from it, bloody needed and soon or the self righteous will inherited the golf courses
Will
Great big ******* cart track all over the courses, carts scattered on fairways fast wearing it out, idiots pacing distance slowing the game, no impact on how I am playing! Are you the Rip Van Winkle of the golfing world – Tom D, here is the individual who is living in the 19th Century
David M
Please to hear you can live with the rest saves me the cost of a hit man
as I don’t have time to discuss it over a 100 pages or so.
Mike W
Goes without saying
In closing, I address all those over 50 golfers who started playing in the 50’s-60’s when carts, cart tracks, distance aids, long courses etc did not blight our courses. Remember the early days and why you have played golf ever since, was it for the love of the new toys (that make life easier for the modern golfer) or was it for the fun and pleasure it gave you in walking, judging distance naturally and being able to play at least two round in a day. Those halcyon day of you, the course, of the equipment that worked with each hole and all with no outside distractions. That was golf, that is golf, why are you happily watching it change, yet content to watch nearly all the other sports you are interested in remaining relatively unchanged. This is the part I do not understand, it has nothing to do with being anti anything. Nevertheless, while I am not a lone voice, I am aware that I am only part of small minority in today’s world of modern golf where money is more important than the game.
Melvyn
PS The Colours, if any reflect just the colours and nothing else.