Roll Back. What we must do.

[Tony_Muldoon]

I’m tired of listening to the arguments and I’m ready to participate in some direct action.


I can stop buying ProV1’s but I think that may take too long. So what can we do?


NB this thread is for those who agree SOMETHING MUST BE DONE AND IT MUST BE DONE NOW. If anyone seeks to argue this point then please start another thread. If anyone wants to argue with those who post on this thread that things are fine as they are, then please do it on another thread.

This thread wants to move from talking to action. I believe there is small but significant no of golfers who agree on this point and now we must get together and take action.

SO WHAT CAN WE DO?

I have a few ideas and these will follow. However I hope others have ideas and I’d like to see if we can spend the holiday period coming up with ideas and in the New Year we can TAKE ACTION.

Why I’m thinking like this.

Is anyone else thinking like this?  Do the governing bodies feel the same way that folk on here do?  Are they paralysed and afraid to speak out and most importantly to act now for the future of golf? Do you think they’ve heard the message and are beavering away in secret to achieve the best possible results in this litigious world?  I don’t and I want to pressure them to be brave and fight for Golf.

I’m basically in agreement with all the fine words about a roll back in recent threads on here. I’ve listened to many conversations in pro shops and Club bars where similar thoughts are expressed, but really where is all this getting us? When your club captain gets the invite to dine at the R&A or the USGA does he thump the table and shout “For crying out loud my members want something done and they want it done now".  Doubt it. So who is getting it across to the games governing bodies how strongly we feel about it?  If a web site about Golf Course Architecture can't be a starting point for action, what can?

I am also tired of the argument that there’s no more distance in the current equipment and anyone who sells that line just doesn’t understand science, commerce or ‘progress’ in the same way I do.  If anyone wants to learn how the ball's development over the last Century has changed TOC, I commend the excellent, ‘St Andrews The evolution of the Old Course’ by GCA's Scott Macpherson.
Any doubt where this graph he prepared is headed in future?



(If you want to debate this point then start another thread .)


So I’m tired of the talking and I’m ready to act. I would like this thread to serve as a catalyst for action.

What can we do?

Well we can help to help put pressure on the games governing bodies in various ways.   I believe that there is a small but discerning core of golfers who believe the ball goes too far and they deplore the consequences that has for everyone. With a campaign we can get the golfing public at large to see what this means in terms of lengthening courses, time and cost, all in a negative way. At the moment there are a few journalists who put this message forward Shackleford, Huggan and Donegan spring to mind. Others will report it if we can make some noise on this issue.


In my next posts I will make some suggestions but really, I want to hear other ideas for ACTION. 

Although I believe this is a most serious issue I think we can win more support if we can show ourselves as not being too, well "fuddy duddy" about it.

I thought about this traditional call to arms.

 ‘The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing’

Edmund Burke


But how about a more contemporary quote?


“Otter
 I think we have to go all out. I think that this situation absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody's part.
Bluto:
We're just the guys to do it.”


Let’s do it.  Ideas Please.

(Some of mine will follow )


PS let's make it a Happy New Year.

[Sean_A]

Tony

If it is action you are suggesting, I am in.  It is quite clear that waiting for "George" (this is what my dad used to say when he thought I was being lazy) isn't gonna cut it.  Although, I don't have any ideas that would have an immediate impact which is what you seem to be looking for.

Ciao 

[Tony_Muldoon]

Sean


Personally I favour using the latest absurd change to the Old course as an excuse to take the battle direct to the R&A next July during the Open championship.

Proposition 1

A Petition.

I’m not at all technically adept but getting an online petition going can’t be that hard.

Need to agree a line we agree with E.G.  

“To the R&A, I urge you to recognise the need to protect the game of golf as we know it and take action now to roll back the ball to allow all golfers to play a round within the established boundaries of TOC.
I ask the R&A to publish its plans for protecting the game of golf as we know and love it, over the next 5, 10 and 100 years hence.”

We could have Melvyn and a bunch of School kids deliver this to the R&A on the morning of Sunday 18th July 2010?  Guaranteed lots of coverage unless Tom Watson shoots 59 that afternoon.

Cost Guestimate.          £1000
Hire a designer/ web based host.  Bind together a printed off version. A few Taxi fares.

This will take time and money. I’m prepared to start the kitty with £100.  If we make the standard donation 50 dollars / 35 pounds we should be able to get a fighting fund up and running in no time.

Other ideas please.

[Garland Bayley]

Do petitions ever accomplish anything?

How about random groups randomly occupying championship tees in an attempt to prevent play from there.

After all, you seem to be good at random naked people running around the course during the open over there. Why not a bit more pointed civil disobedience. Perhaps the R&A will begin to worry it will happen randomly at all championships. Could be quite a fad you know.

[Willie_Dow]

Tony -  We must get the Ponzi money out of golf, first ! 

Thank Arnie for all he has given to the game.  But stop there !

Get some company to go back to the wound ball, might work for starters ?  It would increase the labor demand for ball manufacuring worldwide.

Implements and balls need redirection now.

Willie

[Adam Clayman]

Inundate them (governing bodies) with letters and petitions. Throw in Billy Payne and maybe they will act. Maybe?

[Tony_Muldoon]

Keep them coming


Proposition 2

A Public Meeting in St Andrews during the Open.
The University has numerous halls for hire a short walk from the Media tent.

E.G. high noon Tuesday 13th July 2010. – Will be a quiet day for golf news.


I favour publicising a debate with two speakers proposing the motion

“The R&A must urgently  recognise its responsibilities and in particular  the need to protect the game of golf as we know it and take action now to roll back the ball to allow all golfers to play a round within the established boundaries of TOC.
We call on the R&A to publish its plans for protecting the game of golf we love over then next 5, 10 and 100 years hence.”

Speakers TBC.  Need some big names Jack Niclaus, Tom Watson and Tom Doak? ( ) Audience to be 50 reserved seats for the first Journalists to reply and the hall to be free for any other golf fan.

The chairman will then ask for speakers to oppose this motion from the R&A and USGA.  At that point the meeting will be adjourned. “Read all about it” next day.


Cost Guestimate.          £3500
Hire Room and facilities PA ETC, hand out flyers that morning, basic refreshments free coffee. A few Taxi fares.

[Melvyn Morrow]

Tony

Perhaps as part of the initial process we should consider contacting the St Andrews Links Trust (the Trustees) asking for their support or would they be willing to support the concept. After all, they run seven courses and would be an ideal starting point if we want the R&A and the world to sit up and take the campaign seriously.

Initial contact would need to be thought-out in detail.

Melvyn

[Andrew Mitchell]

When your club captain gets the invite to dine at the R&A

I read this bit with great interest.  I don't know where my invite has got to, presumably lost in the post

Assuming it turns up I'll be happy to say my piece



Seriously I agree that something should be done and that we can't rely on the R&A & the USGA to do it.  I'd be happy to help if I can.

[Scott Warren]

Tony,

Perhaps this is unlikely, but worth a shot could be the simple act of lobbying the clubs that host R&A championships (and USGA for our trans-Atlantic brethren) to refuse further bastardisation to their courses.

Would very few be game to drop off tournament rotas for that reason? Perhaps, but even if one or two took up the torch and just said no, it would make a huge difference.

If enough of the best courses closed their doors to the R&A and/or USGA unless something was done about modern equipment, that is perhaps the method of resistance most likely to get press, cause discussion in the golf community and - hopefully - force the governing bodies to wake up and do something.

[JESII]

You have to get the clubs on board...and to get them on board you have to get their Boards of Directors on board...and all you need to get the BoD's on board is to demonstrate how much money they will save without reducing the quality of the experience...then it's just leg work...

[Melvyn Morrow]

Tony

As for local venues at St Andrews, I believe I may be right in thinking that Herb Kohler has acquired Hamilton Hall and is involved in The Old Course Hotel.

It may be interesting in obtaining his reaction to the idea and see if he would come onboard. With his contacts and knowledge, more people may be interested and perhaps we can get a reduced rate at the Old Course for the Conference.

Clearly from the little I know about him he has a keen interest in the game, perhaps the traditional game and let’s not forget his interest and assistance to The Team at Askernish.

I believe he would be a worthy ally and good friend to the campaign.

Contacts and Names, that’s the game I feel we need to play right now.

Melvyn     

[Craig Sweet]

Tony, you said it best in your original post "some people don't understand change"  Yourself included.....

Let's just say I disagree with a lot of what you are advancing.

[JMEvensky]

You have to get the clubs on board...and to get them on board you have to get their Boards of Directors on board...and all you need to get the BoD's on board is to demonstrate how much money they will save without reducing the quality of the experience...then it's just leg work...

This is actually a very good idea.

The only problems might be A) if those clubs in the running had already been Openized,or B) the Bof D's were convinced that the revenue from hosting would outweigh the costs of lengthening.Ultimately,it's about the money.

BTW-anyone who can simultaneously cite Burke and Bluto deserves my support.

[Jeff_Brauer]

Moved to other thread........

[Tony_Muldoon]

Another target we should aim for.


It seems likely that one winner in the Woods saga will be Titlesit and I fully expect their share of the market to increase this spring. How ironic.

This is what one poster on here wrote about the Woods scenario (ref posssble drug use).

“This is a gentleman's game and golfers all know the difference between right and wrong.”

It seems to me our Media have the same relationship with Titliest that Tiger used to enjoy.  Although proven in court that Titliest deliberately infringed/stole a rivals Patents they get a free pass from the press; presumably because they are big advertisers in ALL the golfing media.

http://www.golf.com/golf/tours_news/article/0,28136,1694987,00.html 

But isn’t what they’ve done wrong?  Where is the mass indignation? Shouldn’t they be a target in this?  Why aren’t they working towards a sensible long term solution – longer slower rounds are killing the market on which they currently thrive. As market leaders they don't see the bigger picture. What size will their market be in 5, 10 and 100 years?


Proposal 3

On the opening day of these years Open, outside Acushnets Head Office we set fire to a replica of Dr MacKenzie’s famous Map of the Old Course.
(Well it will make me feel better).

[Kalen Braley]

How about hiring John Cleese to run up the 18th on the 72nd hole while dressed like Old Tom?

That would get some attention, and then in the post tournie interviews he could tell everyone why he did it!! 

[JESII]

Tony,

Didn't you just violate your opening post rule?

For example, I would argue that Titleist has done anything wrong...but I will reserve the right to do so on the other thread...

[Garland Bayley]

If you decide to do the petition, or some other statement, there have been many insightful statements made on this website in all the ball discussions that go way beyond the usual stuff you hear from Jack and Gary. Mining these threads for that knowledge would be a good idea I think.

[Jim_Kennedy]

Tony,
You need to update your information about that court case, I think you'll find some new developments.

[Brett Hochstein]

Could we possibly start smaller with something that would be more effective?

I propose to follow the lead of baseball.  Where their pros can only use wooden bats, why can't the PGA and the governing bodies of the major championships restrict the type of ball players use or limit them to persimmon heads?  I understand marketing of products and sponsorships, but are average golfers going to stop playing proV1's in favor of whatever limited flight ball the pros use?  This sort of idea makes the most sense for me because it is this .0001% of golfers that are causing the changes to all these great old courses.

[Mike Benham]

So I’m tired of the talking and I’m ready to act. I would like this thread to serve as a catalyst for action.

What can we do?

In the vein that your cause is GCA related, the first thing I would do is remove your cause from Ran's website unless you have Ran's approval to use this site as a staging area for your cause ... and really, there are only 1,500 members, and that number is not going to make many waves. 

Go mainstream, perhaps you can get permission to use Jay Flemma's website / blog as the centerpiece of your cause.

[Tony_Muldoon]

So I’m tired of the talking and I’m ready to act. I would like this thread to serve as a catalyst for action.

What can we do?

In the vein that your cause is GCA related, the first thing I would do is remove your cause from Ran's website unless you have Ran's approval to use this site as a staging area for your cause ... and really, there are only 1,500 members, and that number is not going to make many waves. 

Go mainstream, perhaps you can get permission to use Jay Flemma's website / blog as the centerpiece of your cause.

Mike I alerted Ran and said I was happy to have it removed if it was inappropriate.  Considering what's been accepted on here over the years, so far this thread doesn't seem inflamatory at all.  I agree that we need to move off this site but you have to start somewhere.


If there are any lurkers who'd like to contact me tonym@enterpriseplants.com

[Melvyn Morrow]

Mike

Do I understand you correctly? This site gets a serious cause that is important to so many and you want to give it away.

If this is your case is it because you are against it, for it but just can’t be bothered or plainly just not interested.

This subject is actually at the heart of GCA, its has far more to do with architecture than stating the top 10, 20, 25 50 or 100 courses.

It may define the very future of GCA.

Other sports have controlled technology and maintained their pitch/courses/playing fields more or less unchanged for over a century, Just why can’t we do it with Golf.  I suppose it is caring about the fundamentals of the game while believing that our Governing Bodies are dedicated to protecting the very nature of our game. The resulting complacency, of trusting those in charge has resulted in the constant expanding of the length of our courses, of allowing electronic aids to assist golfers who can’t read distances anymore (for whatever reason) and the massive explosion of carts and their tracks. That was never golf. That was not why the R&A got their mandate.

Tony has raised a serious issue, which is in fact I believe one of the reason for the existence of this site, but you want to pass on it.

If I have misunderstood you, I apologise, but that seems to be what you are advocating, hopefully I am indeed wrong and perhaps this site is not here for Golf Course Architecture.

Merry Christmas & a Prosperous New Year to you and your family

Melvyn 

[Rob Rigg]

Tony,

I think your petition and website idea is a good one - at least by getting some press at The Open the conversation may be accelerated if "average" golfers feel like things have gone too far.

What is your magic number for names? 10K? 100K? 1M? What number could make a difference.

Dear R&A,

Stop ruining the game by forcing clubs to alter their courses for the sake of one tournament every year (or decade), and stop giving developers a reason to waste land and resources by providing them with reasons to build 8k yard "championship" courses. Designing for 0.1% of the population is stupid and irresponsible. Golf is overwhelmingly a game played by amateurs and the amateur golfer is who courses should be built for. Give the pros a ball that will make the course play as the architect intended. Please, please, pretty please. Enough is enough.