Mac
Thanks for the reply, as always you make it a joy to read as so clear in your statements.
In all honesty I do not want to see the R&A disbanded, but we do need a governing body that listens and is closer to the game, concentrating on the game itself as well as being accountable.
Yes, I understand this thing about ‘Being a Golfer or not or even just a player’, but to be fair I must again lay this at the doors of The R&A for allowing so many variations of the game to contaminate the one great game of Golf. Who is right or wrong, no one knows, it’s OK to ride a cart, but not in The Open, it’s fine to use electronic aids but again I believe they are still not allowed in The Open. It’s full of confusing and mixed messages, it so desperately needs to be clarified and really resolved. I do take your point and it’s a very fair question why should certain players who believe they are playing by the Rules be regarded as not golfers, as yes I can see it may be a bone of contention.
We must remember that this is an internet Discussion Group where opinion are offered be they right or wrong they are just our opinions, worth just the weight of our own convictions. They have no legal binding whatsoever or for that matter makes any difference in what the ruling bodies actually say or do. It’s like you saying I am not blond because I am loosing most of my hair, it is your opinion, but do I get mad with you, no, it’s your opinion. But let’s get back to the matter in hand, golf and its definition.
The subject of distance aids and caddies are as I believe just a crutch, because the info gained is overruled by one’s mind as soon as your eyes re check the pin/ball then ball/pin just prior to taking the shot. As I said man goes into auto mode and it’s the eye brain co-ordination that makes the final decision as to your swing and ultimately shot. However, it’s the energy generated by walking that makes the overall difference. That article on the American scientific study on just lifting and setting down ones bag in energy consumption which I believes show the possibility of the total unfairness of a cart, to the point that it changes the structure as well as the physical and mental nature of a game of golf. Let’s get away from needing or not a cart, let’s look at it openly and honestly, to the point that I would like to see a new study by the R&A/USGA taking into account the total difference between walking and riding. Its need to prove once and for all if there is there a massive saving in energy that a rider gets over a walker. If so then let’s add a handicap to the rider in accordance to the energy saved.
If it proves as it would appear to be an advantage, then the R&A/USGA need to take the appropriate action of banning the carts or place a stroke handicap upon them. Now if that happens I wonder if the numbers of carts used will fall because many will not be keen to see their score cards rise in numbers. I can hear it already shouts of that’s unfair, but from that report from the 1920 on energy we already know there is a massive advantage just related to picking up and dropping a bag without taken into account walking or walking while carrying the bag. So the advantage has been unfair in favour of the rider (IMHO) for the last 60 years.
Yet this still leave the tradition of the game that of walking, it’s still the only way to play The Open so it should be the only way to play golf, However if you want a cart, do so but I fell then a name should reflect the game you play call it American Golf if it uses carts or Cart ball or Mountain Golf, yes its golf but a variation of it not on the same par as traditional golf – why let’s get that energy test done, and see if there is the difference. As for needing a cart for mobility or to get around, fine use one, good idea, but again it is an aid and your score should reflect that aid, because without it you could not survive one round let alone 36.
In closing, I see nothing wrong is using a cart to play golf that is as long as you clarify the game you are playing. My game is golf, it require walking and thing in the traditional manners laid down over six centuries. Call it The Royal & Ancient Game of Golf. Call golfing with carts American Golf that is so clear and defined, it’s like playing Poker is the game not defined before the game starts. The whole thing is a fudge, a weak governing body lost within itself trying to understand what it should be doing but failing badly. We, the golfers have no come back or method to question decisions or even know or understand who is making these rules or not. They are affectively unaccountable thus making them even more remote form the average golfer.
If we are referring to golf then I naturally presume that it’s the Royal & Ancient game of golf that of walking and thinking, that game which has been the bedrock of golf for 6 centuries, not this new variation born out of the original game to make life easier some 50-60 years that as watered down the commitment of many a potential golfer leaving us with more a country clubs than a golf club.