Tom
The world is not your oyster, it’s owned and run by other older cultures with a rich and depth of history which some of your fellow countrymen seem to crave.
Perhaps this constant need to change things is a cry for help, seeking a real form of identity for a multi cultural society or is it just a sign of internal weakness. Too deep for me, I’ll let others ponder that question. I’m just interested in Golf.
Golf is a great sport, it is totally an outdoors pursuit, allows the player to gently exercise, encourages the use of our little grey cells and also gives us the opportunity to relax and appreciate the natural world around us.
Well, that was until the need of a certain Nation to try and stamp its identity on to a great sport, by introducing different alien ideas which in truth seem to contradict the original thoughts and ideas behind the great game of Golf. The introduction of totally artificial and manicured courses which look like an advert for a covers for a chocolate box; The introduction of carts, contrary to the original concept and spirit of the of the game; the encouragement of artificial aids which require minimal use of our little grey cells; technology used for obtaining distance and with the hope of enabling a player to reduce his score, not by his own abilities but by improved equipment and the ultimate sin of all introducing course with a No Walking policy.
Yet all is not lost, many, many brave and determined soles venture across the great ocean to play the game on the original land used for centuries and in the traditional way, but alas the cart and No Walking courses have followed and have established a bridgehead here in the old land of tradition and history. But fear not, we owe ourselves and our friends from across the ocean who love the game, our commitment to fight a full rear guard action and try and stem this influx of alien ideas and equipment into our sport. Although unless supported by all golfers it will be a war we may in the end loss due to apathy from the golfing public at large. The Pioneering influence is nearly dead within us and is being forced out by those who want to make the game of golf easy.
But then it is just a game, but to some of us, it is a little bit more and our Standard is still flying high, albeit slightly frayed. Never forget that a warm welcome is always guaranteed to those with the pioneering spirit who want to play golf in the UK.
My sincere thanks to all who have travelled and those planning to visit our shores just to play and experience our golf courses.