Paul T
Just think of .5 as the value of the "quantum" in golf course relativity terms. It relates to the energy required to get the ball into the hole when on the green. When the ball is off the green there is a "quantum leap" and the energy required doubles to 1.0. I'm sure I don't have this completely right, but then again my TEP-scale mental regression is now at day-care level, so......
Tom P
I suspect that the above was one of Thomas's major points, as he was writing during the Golden Age of Quantum Physics and I'm sure did as much studying of Schroedinger, Dirac etc.as he did of the Arts and Crafts writers in Country Life magazine.
As to why the concept is a good one, well here's what I think:
1. As others have said above, this brings the "scoring" of the game more in line with the skills required for the various shots
2. By increasing the relative value for the shots to the green, architects will be encouraged to create features of interest, "through the green" instead of just at the green site
3. Concomitantly, as the value of hitting a green will be increased, the use of humps and hollows to repel shots to the green will become more prevalent.
4. Play will be speeded up as the benefit of agonizing over short putts will be diminished
5. No longer will you hear a pro yell, "Get in the bunker!"
6. I generally agree, as said above, that maintenance costs might be mitigated, either through reduced bunkering or in a slightly rougher green surface.
This won't happen, of course, but it is interesting. Maybe somebody could organize a tournament at their club to test out some of these theories?