Is it time to create a new classification of courses?

[Rees Milikin]

Why do you need such categories?  I would think its best to have a course that defies such categorization.

NLE?

[Carl Johnson]

Why do you need such categories?  I would think its best to have a course that defies such categorization.

How about "It is what it is" course?  (iiwii)

[Jeff_Brauer]

And more seriously, I think golf probably needs to create a new label, like Tournament Test, to help us get over the stigma that average golfers need to play a championship course or over 7000 yards or go home. 


I am fairly sure that the average course would have a problem re-branding downward from "championship", to something like "every day" or "recreational" so the label would have to one up championship, sort of like platinum cards were seen as better than gold cards, etc.

[Thomas Dai]

"Dog track" is a phrase I have heard expressed.
Atb

[Ed Homsey]

If I were to classify this thread, I'd say it ranks with the best.  I'm enjoying it.

[Jeff_Brauer]

"Dog track" is a phrase I have heard expressed.
Atb

"Dog Park" would be an accurate description for some of the courses that have closed, along with vegetable garden, walking trail, green space, tot lot, etc.

[BCowan]

Soup courses

+1   

[Kalen Braley]

Perhaps courses could be named like arenas and stadiums..


For example the San Diego Padres play in Petco Park...perhaps they could also sponsor Torrey Pines and make a hybrid name like "Petco Pines"...  they could even name holes after common pet names.


While they couldn't fetch the same millions in naming rights fees as the stadiums, even if they could bring in a few extra hundred thou per year, could be worth it.   

[JJShanley]

Perhaps courses could be named like arenas and stadiums..


For example the San Diego Padres play in Petco Park...perhaps they could also sponsor Torrey Pines and make a hybrid name like "Petco Pines"...  they could even name holes after common pet names.


While they couldn't fetch the same millions in naming rights fees as the stadiums, even if they could bring in a few extra hundred thou per year, could be worth it.   

We're ahead of you in the U.K., Kalen!  Local businesses will often sponsor individual holes. 


That said you could tailor specific sponsorship for the discerning golfer: "This Redan template is presented by Premium Home Security."  "The Road Hole, by Driveways, Incorporated."  "Sahara, in partnership with Kouni Travel."  Endless possibilities.

[Jeff_Brauer]

Years ago, Pepsi proposed a sponsorship deal with Giants Ridge. In exchange for a fee, the course was supposed to be renamed the "Pepsi Challenge at Giant's Ridge."


Can see a lot of cheezy comic potential with that......would ED medicines sponsor a really hard course, for example?

[Kalen Braley]

JJ,


I love it terrific idea.


Jeff,


Given how much American corporations love to extend their tentacles into just about everything these days... combined with the already cozy cultural relationship it already has with golf... I'm surprised this everywhere by now.


There are all kinds of way to get your name out on the course.  Ads on Hole signs, banners on golf carts, flags on the pins, various signage in the pro shop, logo'd golf balls, merch, etc....even painting the logo on greens for the annual member guest, city championship. 

[MClutterbuck]

Matthew proposed Mountain as a type of course.


I have seen "Mountain" courses with extremely rocky terrain, others with loam, clay, and even sand, or sand pockets, or volcanic sand layers.


I have seen "Mountain" courses with thick natural forest typical of a rainy site, others with natural pine trees more typical of a drier site, and mountain courses with no natural trees, typical of a very dry, windy site.


I have seen "Mountain" courses that are flatter than some links courses (eg Gullane #1).


I have seen "Mountain" courses play wet and soft, others faster and drier than many links.


I have seen bent grass, fescue, blue grass and rye grass "Mountain Courses".


I have seen "Mountain Courses" designed for the aerial game and others that play like links.


It is impossible to categorize. And it is not smart to dismiss a course based on its perceived category.

[Greg McMullin]

Thinking more of categories like "Next Big Thing", "So Last Year", "Passé" and the always popular, "Best of its kind I have seen anywhere."

Jeff, please please don't give the magazines any ideas for new "Best" lists. Having said this I have a feeling they're over at Golf Digest right now taking this idea and running with it.

[Jeff_Brauer]

Jeff,

There are all kinds of way to get your name out on the course.  Ads on Hole signs, banners on golf carts, flags on the pins, various signage in the pro shop, logo'd golf balls, merch, etc....even painting the logo on greens for the annual member guest, city championship.

OMG I hate any course with those local realtor ads at every tee, or on scorecard.  Not sure how much revenue they get out of that, but unless you are really struggling, I say it takes any class away.  That said, I am sure golf will follow NASCAR, baseball, etc. and go full frontal with the ads.


I actually see ads as a subtle sign of declining overall American wealth.  Sort of like every home having large TV's, 2-3 Cars, Video Games galore, but the kids need to borrow to go to college, and the adults have an average of only $70K in retirement savings.


Old photos of baseball stadiums show logos, I don't recall many as a kid in the 1960's, when the US was at its economic peak relative to the rest of the world, but then they started creeping back in.  The era when you didn't need to squeeze every dime of revenue out was short lived.


Sorry, a bit OT, but sometimes you gotta take the chance to rant when it presents itself.