Natural Disasters and Golf--

[Dennis_Harwood]

No this is not a political statement-- Only a tie between the reactions we are seeing after terrible natural disasters and the recent threads on technology and the game--

As some commentators have said, "We in the US do not deal well with natural disasters well, because we can not control them". That is not to say we can not better prepare for them and reduce destruction and loss of life-- but to believe we can, with all our technology, prevent or control them is folly.

Likewise, although the charm of the game of golf is that results in the game (score) is often dictated by elements beyond the golfers control (wind, "bad" bounces, course design), for some reason some believe that the game will improve if we can allow technology to control all those elements where chance is a factor--

The game used to be a test of man's wit and physical abilities against a course which had on its side all the diverse elements of nature--much more powerful than the humble player, and the player recognized he could not control those elements, only sometimes outwit them for a short period--

Likewise for all our wisdom and technology, we can not prevent hurricanes, tornados, brush and forest fires, tsunamis, earthquakes etc, we can only reduce their effect.

Although disasters happen and loss of property and life will occur, some try to fix blame on someone that it even happened--certainly if we can "put someone on the moon" we can control hurricanes, earthquakes, etc--

The Game of Golf, which is built on the charm of something you can not master and which historically has its foundational appeal results which are dictated by external elements (the breaks of the game), now seems hell bent on attempting to develop technology that will elminate all the elements of chance--

And, it well may be that technology will do just that, and destroy the game.

[Larry_Rodgers]

If the natural diasters do not screw up the game maybe the plastic material manufactures will. I was reviewing an update from a material supplier on the costs and availablity of PVC pipe. Following is their price increases for the month of September.

I have had calls from other suppliers that the manufacturers are only quoting what they have in stock and future orders will be priced when delivered. It appears the contracting business is going to get even more riskier.

Irrigation   PVC Pipe   All PVC Pipe Mfgs   +7%   9/6/2005
Irrigation   PVC Pipe   All PVC Pipe Mfgs   +6%   9/12/2005
Irrigation   PVC Pipe   All PVC Pipe Mfgs   +7%   9/16/2005
Irrigation   PVC Pipe   All PVC Pipe Mfgs   +9%   9/23/2005

This is very bad for growth.

[A_Clay_Man]

The "Thumpmeter" is one that has already ruined the U.S. Open. Following the best Open in years (in terms of natures unpredictability) at Shinnecock, the committe has decided to yield to the Jack whateverthefrickhisnamewas who said he'd do something about it. Well he did. He ruined it for everyone.

[Jeff_Brauer]

Dennis,

I have always thought I could control the weather - if I build a golf course in an area, then its a sure bet it will break a drought cycle during construction.....in fact, I make more money as a rainmaker than I do as a gca.!

Like Larry, we are beginning to feel Katrina punch in the biz.  For one, we have a bridge that can't get timber delivery, since the wood comes from MS.  And we hear of astronomic price increases, qualified bids by contractors to reduce material price risk, etc.  Those of us in the biz are also wondering what opportunities there may be in LA and MS.  However, most think that clubs aren't usually insured for hurricane damage, other than the clubhouse, so if any money is left, in house crews will rebuild to a large degree.

BTW, I think golf will survive technology, because it always has.  Why is it different this time?  Its not new, and it has always been creeping into golf.  Is there anything really less inherently challenging in creating, say spin or low ball flight with todays clubs vs. the perfect run up shot with old clubs?  Or making a putt on a fast, flatter green vs a contoured, slower green?  More importantly, has the serenity and beauty of standing on a golf course early morning or late evening changed all that much (other than the addition of surrounding houses?)

[Tommy_Naccarato]

Dennis
And for a brief time there, I thought I had lost you!

[Ben Voelker]

Jeff,

Thank you for making the point that needs to be made.  There seems to have been so many doomsday technology theories on this website in recent days and you just made the point that needs to be made better than I could.

Technology is not ruining the game, it's not in any way taking away the element of nature.  There's still bad bounces, even more so in some ways on courses with sprinkler heads, cart paths, etc.  There's still bad kicks into bunkers or bad lies in the rough or wind knocking down a shot.  Again, with the game being more aerial now than it ever has been, wind probably has an even greater effect.  The point is, technology has not, and cannot, take away the force of mother nature, it just can't happen.

When it really comes down to it, whether you know the distance to the yard and the exact wind speed and what slope to hit the ball to, you still have to EXECUTE the shot and you still will get bad breaks.

I interested to know how much lower handicaps are now as opposed to, say, 40 years ago.  But even if they are, on average, 5 shots lower than they used to be, all it means is we shoot lower scores than the people of the 60's.  I don't see how this effects any of us, unless you're a scratch golfer.  The point is, if I'm a 10 handicap by today's standards and would've been a 15 back in 1965, so what?  I'm still always battling mother nature and am not good enough to have had the game ruined.  I still am not good enough that I'm "better" than the course and mother nature, both of which have their way with me almost every time out.

Dennis, I agree with you completely that one of the most exciting aspects of golf to me is that constant effort to "beat" the course.  I don't think any of us, unless we are big + handicaps are so good that we're not challenged.  That's what makes golf great, even if you go out and shoot 69 you always leave shots out on the course and feel like you could've shot 67 if you had just executed those two shots that you gave up.  Technology isn't changing that at all, just slightly lowering our standard of what's good, what's the problem with that?

[Dennis_Harwood]

Tommy-- Lost mentally, or permenantly?

Ben-- I guess I tie it to the electronic distance thread-- If technology now eliminates the skill of distance estimates (yes I know its progress and keeping up with caddies, yardage cards etc), and current distance either eliminates some shots or requires longer courses, are we going in the right direction?

If technology can eliminate (or at least minimize) the factor of nature controlling play, do we have a better game?

[Tommy_Naccarato]

Dennis,
Spiritually. The Physical and Mental were never a problem!  

And for that, I have a signed copy of The Future of Golf in America (Collectors Edition) for you. The deal is that you HAVE to get it from me in person!

[Ben Voelker]

Dennis,

Maybe it's due to the fact that I'm a young'un, but I just don't consider depth perception or distance perception part of "mother nature".  I also don't think that has anything to do with bad breaks.  To me that's a skill that's no longer being tested.  If you've got a 140 yard shot into a 20 mph wind, you'll still have to make a decision whether to hit 2 more clubs and throw it up there, or hit maybe even 3 more and punch it up to the green.  You still can hit an average shot and get a bad kick out of the fairway, into a bunker, into a divot, etc.

Also, the length that some golfers have is a problem, I entirely agree with you about that.  However, I don't think that most of us really hit it far enough for it to take shots away.  I play a lot of golf as a single and hit a drive about 260 or so and very rarely play with people that can outdrive me by 40 yards or whatever.  Anyway, I just don't think it effects most of us.

Lastly, I would agree that technology is not always good for the game.  But trying to be optimistic, technology has also done quite a bit for the game.  It has made it possible for people to play a little better for a little longer and ultimately, have more fun.  Like I said in my last post, if I can gain five strokes due to all technology (precise distances, better clubs, etc.) and I'm still a ten, then all it means is I'm enjoying the game a little more.  I do agree that we are walking a thin line though, and technology will have to be closely monitored to ensure every course in the country isn't rendered obsolete.  But I certainly don't think the game is being ruined.



Ben