This is a note of today from Ron Prichard who very much enjoys reading some threads on GOLFCLUBATLAS but does not have the time to post much (he says he also doesn't like to type much
).
I spoke to him just now and he said it's OK to post this in its entirety as he would like to see this particular thread keep going in a useful and truthful way:
From Ron Prichard:
"Hi Tom;
Hope you're having a peaceful Easter Weekend.
I was just checking a few conversations on gca. The thread on distance, (playing equipment), technology vs agronomic improvement, I imagine has been discussed many times before; but this is a major factor of serious concern today. Both of these "improvements", are forcing changes that can only be viewed as sorrowful. In each case, it's a matter of "one step forward for the equipment and turf technicians, - two steps backward for the Royal and Ancient Game".
And while the equipment manufacturers and turf specialists, delight in their achievements, - the game suffers.
Today, on a putting surface cut at 125/1000ths of a inch, (that's an 1/8th of an inch for those of us who speak in plain english), a ball will continue to roll once, put in motion, on a slightly less than, 3% slope. (That's three feet drop in one hundred feet). For Jim Sullivan's understanding, when we uncovered the original Flynn putting surfaces on the nine holes which had been abandoned and grown over at Huntingdon Valley; we found those green's surfaces in excess of 5% slope almost everywhere, and portions that were once cuppable, at 7% slope. (Thus sadly, we had to slow down, flatten many portions of the original Flynn surfaces).
We are now in an era when superintendents proudly will say, and I heard this yesterday, "I'm mowing at 101/1000ths of an inch". (I would have bet they were a tenth). And so now, we're flattening putting surfaces to between one and a half percent - two and a half percent over a majority of the surface. (With large enough putting surfaces we still have plenty of room to work in more dramatic topographic character, but just watch the "break" you see on television most weekends - the green surfaces will put you to sleep).
This as you know, is really a complicated set of sometimes conflicting dynamics - unfortunately the aims of most are either quite confused, or selfish, and have caused a loss of sight of what's most important - the protection of the game. From my point of view, and I know you do not agree with me, The United States Golf Association has been perhaps most responsible for failure to shoulder their distinct responsibility. (After all for years they have described themselve as "The Protector's of the Game"). And it began in the Frank Hannigan era whether you or anyone else accepts it. I personally took place in conversations in the early years before they had egg on their faces and began to spout - excuses and justification. Whether they will accept it or not, for years now they have had their heads buried so deep it's impossible to open one's eyes.
We, in my position can resist, and sometimes insist that folks not alter the brilliant green's surfaces of their old golf course, but there are then occassions where some hack comes in - and will match a club's short sighted ambition.
The basis of the entire "problem", which encompasses much of what you fellows are talking about day after day; is recognition that we here in America have not only embraced a different form of golf, but we are shoving it down the throats of folks from Dubai to Dublin.
I'd better sign off, I'm getting into some thought and expression which I do not have time to properly elaborate.
Take care;
Ron"