Why do we continue to shower the game with all this crap?
Why have we made the game so complicated?
Why do we feel the need to raise question along the lines of ‘Is the short game more important today’?
The game has, if anything, been water down, it’s not as challenging or interesting which I suppose translates that the enjoyment has been squeezed out of a round. The simple and basic are no longer the simple and basics of the game.
Without the short game there would be no golf so of course it’s important, but then the same applies re the long game although the short game has been more consistent, thank God.
The game has taken second place in the minds of many players, the importance of the game is posting a low score, of only wanting to face easy challenges, the minimising the difficult because it adds strokes to the scorecard and we can’t have that, can we. Blind shots disliked and with fairway bunkers disappearing from our courses, penal is a dirty word and the key buzz word is strategic, but guys it has to be penal to be strategic. All focusing on that great fear of losing rounds, of losing revenue, yet the real problem with the game is totally overlooked and ignored. It’s back to basics guys, throw out all the bullshit and address a course with a little respect, starting with understanding its story, not just its history.
Golf has been or is about to be derailed, the R&A can’t see it but they are not even looking, yet if you abuse something soon or later it’s going to react. Today that’s clear with courses closing, player giving up the game and courses still being built in unsuitable areas at great costs, will we ever learn – but at least the short game is still important today.
Melvyn