News:

This discussion group is best enjoyed using Google Chrome, Firefox or Safari.

Pages: [1]

Mike_Young

  • Karma: +0/-0
Who exactly are the protectors of the game, by the way?
« on: October 10, 2015, 09:07:20 PM »
Not really my question..was asked by Tom Doak on another thread....

WHO ARE THEY?  DO THEY EXIST?
Logged
"just standing on a corner in Winslow Arizona"

Joe Hancock

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Who exactly are the protectors of the game, by the way?
« Reply #1 on: October 10, 2015, 09:14:37 PM »
Related questions:

Does the game need protection?

Who does it need protection from?

What or who threatens the game?

Is the primary threat to the game a financial threat?
Logged
" What the hell is the point of architecture and excellence in design if a "clever" set up trumps it all?" Peter Pallotta, June 21, 2016

"People aren't picking a side of the fairway off a tee because of a randomly internally contoured green ."  jeffwarne, February 24, 2017

Mike_Young

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Who exactly are the protectors of the game, by the way?
« Reply #2 on: October 10, 2015, 09:20:18 PM »
Joe,
I think maybe we see it the same from seeing your questions.  The GAMEmay not need protecting but the powers that be want to make sure they protect the industry....
Logged
"just standing on a corner in Winslow Arizona"

Tom_Doak

  • Karma: +2/-1
Re: Who exactly are the protectors of the game, by the way?
« Reply #3 on: October 10, 2015, 11:04:37 PM »
Mike:


My initial thought was that the people who think they're the protectors are probably the very people the game needs protection FROM!     
Logged

JESII

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Who exactly are the protectors of the game, by the way?
« Reply #4 on: October 11, 2015, 12:31:08 AM »
Mike,

'They' are, you! And everyone else with their own skin in the game.

Admiringly,

Sully
Logged

Mike_Young

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Who exactly are the protectors of the game, by the way?
« Reply #5 on: October 11, 2015, 07:58:33 AM »
Quote from: Jim Sullivan on October 11, 2015, 12:31:08 AM
Mike,

'They' are, you! And everyone else with their own skin in the game.

Admiringly,

Sully

I can't disagree but there are various levels.  Here's my stab at the culprits...

First Tee and the likes
Industry Associations
USGA and State affiliates
Golf car companies
Irrigation and Equipment manufacturers
Club and ball manufacturers
Real Estate developers
MUNICIPALITIES
Signature architect/GC budgets

and the good guys???
the architect that tells a course their 6400 yard course is fine and $500,000 will fix it instead of a 5 million redo because there is a wet fairway when it rains all day and no one is playing anyway......
the club president who keeps the old metal lockers and weeny machine instead of new walnut and a kitchen and bar...
The supt who looks at the course as his baby and has no intentions of parlaying it into another better job...
The golf professional who knows the kids by name, gives sublte lessons at odd times  and is actually glad to see them instead of viewing them as another issue the club requires him to deal with.
And 10,000 golf courses with budgets under $300,000.








Logged
"just standing on a corner in Winslow Arizona"

BCowan

Re: Who exactly are the protectors of the game, by the way?
« Reply #6 on: October 11, 2015, 08:44:05 AM »
Love me them Mike young sunday morning sermons. :)

One could argue some of those 300k maint courses are maint better than ones 3 times that amount.

I know I could never mistake u for a logo blazer board expert  ;)

The advantage to metal lockers is one could look through and know what 5 wood ray Floyd has in his locker  ;D

Keep them coming
Logged

John Kirk

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Who exactly are the protectors of the game, by the way?
« Reply #7 on: October 11, 2015, 10:11:55 AM »
It seems to me the ultimate protectors are those people who play the game.
Logged

Paul Gray

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Who exactly are the protectors of the game, by the way?
« Reply #8 on: October 11, 2015, 12:44:59 PM »
Logged
In the places where golf cuts through pretension and elitism, it thrives and will continue to thrive because the simple virtues of the game and its attendant culture are allowed to be most apparent. - Tim Gavrich

Tommy Williamsen

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Who exactly are the protectors of the game, by the way?
« Reply #9 on: October 11, 2015, 01:19:32 PM »
Quote from: Mike_Young on October 11, 2015, 07:58:33 AM
Quote from: Jim Sullivan on October 11, 2015, 12:31:08 AM
Mike,

'They' are, you! And everyone else with their own skin in the game.

Admiringly,

Sully

I can't disagree but there are various levels.  Here's my stab at the culprits...

First Tee and the likes



Why the First Tee?
Logged
Where there is no love, put love; there you will find love.
St. John of the Cross

"Deep within your soul-space is a magnificent cathedral where you are sweet beyond telling." Rumi

Mike_Young

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Who exactly are the protectors of the game, by the way?
« Reply #10 on: October 11, 2015, 03:26:30 PM »
Quote from: Tommy Williamsen on October 11, 2015, 01:19:32 PM
Quote from: Mike_Young on October 11, 2015, 07:58:33 AM
Quote from: Jim Sullivan on October 11, 2015, 12:31:08 AM
Mike,

'They' are, you! And everyone else with their own skin in the game.

Admiringly,

Sully

I can't disagree but there are various levels.  Here's my stab at the culprits...

First Tee and the likes



Why the First Tee?

TW,
It's one of those "feel good" charities for corporate America. I know...there will be argument and there will be those that say it is not the golf but what it does for the kids but in the end it is a huge cost for the little results they can show....one on one most that know anything of it will agree but in a corporate environment they will just let it continue to exist...almost a total farce...
Logged
"just standing on a corner in Winslow Arizona"

Bill_McBride

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Who exactly are the protectors of the game, by the way?
« Reply #11 on: October 12, 2015, 09:57:23 AM »
First Tee:  I don't know if our small market is typical, but my buddy, the executive director of our local chapter, says the program had 1,000 kids last summer, held six tournaments with 200 playing in the Divot Derby, and had three alumni get full rides to Div I programs.  Best is that three local publics offer $5 green fees to participants.  I try not to be cynical about First Tee. 
Logged

Michael Whitaker

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Who exactly are the protectors of the game, by the way?
« Reply #12 on: October 12, 2015, 10:32:53 AM »
Mike - you can separate your "protectors" into two divisions, I think...


1) Those interested in the GAME of golf
2) Those interested in the BUSINESS of golf


The ones focused on the BUSINESS are the entities that feel most threatened by the reduction of players and the resulting effects.


As for the First Tee... I have to agree with Bill. To me it's not really a golf organization. They USE golf to teach life skills, which opens a pool of funding... but, it's not really a golf organization.
Logged
"Solving the paradox of proportionality is the heart of golf architecture."  - Tom Doak (11/20/05)

Mike_Young

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Who exactly are the protectors of the game, by the way?
« Reply #13 on: October 12, 2015, 11:22:01 AM »
Quote from: Michael Whitaker on October 12, 2015, 10:32:53 AM
Mike - you can separate your "protectors" into two divisions, I think...


1) Those interested in the GAME of golf
2) Those interested in the BUSINESS of golf


The ones focused on the BUSINESS are the entities that feel most threatened by the reduction of players and the resulting effects.


As for the First Tee... I have to agree with Bill. To me it's not really a golf organization. They USE golf to teach life skills, which opens a pool of funding... but, it's not really a golf organization.

MICHAEL,
Good answers...I agree...
Logged
"just standing on a corner in Winslow Arizona"

Ed Brzezowski

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Who exactly are the protectors of the game, by the way?
« Reply #14 on: October 12, 2015, 11:25:17 AM »
Why are local, state, golf associations looked upon as " culprits"?
Logged
We have a pool and a pond, the pond would be good for you.

Kalen Braley

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Who exactly are the protectors of the game, by the way?
« Reply #15 on: October 12, 2015, 12:00:44 PM »
Have we established yet, specifically what it is that needs protection?
 
Are we talking about:
1)  Course closure?
2) Courses becoming obsolete?
3) Courses being unable to be played due to bad conditioning?
4) Courses not being able to find golfers willing to pay the green fees?
 
Again, what in very specific terms needs "protection"
 
P.S.  I figure the USGA always called themselves protectors just so people would send in their annual membership dues. Even thou its tied to official handicaps, the algorithim is out there, you don't "need" the USGA to know your handicap.
Logged

Bruce Katona

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Who exactly are the protectors of the game, by the way?
« Reply #16 on: October 12, 2015, 12:35:52 PM »
Well the USGA & The R&A certainly didn't do their jobs in protecting the game in allowing the distance the ball now travels to dictate the game.  With all the fights over grooves, etc. the distance the ball travels is the biggest issue that was allowed to get away.
 
"Grow the Game" is a mantra but what happens when the biggest press pieces published about the game talk about the mess the players & rules officials made last week (Mickelson & the ball swapping in the President's Cup), the DJ penalty in a "bunker" (which has spectators in it) in a major and how that impacted the outcome, how the vaunted USGA allowed a US Open venue (Shinnacock) to become a putt putt course because "defending par" was the unstated purpose.
 
The USGA did a great job with playing at venues like Merion & Bethpage.  This is what the organization is supposed to do.
 
I volunteered many hours with a 1st tee Chapter trying to get it up and operational.  Golf is the sports tool and mechaism to get the kids involved in learning life skills & loving the learning process.  Could it be done better - yep - but where the programs are more than lip service, its doing good things.
 
This is JMHO.  As outlined in other recent threads, I don't appear to know much.
Logged

John McCarthy

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Who exactly are the protectors of the game, by the way?
« Reply #17 on: October 12, 2015, 12:55:00 PM »
Whoever teaches a kid to fix two ball marks a green since no one else is fixing them.  And that golf is faster, cheaper and better when you walk and carry your own bag. 
Logged
The only way of really finding out a man's true character is to play golf with him. In no other walk of life does the cloven hoof so quickly display itself.
 PG Wodehouse

Mike_Young

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Who exactly are the protectors of the game, by the way?
« Reply #18 on: October 12, 2015, 02:16:02 PM »
Quote from: Ed Brzezowski on October 12, 2015, 11:25:17 AM
Why are local, state, golf associations looked upon as " culprits"?

Ed,
I wouldn't use the word "culprit" but I don't see them as necessary for the game to be played by the majority of players.  They are often political, catering to the larger towns and clubs in a State and with no representation, or very little, from smaller average clubs.  And often he qualifying events for state tourneys etc hve become major money makers.  When a small club is cutting dollars, they are one of the first to go.  My pet peeve is some older guy from what he considers a big time private club to come prancing into a place telling them he is there to rate the course for the state golf association and then begin demanding.  One of the biggest ego trips for guys retired from middle management that I know.   ;D ;D
Logged
"just standing on a corner in Winslow Arizona"

Ed Brzezowski

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Who exactly are the protectors of the game, by the way?
« Reply #19 on: October 13, 2015, 09:41:42 AM »
Yikes, I am a rater from a small club in Philly with no gravitas or standing. Don't demand anything from anyone. Help with rules and rate ten courses a year. Just glad to help out and sit on the committee.
Logged
We have a pool and a pond, the pond would be good for you.

Mike_Young

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Who exactly are the protectors of the game, by the way?
« Reply #20 on: October 13, 2015, 02:55:10 PM »
Quote from: Ed Brzezowski on October 13, 2015, 09:41:42 AM
Yikes, I am a rater from a small club in Philly with no gravitas or standing. Don't demand anything from anyone. Help with rules and rate ten courses a year. Just glad to help out and sit on the committee.
Then you are one of the good guys....but I'll bet you know exactly what I'm talking about and have probably seen it more than once. ;D
Logged
"just standing on a corner in Winslow Arizona"

Ed Brzezowski

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Who exactly are the protectors of the game, by the way?
« Reply #21 on: October 13, 2015, 03:40:30 PM »
Honestly I have heard stories but have never witnessed it in person. And I hope never to see it,
Logged
We have a pool and a pond, the pond would be good for you.
Pages: [1]
Tags:
Tags:

An Error Has Occurred!

Call to undefined function theme_linktree()
Back