I don't really care how hard it is for the pro's, nor do I care how the greens look, or how fast they really are. I do care, however, about the message it sends.
Despite what the industry attempts to publicize, it does the opposite and wonders why there's a problem with participation. The conflict I have with all this on a professional level is that I understand how difficult and tenuous these conditions are to achieve. I appreciate the talent, I just disagree with the end product....and, if it was behind closed doors, I would care a lot less. But it's out there, with JN endorsing it...
The message is awful.
14? Sounds like Mike Davis.
I'm so sick of watching 15 footers on TV roll in like pool tables.
Watching those fantastic Roberto De Vicenzo(RIP) clips was fantastic when you needed to make an actual read and stroke not a silly microtap.
That's all the rant I have after an hour on Sirius XM (different rant)
Ben of course it impacts participation-higher cost to maintain.
If people demand it, and costs go up to meet that perceived demand, they then say the golf costs too much.
To say nothing of making golf LESS interesting.
I'm totally with you on the 8-10 speeds and interesting greens with actual tilt and slope (not flattish tiers-which I really hate)
I honestly have no problem with interesting greens amped up speedwise for a special event.
But the everyday that fast nonsense and design around crazy fast everyday speeds promoted by people who should know better (Davis, Nicklaus) drives me nuts