OT - Annika's Slow Play Prescription

[MCirba]

Annika Sorenstam has always seemed to me to be a very practical, no-nonsense woman who would grace any governing body in sports.  I found that belief amplified when I read this quote from her this morning concerning the cancerous plague of slow play on all of competitive golf.

“[Rangefinders] will slow it down because you will want to double-check the number now. Did I push the button right? Did I hit the flag, or did I hit the tree behind it, or did I hit a pole behind the green?” Sorenstam said to SBNation.  “Caddies always want to have ground yardage because that’s what they do. I don’t think [rangefinders] are gonna help. It’s more of a matter of keeping up with the group ahead and having a certain time. You know, the AJGA does a good job. When you play, and you get to Hole No. 4, you need to be at an hour, and then after eight holes, maybe you need to be at two hours. We have to push it. If they don’t want to do that, minimizing the field hurts other people.”

The full article can be found here.   PGA Tour Rangefinders? Annika Sorenstam has better ways to fix slow play - SBNation.com

[Chris Hughes]

This is an interesting topic...

Up front, I think Annika is a dolt and blowhard, but when she was setting records I was in her camp vs. Karrie -- would flip that were  a time machine in my possession.

That said, and not necessarily for the right reasons, I do believe she has arrived at the proper conclusion.

On the PGA Tour caddies are going to walk it off to get the front-edge yardage, no matter what...then do the pin related calculus from there. 

This process (on the PGA Tour) will never be superseded by a rangefinder. 

Then, and just because it's an available option, caddies will get out the rangefinder and doublecheck, just because they can.  And THEN, if there's any doubt about what the laser might be bouncing off of the caddie will hand said rangefinder (a CYA move) to the player in order to have him confirm what's coming up on the RF screen.

Net/net, introducing rangefinders will only serve to slow down play on the PGA Tour.

PS...when a REALLY wayward shot is hit into the next fairway or something like that, a rangefinder will save a bunch of time.  However, that probably won't happen enough to offset the time that is lost on all the routine shots.

NOTE:  I despise that fact that the PGA of America now allows rangefinders in their (now borderline) major championship -- complete nonsense.  I also despise the fact the USGA allows rangefinders in our/their various National Championships, and I have caddied in a whole bunch of them.

PPS:  Rest in peace J.D. (John Doherty)...a gentleman and fine human. 

[Ryan Van Culin]

I don't believe any players and caddies will use the laser as a last resort. I think they'll shoot it first, then, if it seems off, they'll double check that number with the book. I feel like the caddie and player will have a good ballpark of what their number is as they approach the ball, they'll shoot it, fine tune it based on the conditions of the day, then hit the shot.


Maybe I'm wrong, I'm just a part time caddie at a private club, but I can't imagine pacing off a number and doing the calculations before just shooting it with the laser.

[Sam Morrow]

Still doesn't help with the amount of time it takes the pros to putt.

[Chris Hughes]

I'm just a part time caddie at a private club, but I can't imagine pacing off a number and doing the calculations before just shooting it with the laser.

The economics in play are considerably different...

[Mark Pearce]

The suggestion that the reason for slow play is how they get yardages is....absurd.  Once they have that number, the debate starts about how to play the shot.  That's having already waited for someone else to play before they start to prepare to play their own shot.  There are a whole bunch of contributing factors.  Getting yardages is just one (relatively minor) one.