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It's Time To Do Something For The Game Of Golf
A call to action
By BARNEY ADAMS
A call to action
By BARNEY ADAMS
Editors Note: Barney Adams is an icon in our game. He
started Adams Golf and built it into one of the best
equipment companies on the basis of his ideas of what
golf clubs should do for players. His Tight Lies fairway
club made the game more enjoyable for hundreds of
thousands of recreational players. This article is an
excerpt from a longer piece.
Factoring in the population increase, golf in the US has
lost over 25% participation since 1990 and during that
period over 3800 new courses were built. Kind of cuts to
the chase doesn't it, things aren't going so well.
What are the reasons and many are given. At the top of
the list is too much time followed by too expensive, not
enjoyable, just not in the mainstream of today's culture.
I'll buy the first reason and I think a general lack of
enjoyment manifests itself as too expensive and
influences most of the other reasons. If I don't enjoy
something why would I take time and pay money for the
experience. In fact under that analysis lays golf's greatest
feature, its challenge. The one great shot, performing
when you have to, using all your concentration and skill to
perform as well as you know you can. That's the great
beauty of playing the game and why more haven't left. I
don't want to change this, just make it more realistic.
What if there were a proactive approach to the issues of
time and enjoyment? What if it was data confirmed,
virtually cost free and based on the game played by the
greatest players, the PGA Tour? The question is how do
we get it implemented, no one organization can do the
job alone; it will take a ground swell. Published articles
from the golf writers of the world would be a good start.
I recently played a lackluster round of golf on a nicely
manicured 6700 yard course. At a trembling 9 handicap it
wasn't an unusual performance (83) and among the
guys I played with quite acceptable. Mentally replaying the
round as we are wont to do it dawned on me that I
couldn't reach some of the holes in regulation and on
others hit hybrids or fairway woods for my second shots.
The course at 6700 was within what I normally play
maybe a bit on the long side but not outrageous.
started Adams Golf and built it into one of the best
equipment companies on the basis of his ideas of what
golf clubs should do for players. His Tight Lies fairway
club made the game more enjoyable for hundreds of
thousands of recreational players. This article is an
excerpt from a longer piece.
Factoring in the population increase, golf in the US has
lost over 25% participation since 1990 and during that
period over 3800 new courses were built. Kind of cuts to
the chase doesn't it, things aren't going so well.
What are the reasons and many are given. At the top of
the list is too much time followed by too expensive, not
enjoyable, just not in the mainstream of today's culture.
I'll buy the first reason and I think a general lack of
enjoyment manifests itself as too expensive and
influences most of the other reasons. If I don't enjoy
something why would I take time and pay money for the
experience. In fact under that analysis lays golf's greatest
feature, its challenge. The one great shot, performing
when you have to, using all your concentration and skill to
perform as well as you know you can. That's the great
beauty of playing the game and why more haven't left. I
don't want to change this, just make it more realistic.
What if there were a proactive approach to the issues of
time and enjoyment? What if it was data confirmed,
virtually cost free and based on the game played by the
greatest players, the PGA Tour? The question is how do
we get it implemented, no one organization can do the
job alone; it will take a ground swell. Published articles
from the golf writers of the world would be a good start.
I recently played a lackluster round of golf on a nicely
manicured 6700 yard course. At a trembling 9 handicap it
wasn't an unusual performance (83) and among the
guys I played with quite acceptable. Mentally replaying the
round as we are wont to do it dawned on me that I
couldn't reach some of the holes in regulation and on
others hit hybrids or fairway woods for my second shots.
The course at 6700 was within what I normally play
maybe a bit on the long side but not outrageous.
 |  |  |  |  |
Barney Adams - golf entrepreneur.
Rather than continue replaying the round I started doing
some data research. Since the PGA Tour is the standard
for golf excellence I used available data. Officially their
driving distance is 287 yards but almost any tour player
can drive a ball 300, longer for the studs.
Studies show that the average amateur drives between
205 and 230, not the college player or elite amateur, the
every-day players, those who by their vast majority
support the game. Using 230 because I am male and
festooned with ego I calculated a 70 yard gap. On irons
the differential is at least 20 yards per club and closer on
wedges but when Tour players are hitting high 5 irons
215 over water it's no contest. Adding the two we get 90
yards for two shots, their game vs. ours.
On my 6700 yard course with 10 par fours we have
10X90 or 900 yards. Using the same formula on the par
three and par five holes, we easily add another 500 yards
and there is an obvious problem.
some data research. Since the PGA Tour is the standard
for golf excellence I used available data. Officially their
driving distance is 287 yards but almost any tour player
can drive a ball 300, longer for the studs.
Studies show that the average amateur drives between
205 and 230, not the college player or elite amateur, the
every-day players, those who by their vast majority
support the game. Using 230 because I am male and
festooned with ego I calculated a 70 yard gap. On irons
the differential is at least 20 yards per club and closer on
wedges but when Tour players are hitting high 5 irons
215 over water it's no contest. Adding the two we get 90
yards for two shots, their game vs. ours.
On my 6700 yard course with 10 par fours we have
10X90 or 900 yards. Using the same formula on the par
three and par five holes, we easily add another 500 yards
and there is an obvious problem.
When we play 6700 it's like the Tour playing 8100 and
you know what, they wouldn't. Make no mistake, my 1400
yard difference is very generous to the amateur golfer. It's
like us vs. an NBA player except we shoot at 12' baskets.
Batting against a major league pitcher throwing from 45'
or we pitch from second base. It's nuts, we play harder
courses (longer) than the Tour on a daily basis, we can
investigate how this came about but the bottom line is we
have met the enemy and it's the wrong tees. The correct
tees deliver faster rounds and more enjoyment.
The solution is NOT a rush to the front tees be they white,
red, green or whatever. A rush to the front tees earns
immediate resistance from the male ego and with
justification, it isn't Tour Length. The solution is to set our
existing courses up at real Tour Length which will
generally run 6000-6400 yards easily accomplished by
golf professionals if supported by their respective clubs.
Some holes won't change like great little par four's and
par three's. How about a 435 yard par 5!! Ridiculous you
say, ok a 230 yard drive leaves 205 except this hole has a
creek in front and nasty traps surrounding. It calls for a
high, soft 205 yard shot…a classic risk/ reward. I'll even
give you a 245 yard drive (hard spot in the fairway) now
it's a high soft 190. These are the kind of shots Tour
players execute on a regular basis. We will never be as
good but wouldn't be nice to at least be tempted.
The key to a Tour Length course is to start with a 230
yard drive, second shots generally 150 yards on in and
come up with a fun and challenging layout. There should
be hard holes, reachable par five's, the whole package. I
just watched a Tour event on TV and saw a bunch of
short iron second shots. Yes, the leaders were well
under par but some of the greatest players in golf were
even to over par.
I did the same analysis for women based on LPGA
lengths and came up with courses at 4200-4600 yards.
Maybe at those distances women golfers wouldn't drop
out as they have over the years.
I can give dozens of examples of implementation as can
knowledgeable folks in the industry. This is an enormous
task, changing the culture of amateur golf; it needs
support from every venue.
you know what, they wouldn't. Make no mistake, my 1400
yard difference is very generous to the amateur golfer. It's
like us vs. an NBA player except we shoot at 12' baskets.
Batting against a major league pitcher throwing from 45'
or we pitch from second base. It's nuts, we play harder
courses (longer) than the Tour on a daily basis, we can
investigate how this came about but the bottom line is we
have met the enemy and it's the wrong tees. The correct
tees deliver faster rounds and more enjoyment.
The solution is NOT a rush to the front tees be they white,
red, green or whatever. A rush to the front tees earns
immediate resistance from the male ego and with
justification, it isn't Tour Length. The solution is to set our
existing courses up at real Tour Length which will
generally run 6000-6400 yards easily accomplished by
golf professionals if supported by their respective clubs.
Some holes won't change like great little par four's and
par three's. How about a 435 yard par 5!! Ridiculous you
say, ok a 230 yard drive leaves 205 except this hole has a
creek in front and nasty traps surrounding. It calls for a
high, soft 205 yard shot…a classic risk/ reward. I'll even
give you a 245 yard drive (hard spot in the fairway) now
it's a high soft 190. These are the kind of shots Tour
players execute on a regular basis. We will never be as
good but wouldn't be nice to at least be tempted.
The key to a Tour Length course is to start with a 230
yard drive, second shots generally 150 yards on in and
come up with a fun and challenging layout. There should
be hard holes, reachable par five's, the whole package. I
just watched a Tour event on TV and saw a bunch of
short iron second shots. Yes, the leaders were well
under par but some of the greatest players in golf were
even to over par.
I did the same analysis for women based on LPGA
lengths and came up with courses at 4200-4600 yards.
Maybe at those distances women golfers wouldn't drop
out as they have over the years.
I can give dozens of examples of implementation as can
knowledgeable folks in the industry. This is an enormous
task, changing the culture of amateur golf; it needs
support from every venue.