What would make the game more "fun"?

The_Architect

Seeing as I've been accused of being self-righteous on another thread, I'll start my own.

What would you like to see that would improve the enjoyment we have on the golf course? Would you like to see a return to certain traditional values? If so, which ones? On the other hand, what annoys you most about playing golf?

Obviously you can highlight your own ability for any of these questions but that's not really what I'm getting at...

Any input appreciated. Thanks.

ANXIOUS

The_Architect wrote: »

Seeing as I've been accused of being self-righteous on another thread, I'll start my own.

What would you like to see that would improve the enjoyment we have on the golf course? Would you like to see a return to certain traditional values? If so, which ones? On the other hand, what annoys you most about playing golf?

Obviously you can highlight your own ability for any of these questions but that's not really what I'm getting at...

Any input appreciated. Thanks.

Being able to hit the ball straight.

thegen

Playing with a half set, carrying them of course, as only real golfers carry their bag makes for lots of fun

soundsham

strippers at each green, de-robing dependant on approach shots:eek:

soundsham

oh ya and ice cream

The_Kew_Tour

Make slow play thing of the past.

Give Juniors more appreciation. (we were all young once you know). Not in my former club which was great when I was kid but I saw few weeks back in Golf Club in Kerry where these two young lads about 11-12 years old playing and 2 grumpy old men roared at them from tee box as they were half way down the fairway to let them through. Would not mnd but kids were running to their ball and they were pretty decent too. Anyway my partner in fairness went over and told them they were out of order big time and reported it in clubhouse. When we got inside told member and in fairness agreed with us but could do little as both were in committee. Just pity people still dont give kids chance.

Alos I think be good idea for new members to have maybe an open day at courses where they learn the rules of game etc and maybe even get free lesson. Just an idea.

Su Campu

Level tee boxes. No excuse for some of the uneven surfaces you see at some courses.

The_Architect

adrian280582 wrote: »

Make slow play thing of the past.

Give Juniors more appreciation.

I agree that we need to encourage the youngsters. And obviously I agree on the slow play. What would you do to start eradicating slow play?

The_Architect

Su Campu wrote: »

Level tee boxes. No excuse for some of the uneven surfaces you see at some courses.

Usually that's just bad construction - But there is an excuse. No tee-box can be level because it needs about a 1% slope for drainage.

There are some innovative designs that deliberately build different slopes in to their tees so that the golfer can decide to choose a spot that either assists a draw or a fade.

Hacker111

Slow Play, Slow Play and Slow Play.....I am not the quickest over the ball but I move fast between shots and prepare to mplay while others are.... I walked off on Sunday due to delays...never do that usually..4hrs to play 14 holes! If i'm out early I can play 18 in 3.5hrs...... it is just so ignorant to hold up people, one delay on a hole should be enough to allow things move on....

f22

Slow play: Put some sort of deterant in place for persitent offenders.

No Shows/Lateness: Saw a list on the board in Baltray, if you're late for your tee time you are banned from the next competition. Not sure what the penalty is for a no show but maybe the next two competitions.

Brendog

alcohol ........crazy techno music.....and lots of pizza

you should get something like this

..................:D.......................:pac:

Morrisseeee

I'm liking nearly all of those suggestions !! especially the naughty ones ah no seriously this one:

Playing with a half set

I would love to see local events or even the pro events have competitions where you can only use half your set or have no woods at all.

Russman

soundsham wrote: »

strippers at each green, de-robing dependant on approach shots:eek:

Gets my vote

Seriously though, eradicating slow play would really help, there's no need for the length of time some people take.

Also playing an evening round with a half set in a little carry bag is great fun. How many times have we done that and shot a ridiculously good score compared to how we do in over 4 hours with a full set ??!!

Su Campu

The_Architect wrote: »

Usually that's just bad construction - But there is an excuse. No tee-box can be level because it needs about a 1% slope for drainage.

There are some innovative designs that deliberately build different slopes in to their tees so that the golfer can decide to choose a spot that either assists a draw or a fade.

1% ok, but some seem to take that to mean 10%! It's no coincidence that the great courses I've played (Mount Juliet, Druids Glen) have perfectly level tee boxes (ok with that 1% slope, which isn't noticeable).

It should be up to the player to choose the shape of shot he wants to play, but some courses have the tee markers too close together, limiting the choice of spots to play from.

The_Architect

I'm glad to see people suggesting the half-set, even though "thegen" was having a sarcastic dig at me. Adds a lot to the experience to play a quick evening round with more thought required for your shots.

Su Campo, I agree that markers can be too close together sometimes. As for the slopes, 4% can sometimes feel like you're falling off the tee from the slope so it is possible to mess up the construction on cheaper builds. It's quite often about perception though. Tees might slope severely front to back on uphill holes and vice-versa on downhill holes and you won't notice it. Anyway, if it's annoying the golfer and it's not deliberate, it's either bad design or construction. So yeah, you're right.

The_Kew_Tour

The_Architect wrote: »

I agree that we need to encourage the youngsters. And obviously I agree on the slow play. What would you do to start eradicating slow play?

Hmmm good question have to say on that.

Being honest from my experience I think lot of slow play is from guys who have no care in world and dont look back and see who behind them and think they own the course not in arrogent way I tend to find more of a lack of commen sense if get me.

In competition there needs to be more penalities for slow play. First a warning and then stokres added. I would even go as far to say a ban on competitions if player does it often enough.

CaptainPendulum

Hacker111 wrote: »

I am not the quickest over the ball but I move fast between shots and prepare to mplay while others are

This is the key. Went to West of Ireland this year and followed a few groups a round. Brought this home to me big time. As a spectator I could hardly keep up with them in-between shots, but when they got there, they took more practice swings. I think this approach would reduce the amount of rushed shots leading to lost balls etc

Su Campu

adrian280582 wrote: »

Hmmm good question have to say on that.

Being honest from my experience I think lot of slow play is from guys who have no care in world and dont look back and see who behind them and think they own the course not in arrogent way I tend to find more of a lack of commen sense if get me.

In competition there needs to be more penalities for slow play. First a warning and then stokres added. I would even go as far to say a ban on competitions if player does it often enough.

I've played with my fair share of slow players - haven't we all - and I'm pretty convinced that most of them would actually play better were they to hurry it up a bit. Where a player has got a word in his ear and doesn't hang around on his next shot more often than not he hits a good shot. Of course then he goes back to the old routine, and you can't be telling someone the same thing on every hole.

At my club they have a rule of 4 hrs for 18 holes. Anyone losing ground on the group in front are spoken to

Kace

+1 on the slow play.

My personal annoyances :

- people who get to the tee box with the honour and then have to spend another 20 seconds marking the card before they get up and take their shot
- people who smoke and just drop their butts on the ground when finished. Cigarette butts are litter too and are not biodegradable like a banana skin
- people who talk and move when others are taking their shots

thegen

I'm glad the sarcasm was not wasted, I Am with the odd fun comp, three club, rumble etc, but you are allowed 14 clubs for a reason, most golfers I know want to improve and lower therir handicap then possibly play inter club and scr cups. Hence getting comfartable with all clubs in the bag

The_Architect

thegen wrote: »

I'm glad the sarcasm was not wasted, I Am with the odd fun comp, three club, rumble etc, but you are allowed 14 clubs for a reason, most golfers I know want to improve and lower therir handicap then possibly play inter club and scr cups. Hence getting comfartable with all clubs in the bag

I don't really disagree with this. Especially in competitions, whilst they're available, use them.

But because shotmaking has been taken out of the game so much, a half set is good fun for manufacturing shots again. There's something rewarding about just throwing the clubs over your shoulder and setting out for a quick round as well.

Spot_the_Dog

The_Architect wrote: »

I agree that we need to encourage the youngsters. And obviously I agree on the slow play. What would you do to start eradicating slow play?

In my local club slow play in competition has been a BIG problem for the last while so last week they implemented a new "rule" where you have to write your Start time and Finish time on the scorecard. This has 2 effects: (i) highlights to the committee which group caused a backlog on the golf course meaning they can identify serial offenders, and (ii) makes every golfer aware from the first tee-box that he/she is essentially on the clock.
I must say I didn't actually like it myself as found the first 6-7 holes very rushed and frantic and thought it harmed my score but its an idea and great to see them doing something proactive.

The_Kew_Tour

Spot_the_Dog wrote: »

In my local club slow play in competition has been a BIG problem for the last while so last week they implemented a new "rule" where you have to write your Start time and Finish time on the scorecard. This has 2 effects: (i) highlights to the committee which group caused a backlog on the golf course meaning they can identify serial offenders, and (ii) makes every golfer aware from the first tee-box that he/she is essentially on the clock.
I must say I didn't actually like it myself as found the first 6-7 holes very rushed and frantic and thought it harmed my score but its an idea and great to see them doing something proactive.

Good idea in sense, but do you think some people will lie about their time?

Also could this punish player(s) who are behind a slow group?

Spot_the_Dog

adrian280582 wrote: »

Good idea in sense, but do you think some people will lie about their time?

Also could this punish player(s) who are behind a slow group?

People could in a sense lie about their time but it would be easy to reference it with the group directly ahead of and behind them so I'm not sure how effective the lie would actually be.

Re playing behind a slow group, it is inevitable (unfortunately) that there are backlogs on a golf course, this idea merely identifies the cause of the backlog i.e. the first group to play a 4hr + round or who finishes more than 15 mins after previous group. Also I think it's being implemented as more of a deterrent that a means to punish. From the limited experience of one weekend once people become more aware of the speed of play then that's half the battle.

Mister Sifter

+ Do away with fourballs in all strokeplay events.

+ Strokeplay would replace stableford as the format of choice.

The_Architect

Mister Sifter wrote: »

+ Do away with fourballs in all strokeplay events.

+ Strokeplay would replace stableford as the format of choice.

I think doing away with fourballs in strokeplay events is definitely a good idea. I think the latter is the wrong way round though unless I mis-understand you. Stableford is a quicker format than Strokeplay.

death1234567

What would make the game more "fun"?

Me being better at it.

Mister Sifter

The_Architect wrote: »

I think doing away with fourballs in strokeplay events is definitely a good idea. I think the latter is the wrong way round though unless I mis-understand you. Stableford is a quicker format than Strokeplay.

Nope. I'd like to see more strokeplay. Stableford may be quicker, but proper golf is strokeplay. Every shot should count.

The_Architect

Mister Sifter wrote: »

Nope. I'd like to see more strokeplay. Stableford may be quicker, but proper golf is strokeplay. Every shot should count.

Ah, I thought your post related to slow-play but maybe not.

Stableford seems to be much more prevalent in Ireland than other countries. The UK uses it but less and the USA hardly knows what it is. I prefer strokeplay as well but most of all, I wish we had more matchplay events again.