Rise Up and Save Your Sport

The more I think about the distance thing, the more I think it's bad for the game of golf - the distance thing being the more yards we can get from buying technology rather than improving our swing.

I use to race sailboats - a little. It was open racing, not one designs. Invariably the guy who spent the most money won, not the guy who was the best sailor. One design does away with a lot of that. Everyone races virtually the same boat and may the best racer win. Is golf becoming a game of distance only and distance you buy with a credit card?

In golf, it seems that these days the biggest gain to shot distance isn't from faster club head speed due to better swing fundamentals, it's coming from expensive clubs and golfballs. Want to add 20 yards or more to your drive, get a new $500 driver and use the balls that cost $45 per dozen. If you can afford it that is.

And the worst part about it is that every course has to be lengthened and/or 'tricked up' to avoid becoming mincemeat. If you want to host a world golf major, then you've got to get out the chain saws and bulldozers or you won't even be considered. Does this make for a better golf experience. It does make all us amateurs poorer if we want to stay competitive with our wealthy playing partners. And it requires golf courses to spend a lot on upgrades to length, which means their rates will have to go up. I'd rather see the local course maintain what they have and keep the playing fees within reason.

The problem is how to stop the trend. Right now money talks and the equipment folks are having the last word. Can we golfers do anything about this. Can we just say 'no' to another 20 yards or are we all too vain? More tomorrow.