There have been some interesting issues in the golf press lately. I particularly love the Tommy Gainey story. His swing, clearly, is not Hoganesque, but his spirit is inspiring. He just keeps getting up and coming back for more. I can't tell you how much I was rooting for him on Monday, at The Waste Management event. This guy is definitely golf's Every Man. And I'm a fan.I've seen some other items, though, that are sending me over the edge. First, I read last month in Golfweek that Taylormade CEO Mark King "…has a theory about why people are leaving the game of golf, or not taking it up at all. It’s not the time or the expense. No, King feels golf is too hard." Please! How many people do you know that just throw down their clubs and walk away from the game because they think it's too hard? And what does Mr. King propose? 15 inch cups. And allowing golfers to toss their balls out of bunkers. One doesn't get to Mark King's position without a lot on the ball. But, speaking for one golfer who celebrates the fact that the game is hard… Mr. King, bite me! How much "leveling of the playing field" can our culture handle? When did political correctness creep into golf? Yikes. This idea, to mix a metaphor, is definitely a bridge too far.
And then there's my favorite pet peeve. I can't remember the source… either an online golf mag or Golf World… Golf Magazine… I don't know. (I get WAY too many golf publications!) But earlier this week I came upon an article in which the author was pitching a collection of "Affordable Golf Getaways" to lesser known locales. I read with interest. For a few minutes. He pitched little known golf destinations like San Antonio. Ever hear of it? And Las Vegas. Please. And his set of recommended golf outings was full of $450 per night per person packages! I wish I could be more specific about the source of this info… it's a bit unfair to criticize with so little specificity, but I was just so steamed after a few minutes of reading this tripe that I simply walked away. And promptly forgot the source. Sorry.
So an "Industry Leader" wants to make golf easier. And another "authority" wants to send folks on $450 a night golf adventures. Am I living in Bizarro World? Or are the folks in the upper echelon of golf marketing just tone deaf? Hey, guys! Listen up! How about a wonderful golf course 2 hours from home, with a $75 per night hotel and a great local diner nearby, if I decide to stay? It's just not necessary to empty one's wallet to have a great golf adventure! Try a HIDDEN FAIRWAY!
