Lets see you hit these Tiger!
Watching the golf during the Masters, it was suggested by Wayne O’Grady that the golf ball needs to be changed in order to stop professionals tearing apart golf courses due to the incredible additional length achievable these days, such has been the advance in golf technology and equipment. He seemed quite intent on the need for this change. However, at the end of the tournament, he spoke of what a great Masters it was compared to previous years, due to the ability of the players to make more birdies and not subject the viewers to a continuous grind for pars.
This led me to the question of what exactly do viewers want to see? Wasn’t it incredibly exciting when Phil Mickelson attacked each and every pin on Sunday in the Masters and pulled off some amazing iron shots. Isn’t that what everyone wants to see…birdies galore winning tournaments? Mmm, I’m not sure. I actually enjoy watching the pros struggle sometimes. For instance, the courses used for the US Opens are incredibly difficult as the rough is let grow to extreme levels, putting a premium on accurate driving and solid iron play and I like watching this. Many pros complain the rough is too long but so what? You are professionals, if you miss the fairway, you will more than likely take bogey unless you are a good wedge player…this is the way golf should be!
I think one of the biggest issues with the new golf courses is that the hazards are simply not hazardous enough. Playing golf in Carton House on Saturday, I went into bunkers on two holes as a result of errant tee shots. Such is the depth of the bunkers there, I was only able to advance the ball 50 yards forward. On TV, the pros are playing out of fairway bunkers so immaculate and flat, they can hardly be called hazards. Similarly, the rough in some courses is cut too short in my view, just so the course looks pretty and the pros are kept happy…god forbid they would have to struggle to claim a first prize of €500,000!
Therefore, forget all these claims to change the equipment etc. Lets focus on more natural aspects. Deepen the bunkers if possible or alternatively, don’t rake them. Let the rough grow so that pro’s will do all they can to avoid such hazards. In some ways it artificially lengthens the course as some players will begin to put a premium on accuracy again and sacrifice length off the tee. For those who want to be aggressive, well this makes good viewing as they are as likely to take bogey as birdie…risk/reward in my eyes!
And at the end of the tournament week, what will we have….a champion who has been accurate off the tee, hit great approach shots and holed his fair share of putts to excite us with birdie blitzes scattered throughout the 4 days, mixed in of course with the odd double! Welcome to our our world of golf lads!
As always, you may have different suggestions so let me know.
