The way developers are constructing golf courses is so absurd. I live in Atlanta. One course opened here a couple of years ago that was routed by developers then the golf architects had to do with what was left. The holes they built are incredible, but from green to the next tee totals about 2 miles. Who is going to want to walk an extra 2 miles? Not for $50,000.

The need to put as many lots on the course as possible is great for real estate sales, but horrible for golf long term.

One of my biggest pet peeves is on a beautiful hole where a house has a fence that is littered with no trespassing and keep out signs. Why did they move to the golf course?

These types of situations kill golf courses. Around the country there are many courses closing and the land is being developed into new streets and lots.

Golf should be built in the valley where the houses are above with views of the course. I spoke to one golf neighborhood homeowner that never met the backyard neighbor in 30 years. Why? A fairway was between them.

I receive the European superintendents’ association publication and they recently had an article about the new regulations for building golf courses in some parts of Europe. The course is built on the flat terrain and the neighborhoods are in clusters around the course. Some are single family homes, some town homes while others are high-rises giving many price points and options while creating communities.

The golf course runs amongst itself and is very walkable and easy to maintain.

If developers in America don’t take this approach, many courses that cannot be walked or see the neighborhoods experience property value losses will go under.

A few thoughts. First, did you catch the few pictures I posted of some holes on a Georgia State Park golf course? Link: http://cherishauthor.blogspot.com/2007/09/one-misty-moisty-morning.html#comments

Next: Slow play. With respect for Mr. Business Golf’s opinion (above), I beg to disagree! Both on my home course and during our travels, slow play is rarely caused by low skill level. In my experiences slow play is almost always caused by habits and attitudes.

What habits? Not playing ready golf. Waiting until after the other player(s) have hit to BEGIN club selection, practice swings, checking wind, etc., ad nauseum. Standing in place AFTER a shot until the ball has stopped rolling, you’ve told your golf buddies why it was a good or bad shot, you’ve put on the head cover, carefully replaced the club, taken another long look at where the ball is, and THEN walking (to the cart or towards the hole). Hit the damn ball and start walking — you can watch its flight and roll on the move! Jump in the cart with your club still in your hand — you can clean it and replace it while your partner is taking his/her next shot. Walk at a reasonable pace — don’t jog, but don’t saunter either. You’re supposed to be getting a LITTLE exercise, remember?

Sorry. I’m getting carried away. It’s just that Carol and I play with people of all skill levels, including beginners; and taking ten or twelve shots to reach the green doesn’t take that long if you just go to your ball, select a club, and hit it again. But some very good players take so long to execute each shot that it spoils the pace for everyone else on the course. And of course they will rarely let anyone play through (ESPECIALLY if there’s a WOMAN in the group that’s waiting behind them!) because they claim it slows down play! AARRGGHH!!

Carol plays to a handicap of 14 or 15. Mine is 18-20, whether from the tips or the forward men’s tees. If we’re by ourselves, walking, with no one ahead slowing us down, a normal round is under three (3!) hours. And that’s not hurrying, just playing ready golf! Riding in a cart doesn’t really speed things up much unless the course has long walks between greens and the next tees.

So, I would advocate discounts at courses for people who undergo training for pace of play habits. Many people we get paired up with ask how we get around so fast, and we tell them to just watch us for a few holes. I’ll tell them what I’m doing to keep the pace up, and they’ll marvel that it is so simple yet effective.

John

You have made some very interesting observations. To answer your question, no, golf is not dieing, but it needs a blood transfusion. You are correct slow play being a major problem. I have written an entire series of articles on the subject. Slow pace of play is pulling down the interest in golf my most people. And as far as the NGF, yes, their figures contradict real world observations, but for now it is the best figures out there.

Is there a solution? Yes, however any movement to solving pace of play is going to have to involve a skills validation test so golf courses can manage the tees a player should play from. It seems harsh, but it is a logical process of making sure everyone plays the course to their skill level and not to the skill level of their friends. I am sure the validation of golf skills would seem ridiculous by some, but if there is to be any incentive for a golfer to improve there game then there needs to be a vehicle that drives the need to improve. Testing would require golfers to take lessons of go to golf school to test out to play the next tees back.

If testing returns a round of golf back to a less than 4 hour then I am for carrying a validation card…even if it approves I am to play the forward tees only…at least I can prove to someone that I have tested out to finally get off the driving range.

Let me know how I can help.

I get unhappy sometimes when I’m playing badly but (knock on wood) haven’t been losing my temper — partly because I made a conscious decision, when I took up golf again last year, not to.

I’ll post updates as I go through this program to let people know how much it helps my game.