andybarc
Medal Winner
I was surprised today when I finally joined the forum, to see there was no post relating to last month's Golf Monthly request to come up with ideas to encourage new golfers/ innovate golf. Perhaps I have missed it?
Anyway, there is always a lot of discussion in GM about new ideas versus traditional golf (both the game and the venues). I should say, as for actually playing the game of golf, I am something of a traditionalist. I wouldn't be keen on a twenty20 type of affair. I'm the sort of guy who watches the re-runs of Shell's World of Golf on Sky (essentially two players in a stroke play format).
I do think however, that golf needs to become more accessible to people wanting to try the game. It's simply not viable to expect clubs up and down the land to open their doors to newbies hacking the course up though.
My thinking is that encouraging people to start playing surely begins at the driving range. However, even for myself (who has plenty of things to work on), the range is a rather dull affair. I would like to see driving ranges configured in such a way that you can choose to play a game whilst there. The technology surely exists to allow each golfer to have balls that have a different identity to others. All that is required then, is to set up a point scoring system (or a number of different types), based on striking the ball into different zones. It could easily be adapted to accept handicaps. You could then visit the range alone or with friends and actually compete (a little like 10 pin bowling). There could be prizes for long drives/hole in ones etc.
I suspect this would initially require considerable investment, but I think it could really take off as a different version of the game. It would certainly be far more accessible to people, particularly kids.
Any thoughts?
Anyway, there is always a lot of discussion in GM about new ideas versus traditional golf (both the game and the venues). I should say, as for actually playing the game of golf, I am something of a traditionalist. I wouldn't be keen on a twenty20 type of affair. I'm the sort of guy who watches the re-runs of Shell's World of Golf on Sky (essentially two players in a stroke play format).
I do think however, that golf needs to become more accessible to people wanting to try the game. It's simply not viable to expect clubs up and down the land to open their doors to newbies hacking the course up though.
My thinking is that encouraging people to start playing surely begins at the driving range. However, even for myself (who has plenty of things to work on), the range is a rather dull affair. I would like to see driving ranges configured in such a way that you can choose to play a game whilst there. The technology surely exists to allow each golfer to have balls that have a different identity to others. All that is required then, is to set up a point scoring system (or a number of different types), based on striking the ball into different zones. It could easily be adapted to accept handicaps. You could then visit the range alone or with friends and actually compete (a little like 10 pin bowling). There could be prizes for long drives/hole in ones etc.
I suspect this would initially require considerable investment, but I think it could really take off as a different version of the game. It would certainly be far more accessible to people, particularly kids.
Any thoughts?
