Hacker Khan
Yurt Dwelling, Yoghurt Knitter
Of course they don't (most copy others innovations!), and they must be a good commercial product to be a leading brand. But to me its like saying - 'The best technological improvement that we have come up in recent years is painting our woods white. We have hit the ceiling regards improvements that stick within the rules and are therefore looking outside them'.
Things like high COR could make a return - which actually made no difference IMO. Also, resale value of such kit will be minimal I guess.
So fellow forumers, in your opinion, what form will the changes make (higher cc is a given but why stop there?)?
I think all they are doing is trying to increase their customer base. They know that participation numbers are down for a multitude of reasons. They also know there is a big market out there of happy hackers like my good self who do not play in comps or are members of a club, but just play for the sheer enjoyment. And for us lot if I can get a club that makes the game a bit easier then great. It will still be a golf club with a head on one end and a handle at the other and it won't make that much difference if you are not that good anyway. But at my level a lot of enjoyment just comes from hitting a shot relatively straight in the air and a fair distance, it's not if I drop my handicap by 0.1 or if I score 42 points. And that's the market they are after.
And with a bit of clever marketing, which like them or not, TM excel at, I suspect they may well find a new bunch of customers to aim at. And if that means that more people participate then it's a win win for everyone. Well apart from some people who I get the distinct opinion that they think that having the wrong types more people in the game will mean they won't have the course to themselves.
I'd like to think the ruling bodies have a lot of innovative ideas to increase participation and remove the elitest image the game has. But in evidence I present the closing ceremonies of every Open every year. Take a long hard look at the people involved and ask yourself if they are up to it in the 21st century? Which is why commercial organisations are stepping in and doing it themselves now.