I’m not ashamed to admit that some of the best OtR topics don’t spring from my brain but rather come from the contributions and dialogues that I’m fortunate to have with some of the smarter people in the industry (who often aren’t the industry titans but just really creative and inquisitive small business owners and entrepreneurs in golf). Such is the case with this month’s issue which came about as the intersection of several email exchanges asking me, “What the heck is the USGA thinking sometimes?” No, I’m not going (or be able) to answer that question in this issue but it does beg the logical line of thinking that if you wanted to come up with ways to grow the game of golf, you could almost take what the USGA proposes and do the opposite and have a higher likelihood of success.
Now before all you traditionalists and sympathizers to all the good things advanced by the USGA over history leap to your keyboards to write that “hate email,” just hear me out on the following points which were made by people whose intellect and opinion I respect and who voluntarily sent emails to me in the form of “What the heck?” inquiries:
• New leadership, same out-of-touch industry and consumer mentality – Diana Murphy’s response to the core question of what she hopes to accomplish as new President? “Championships, obviously, are the heart and soul of the USGA” (for those of you who know Tom Abts of Deer Run GC, this section is dedicated to his humorous take on this position)
• My support points for the “USGA inverse” strategy to grow the game – We’ll explore the fun topics of grooved wedges, anchored putting and invalidity of solo rounds
• What are they working on next that we should “invert”? – This of course would be the handicap system, how it works, trying to increase its popularity/use and making more money from it (potentially without adding any value to their business model affiliates)
For the record, I don’t have any personal axe to grind with the USGA, any of their executives or their rank-and-file. Pellucid has no business or financial upside to the USGA becoming more (average) golfer-sensitive. It does irk me professionally and sadden me personally that an organization which has the wherewithal, brainpower and organizational structure has chosen over the years to chase the entertainment and economic interest a la the PGA TOUR rather than hew to its roots as the champion of the fundamental game and the average golfer which is the bedrock of all that tradition, honor and fun (yes, fun, I said it) that’s the heart and soul of golf. So to the blue blazer and bowtie people who will inevitably get this forwarded to you by someone in the industry regularly receiving this Executive Summary, don’t be offended out-of-hand (if you write to me at jimk@pellucidcorp.com I’ll gladly send you the entire issue to read). Read it and if there is any truth in it, take it to heart and do something about it. If you think it’s complete trash and unsupported by any facts, then trash it and move on to your next tournament planning.
You can get the rest of the story one of two ways:
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