Opinion & Analysis
Let’s Retire Old Man Par: A Modest Proposal
In 1729, Jonathan Swift wrote a satirical essay entitled “A modest proposal,” in which he suggested that the Irish eat their own children. As might be expected, the piece drew a great deal of discussion and controversy. He was of course not serious, but simply attempting to make a point. As you will read this piece contains “A Modest Proposal” as well, but it is not intended to be satirical. I am for the record dead serious.
The golf industry is wringing its hands, trying to find a way to bring new players into the game, while at the same time keeping those that are in the game from leaving. They have initiated any number of programs designed for this purpose. How successful have they been? I would venture that they have barely moved the needle.
Barriers to the game
What we do know is that today there are three major barriers that confront the industry. They are first, the time required to play the game; second the costs associated with playing the game; and third the difficulty of the game.
There are among those adults that start the game, three distinct different groups:
- Those who would like to start playing golf but for any number of reasons decided not to take up the game.
- Those who once played more frequently but have reduced the number of rounds that they play.
- Those who started to play the game but then after a short period decided to leave it.
Those who leave the game
Those in the golf industry, the hand-wringers, have developed any number of programs to bring new players to the game. I would ask the question, “What is the point, when almost an equal number of players that start playing the game each year, decide to give it up within a span of a few months.
Does it make any sense to continue to put water into a bucket when there is a hole in the bottom? Of course not, but that is effectively what is being done. The first question to be ask, why do these new players quit the playing after a short time? In my opinion, the number No. 1 reason is the method of scoring being used.
Were an exit poll to be conducted asking these people why they quit playing, I seriously doubt they would answer truthfully. Who would want to admit that they were discouraged by their inability to succeed at any endeavor? The two answers that would be given the most often would be 1) that golf is too expensive to play; or 2) that they simply didn’t have time. In this case both answers serve to preserve the individual’s dignity. And who could blame them?
The concept of par
Why did these individuals find the game difficult? The short answer is that while golf is a hard game to learn, there is a more compelling reason. I would venture, that the underlying reason they quit the game is that it ceased to be fun because of how they viewed their performance. And for one central reason… the concept of par. The idea that an amateur golfer, especially a beginner, should measure their level of success against an imaginary set of numbers that represents what an expert player would score on each hole is on the surface ridiculous.
You might imagine a beginning player scoring an eight on a par-four hole after hitting six good shots and then two putting for an eight. In the context of their ability, they should be ecstatic — but of course they are not (because as their playing partner reminds them) they were four-over par on that hole. The time has come for Old Man Par to retire. And retire permanently. He is killing the game.
Perceived failure
In another scenario, the beginning player scores sixty for nine holes, which is an excellent score given the short amount of time they might have spent playing the game. And yet their nine-hole score was 24-over par. How would that make you feel? Would you be encouraged or discouraged? You might imagine yourself back in school and regardless of the amount of work that you put into a given class you always receive an “F.” At some point, would you give up?
Why should every golfer be judged by the same standard when there is such inequality in their ability? The equivalent would be placing a high school freshman in a graduate-level college course, expecting that they could perform at the same level as the other graduate students. The disparity in knowledge, based on age and experience, is precisely the reason why there are different grades in school. The same disparity exists among golfers. In this case, the difference being the ability to perform on the golf course as opposed to the classroom.
What about the second group of players that now plays less than they did in the past? Could it be that they are no longer having fun playing the game?And then there is the third group, those that consider playing the game but abandon it for another sport. Could it be that they are intimidated by the scoring system, knowing that as a beginner par is an absolute impossibility?
Old man par
The legendary Bobby Jones was the first to coin, perhaps with the help of his friend O.B. Keillor, the phrase “Old Man Par.” Jones was, of course, the greatest amateur to have ever played the game. He won the Grand Slam in 1930, retiring then at the age of 28.
The time has come to retire “Old Man Par” and devise a new system for measuring a golfer’s progress in the game. I know that those in the USGA. would reject the concept immediately for fear of, and here is a $10 word used primarily by attorneys, “bifurcate” the game. What that word essentially means in this context in having more than one standard. The USGA is responsible for preserving the nature of the game, but at the same time it should be equally concerned with preserving the future of the game.
Personal par
What I would suggest is a system based on the principle of what might be termed “personal par.” This was essentially the system that was used to groom a young Tiger Woods. As a young child, he was not capable of reaching the longer holes in regulation, making par a virtual impossibility. Consequently, his coach wisely devised a system in which par was adjusted upward based on his ability at a given point in time. This served to keep the young child feeling good about his performance and subsequent progress.
This is the type of system that needs to be devised for the health of the game. The system would begin at a nine-hole level using a par of thirty-six as a basis. The actual numbers are not as important as the basic concept. There would be within the nine-hole and the eighteen-hole groups five different levels as follows with assigned par for each hole and eighteen holes roughly equal with the player’s ability.
As players improved, they would graduate from one level to another based on their total score. The handicap system would work in similar fashion as it does now with a single modification. The strokes give from one player to another would depend on the level in which they fall and the par assigned to that level.
The personal par handicap system would not be as exacting as it is presently used, but it would be sufficient to allow players to be reasonable competitive without any significant sacrifice. There would then be two scoring systems then, allowing players to choose which one they wanted to use. Or a recommendation might be given that until they reach a given scoring threshold that they use the personal par scoring system.
There would, of course, be the usual concern with something new being injected into the system, but the proposed change would be no greater than when the system of equitable scoring was introduced or when courses were first assigned a course rating number.
A few years ago, when life-long teacher and educator Dr. Gary Wiren was inducted into the Golf Teacher’s Hall of Fame, he wanted to pass along a single piece of advice to those teachers in the room. “Gentleman,” he started and then paused for emphasis. “We must find a way to make the game more fun for our students.”
I’m in full agreement with Dr. Wiren. The question is, “What is the best way to accomplish that goal?” I believe that that the first step in that direction is to change the scoring system so that golfers experience more satisfaction and accomplishment. That is what makes learning fun.
And so, I would have you consider “The Modest Proposal” that I have put forward. And rather than attempting to find reasons why a revised scoring system couldn’t never work, for the benefit of the game, look for the same number of reason why it could work. The time has come for Old Man Par, as we know him, to retire. He has served us well, but he has become an anarchism. He is as obsolete as the horse and buggy. Let’s hand him his gold watch and let him enjoy his golden years in peace.
And at the same time, let’s welcome the “new kid on the block” who will pave the way for the next generation of golfers pioneering a scoring system that promises to make the game more “fun.”
Club Junkie
Tour Edge Exotics mini driver review + TaylorMade Spider ZT Max first look – Club Junkie
On this episode of Club Junkie, I put the new Tour Edge Exotics Mini Driver to the test and break down the performance, forgiveness, distance, and where it fits compared to a traditional driver or strong fairway wood. If you have been curious about adding a mini driver to the bag, this one is worth a look.
I also dive into the new TaylorMade Spider ZT Max putter that was recently spotted and discuss the growing zero torque putter trend. Plus, there is a closer look at the new Project X Titan Yellow shaft showing up on the PGA Tour and what makes it different from other profiles currently out there.
Opinion & Analysis
AVL: We’re talking about practice! My best tips for taking your game to the course
With the beginning of June on the horizon and courses rounding into peak condition for the season, it’s time to hone the finer skills that often get rusty over the winter. More sunlight also means more time to get out on the course and work on your game.
Whether it’s the practice green or the driving range, there’s always something to improve—whether you’re enjoying the fresh air or preparing for a weekend game or tournament. You can work on drills or freestyle around the green, and friendly competition is a great way to sharpen your skills.
While there are endless ways to get better at golf, I’m going to focus on practicing around the green. Let’s take a look at a few things to keep in mind as we head into the summer months.
Drills
From the driving range to the practice green, it’s important to incorporate drills into your routine. Years ago, I spent a weekend working on my short game with James Sieckmann. He recommended doing drill work for 5–10 minutes, then returning to your main practice.
This way, you create a balance between structured drills and real-world scenarios, so you’re not confined to “perfect” situations. For example, hitting the same three-foot putt over and over is good for repetition, but after a while, it becomes less interactive for your brain.
My approach is to use a putting trainer with a narrow gate for the ball to pass through, or simply place tees just outside the width of the ball. I’ll hit a series of four putts through the gate for three sets. Then, from a similar distance, I’ll hit four putts without the training aid and repeat that sequence three times.
Next, I’ll hit a number of 15–25 foot putts in a random fashion, then circle back to repeat the short putt drills with and without the training aid.
This breaks up the rhythm of hitting short putts with the training aid. When you hit the same short putts over and over, it’s easy to get into a groove—which is great for the drill, but not reflective of actual course play. While finding a rhythm is fundamental for drills, I like to introduce variation with longer putts to keep things realistic.
Game Mode
Once you’ve established a foundation with drills, it’s time to simulate on-course scenarios. This is where a few practice games come in handy.
One that I’ve been enjoying lately involves putting 10- to 15-footers with two balls. If I make the putt, great! If I miss, I pull the missed ball back a putter length. Suddenly, that little tap-in becomes a nerve-wracking three-footer—at least at first. As you get better at this game, those three- and five-footers become much more comfortable and routine.
It may sound cliché, but each shot is just what it is—it’s how we react that makes the difference. I like this game because it blends the pressure of on-course putting with the consequence of leaving yourself a much longer putt than usual.
Another game I like is one I recently learned from Brad Faxon. Place three tees in a line at four different locations around the hole: one at 3 feet, one at 6 feet, and one at 8 feet. The 3- and 6-foot putts count as par, and the 8-footer is for birdie.
This game keeps you focused on scoring and helps you get into a competitive mindset. You can even think about this putting game while you’re on the course. I just started playing it, and last week I couldn’t get better than two under par.
Competition
Competition during practice is when drills and games come to life, and you start to see results. For me, nothing beats a putting contest with a friend or two. In the right setting, these contests can become talking points for the whole season.
Match play, a game of 21, or simply seeing who can make the most one-putts (with a small prize on the line) are all great ways to simulate real on-course pressure. Recently, I played in a putting contest where one competitor made back-to-back 30- and 50-foot putts. As they say, expect your opponent to make every putt—and he nearly did. That’s impressive, and it’s something you see on the course, too: you have to stay committed to your game plan, no matter what.
When it comes to practice, it’s important to blend feedback from recent rounds with the fundamentals you want to reinforce. Drills, games, and competition—from the driving range to the putting green—form the backbone of skills you’ll rely on during actual rounds.
Finding the right balance is something we’re all working on, one practice session at a time. With the beginning of June on the horizon and courses rounding into peak condition for the season, it’s time to hone the finer skills that often get rusty over the winter. More sunlight also means more time to get out on the course and work on your game. Whether it’s the practice green or the driving range, there’s always something to improve—whether you’re enjoying the fresh air or preparing for a weekend game or tournament. You can work on drills or freestyle around the green, and friendly competition is a great way to sharpen your skills. While there are endless ways to get better at golf, I’m going to focus on practicing around the green. Let’s take a look at a few things to keep in mind as we head into the summer months.
Drills
From the driving range to the practice green, it’s important to incorporate drills into your routine. Years ago, I spent a weekend working on my short game with James Sieckmann. He recommended doing drill work for 5–10 minutes, then returning to your main practice. This way, you create a balance between structured drills and real-world scenarios, so you’re not confined to “perfect” situations. For example, hitting the same three-foot putt over and over is good for repetition, but after a while, it becomes less interactive for your brain.
My approach is to use a putting trainer with a narrow gate for the ball to pass through, or simply place tees just outside the width of the ball. I’ll hit a series of four putts through the gate for three sets. Then, from a similar distance, I’ll hit four putts without the training aid and repeat that sequence three times. Next, I’ll hit a number of 15–25 foot putts in a random fashion, then circle back to repeat the short putt drills with and without the training aid.
This breaks up the rhythm of hitting short putts with the training aid. When you hit the same short putts over and over, it’s easy to get into a groove—which is great for the drill, but not reflective of actual course play. While finding a rhythm is fundamental for drills, I like to introduce variation with longer putts to keep things realistic.
Game Mode
Once you’ve established a foundation with drills, it’s time to simulate on-course scenarios. This is where a few practice games come in handy. One that I’ve been enjoying lately involves putting 10- to 15-footers with two balls. If I make the putt, great! If I miss, I pull the missed ball back a putter length.
Suddenly, that little tap-in becomes a nerve-wracking three-footer—at least at first. As you get better at this game, those three- and five-footers become much more comfortable and routine. It may sound cliché, but each shot is just what it is—it’s how we react that makes the difference. I like this game because it blends the pressure of on-course putting with the consequence of leaving yourself a much longer putt than usual.
Another game I like is one I recently learned from Brad Faxon. Place three tees in a line at four different locations around the hole: one at 3 feet, one at 6 feet, and one at 8 feet. The 3- and 6-foot putts count as par, and the 8-footer is for birdie.
This game keeps you focused on scoring and helps you get into a competitive mindset. You can even think about this putting game while you’re on the course. I just started playing it, and last week I couldn’t get better than two under par.
Competition
Competition during practice is when drills and games come to life, and you start to see results. For me, nothing beats a putting contest with a friend or two. In the right setting, these contests can become talking points for the whole season. Match play, a game of 21, or simply seeing who can make the most one-putts (with a small prize on the line) are all great ways to simulate real on-course pressure. Recently, I played in a putting contest where one competitor made back-to-back 30- and 50-foot putts. As they say, expect your opponent to make every putt—and he nearly did. That’s impressive, and it’s something you see on the course, too: you have to stay committed to your game plan, no matter what.
When it comes to practice, it’s important to blend feedback from recent rounds with the fundamentals you want to reinforce. Drills, games, and competition—from the driving range to the putting green—form the backbone of skills you’ll rely on during actual rounds. Finding the right balance is something we’re all working on, one practice session at a time.
For Korean golfers, we always look forward to the last of the kkot-saem-chu-I for the true start of a new golf season. The term refers to a cold snap, but literally translates as “winter being jealous of the flowers beginning to bloom, thus lashing out one final time before surrendering to spring”.
A rather poetic mouthful packed into a short expression.
Koreans can be like that. Understated, yet oddly expressive at the same time. And nowhere is this more true on the golf course and in our golf bags. In fact, I suspect many Korean golfers look forward to new apparel and accessory drops more than they do actual equipment launches each year.
At this point, Korean golf fashion may exist on its own timeline. (courtesy of @seonbi_golfer)
There is ample evidence to support that suspicion. Korea is the world’s third-largest golf market behind the United States and Japan, yet its appetite for golf apparel exceeds that of both countries combined. Recent estimates suggest that Korea accounts for nearly 40 percent of the global golf apparel market, placing it among the world’s most influential golf fashion markets and punching well above its size.
Simply, we care deeply about how new golf clubs look and feel, but enjoy looking good while swinging them even more.
Golfers in the West may laugh and say that golf is played on a course, not a fashion runway. Perhaps. But what’s the harm in trying to look and feel good, if the added self-confidence can help actual performance? It certainly seems to have worked for Jason Day, who may have unlocked a new stats category: dormant strokes gained. Coincidence?
During the COVID-era, estimates placed the market near $9 billion, an astonishing figure for a single country.
As a proud member of Gen X, I’ve witnessed the highs and lows of golf fashion firsthand. The pleated trousers and wing-tipped shoes of Jack Nicklaus, the stylish plus-fours and knickers of Payne Stewart, the baggy black trousers and fitted mock-necks of Tiger Woods, and the thigh-hugging athletic tailoring of Rory McIlroy. Golf fashion, like the golf swing itself, has rarely stood still.
But nowhere have those trends shifted, evolved, and been scrutinized quite as relentlessly as in Korea. Here, golf fashion moves faster than fairway gossip, and consumers dissect brands with a level of discernment that can be both impressive and mildly terrifying. New brands are studied, judged, embraced, or dismissed with startling efficiency.
The result is a consumer base with one of the sharpest eyes for quality and authenticity anywhere in the world. It is difficult to quantify, but easy to recognize. Clean lines without trying too hard. Luxury mixed with utility. Trend awareness balanced by restraint and purpose.
It’s golf fashion shaped by one of the world’s most style-literate cities, something I like to call Seoul Sensibilities, referring to the taste level forged by a uniquely competitive environment.
And increasingly, global brands have noticed.
Many golf brands in Korea have their own flagship shops dedicated to apparel only
Titleist understood this years ago, when its apparel business in Korea took on a life of its own under new ownership and local direction. What had once been a straightforward extension of an iconic equipment giant became something sharper and more premium. By going all in on the serious Tour-player look (I couldn’t even fit into their XL sizes), Titleist struck the right chord with Korean consumers and helped its fledgling apparel business break into the mainstream. Titleist became a household name even for non-golfers who wore its caps, shirts, and windbreakers in daily life. In many ways, it proved that even heritage golf brands could carry real fashion credibility when viewed through a Korean lens.
Several years later, PXG took a page out of Titleist’s playbook and followed suit. Korean consumers helped transform the brand from one known largely for irons and loud commercials into something broader and more stylish. PXG apparel’s growth in Korea was explosive, where it found an early audience and turned the category into something more than mere logo merchandise. It is still hard to walk anywhere in Seoul without seeing its palindrome logo.
Malbon’s meteoric rise in the United States was genuine, but its ascent into a global golf lifestyle brand owes much to Korea, where it was elevated by a market already fluent in modern golf style. Korea did not simply embrace Malbon. It pressure-tested the concept, refined its appeal, and helped push it into the global spotlight.
As such, new brands may arrive from abroad, but more often than not, their sharpest evolution happens here. If a brand can earn credibility in Seoul, it’s deemed to have passed one of the toughest style audits in the game.
That is why the next meaningful chapter may not come from outside, but from a Korean brand moving in the opposite direction, carrying those Seoul Sensibilities outward as K-pop once did.
Play young Stay dope.
From Seoul, With Intent
Khalhon is a label that feels less like a trend-chasing newcomer and more like the product of a market that has already seen everything. Golfers here have long been surrounded by luxury logos, technical fabrics, and tour uniforms disguised as lifestyle wear and vice-versa. In other words, novelty alone rarely lasts here, and the Koreans seems to understand that instinctively.
Its style language leans into clean silhouettes, relaxed but tailored proportions, muted palettes, and premium materials that speak quietly but confidently. There is a modern city aesthetic running through it all, with strong layering pieces, thoughtful textures, and subtle branding that suggests sophistication rather than demanding attention.
“Built for the course. Designed beyond it.”
Most importantly, the garments seem designed to blur the line between golfwear and everyday style. Shirts, trousers, knitwear, and outer layers move comfortably between a game of screen golf, a lunch reservation, an airport gate, or an afternoon coffee in Gangnam with friends.
It raises the question of whether this is golfwear that happens to look good off the course, or everyday clothing that performs beautifully on the fairways.
Personally, I have long appreciated Nike Golf for its clean, athletic modernization of golf attire. It also has the useful side effect of making me look like a more serious golfer than I probably am. But off the course, there are times when being instantly identified as the golf guy in a crowd of non-golfers can feel a touch self-conscious.
“Built for the course. Designed beyond it.”
That is part of what drew me to Khalhon, which seemed to blend golf and everyday wear naturally. While some of the outfits may be slightly beyond my personal confidence level, the brand also offers tasteful options for older guys like me who still want to express a little personality without regretting the decision later.
These are not simply flashy outfits worn on the course and then banished to the closet until the next tee time. They work surprisingly well off the course too, and I suspect many of the pieces will still look right a couple of years from now, which would certainly be kinder to my wallet than most golf fashion trends tend to be.
And perhaps that broader lifestyle positioning also helps explain why someone like Sean Wotherspoon would find Khalhon creatively interesting in the first place.
“Built for the course. Designed beyond it.”
“Korea is not only one of the most fashion-forward golf markets in the world, but one of the most fashion-forward markets globally. Korea is ahead, and I love to watch and try to catch up.” – Sean Wotherspoon, Creative Director at Khalhon
Seoul and Beyond
If Khalhon’s rise says something about where Korean golf fashion is today, its relationship with Sean Wotherspoon says even more about where it is heading.
For readers less familiar with Sean Wotherspoon, his arrival at Khalhon is not some routine celebrity endorsement or influencer collaboration. In design and streetwear circles, Wotherspoon is regarded as one of the more influential creative voices of his generation, particularly when it comes to blending nostalgia, storytelling, and contemporary culture into products that people can connect with.
He first gained widespread attention through his now-famous Nike sneaker collaborations, where his vintage-inspired designs and instinct for color helped turn him into one of the defining artists of the late-2010s sneaker era. His work gradually expanded beyond footwear into apparel, automotive collaborations, collectibles, and broader lifestyle design.
Modern golf style now extends well beyond the fairways, where performance and functionality are largely expected by default. And while plenty of brands already make technically competent golfwear, Khalhon seems more focused on designing clothes people would genuinely want to wear even after the round ends.
And when guys at Wotherspoon’s level show genuine interest in working with a Korean golf brand as its new Creative Director, fashion circles tend to sit up and pay attention. There’s already a huge buzz among the fashion-conscious here about upcoming collabs with iconic sports stars and brands.
“My creative direction for Khalhon is disruptive, colorful, nostalgic, and modern. My goal is to blend these avenues seamlessly within each collection.” – Sean Wotherspoon
In chatting with Sean, what stood out most to me was how genuinely energized he sounded about the project itself. Despite having already worked across and countless other creative spaces, he described golf as a completely fresh category for him, saying that Khalhon “will be an amazing vehicle for my design work.”
At the same time, his enthusiasm seemed tied just as much to Korea itself. He spoke openly about admiring Korea’s fashion culture while repeatedly insisting he is still a terrible golfer.
There was something oddly refreshing about that humility. Rather than sounding like a celebrity parachuting into golf simply because the category suddenly became fashionable, Sean sounded genuinely curious about what Korea might do with the category next.
And perhaps that is what makes Khalhon feel interesting right now. The brand feels less like a trend-chaser and more like the natural result of a market now confident enough to export its own point of view.
For years, global brands came to Korea to sharpen their image against one of the most discerning audiences anywhere. Now, a Korean label appears ready to send those Seoul Sensibilities outward instead.
Which brings us back to kkot-saem-chu-i.
That final cold snap before spring always arrives with a reminder that seasons are changing, whether we notice it immediately or not. Golf fashion feels a little like that right now as well, as the old boundaries between sport, streetwear, luxury, and everyday style continue to soften.
And somewhere in Seoul, a Korean golf label already seems prepared for whatever season comes next. I just hope they have everything in my size.
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LC
Dec 29, 2018 at 8:30 am
Much ado about nothing. When I took up the game I already knew from my friends that played that par or scratch was an unattainable standard that most/all recreational golfers aspire to – and understand they won’t likely achieve. While we are chasing it we play matches with each other using the handicap system which works surprisingly well. I used to play with a regular group where I was the weakest golfer, yet using handicaps our matches almost always went down to the wire. I was always happy with a bogey.
This article is a solution in search of a problem,
T
Apr 24, 2018 at 11:09 am
Should change the article name to “Let’s Install Snowflake Par”
Jack
Apr 24, 2018 at 5:25 am
Yeah, it’s all perception and how golfers are educated, but also they need to play from closer tee boxes. There’s always the perception that the white tees are the men’s tees, and then you have golden for senior and red for womens. It should really be based on handicap. If you are over 30 handicap you should play from the reds. Over 20 should play from gold, then over 10 whites, and then you can play blues or whatever if you are single digit. It’s a guide only of course, but the perception that males will tee off the white tees doesn’t help new golfers when they are struggling to advance the ball.
Dave r
Apr 23, 2018 at 8:32 pm
JUST GO AWAY AND FIND SOMETHING ELSE TO WRITE ABOUT.
Robert Parsons
Apr 23, 2018 at 4:18 pm
BYW, when I started playing, my friend was already a good golfer. We never kept score.
We only wrote down birdies or better and number of lost balls. For my first few years, he said we need to focus on and improve on the number of balls I lost.
In our “scorekeeping”, only birdies or better counted. He would only win by at most a few strokes. Seemed much closer than it really was. Many times he wouldn’t manage a birdie and we’d tie! Tiebreakers came down to number of balls lost. Haha
And here I am many years later playing a round with the same golf ball. It’s rare I lose one, unless I attempt a big carry over water or whatever that most would play to a landing area.
Dennis Ritter
Apr 23, 2018 at 2:41 pm
Let’s make it like everyone gets a trophy – just like real life.
Robert Parsons
Apr 23, 2018 at 4:08 pm
That’s a great way to reward losers. Now there’s no desire to improve, we all win! Hugs all around…
~j~
Apr 23, 2018 at 2:04 pm
I declared every hole a par 8 and came in 64/under yesterday! My ego is sooooaaring now!
Brad
Apr 23, 2018 at 1:20 pm
Isn’t this just simply a different way to configure handicapping? And how does this system add more ‘fun’ to the game and ‘speed up’ the game? I applaud any thought given to growing this game that I love, but I don’t think this answers the issue, for there is still a “par” to each hole, it’s just adjusted. And the issue of how one attains a level higher with good play or is demoted to a level lower due to poor play is a sticky enough challenge (and maybe a dis-incentive to a mid-level player going through a slump) to render this whole thing un-workable.
Kevin
Apr 23, 2018 at 12:59 pm
Ridiculous article. If you want to argue that the current handicap system isn’t accessible enough (complicated for beginners to understand; often adds even MORE to golf’s overall cost) I’d agree. But basically ignoring that the system exists is mind-boggling. In fact, it’s such a glaring issue that I have to wonder if the author, despite his qualifications, doesn’t really understand the current system—which supports my previous point.
In my opinion, the first step to “fix” the handicap system is make it free (always). That’s just step one—some simplification is also in order but much more complex to simplify (ha).
The primary reasons people quit are cost and time, with cost being the greater factor.
Dave
Apr 23, 2018 at 12:20 pm
Stableford format has been around for a while and is a great equaliser. It is used to great effect for beginners and juniors alike.
http://www.wallaseygolfclub.com/club_history/dr_frank_stableford/
Nigel
Apr 23, 2018 at 12:10 pm
It’s not “old man Par,” it’s “old man Bogey,” and he plays every hole one over par and you’re supposed to beat him!
If you’re trying to drive players away from the game letting a beginner finish a hole if it takes him 20 strokes will surely do it.
Without par we have no way to tell someone when it’s time to quit this hole and move on, you’ve failed, miserably.
Slow play is the #1 reason people aren’t playing golf. People need to understand and respect Equitable Stroke Control. I can’t stand being on a golf course for 6 hours unless I’m playing 2 rounds. I’m most likely completely addicted to golf but I won’t play until super twilight when I can play in ~2.5 hours.
Also, South Koreans are not helping the game. In their culture making other people wait for you elevates your status, basically they like to make you wait. It’s a fact. Many will deny it but a few will tell you it’s true. How many times have you caught a SK group and said, “Did they slow down now that we’re behind them?” The answer is Yes, they did. Golf courses in China, CHINA, have banned SK golfers completely because of their slow play. That’s how bad it is.
Finally, the complete lack of true course marshalling is the cause. If a marshall could not keep the course moving, in the old days of it being a paid position, he’d be fired. That was his job. Now the marshall is a volunteer who usually makes thing worse by chatting with people or sleeping in the shade of a tree. They’re either afraid to do their job or they simply don’t know how.
How long would the line be if a course could guarantee a 3 hour round? Huge, right? I heard of a course charging by the hour …
Ron
Apr 23, 2018 at 12:34 pm
I agreed with your point that slow play is one of the reasons people stop playing. But once you said that China banned South Koreans from golfing, you lost all credibility.
Aesop
Apr 23, 2018 at 2:07 pm
“In their culture making other people wait for you elevates your status, basically they like to make you wait. It’s a fact.”
What?? What the heck are you talking about? Get your baloney out of here.
Ron
Apr 23, 2018 at 11:49 am
I think they should make the hole twice as big (8 inches). And at the end of every round you should get a trophy….and a hug.
Alistair Yates
Apr 23, 2018 at 11:43 am
Come to Europe. We have a system called stableford. It works.
Jeff Martin
Apr 23, 2018 at 11:22 am
Just play the hole shorter. Think junior golf. 7 year olds at US Kids Golf events play around 1700 yards for 9 holes. Par-5’s are around 225-250. Par-4’s are around 150-200. Par-3’s are around 75-125. Just go out to the fairway and tee it up.
This method is far, far, far simpler than anything else and builds confidence. Also can help with slow play issues.
Dave Tutelman
Apr 23, 2018 at 11:15 am
I think I understand why a golfing buddy quits the game. I know I understand why I quit the game (and I have, twice). Par was never a factor! Never! Not even vaguely!
The big three you cite at the beginning of the article are probably the big three worth talking about. I see people who make money from golf trying to downplay the notion that golf is too expensive. Sorry, you have to learn to live with it. It’s there and it’s real.
Nick
Apr 23, 2018 at 11:08 am
As a high school golf coach of girls, I give the same concept to my beginning players, Tell them not to focus on par, but bogey as their par . over 9 holes they are coming in as a 45. I think the concept of the article is that for beginners without any experience or a mind set of what is a handicap or setting your own score, they go with what is printed on a scorecard and that is what discourages the new golfer. there are a lot more recreational golfers than those of us have a serious interest in it.
Kevin McGarrahan
Apr 23, 2018 at 11:05 am
Try this on for size. A couple of decades ago, several of us used a technique from measuring driving accuracy to speed up our games and improve the fun. If your ball is not in the fairway, pick it up, count your steps to the center of the fairway, and then walk back toward the tee that number of steps. Drop your ball at that point and hit your next shot with a one-stroke penalty.
Scott
Apr 24, 2018 at 9:28 am
Huh? How is taking a bunch of penalty shots fun and how is chasing balls around then walking back 30 yards quicker? That sounds like it would add about an hour of time. Your game may be interesting for you and your friends, but keep that crazy to yourself.
Brian Rome
Apr 23, 2018 at 10:56 am
You have wasted my time with your proposal because it already exists: the handicap system was established by the St. Andrews Golf Club well over a hundred years ago.
Ron
Apr 23, 2018 at 11:51 am
This
Randy Wall
Apr 23, 2018 at 10:51 am
I think the author has a point, but being a 32 HCP, instead of trying to reach par, I look at how I did on a Net basis. If I score a 6 on the hardest par 5 on the course, I tell myself, I shot a net birdie, pat myself on the back and move on.
I don’t think we need a new system, but a different emphasis. I started in 2012, and even though I’m in my 50’s, I am getting better.
Joe
Apr 23, 2018 at 9:25 am
How does someone take 6 good shots to reach a par 4?
I’m a short hitter. 200-230. Two good shots and I’m almost there. 6? They’re hitting it 60 yards at a time??
Larry Sheffer
Apr 23, 2018 at 10:43 am
200-230 is not a short hitter. I’m sure there are stats out there to show you are in the upper echelon on the distance scale.
Top Amateur
Apr 23, 2018 at 8:19 am
What utter nonsense!
Just ignore par and play for enjoyment until you reach a standard that pars are a goal
joe
Apr 23, 2018 at 7:50 am
Ridiculous proposals and concept. Golf, like life, is hard. Toughen up. Some will love golf and play a lot, most will like it and play a few times a year, some will despise this crazy sport and never play again. Is what it is.
Duncan Marc
Apr 22, 2018 at 11:19 am
Judge Smails: How do you measure yourself against other men
Ty Webb: By height.
ski_co
Apr 23, 2018 at 1:27 pm
I knew I would find this as a response but it is:
“How do you measure yourself with other golfers?”
HappyDuffer
Apr 22, 2018 at 10:40 am
I have some great news for you! Personal par already exists.. it’s called the current handicap system. Just another proposal to fix something that isn’t broken.
Kurt
Apr 22, 2018 at 8:32 am
What a joke. !!!????????????????????????????????????
nyguy
Apr 22, 2018 at 8:18 am
why not just have everyone win a trophy next…. Mediocre is was people strive for now, and it’s boring.
BettiBoop
Apr 22, 2018 at 7:55 am
Love the idea. I’d be all for it.
Greg V
Apr 22, 2018 at 7:44 am
Here is another way to get around the issue of par – don’t bother keeping score. Just enjoy hitting the ball and trying to get it into the hole.
Steve Jesus
Apr 22, 2018 at 7:32 am
The best and easiest way to improve the experience is to allow tee’ing it up in the fairway. The hardest part of the game for a beginner is hitting the ball down, especially for women and older people.this would speed up the game and make it more fun to improve. Peter Kostis advocated this in an article a few years ago.
Greg V
Apr 22, 2018 at 7:42 am
excellent idea.
larrybud
Apr 22, 2018 at 6:54 am
Another solution to a problem which doesn’t exist. Look, I get it, people in the golf business have a job to increase sales. But the game isn’t broken, stop trying to change it.
People don’t play golf because it’s too slow for much of the tide pod eating society, and can be fairly expensive (only good thing about Michigan are our cheap rates).
DJ
Apr 22, 2018 at 3:58 am
Why are par 3s always thought of as easy. Requires good tee shot and if that goes bad a good short game.
Duncan Marc
Apr 22, 2018 at 11:22 am
I think the pga tour average on par 3’s is slightly over par…..LOL
TJ
Apr 22, 2018 at 1:34 am
Golf is hard which is one of the reasons golfers love it. Play the right tees, establish an handicap, practice, and spend your lifetime playing the best game ever invented.
Larry Sheffer
Apr 23, 2018 at 10:40 am
Play the right tees and have more shorter tee boxes. Quit calling the reds the women’s tee. Using that or a shorter tee will lower the scoring, increase the speed of play and make the sport more enjoyable for everyone on the course.
Hawkeye77
Apr 22, 2018 at 12:19 am
Par is intimidating, scary.
Mark
Apr 21, 2018 at 10:18 pm
Not a bad idea especially for kids and those just getting into the game, but I think that the main thing that keeps golf from growing is the cost, every year courses get more and more expensive, though you get nothing more for the increases.
Also clubs have once again sky rocketed in price and again for the average player the newer clubs do nothing to improve their game.
AP
Apr 21, 2018 at 10:11 pm
I just duffed a drive, hit a decent approach, and 4-putted for my “par”…….
JR
Apr 21, 2018 at 8:02 pm
I think what people are touching on is players need to be flexible when first starting out. If you try to play by the official rules as a beginner, you’re just going to get frustrated and quit. I’ve been playing for a year and my personal rules are if I lose a ball, I place one on the fairway about where I think it went out (stroke and distance on a muni course is a non starter), if I can’t hit the put in two I pick up and if I can’t get off the tee in two attempts I drop next to my buddy or far back on the fairway if playing alone. These rules help keep my pace of play up & does wonders for my enjoyment. I don’t play tournaments & I’m not going pro, so it’s all good. I keep a rough score just to track my progress. Golfs ruling bodies need to tell people it’s ok to make the game fun for you.
Ron
Apr 23, 2018 at 11:55 am
Agree with this but I don’t know anyone who DOESN’T do this. I don’t think we need the ruling bodies to come out and tell you to play by your own rules as a beginner. It just naturally happens. This whole concept is truly a non-issue IMO
DS
Apr 23, 2018 at 3:46 pm
I must know a lot more people than you do. In 1 foursome I have the guy who doesn’t allow gimmes, the other who will shoot 100 but won’t hit his ball in the rough without a witness and who must say ‘lifting to identify!’ in a clear voice prior to doing so, and the other guy who insists on walking back to the tee to retee for a lost ball (white stakes, not red). These are guys who feel ‘the rules are there for a reason!’ and there are many out there.
So you pick up after 2 putts on greens like the guy says he does? You drop your ball by a buddy after hitting 2 poor tee shots? I putt out, and I sometimes do drop near a buddy but usually would just pick up and steam.
GHIN anyone?
Apr 21, 2018 at 7:50 pm
If only there was a system in place that gives you strokes on every hole based on your past ability. Oh wait there is. Your concept of personal par is no different than the handicap index. You set personal par of 5 on a par 3? You more than likely are getting 2 strokes per GHIN anyways. I would love to see your idea put into place and watch the amount of golfers leave in droves. People aren’t playing because it takes too damn long and golf courses are greedy and raise their prices year after year for little return on value
The dude
Apr 21, 2018 at 6:59 pm
Everyone here has comments that are too long…..get to the point …
Sean Foster-Nolan
Apr 21, 2018 at 6:58 pm
When I first started playing the game, I made my own personal par. For example, some par 3’s were par 4’s, some par 4’s were par 5’s, and some par 5’s were par 6’s. I would use a sharpie to change the pars on the holes on the scorecard. I found it to be a useful exercise.
Andrew levy
Apr 21, 2018 at 6:47 pm
I do not disagree with argument. I disagree with the way you put out the levels.
First of all do the levels by handicap so it is understandable.
Secondly, a 5 on par 3 is fine. In fact I don’t know 98% of people would love to shoot under 100. 18 5s is 90. My wife started the game last year as a 24 and was frustrated by par. So I told her to try and make a 5 on every hole. She happened to be long enough where par 5s were not par 6s or 7s. It gave her a starting point.
Thirdly, that was a long way to go for something as simple as we should focus on the number you shoot not if you are over or under.
J Zilla
Apr 21, 2018 at 6:43 pm
Jesus the idea of par has to be so far down the list of reasons why people aren’t taking up the game.
Obviously the main reasons in no particular order are:
Cost of entry. Clubs, lessons, greens fees are expensive. Prohibitively for many people.
It can take forever to play a round on a weekend at a muni. Courses really to need to speed up pace of play, encourage 9 hole rounds and not try to cram so many tee times in.
And yes golf is hard. Unless you’re a complete natural, it takes hundreds of hours on the range just to get the ball in the air with some level of consistency.
No one’s not taking up the game because they’re 25 over. They’re not taking it up, because there so many cheaper, faster and easier options.
Golf is fun when you’re able to make solid contact with some level of proficiency while you’re outdoors on a warm sunny day. Unless you’re playing a tournament or on tour, par is mostly irrelevant to the recreational aspect of golf.
Seasider
Apr 21, 2018 at 4:47 pm
Terrible idea – golf is great because it’s hard. Scoring par or better feels good because it’s hard. Getting a personal par would just feel like cheating/bowling with the buffers up.
Harry Goss
Apr 21, 2018 at 4:05 pm
Golf has survived hundreds of years because it was difficult and aspirational.
Mower
Apr 21, 2018 at 5:01 pm
Hear hear!
Henkedejk
Apr 21, 2018 at 3:19 pm
Asking because im not sure, but dont you use the Stableford system in the US? This system in effect does ehat the article prescribes: Say you have an extra 39 strokes on a course, you the play to extra two strokes on all holes and have an additional stroke (so 3 extra strokes) on the 3 hardest rated holes on the course. If you make your “par”, ie 6 on a par 4 you get two points. A 7 on the hole would get you 1 point, whereas a real par (4) would get you 4 point. Note that you can only loose your two points so a disaster, ie a 12 on the hole, will only cost you two points that can be won back later. Objective is to play to or better than 36 stableford points. Play better and your handicap reduces (from 2020 onwards Europe and rest of world will change to the US system though).
Garb
Apr 21, 2018 at 2:24 pm
Lets bring the hoop down to 6 feet in basketball. Lets make the NFL play in 5-minute quarters, at half the size of the field. Lets get rid of helmets and pad in ice hockey and make the puck larger. Lets have the MLB hit with aluminum bats and use a rubber ball.
That’s how ridiculous it is to suggest this at all. It won’t be golf.
e
Apr 21, 2018 at 2:04 pm
Isn’t this just a more complicated version of the handicapping system stratified into five arbitrary buckets? What does this solve that couldn’t be solved by saying something like “a 36 handicapper should expect to shoot 108”?
Kevin
Apr 21, 2018 at 5:44 pm
This exactly what I came to comment, if you’re a 36 handicap, you effectively get two strokes per hole to “subtract” from your actual score.
Golf is expensive because OEM’s are happy with their profit margins, why should we care if they want more people spending their money on clubs. It’s pretty much been proven that if player A and player B want to start golfing and they each can spend $2000, if player A buys the newest technology for clubs, and player B buys used clubs and spends the rest on lessons that player B will have more fun.
Just put a scoring expectation for groupings of handicaps on the score card and you will have exactly what is described in this article.
Galted
Apr 21, 2018 at 1:48 pm
Agreed, the culture of masochism must go. Gross score is a useless, albeit purist scoring method. My suggested changes are quite simple. 1- No matter where your shot ends up, you have option to play next shot from fairway with a one stroke penalty. 2- The number of shots, incl penalties, to reach green is capped at hole’s par and number of putts are capped at 2, with designated green area for those that reached fairway cap. This would not require bifurcation and would change emphasis to how many good holes you can still play. This would also speed up play.
Ron
Apr 23, 2018 at 11:57 am
Putts capped at 2? You’re joking, right?
Woody
Apr 21, 2018 at 1:47 pm
“I know that those in the USGA. would reject the concept immediately for fear of, and here is a $10 word used primarily by attorneys, “bifurcate” the game. What that word essentially means in this context in having more than one standard. The USGA is responsible for preserving the nature of the game”.
Here’s the problem with the USGA, they could care less about improving the game for us peasants. If they cared about the integrity of the game and “one standard” the rule book would be half the size. Rules officials wouldn’t exist and spectators wouldn’t be able to call penalties on professional players let alone instant replay showing a Lexi Thompson touching a grain of sand using HD zoom. It’s ridiculous because we as non professionals cannot play the same game as the professionals. They “improved” the rule book last year by changing three rules. What a freaking joke..the USGA is litterally running people off from the game. If the USGA made the rule book a little more simple they’d prolly retain 25% of those who leave.
ogo
Apr 21, 2018 at 1:41 pm
You can better manage the golf course if you have a personal par…. on the fairways and on the greens.
Par on the greens is obviously 36. If you play below that you are very good or you are chipping a lot off the fringe which distorts personal par on the greens.
My personal par on the fairways from tee to green depends on the length of each hole. Generally, long par 3s are par 4… and long par 4s are par 5… and I play them accordingly. However par 5s are always par 5 unless there are obstacles that force you to lay up.
Attempting to play official par when you can’t control all your club is a fool’s game…. and you must play within yourself.. your abilities.