AT Inside Golf we take a measured, yet positive approach to reporting and promoting the game of golf in looking to keep our readers entertained and informed.
We don’t necessarily tackle all the big issues, whatever they are, in search of headlines or attention, but we don’t ignore them either, preferring to shine a light on the positive, to highlight good and great things happening in club land, while also touching on those at the elite level and the success enjoyed by the young and the not-so-young. We try to tip our readers into exciting and interesting places to take their next golfing holiday, preview the latest and greatest equipment and offer a tip or two, often from a legend of the coaching fraternity in our regular contributor Peter Croker
We provide space on the pages of Inside Golf to those running the game in this country, giving the likes of Golf Australia chief James Sutherland and PGA CEO Gavin Kirkman the opportunity to keep you up to date with the latest developments, the health of the game and what to look forward to in the short- and long-term.
Down the back of the magazine Larry offers his unique insights, we provide a crossword where readers can test their golfing knowledge, and Inside Golf at times has an opinion, with the boys occasionally firing up on our Bunker-to-Bunker page.
The big issues, well golf is trending in a positive direction, but there is always something to talk about.
Slow play is a topic that keeps on ‘giving’, and if the professionals, those playing the game better than the rest, are allowed to take five hours, who are the Board members, club pros or course marshals at our local clubs to tell us we need to play in four?
Well, I do say five is far too long, Patrick Cantlay is insufferable in the time he takes to hit a shot, Brian Harman with all his waggles not far behind. And let’s not get started when it comes to this aimpoint fad. Patrick, if you are reading this, can we all just play a little quicker!
Another area consistently attracting comment in the world of golf media and across social channels is to do with the ball rollback. Yes, the pros hit the ball obscene distances, rendering traditional courses obsolete. But are the scores lower? Only sometimes. Has the game changed? Definitely. It is drive for show, and for dough as well these days. Stay clear of professional golf if you don’t have elite level clubhead speed and a driver carry near to 300 yards.
All that said, if the powers that be believe rollback needs to happen, why keep putting it off? Do something about it or let’s stop talking about it.
Talking the professional game, and are we heading for disappointment once again at the Presidents Cup?
A star-studded American Team, led by the likes of Scottie Scheffler, Sam Burns and Cameron Young, is likely to continue its dominance when the biannual matches tee off later this month.
Disappointingly, the only Australian assured of a place on the International Team is Min Woo Lee, although Adam Scott is a likely captains pick. Back in the day Aussies dominated the International line up. Not so much this time around.
I say we enjoy it for what it is, hope we get some competitive matches, and maybe, just maybe, the Internationals can stun the Americans and cause a massive upset.
And still on pro golf, LIV and where it is headed continues to create endless speculation and generate headlines to go with it.
LIV made 50-or-so rich golfers even richer, however it probably failed to win over the viewing public, whether that was to do with the format, the players, the whole stigma around who was funding it or for the fact it was often hard to find on our television screens to watch and follow.
At Inside Golf we’ve largely stayed out of the debate, tried not to take sides, although with the landscape changing so quickly it has been hard to keep up anyway. And we have reported the successes of the Aussies and Ripper GC, while LIV Adelaide has been far and away the best run, most popular event on their yearly schedule.
However, if LIV is to be no more in 2027, which appears to be increasingly likely, the question will be, was it good for the game? It certainly shook up the establishment, caused a reaction and change on the PGA TOUR, but at the same time created fractures that will never be repaired.
But putting all the above aside, my biggest issues are a lot closer to home. Having played to a decent standard back in the day, and now with limited time to practice, or poor habits when I do, added to an aging body and a twitchy putting stroke, and golf is now a much harder game to the one I remember.
I guess I am being dramatic, and it is all a little tongue in cheek, but when it is all said and done, all we want is to play our regular round without too much delay, to hit enough decent shots to bring us back again next time and to turn on the TV and watch the best in the world go head-to-head in golf’s most significant events.
It’s not that hard. Here we are again at Inside Golf, tackling the big issues.
The post Tackling the big issues! first appeared on Inside Golf. Australia's Most-Read Golf Magazine as named by Australian Golfers - FREE.
Article Link: https://www.insidegolf.com.au/opinion/tackling-the-big-issues/