You can have all the modern equipent in the world but it still takes skill to play golf. I'm a mid 80's low 90's player. I played my best round ever with a set of clubs from Wal-Mart. I have Callaway X-16's and still play the same. No matter who you are, you're going to leave strokes on the course by doing something stupid. It's not the equipment. It's the person holding it.
The thing from the article that was spot-on for me is how can one expect to improve playing just four or five times a year? In my best year I played fewer than ten times. My very first outing I was in the 120's, now I usually break 100 but never have broken 90, never will, and never will really care about it that much. I don't want to become competitive at golf. I want to play a round with friends, hit one really good shot per hole, bury at least 1 putt over ten feet, get two pars and birdie a Par 5, and get filthy drunk and have a good cigar. That's my agenda. Be interesting to hear JJ's take on this. I think it's just simply a point of diminishing returns. Obviously beginners can expect to improve significantly to some point but will ultimately hit a wall that only assiduous practice will overcome.
I was aware that even with all the technology today, the golfers of today are about the same as they were back then. Some scores have been lowered in some PGA events, but mostly it hasn't gone down that much. The scoring avergae went from 69.8 to 69.5 or something to that effect, which is negligible and hardly worth all the money people throw at golf equipment each year! It is all about the swing and not what your swinging. And the most influential piece of technology that has changed golf over the last 25 years or so? The lawnmower! Greens are slicker, so whatever gains were made up in distance are lost on the putting surface!
how can one expect to improve playing just four or five times a year? ...and never will really care about it that much. excellent points, vito. I suck and I don't care, which keeps the game enjoyable. The minute I start to care the fun goes away...crack a cold beer....have a laugh with a friend. Hey this is fun again!
