The Pellucid Perspective - June 2017 - 11

handicap system would seem to be extremely counter-intuitive at
this point in time.
The USGA should really focus on the decline in "match play"
where the mathematical wonders of the handicap system really
show up. The SLRG data showing only 30% of golfers using
match play is a big part of the "relevance" issue raised in our
surveys. We would be willing to put down a front side wager on
that and press the back side that the cost/value proposition is impacted by not using (or understanding) a major benefit of having
a handicap in the first place.
If the USGA is serious about preserving the "game of golf,"
it should be striving to get every score
reported by its handicap service users.
In most cases, someone who bends or
breaks the rules is more likely to have
a lower handicap, further reducing the
approximately 25% probability that a
golfer is going to play to their handicap on any given day. Creating a bunch
of reasons for a score not to be posted
is schizophrenic at best and more akin
to inviting the sandbagging fox who is
already in the henhouse to stay a little
longer.
I can't wait to see what happens when
we get a Millennial interested in golf
and tell him he shouldn't report a score
if he was listening to Kendrick Lamar
on his earbuds. I'll press the back nine
bet again and wager that he'll join the
69% who don't think the USGA is on
the right track.
On a more positive note, the attempt
to separate "intent" from "incidental" is
going to be difficult, but should be a big
improvement. Maybe there will even be
a clarification of the difference between
"oscillation" and "movement" so that we
won't have to rely on Augusta National's
iron telecast control to save us from endless replays of Sergio Garcia's lie on the
pine straw at the Masters. And hopefully, the remaining 24 Rules will be stated
in clearer language so that most golfers
will understand that earbuds are considered an "outside agency."
In the end, I hope all this stuff is sorted out in ways that end up "preserving"
a handicap system that works with some
worthwhile improvements, particularly
by making it easier for public golfers to
participate. That will take attention to
cost, ease of use and educational issues.
The clarification and simplification of
the Rules should also help.
Although we are strong supporters of
www.PellucidCorp.com

what the USGA adds to the game and business of golf, some of
the issues outlined here are legitimate reasons to be concerned. I
understand that the USGA professes to be disinterested in the
business of golf. The re-definition of the SRGA relationships and
comments by some USGA Officials would seem to indicate to
some that preservation and service to golfers are taking a backseat
to tournament attendance and broadcast revenues. The 69% of
golfers in the SLRG survey should not be dismissed.
As a final note, I caution everybody about both rapidly changing technology and the inconvenient truth that cloud-based solutions are not practical for a significant number of golf courses

The Pellucid PersPecTive

http://www.kempersports.com http://www.PellucidcorP.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Pellucid Perspective - June 2017