EarthGolf

Australian golf course architect Michael Clayton made that statement regarding the 17th hole at Sawgrass.

Personally, I find that sad commentary on American golf. For the most part, though, he’s right about the 17th hole summarizing what many Americans’ want out of their golf - ultimate risk and ultimate disaster. Sure, if the participant succeeds, he’s rewarded with a somewhat nice prize - he gets to keep his golf ball. But the disaster is what the American golf spectator craves.

And many organizations are racing to give that spectator exactly what they want. The USGA has been specializing in it since the turn of the previous century. The Masters, under the tutelage of the USGA, did a pretty good job this year. Now the PGA Tour is getting in on the act - redoing the golf course so that they could get the rough longer and the greens faster.

American golf is actually pretty boring today. The unimaginative 6″ rough which leads to only one shot - the ever exciting wedge back to the fairway. The perfectly manicured 25 yard, flat fairway. The flat, two tiered green stimping out at 14. The bomb and gouge excitement of 320 drive and wedge to 8 feet to a pin 6 feet from the green’s edge. Yep - American golf at its finest. Every once in awhile we get something a little different like the 17th at Sawgrass - but there isn’t any subtlety, nuance or options. It’s in your face brutality.

And, sadly, that is exactly what the American golf spectator is looking for today.

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