To slow has to go

Ok confession time, I hate, loathe, despise long & belly putters!

But to anyone who has ever read my blogs or tweets then that is no surprise.

Would I have banned them ? At inception yes, without doubt.

But now ? To be honest no.

Love them or hate them they are established now, would you ban metal woods ??

Elongated putters are the current Spidhie of golf, a common hate figure.

Are there bigger problems in golf, hell yes!

For once I will lay off my usual rant on sexism, because lets face it neither the R&A or the USPGA have the balls to tackle it, either that or both organisations are so inherently sexist they simply don’t care.

The cancer that is killing golf is slow play, at professional and amateur level.

18 holes, 10 minutes a hole for a 3 ball, 3 hours simple as.

Not rocket science.

Last night I gave up watching the Farmers at Torrey Pines, the pace of play was PATHETIC.

Now as for the utter carbage being spouted by the TV coverage about cold & wind, well hogwash!

Go to any links course in Scotland or Ireland and see what wind and cold really feels like.

Is it simply a case that the PGA tour has spawned a new breed of pampered pro’s ?

At club level we have it relatively easy, we know slow players and avoid them like Mark Roe. There are a few who will deliberately play them in an attempt to speed them up. Brave souls those.

But you walk into a club house after any medal you can spot the slow players. They are the ones sitting by themselves, socially ostracised by their fellow players.

So what can the R&A and USPGA do about it at a professional level?

Introduce a new rule like they did on putters?

Well, em, no!

Why? Because the rules are currently there! They simply need to be applied!

So why are they not? The LPGA has a better record at applying slow play penalties!

So while we all moan, complain and campaign about slow play the R&A and USGA will do what they always do, ignore us! After all we are only the paying public!

The only way the authorities will sit up and pay attention is if the TV companies and sponsors say  “Enough”.

If the networks cut coverage with the leaders on the 14th hole we would revolt!

BUT if that happened and sponsors on mass went to authorities and threatened to withdraw, I can guarantee you play would speed up.

Because money talks! Well rather money gets heard, we do not!