KENT GRAY
olf is hard but if you’re reading these pages, chances are you know that already. I’m no masochist but the physical and intellectual examination posed by every single swing is a large part of why I adore our royal and ancient and utterly compelling game.
It’s the eternal and ultimately futile pursuit of perfection, the battle within to control aging body and creaking mind for 18 holes or, perhaps more realistically, a few decent ones therein.
In today’s world of “fake news” and computer generated instant gratification, fewer folk are willing to invest the time, not to speak of the necessary riches, required to be rewarded by this sultry sporting temptress. It’s a real shame and a great challenge for golf’s policy makers.
That’s why the European Tour is to be applauded for last month’s World Super 6 tournament in Perth where Brett Rumford triumphed wire-to-wire like never before, leading through 54-holes of strokeplay before surviving a Sunday of bite-sized, six-hole matchplay duels to get his career back on track.
Golf needs innovation to reach audiences new and Perth proved an interesting soapbox from which to spread the good word. Whether it shifts the participation (or even viewership) needle longterm remains to be seen but an eight-player playoff Saturday to find the last of the 24 qualifiers for the matchplay at least gave the normally slow crawling moving day some momentum.
Sunday was a breathless affair and it would have been galling for Rumford had the Western Australian not triumphed given his play throughout the week at Lake Karrinyup CC. Alas, instant entertainment, however ruthless, pays golfdigestme. com march 2017 the bills nowadays it seems.
Golf’s attempt to modernise itself is a fascinating watch. The formation of Falcon Golf is a hugely positive step locally and we wish Peter Dawson (p26) and his team well in selling Dubai’s golf offering to the world via its Race to Dubai sponsorship and ownership of the Desert Classic and Ladies Masters.
The “retired” former R&A chief is keeping a watching brief on the likes of the Super 6 but don’t expect too many radical changes at the two Emirates Golf Club events. The 68-year-old Scot remains a traditionalist at heart and knows he’s better served getting all the city’s well-intentioned but traditionally competitive stakeholders on the same page rather than completely rewriting it.
It is encouraging to hear Dawson talk of a cheaper grassroots introduction to golf in the emirate which “is always going to be at or close to the top end of the market and Dubai has to recognise that and gear its marketing of golf accordingly.”
I’m all for making the game cheaper, faster and easier for all. So too is Gary Player it seems. The Black Knight, never shy of an opinion, shares his thoughts [p30] on why there has never been a more urgent need for different equipment rules for pros and amateurs.
I’m not convinced I’d want to play with a different ball or sticks as the chance to compare yourself to the pros on a classic course, however ridiculous, is one of golf’s great attractions.
Likewise, I trust the major championships remain sacrosanct as our leaders go about tinkering with the events we love.
Call me a traditional futurist, if there is such a thing. Golf is hard and I like it that way. I’m prepared for change but hope the fabric of our infuriatingly brilliant game doesn’t succumb to the short-sighted whims of these whimsical times. Fake news is one thing, fake golf quite another.