March 2021 Ohio Golf Journal

faced with the certainty that either the golf ball, or golf clubs, or possibly both, must have overall performance curtailed. However, that opinion does not seem to necessarily reflect the feeling of average golfers. Put another way, no one has ever left the game because they hit the ball too far, or it had become too easy. The USGA has not put proper emphasis on the most important topic of the discussion, What do golf fans,who pay greens fees, buy annual club memberships, spend millions annually on golf equipment and support the PGA Tour think? Fans are excited by pros hitting the long ball and making birdies in bunches. That simple fact seems to have been forgotten. As any successful businessperson can tell you, it is always a mistake to ignore customers. Paraphrasing world renown instructor Hank Haney, ‘people don’t go to a ball game to see a bunch of bunt singles.’ Whan is an experienced negotiator and ran the LPGA with the fan experience foremost in mind. He has the opportunity to use his proven skills to bring a fresh, market-oriented customer-friendly perspective to the USGA and not simply rubber stamp the present view of traditionalists. The idea of restricting drivers, or golf balls because a few talented athletes can make their tee shots go 300 yards must be rethought and making a separate set of rules for regular players is not in the spirit of the game. The USGA is a traditionalistic monolith. Michael Whan is facing a huge task, not just with golf fans, but inside the USGA bureaucracy, as well. His primary task will be to soothe egos and garner a consensus within the USGA, as well as, among average golfers. The relevancy of the golf’s leading association in America is at stake and for the good of the game, hopefully he can lead them into the 21st century. Play 18. Repeat. Now’s the time to play two award-winning courses to their fullest. Our Pete Dye and Donald Ross Courses have been #1 and #2 on GolfWeek’s “Best You Can Play” in Indiana for 10 years running. Book your round in 2020, and replays are free the same day at The Pete Dye Course (forecaddie fee additional) while same-day Donald Ross replays are $50. Visit frenchlick.com/golf or call (888) 936-9360 to get that road trip rolling. Double Down on Bucket-List Golf Management reserves the right to cancel or modify any event without notice. Must be 21 years or older to enter the casino. Gambling Problem? Call 1.800.9.WITH.IT!