Opinion & Analysis

It isn’t snobby to enjoy golf how you want to

Published

7 years ago

Nov 1, 2019

Being particular about something you enjoy because your resources are limited and you want to maximize them doesn’t make you a snob—it makes you an educated participant.

Golf has always struggled with the image of being snobby, and it’s easy to understand the basis of that stereotype: private clubs, the perceived cost associated with the game, the rules, proper etiquette, and dress codes all leave people with the impression that golf is “not for them.” I mean, how many movie bad guys are shown hitting putts into a glass in their office? Golf is used as a negative trope.

Recently, the idea of snobbery in golf has shifted to an internal one between groups firmly holding their ground on a point of view.

walkers vs. cart riders
architecture junkies vs. lush fairway seekers
bag tag Barrys vs. hidden gem travelers
persimmon & blades vs. modern gear
music vs. NO Music on the course

The list could go on…

Any one of these discussions usually ends up in finger-pointing and placing unfounded blame on the other group for not being smart enough to understand the other’s point of view, or not being “with it,” or “woke.” But what I believe we need to realize is golf as a whole is better when everyone enjoys it the way they want to, as long as it doesn’t impede on someone else’s ability to also enjoy the game—except slow play…nobody likes slow play.

I, for one, am firmly on team pro-walkers, persimmon, music, and architecture, but it doesn’t mean I’m against the others, it’s just how I often choose to enjoy my time when I play. You can make great arguments on both sides of these issues, and even with my stated position, I’m willing to counter my own opinions

For example, having worked with people with disabilities in past work experience, I understand that mobility is a huge struggle for a lot of people. As the population ages, I’d much rather see someone out playing in a cart than not playing at all, and when I have to, or sometimes even when I don’t, I still enjoy taking a cart, especially when testing gear and carrying upwards of 20 clubs.
Course design is more important to me than overall conditioning, but if you are someone that only gets the opportunity to play every couple of weeks, I totally understand why you would want to play at a lush green course. My one and only counter-argument will be that as water use becomes more of an issue these traditional ideas might need to shift in certain geographic locations, but beyond that, play golf where you will have the most fun.
Persimmon to me is a way to remind myself how far we’ve come. It’s way better and more fun on particular courses from a classical era but so is mashing a drive with a 460cc driver. I love hunting for an old Cleveland Classic wood as much as I like finding out my new 3-wood is eight yards longer than my previous one. Technology helps everyone, and if you’d rather use modern gear vs. older stuff, I’m right there with you. Hitting it farther and being able to play your misses is a lot less frustrating, kinda like driving with an automatic transmission compared to a standard—something I can do but never really gotten the hang of. It’s just a different way to experience the same stretch of highway.

At the end of the day, golf is what you make it, whether it be a trip to a bucket list course walking with a caddie or a few beers in a cart, mashing drives at your local muni. Regardless of how “woke” you think you are or how much you just want to go out and just hit some shots, as golfers I think we need to accept that there is more than one way to play this game, and that’s truly what makes it great.

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Ryan Barath

Ryan Barath is a club-fitter & master club builder with more than 17 years of experience working with golfers of all skill levels, including PGA Tour players. He is the former Build Shop Manager & Social Media Coordinator for Modern Golf. He now works independently from his home shop and is a member of advisory panels to a select number of golf equipment manufacturers. You can find Ryan on Twitter and Instagram where he's always willing to chat golf, and share his passion for club building, course architecture and wedge grinding.

24 Comments

#1KuchFan

Nov 4, 2019 at 9:15 am

America needs carts to tote all the hippos around. That’s just a fact.

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- Mercedes
  
  Nov 4, 2019 at 10:04 am
  
  Winning snob comment
  
  Reply Report comment
Mike Grove

Nov 3, 2019 at 6:30 am

I do not like cart golf. Walking for me is a part of the game that I have loved for 50+ years. I have a friend who moved south years ago but comes back to Maine every summer, and he rides so I ride. Once he said, “Do you remember when we couldn’t afford to ride?” My response was that I always hated riding. It interferes with actually playing the game and interaction within the group. Walking down a fairway with friends is a wonderful memory. I no longer carry but will keep walking until I can’t – then I will stop playing. Yes, after all these decades I still play blades…

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- Tackling Dummy
  
  Nov 3, 2019 at 5:12 pm
  
  I like walking as well. It is a much better experience on the golf course and you are more immersed in the nature of the golf course. Not to mention it is way better to get the exercise.
  
  Reply Report comment
- Fritznw
  
  Nov 4, 2019 at 4:21 pm
  
  So you will stop playing when you can’t walk vs riding in a cart. I can’t understand that. I’m 53 and have bad osteoarthritis in both knees, I can’t walk a flat course without pain and swelling at the end of the round. I’ll proudly take a cart every time if it means I still get to play. I won’t quit until I’m 6 feet under.
  
  Reply Report comment
larrybud

Nov 3, 2019 at 5:45 am

Music affects other players. The other stuff doesn’t. Simple as that.

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- Dennis
  
  Nov 4, 2019 at 2:43 am
  
  Agree!
  
  Reply Report comment
- Scott
  
  Nov 7, 2019 at 2:47 pm
  
  100% agree. I have never heard any music on a course, for any length of time, that doesn’t become distracting. And when the people playing it roll up on me, it is very disrespectful.
  
  I love music. I have been in a band for most of my life, but there is a time and place for everything.
  
  Reply Report comment
Expat

Nov 2, 2019 at 1:07 am

I don’t care if someone uses a cart, but the game should be based around the walker first. Leave the US, and carts are the exception.

As they should be. They are an assistive mechanism.

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Rich Douglas

Nov 1, 2019 at 11:31 pm

I’m fine with modern equipment. Most golfers can hit it anyway; they can use all the help they can get.

Music? Shut it off or listen to earplugs.

Course conditions? I’ll take an emphasis on design and acceptable conditions. But a good design doesn’t do any good if you don’t get a fair lie for a good shot, can’t get out of the bunkers, etc. A little of both, please.

I’d rather walk, but if the course is wide open I’ll take a cart and speed through. I can play in less than 2 hours that way. If not, I’d prefer to walk. Used to carry, but I trolley it nowadays.

I really don’t care about your bag tag from Torrey Pines. I used to play it for fifteen bucks, but I don’t need to show you a tag. Hidden gems? Love ’em.

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Iknowdonkeys

Nov 1, 2019 at 10:33 pm

Matt Kuchar sucks big donkey

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- Matt Kuchar
  
  Nov 2, 2019 at 8:58 pm
  
  But your mom does it for free!!
  
  Reply Report comment
  - shadid goldston
    
    Nov 4, 2019 at 1:25 pm
    
    Kuchar for President!
    
    Reply Report comment
bobarino

Nov 1, 2019 at 7:17 pm

Music? Wear earbuds. If you play music at a course – or a driving range for that matter – that others can hear when it’s pretty evident that: (a) the vast majority of players aren’t taking music to the course; and (b) you’re presuming that others would want to listen to YOUR music, you MIGHT be a self-centered narcissist. Your solution: Get a swing simulator and play in your garage.

“Woke” OMFG gimme a break…

Reply Report comment
- Nack Jicklaus
  
  Nov 2, 2019 at 8:07 am
  
  I expect not to have to listen to someone else’s annoying music when I go to a golf course and pay good money to do so. When did that become a “thing” anyway? The older I get the more quiet I want I guess…
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Mad-Mex
    
    Nov 2, 2019 at 8:56 pm
    
    I can only imagine if I took a speaker and played some Mariachi music LOUD what would happen? I agree with you guys, earbuds if you want to hear music…
    
    Reply Report comment
- Tackling Dummy
  
  Nov 3, 2019 at 5:15 pm
  
  I agree. If you want to listen to music use earbuds. Don’t play music that affects other people’s play on the course.
  
  Reply Report comment
Jeremy

Nov 1, 2019 at 6:47 pm

“Woke” seems like a huge stretch to be using in the context of this golf article … at least by it’s normal definition.
Woke: alert to injustice in society, especially racism

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Dave

Nov 1, 2019 at 6:15 pm

Hey, Ryan, any opinion on modern balls that play nice with persimmon?

Reply Report comment
- Ryan Barath
  
  Nov 1, 2019 at 9:07 pm
  
  The Wilson Staff Duo Professional is a Low Compression urethane that a lot of people like to use.
  
  I generally use the Titleist AVX, but I would say try whatever your current ball is and then experiment from there.
  
  Reply Report comment
ChipNRun

Nov 1, 2019 at 3:26 pm

I always find the “walking only” tribe to be interesting. Many courses mandate motorized golf carts, so what choice do golfers have? Will the walkers only skip golf rather than ride?

Also, the increased number of residential development clubs means it can be 300 yards from the No. 3 green to No. 4 tee. Everybody needs a home along the fairway…

Many of the residential developments have morphed into semi-private golf clubs: A core membership, a group that pays for a $500 card and golf for $X per round, and a good number of walk-ons with no real membership connection. Despite the fizzle of not becoming an upscale club, you still have 300 yards to walk from prior green to next tee.

The older gentlemen I sometimes play with are above 70 years of age, and most couldn’t play if they had to walk up and down all the hills. My wife has knee trouble, and nine holes – while riding in a cart – is all she can handle.

One of the telling remarks came from a very fit 40-something who trains for and runs in 10K races (about 7 miles in length). When I asked if he ever walks, he said no. For him golf is a separate fun activity, and he has a separate workout for his running.

Reply Report comment
- Louis Christopher
  
  Nov 1, 2019 at 11:35 pm
  
  In mountainous areas or at modern monstrosities with cartoonishly long walks from green to tee, sure, take a cart. But in the Chicago area as well as any other state that was flattened out by glaciers, 90% of courses are walkable. Carts don’t really speed up play at these courses anyway because most people who take carts – at least in my 30+ years of playing the game – zoom all over the place chasing wayward shots and rarely hit greens. The amount of carts I play through every year as a walker is comical.
  
  Reply Report comment
MT

Nov 1, 2019 at 2:39 pm

Hell, I’ll play with anyone. Simple as that.

Reply Report comment
- Donald Ross
  
  Nov 4, 2019 at 7:25 am
  
  Atta boy
  
  Reply Report comment

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Opinion & Analysis

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