It’s All in the Details
Curtis Blakely - Photo by Roon-bop Photography
Golf is a game of inches that is played on a field of acres. As such, in order to provide an enjoyable competitive golf experience several things must be taken into consideration.
The Grounds Crew has to be meticulous. The Course Designer and the Superintendent must have a deep understanding of the Rules of Golf and their implications for each competitor. The Club Captain must be more than just an “unpaid volunteer”.
This is because for any competitive sport, the goal of the event organizers is to create an environment that has as few uncontrollable variables as possible. For instance, if you were watching an NBA game you would not expect the rim at one end of the court to be loose and the rim at the other end of the court to be tight (like my old high school gym). You would expect the rim to be tight at both ends, the same way a PGA golfer would expect all 18 greens to putt at the same speed.
This is one of the cornerstones of great sport. To provide an environment where the only variable(s) that determine a player’s success is his or her own physical and mental competence within a specific skill set (in this case, the golf swing).
In this sense, golf has so many things riding against it in providing a ‘fair’ sporting experience. The morning tee times on any given day could have rain, wind, fog, while the afternoon tee times could provide sunshine with no wind. There are so many uncontrollable variables on any given day that it becomes paramount to have competent people running the golf course to ensure that anything that can be controlled, is being controlled.
I understand that there is a difference between ‘Sport’ and ‘Entertainment’. I also understand, that in most cases, they are treated as one in the same. Here is an example of the difference, given the above description of variables in sport:
F1 racing has very strict guidelines as to how a driver can modify his or her own vehicle. By comparison, Nascar essentially lets the driver modify the vehicle in whatever manner he or she feels is appropriate. The former is a controlled playing field that aims to reward the best driver, the latter is a group of grown men turning left. Personally, I don’t care for any form of car racing. I also see the irony in using car racing as an example of variables in ’sport’. I do, however feel it illustrates my greater point:
Great golf courses for the purposes of competitive golf all have one thing in common: They are difficult but fair for each player that tees it up.
I accept that most people play golf recreationally, however I am going to be blogging about golf in terms of competitive sport. As such, the opinion(s) given in this blog will reflect that viewpoint.
As a former Competitive Golfer (University of Ottawa Men’s Team), Greenskeeper, Back-Shop Manager and Summertime Golf Bum, I’ve seen and played some of the best and worst golf courses in Canada.
I’ve played well from the gold tees while nursing a cold in the pouring rain and I’ve played poorly from the old men’s/pseudo women’s tees (usually white tees) on a goodnight’s sleep with the sun shining.
I think golf is one of the most mentally challenging games on the planet.
When I was 15 years old, I was drawn to the game because of the individual component of the sport. No teammates to bail you out or hold you back, no referees to spoil a big play. NO EXCUSES. It’s just you and the golf course.
Having said all this, I have very little tolerance for golf courses that do not at the very least, seek to create an experience that will yield consistent results. In my experience, I have found that too many people in the business have forgotten why the Rules of Golf were created: to provide equity and fairness to all those competing.
I will be reviewing several golf courses throughout Canada but mostly throughout Ontario and Quebec as that is where I’ve spent the majority of my time playing.
If you are a competitive golfer, a serious golfer or just a golf enthusiast who has an appreciation for the game, check back for my perspective on some of golf’s best and worst courses.
The first course I will be reviewing is the Kanata Golf and Country Club, located in the West End of Ottawa, Ontario.
Enjoy!
Curtis
Plus size lady golfers are a forgotten demographic.
Karon Speed
Plus size lady golfers are a forgotten demographic when it comes to clothing in most pro shops and specialty golf stores in the Toronto area. Why is that??? (Yes we golf and some of us even break 90 on those rare occasions when the golf gods are smiling.)
Good thing that doesn’t stop us from playing all the courses from the prestigious Auckland Golf Club in New Zealand to Hawaii’s big island course Waikoloa, Ontario’s Wooden Sticks or Club Link courses like Glen Abbey, Angus Glen, Bond Head etc. etc. etc. or as my son says yadda yadda yadda. As long as you have the price of membership or green fees anyone can play. I’ve played those and lots of others in my 63 yrs.
Yes Dad, you were right when I quit golf at 15 years of age in Winnipeg after playing for 6 years at Rossmere and hating the fact that I couldn’t control my emotions on all those little city tournaments. You said I would thank you one day for those lessons, winter and summer, from the terrific and ever so patient Jerry Morrissey. I fell in love with the game 30 years later when I found out you didn’t have to compete but could go out and just have fun. Wish you could have lived long enough so I could have seen your face 18 years ago when I said “Thank you Dad!”
Of course all the courses mentioned so far are gorgeous. They charge the huge green fees that keep the greens keepers busy manicuring fairways, greens and tee boxes. Who wouldn’t enjoy playing any of those. They are mostly in tip top condition, challenging and well marshalled with elegant club houses.
But it doesn’t take all that for me to have a great day on the links. Just give me a buddy or three and a sunny day and I’m off to any course where we can get a reasonable deal and 18 holes of golf.
Our ”home” club is Ayren Links Golf Club in Bowmanville. I knew I would fit in perfectly 7 years ago when I checked into the pro shop and the owner Mau told me to go home and do my housework! He is a real character and I love his wicked sense of humour. His wife Betty and daughters-in-law Maureen and Brenda are salt of the earth and keep everything running smoothly in the pro shop/club house. Most of the staff are family or friends and they all really make you feel at home.
The course has come a long way in the 7 years I have played there. In the last year in particular as the ownership is gently passing from father to sons the sons are making their presence known in a gradual reconfiguration of the course. Where fairways were once cut so close it was almost impossible to lose a ball, there is now a change of mower heights creating a little more rough and more interesting look and challenge to the holes.
The size of some of the greens are being pared down and reshaped to offer more challenge to the elusive arts of pitching and putting. The pin placements sometimes show that wicked sense of humour being passed down from father to son. But we old gals love the new challenge. However the thing we love most of all are the new ladies tees which have moved down the fairway on many of the longer holes cutting them down from par 5’s to par 4’s. Bravo! (There is an ongoing family battle on the ladies tee placement on #12. Although my vote counts for nothing puhleeze keep it in the middle of the fairway and not at the fence . )
The signature 13th hole is a little par 3 where you are shooting from the tree tops down to one of 2 greens forward or back. On many days you will find Larry the gardener/wizard landscaper there patiently working his magic. If you are lucky enough to encounter him ask him about his friend Fred.
The views from the 3rd and 6th tees are breathtaking. So many happy memories are found there of friends old and new staring out over the pastoral views proclaiming how lucky we are to be alive and able to indulge ourselves immersed in the wonderful game of golf.
The older I get the better I was. Karon
The Golf Map Blog Launches
thegolfmap.com
We’re launching this blog in association with thegolfmap.com which is Canada’s most comprehensive golf course directory. What makes The Golf Map stand out from other directories is how easy it is to find courses through our interactive map. In addition we take time, real human time, to ensure the accuracy of our course location, profile and special offers information. That’s enough about the golf map. For now please enjoy thegolfmap.com/blog and all it has to offer.