Page 66 - Summer eng 2017

Years ago, I had the privilege of working on a project with Ely Callaway. Sadly, when he passed in 2001, the project died with him.
Ely instilled in me part of his vision. In fact, he lightheartedly added a 35th rule of golf: “Have fun!”
After all, that is the object of the game for the average golfer, right? So why does the industry persist in making courses that are not fun? When did 7,000 yards become a thing?
Ian Andrew, a golf course architect based in Brantford, Ont., sums it up well.
“You build back tees for people who don’t pay for golf,” he says, referring to pros. “You build forward tees for people who would play if they were less intimidated.”
Andrew cites the experience of his young son playing for the first time from tees where he could reach greens in regulation.
“That completely changed his view of the game and I’ve used that example to encourage all the clubs I work with [to build a series of shorter tees] ever since.”
Andrew is a proponent of the innovative Longleaf Tee System. Several years ago, U.S. Kids Golf founder Dan Van Horn started scaling the length of courses that hosted his tournaments to make them playable for all participants, no matter what their ability or skill level.
When his U.S. Kids Golf Foundation purchased Longleaf golf course near Pinehurst, N.C., in 2015, he, with the assistance of Bridgestone Golf, synthesized the related data he had accumulated
The Parting Shot
Rule35:HaveFun!
over the years and hired architect Bill Bergin to create the first totally scalable golf course with seven sets of tees ranging from 3,200 to 6,600 yards. Van Horn calls Longleaf “a living laboratory for growing kids and family golf.”
Now a joint initiative of U.S. Kids Golf Foundation and the American Society of Golf Course Architects, the Longleaf Tee System “is designed to help every player enjoy the game and help every course provide for their customers,” says Van Horn.
“Appropriate tees will mean better scores, a faster pace of play and more golfers eager to return and play more. There is no gender or age restriction. It is the opportunity for excellence for every player.”
For example, Van Horn’s data indicated that the female bogey golfer should be playing a course of about 3,800 yards, a distance that is practically non-existent at the vast majority of courses.
“Par for most women at most golf courses is really around 90,” says Bergin. “Their enjoyment level is lessened because they have to hit too many of what I call ‘irrelevant’ golf shots between the two shots that really matter: the tee shot and
the approach shot. With the Longleaf system, they can select the correct tee based on how far they hit their driver, score better, have more fun, play faster and now every shot is relevant.”
Relevant equates to fun which means more people enjoying the game, playing a course commen- surate with their ability. I encourage you to introduce the Longleaf Tee System at your course.
Rule 35 lives!
For more information on the Longleaf Tee System visit www.longleafteesystem.com.
66Golf Business Canada
John Gordon
Over the past 3 decades, John
has covered every aspect of the Canadian golf game and is the author of eight golf books. John is a past chair and multi-time presenter at the Golf Business Canada Conference & Trade Show. Contact John at gordongolf@outlook.com and follow him on Twitter @gordongolf.