Putting Tip: Try an 8" cup!

[MGoBlue100]

A golf course in Myrtle Beach is changing permanently to 8" cups in an effort to grow the game. Thoughts?

 

http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/2014/11/24/4628676/on-grand-strand-golf-azalea-sands.html

[GolfSpy Barbajo]

Permanent?  I'd at least hope they have regular sized cups too.  

 

I dunno, I'm not really sure that larger holes is THE answer to growing the game.  You still have to get the ball on the green, and that's the hard part.  

[JBones]

I don't think it will grow the game or speed it up.  I think it will maybe draw a new crowd, while pushing away the purist crowd.  I also don't think that the most time is lost on the greens, at least not from what I see on the course.  I see guys that can't hit it over 150 playing from the tips and it takes them 6 shots to make it to a 400yd par 4.  Speeding up the game is going to take a mentality change, not a course change.

 

It is interesting though and I'd like to see them do a follow up article after doing this for a couple months.

[hckymeyer]

Can you imagine how small a regular hole would look after playing there a few times?

 

I understand the rational of the course and trying to get more people involved, but this just bugs the sh!t out of me.  It's a sign of the times we live in that instead of trying to work hard and get better, or educate people on the proper procedure that can help speed up play, we just give everyone a participation trophy and make the holes bigger.

[GolfSpy Barbajo]

The USGA pace of play summit had some interesting suggestions for speeding up play -- 11 minute intervals, more practical course set up, etc.  Funny, they didn't mention a bigger cup....

 

On the other side, I guess trying something is better than doing nothing.  Throw a bunch of stuff at the problem and see whats sticks.  

 

Personally, I like that whole FlingGolf idea  

 

Which may be WAY crazier than 8" holes....

[westy]

When I practice putting I like using the hole in the practice green that's only just bigger the ball - that way a normal hole looks huge!

[Kenny B]

When we do golf clinics for kids during the summer, all of them can putt after a few lessons, maybe not real well, but they can get it in the hole. The hard part for them is getting to the green.

 

Some people find it a challenge to get the ball in the hole and will work at it; they are golfers. Others will try it and if it doesn't come easy, they will give up. You will not get them back by making the hole 8 inches.

[silver & black]

Permanent? I'll pass.

[Jmikecpa]

Interesting.  It is not as easy as you would think it would be, but still easier than the normal cup.  I used to play in an 8" cup scramble in college with a few of my buddies and we always had a blast at that tournament but I think it was more so for the bar and the on course refreshments.

[GolfSpy Tim]

such a minimal piece of the pie. a piece, but really.... most guys I end up playing with don't even putt out anyway (not regulars I play with, but randoms I get paired with) everything is a gimme