What is something you wish existed in golf, but doesn't?

[poprocksncoke]

An actual Marshall to keep slow groups going or let others play through

[cksurfdude]

4 hours ago, ILMgolfnut said:

I'd settle for an audible device that would beep when you're close to your ball in the woods.

Love it .. way gonna post I'd like a GPS enabled golf ball (but that doesn't make the ball too heavy) so I could head straight to it every time.

 

4 hours ago, StrokerAce said:

I wish carts were BANNED from most courses and they encouraged walking for everyone that wasn't handicapped.

100%. All courses public and private should provide/rent push carts and/or electric push carts.

 

And then there's the total pipe dreams -

Call me crazy, it's ok, but I would like to see some sort of let's call it shot clock on every green. There's being intentional with your process, and then there's being just stoopit imho...

Call me really crazy but I'd like to see *well behaved dogs* allowed out on the course .. provided they're properly handled and cleaned up after by *well behaved humans*.

[ILMgolfnut]

52 minutes ago, Kenny B said:

WTH happened??

Basically what happened is that golf in the UK eventually expanded beyond the linksland, that treeless zone of dunes and sand in places like St. Andrews and Dornoch and Ballybunion. And, inevitably, course sites were chosen that ran around and through forests. Rather than knock down all the trees, they used, or cut, corridors. And when golf crossed the pond to the US, forested courses were accepted.

[ILMgolfnut]

1 minute ago, cksurfdude said:

Call me really crazy but I'd like to see *well behaved dogs* allowed out on the course

They do that in Scotland too. Non-golfers are allowed to walk themselves, and their dogs, on the course (many courses, including all of the St. Andrews Links courses, are considered Common Good Land, open to all; the course is not owned by the club but by the community), but golfers are also allowed to bring Fido along. I remember a couple of rounds where the foursome in front of me was three golfers and a pooch.

[Luisddavila]

4 minutes ago, cksurfdude said:

Love it .. way gonna post I'd like a GPS enabled golf ball (but that doesn't make the ball too heavy) so I could head straight to it every time.

 

100%. All courses public and private should provide/rent push carts and/or electric push carts.

 

And then there's the total pipe dreams -

Call me crazy, it's ok, but I would like to see some sort of let's call it shot clock on every green. There's being intentional with your process, and then there's being just stoopit imho...

Call me really crazy but I'd like to see *well behaved dogs* allowed out on the course .. provided they're properly handled and cleaned up after by *well behaved humans*.

Go and play in Puerto Rico there are well behaved dogs and iguanas 

[TJ Hall]

7 minutes ago, cksurfdude said:

Love it .. way gonna post I'd like a GPS enabled golf ball (but that doesn't make the ball too heavy) so I could head straight to it every time.

 

100%. All courses public and private should provide/rent push carts and/or electric push carts.

 

And then there's the total pipe dreams -

Call me crazy, it's ok, but I would like to see some sort of let's call it shot clock on every green. There's being intentional with your process, and then there's being just stoopit imho...

Call me really crazy but I'd like to see *well behaved dogs* allowed out on the course .. provided they're properly handled and cleaned up after by *well behaved humans*.

Maybe the dogs can be trained to keep the pace on the greens…take too long and the dogs come after you!

If dogs were allowed, my wife might be interested in playing!

[vandyland]

More golf bikes. Some courses are very hard to traverse on foot (US residential builds mostly) due to long distances between holes that wind through houses BUT a bike would work well. Less maintenance (surely?) and no fuel would be less costly than a fleet of golf carts. ALSO, if everyone in a 4 person group has their own bike then they can go to their ball independently which leads me to my next point.....

.....true ready golf. Like, as soon as you hit your tee shot, start walking down the edge of the fairway. You can still watch the ball AND the 4th player to tee off almost has a fore caddy at that point. Also, and I see this all the time, if someone is in a bunker and skulls it across the green. EVERYONE ELSE GO AHEAD AND START PUTTING. There is no reason to wait on that person to rake, go to the other side of the green, and then try again (maybe saves them some embarrassment but come on everyone). 

.....online booking systems at all golf courses and charging a tee time to someone who doesn't show up (give them a 12 hr window ahead of time to cancel). Many golf courses already have this but there are also many that do not. Particularly the municipal courses in my town. Makes me crazy as a single. 

[StrokerAce]

how about more marshals that actually do something... or a pro shop that doesn't schedule tee times 8 minutes apart. the pace of play at public courses during the regular season is atrocious.

[Rob Person]

2 hours ago, StrokerAce said:

how about more marshals that actually do something... or a pro shop that doesn't schedule tee times 8 minutes apart. the pace of play at public courses during the regular season is atrocious.

Ours started doing this on the morning short rotation (7-11am tee times).  No solo or twosomes either for it.  3some groups allowed for members. They also don't open the range until 9 or 10 am now (for range clearing and maintenance reasons)

[Erin B]

RFID balls. 

[Luisddavila]

6 hours ago, StrokerAce said:

how about more marshals that actually do something... or a pro shop that doesn't schedule tee times 8 minutes apart. the pace of play at public courses during the regular season is atrocious.

Myyyy Man!! When I was stationed at Fort Gregg-Adams (Fort Lee) VA, they had marshals that kept golfers moving, here at Fort Knox they don’t and there is no control, people jump in front of you on the turn, at times makes me stop paying my membership but it is convinient as I live like 2 miles from the golf course

[Tom the Golf Nut]

12 hours ago, ILMgolfnut said:

I'd settle for an audible device that would beep when you're close to your ball in the woods. Maybe in my case it would Bluetooth to my hearing aids.

chip-ing.com

 

You asked for it. 

[Tom the Golf Nut]

I would like to see a certification program like some other countries do. You have to take a class on rules and take a proficiency test and carry an official handicap to play a big course. This means there needs to be more par three courses and driving ranges so people can get the experience needed in order to get  certified and then let out on the big courses.

[Golf2Much]

A lottery system that allowed average golfers to play typically "unplayble" (by either being private, too expensive, etc.) golf courses.  Every course would be required to give up one foursome once or twice a year to the general public.  There would be a national random drawing and the winners and three friends would get the opportunity of a lifetime.   Think of it:  having the opportunity to play at exclusive courses like Augusta, Pine Valley, Oakmont, etc.   How about teeing it up at the most expensive courses like Shadow Creek Golf Course, TPC Sawgrass or Pebble Beach?  

The odds would be a tens of million to one that you would win....so you're saying I have a chance?

[Swood1994]

1 hour ago, Golf2Much said:

A lottery system that allowed average golfers to play typically "unplayble" (by either being private, too expensive, etc.) golf courses.  Every course would be required to give up one foursome once or twice a year to the general public.  There would be a national random drawing and the winners and three friends would get the opportunity of a lifetime.   Think of it:  having the opportunity to play at exclusive courses like Augusta, Pine Valley, Oakmont, etc.   How about teeing it up at the most expensive courses like Shadow Creek Golf Course, TPC Sawgrass or Pebble Beach?  

The odds would be a tens of million to one that you would win....so you're saying I have a chance?

I have to say this is one of the better ideas I’ve heard. Not to mention the revenue it would drive to these courses assuming it costs you something to enter (not like they need it). I don’t typically play the lottery but I would get behind this. 

[StrokerAce]

10 hours ago, Golf2Much said:

A lottery system that allowed average golfers to play typically "unplayble" (by either being private, too expensive, etc.) golf courses.  Every course would be required to give up one foursome once or twice a year to the general public.  There would be a national random drawing and the winners and three friends would get the opportunity of a lifetime.   Think of it:  having the opportunity to play at exclusive courses like Augusta, Pine Valley, Oakmont, etc.   How about teeing it up at the most expensive courses like Shadow Creek Golf Course, TPC Sawgrass or Pebble Beach?  

The odds would be a tens of million to one that you would win....so you're saying I have a chance?

they have this in Mass... but I get that you'd like a more nationwide one. I agree; that would be awesome.

[TSauer]

11 hours ago, Golf2Much said:

A lottery system that allowed average golfers to play typically "unplayble" (by either being private, too expensive, etc.) golf courses.  Every course would be required to give up one foursome once or twice a year to the general public.  There would be a national random drawing and the winners and three friends would get the opportunity of a lifetime.   Think of it:  having the opportunity to play at exclusive courses like Augusta, Pine Valley, Oakmont, etc.   How about teeing it up at the most expensive courses like Shadow Creek Golf Course, TPC Sawgrass or Pebble Beach?  

The odds would be a tens of million to one that you would win....so you're saying I have a chance?

Love this idea. I would be prepared to get my heart shattered every year, similar to The Masters lottery, but I'd still apply.

[cksurfdude]

14 hours ago, Tom the Golf Nut said:

chip-ing.com

 

You asked for it. 

Yes, but ... $131.45 for the starter set at the current exchange rate

[cksurfdude]

14 hours ago, Tom the Golf Nut said:

I would like to see a certification program like some other countries do. You have to take a class on rules and take a proficiency test and carry an official handicap to play a big course. This means there needs to be more par three courses and driving ranges so people can get the experience needed in order to get  certified and then let out on the big courses.

YESSSS!!!!

Tom for National Golf Czar / Supreme Director of All Domestic Golf Operations & Procedures

[GolfSpy MPR]

There is a short, blind par 3 at our course. The green is fronted by a mound, then a bunker, followed by a steep downslope to the green. The flagstick is oversized, so it is clearly visible from the tee.

I've always wished that the yardage sign for the hole included a weather-proofed TV screen, with a camera mounted high behind the green, so that from the tee, you could see where your ball landed.

[Eric F]

On 3/26/2024 at 9:26 AM, Headhammer said:

Would love to have a lit par 3 course for night play, especially during the sweltering Georgia summers!

That way I can sweat in the 85 degree heat and 99% humidity at night

[kcchiefs]

Speedy play 

[kcchiefs]

Speedy play 

[TSauer]

18 minutes ago, GolfSpy MPR said:

There is a short, blind par 3 at our course. The green is fronted by a mound, then a bunker, followed by a steep downslope to the green. The flagstick is oversized, so it is clearly visible from the tee.

I've always wished that the yardage sign for the hole included a weather-proofed TV screen, with a camera mounted high behind the green, so that from the tee, you could see where your ball landed.

There is a course close by that has a similar hole, but they installed a large periscope to see the green. I like your idea much better!

[Karls0991]

Completely unrealistic, but a full indoor course for us with with rain and snow.  Simulators are cool, but nothing beats actually playing full holes. I also agree anything that could somehow track your ball without hurting performance of the ball. 

[Tom the Golf Nut]

4 hours ago, cksurfdude said:

Yes, but ... $131.45 for the starter set at the current exchange rate

Just play courses without water and you’ll break even in no time. Three dozen quality golf balls would cost about the same.

But even if the ball performed well I’m sure durability would be an issue.

[THE GOLF GUY]

More players that kept honest handicaps than players that didn’t 

[Hacker60521]

Okay. Really two wishes. 
First, it would be great if golf balls had built in trackers — like AirTags but actually built in and designed by the ball company. 
Second, night golf would be great.

[Rob Person]

23 hours ago, Golf2Much said:

A lottery system that allowed average golfers to play typically "unplayble" (by either being private, too expensive, etc.) golf courses.  Every course would be required to give up one foursome once or twice a year to the general public.  There would be a national random drawing and the winners and three friends would get the opportunity of a lifetime.   Think of it:  having the opportunity to play at exclusive courses like Augusta, Pine Valley, Oakmont, etc.   How about teeing it up at the most expensive courses like Shadow Creek Golf Course, TPC Sawgrass or Pebble Beach?  

The odds would be a tens of million to one that you would win....so you're saying I have a chance?

We have a very private member only club that have "friends of the club " weekends a couple of times a year. Each guest is allowed 2 people each day to enjoy all they have to offer. They have an afternoon social each day too. They get reduced green fees, and sampling of other amenities. 

[Headhammer]

18 hours ago, Eric F said:

That way I can sweat in the 85 degree heat and 99% humidity at night

Facts! But better than 96° with the sun pounding down on you. Face it - if you live in this part of the country it's a two shower minimum during the summer!