Dave McCarthy has worked in the golf industry pretty much all his working life. Following spells at Spalding and Dunlop, he spent 23 years as the director of European operations for the shaft giant True Temper.
He represented England at boys and youth level, playing in the same team as Andrew ‘Chubby’ Chandler, and he has caddied four times in the Open Championship, twice with Dougie McClelland, then Howard Clark, and last year for his son Nick. His other son, Duncan, is also a pro.
You might easily argue that few people care about the game more. So this week we hand over the reins to Dave to hear his manifesto for a brighter future in the game…
As a member I am happy to pay for progression. Clubs need to take a very close look at themselves and take the necessary steps to maintain their membership whilst encouraging potential members to join with the facilities that they offer. Am I the only one who wants more from a golf club? I very much doubt it.
The course is the leading attraction. The main elements are its design, condition and how enjoyable it is. For me the practice facilities are so important, with good turf to hit from, targets at various lengths, and chipping greens with lots of options and the surface of the greens compatible with the ones on the course. Then you would want a putting green of good size with subtle slopes to enable practice from many areas.
Clubhouses need to be more inviting. The dress code, surely in today’s society, has to change and be far more relaxed.
Members should be able to police themselves knowing what is right and wrong, if they have pride in their club, which they should, they should know what to wear and not to wear. Clubs need to encourage their members to use the facilities for meetings, drinks, snacks and fight back against the Costas, Starbucks and Neros of this world. The discretionary use of mobile phones should be allowed giving the policing, again, to the members. If common sense prevails and the phone rings members and guests should know to move to a discrete area.
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How many wives of members won’t go to the club? I would guess a considerable amount so surely a relaxation of certain rules and a better environment would help address the problem.
Personally I feel if certain clubs, and I include a few high-profile ones, don’t take action soon they may not exist in years to come with tumbleweed blowing over the course that once was.
Article continues on the next page, where Dave discusses the golf ball. Is it going too far?
Accept that the ball is not going too far. I read with annoyance the continued discussions about how far the ball is going.
Since 2003 there has been an increase of 6.6 yards on the PGA Tour, 5.4 yards on the European Tour, 3.6 yards on the Japan Tour and 10 yards on the Web.com Tour and eight yards for the amateur.
The average driving distance for an amateur is 208 yards.
If you take into account how club fitting has improved, the variations in head weight, lighter graphite shafts, launch angles, stronger lofts, material improvement, increases in clubhead speed, pros getting fitter and stronger, then all these factors surely have played their part towards increasing length?
We have moved from 43 to 46-inch drivers, which is far too long in my opinion. Occasionally the golfer will catch it out of the middle and hit a long one but generally, at that length of club, the average golfer will more than often not achieve an out-of-centre face hit which only increases his dispersion.
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We had the issue about the ‘Trampoline Effect’ reaction off the clubface a few years ago, where are we with that now, does anyone really know? Is anyone at club level actually monitoring it, have all drivers in use actually been tested and listed? I doubt it. Square grooves on irons and especially wedges were banned some years ago, but has this really made a difference and was it good for the game? I’m not convinced.
Please let’s stop talking about length together with how far the golf ball is going.
Was it not one of the shortest holes, the 13th at Merion which measures 115 yards, that undid Mickelson in his quest to finally win the US Open?
Keep courses playable for the masses. In the past decade Merion has been the shortest US Open layout at 6,996 yards and played the toughest, producing the highest score against par of one over.
When the Open goes to Troon how many of the field would take 12 shots on the 123-yard Postage Stamp for the four days and run? 99.9 per cent I bet.
If we continue to increase lengths of courses what then for the amateur who averages it 208 yards off the tee – only frustration, annoyance, lack of enjoyment and, not to mention, higher scores and even longer to play the round.
Don’t open the gap between pros and amateurs. To the governing bodies I say please stop interfering with equipment to the degree you are and don’t make the top players in the world play equipment and balls that we amateurs cannot.
One of the great benefits to this wonderful game which is different to so many sports is that we can play the same equipment and courses the world’s best do.
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Surely a solution is when a tournament comes to town is to tighten the fairways, stick pins in tricky positions and, if a pro then short sides himself, then real skill is required. And if he decides to launch a huge drive his landing area might be fraught with danger.
Bring golf home. I make a plea to the European Tour and Mr Pelley, please start focusing your efforts in Europe and bringing more tournaments to these shores.
It would be so beneficial to the game if we had more local events. Attendances prove it at the PGA Championship, British Masters, Scottish and Irish Opens and of course our own Open Championship.
How can we expect youngsters to be inspired to take up the game if they are unable to watch the best golfers in real life? Can you image the Premier League taking the majority of games to Dubai or wherever. What would happen? Interest would wane with the fans unable to see their heroes live.
What is the difference in golf?
Stop chasing the pot of gold. Finally, a plea also to the governing bodies. Be in it for the right reasons and that means a great deal of golf should be on terrestrial TV for the benefit of all and the future of the game.
Golf’s new rules are ‘sacrificing the integrity of the game’
‘When we play courses that are nearly 8,000 yards it will be the most boring week of the year’
Golf driving distance: Pros and hackers further apart than ever
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