Re: 2013 Golf Season - Does it leave you scratching?
I agree completely. What difference does it make for a double-digit handicapper playing his local muni whether he has the legal or illegal grooves in his wedge or whether or not he anchors his putter against his rapidly expanding belly?
In the big scheme of life, no big difference. In as much as handicaps, slopes etc. are determined by the collective performance of all players, it seems they should be competing on roughly equal terms relative to equipment. I wouldn't want to mix red,white and gold tees when comparing courses or scores and I wouldn't want to come in second in a scramble because the guys in front of me are using superballs instead of approved golf balls.
I would submit that making accomodations for fat people would lead to further "particpation medal" thinking re: golf equipment. If allowed to evolve unchecked, who knows what the guy teeing off before you is going to be doing in 5 years? I think an unapproved set of grooves can change the approach to nearly every hole...if the guy next to me has a better chance of sticking his wedge on a sloped green, that is a big advantage in my book. That screws up every skins game, every $2 a hole friendly game etc. And who determines how old, fat or bad you have to be to take advantage of the rule?
If belly putters are allowed to improve scores, why not lay down and use a pool stick or put marks on the green for your line? Sorry for the pun, but I think it is a slippery slope.
In contrast, nobody is sure the scores submitted by most golfers are accurate anyway...if people can routinely use foot wedges, improve their lie and not impose penalties for infractions then I don't know if equipment variation provides statistically significant variances.
