REAL Golf campaign
FineGolf welcomes a new golf campaign concerning the crisis in recreational golf called ‘The campaign for REAL Golf’.
This campaign has worldwide aspirations and we seeing it as complementary and running along parallel tracks to FineGolf , recommend golfers support the campaign founded by the late Nick Park and four others. Become involved by filling out their survey.
A good introduction to the REAL Golf campaign is Nick’s videoed talk at last year’s FineGolf Enjoyment Day.
Below is an interview with another of the founders Michael Barratt (who some may recall as a TV broadcaster on Panorama and Nationwide) who explains to FineGolf what it is all about.
Michael Barratt in the 1980s
MICHAEL BARRATT: It stands for Recreational, Enjoyable, Affordable and Less time-consuming golf.
FineGolf: Do you consider there is a crisis in recreational golf around these three issues?
MB: Oh, yes! In so many ways, our wonderful game has lost its way with the consequence that all over the world, clubs are closing down and the game is failing to attract young people and women especially who should be the lifeblood of its future. Of course there remain great courses all over the world – the ‘running’ ones of which FineGolf promotes so well – and there’s a flourishing elite game of professionals and gifted amateurs. But what we call TOP golf (tournaments and professionals) has over the years unwittingly contributed to today’s crisis.
FineGolf: How?
MB: For example, a lack of regulation has allowed the development of sophisticated equipment and balls enabling TOP players to reach prodigious distances off the tee – which in turn has led to courses being extended to cope with the big hitters – and encouraged longer rounds for the great majority. The four-hour round is now the norm on many courses (sometimes five hours and even longer than that in the United States) and that has been a bar to so many who cannot afford the time to play because of family or workplace commitments in the modern era. Many in the professional game support our view that the game must change – great players like Jack Nicklaus who says: “Golf has become too difficult, too expensive and takes too long”.
FineGolf: So are you campaigning against elite golfers?
MB: Goodness me, no! There should be room for everybody. We simply care for the vast majority of amateur golfers worldwide, who are being lost to the game because of a whole raft of issues like escalating costs, complexity of rules and handicap systems, restrictive dress codes, decline of basic etiquette on the course and much else besides.
FineGolf: Are those your priority targets?
MB: I can’t say yet! Our view is that we must begin by establishing what golfers around the world regard as the most pressing problems. Only when we’ve established those facts can we sensibly and effectively move on to solutions.
FineGolf: That’s an ambitious target. How do you hope to achieve it?
MB: For a start, through our website www.realgolfcampaign.org and the survey there which seeks to establish popular priorities. We have already achieved a significant response but we want more! We’ll be particularly delighted if followers of FineGolf complete the questionnaire because they’re the kind of lovers of the classic running game who especially reflect our cause.
FineGolf: Is your Campaign a commercial enterprise?
MB: No. It was launched at the beginning of this year by five enthusiasts with a passion for taking the game back to its roots. Sadly, there are now only four of us with the passing of Nick Park who was a great inspiration. All costs have been borne by ourselves and we will continue to work without reward – other than the immense reward of helping save the greatest of games for future generations!
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