'Shark' introduces the 6 hour round of golf
Brace yourselves, golf fans, we are headed in the wrong direction in 2018. The Shark Experience introduces streaming music, sports, news and stock tickers from the touch screen of your golf cart. Unfortunately, they might as well call it the "Slow Play" experience.
We all talk about the pace of play and there have been various initiatives to speed up the game to make it more enjoyable. Playing from the correct tee box is a good idea. Picking up your ball after quad. Talking at the right times, preparing for your next shot well in advance. Walking short distances so you're ready to hit when another golfer just played their shot. Little things add up, and if you can shave three minutes off of each hole you saved almost an hour of time for the round.
It seems like we are more likely to add an hour per round due to the Shark Experience. It's true, you can use the service as much or as little as you want. But the worst part is, even if you don't use it, you can still get attacked by the Shark Experience. Think about players assigned to your group, or in groups ahead of you using this service. The'll stop to fiddle with the touch screen, watch sports, news, or switch music - generally being distracted from what they should be doing which is getting in position and ready to play their next golf shot.
On top of that, with the introduction of the Shark Card making it easier to buy your friends alcohol you can factor inebriation into the slow play cocktail.
Even though Shark claims testing the system did not slow down play, it just doesn't add up. The increased fee for connected carts won't help, either. People like to use things they pay for, so after ordering the service they will be happily tapping away on the touch screen and not paying attention to playing golf.
The roll out for these devices will be in 2018. I know I'll be avoiding courses that use this technology. What do you think?
About the Author
Sam Roseman is a die-hard golfer and founder of TeeTimeHelper.com, a free RSVP system for golf groups.
Cashier / service clerk at Loblaw Companies Limited
6yInteresting
Director, Deputy Chair , at Purves Redmond Limited
6yBad news...leave golf alone...it doesn't need more participants who actually don't want to be out there!
President at Muskoka Highlands Golf Links
6yThese features are all on courses today and they do not, by themselves, slow play. If the golfers are playing from the right tees (read ego here - play from the tips), know how to play ready-golf, leave their carts/bags/clubs in the right spots - it is still a 3 hour round. We have achieved this in the main - and any slow play we see we can trace right to player knowledge (or lack thereof) of playing techniques. If we talk about a 5 hour round, that becomes the norm - let's start talking about a 3 hour round (in Scotland, my son played 3 hour rounds - walking - no beer cart - and when he asked the people with whom he was paired, he related the 5 hour round experience in NA - and they said - Aye Lad, we tell our wives it is 5 hours too - 3 hours on the course and 2 hours in the pub...so when we combine the pub with the course as we do in NA - we to can get to 5 hours. Music and GPS are red herrings. It is all about the player.
Sales Management Professional
6yWhile I don't appreciate a 5 hour round or longer, I would challenge your position. Anything that makes the experience more fun for occasional or new golfers is a good thing for the sport. Music has been on-course now for a couple of years, and find it refreshing and it enhances my playing experience.