Recently I have been writing about the challenges that I am coming across in understanding the mentality that is overtaking my golf club. I park myself around the practice putting green and work on my short game. I watch foursomes come through with puzzlement and wonderment. Why do people play a game that I so dearly love and not understand the game itself? I think they play because they want to know what it feels like to be a golfer and not understand what it takes to be one. Belonging to a club gives them that feeling I guess.
I have been very fortunate to play some decent amateur golf. For years I considered myself a professional amateur. I prepared and played like a professional, unfortunately I did not have the talent to play professional golf. Still for years I pushed myself, always continuing to improve. Some years are better than others. My friend that I play with knows what is like inside of our head is different from what is inside everyone else’s head. We never lose the fascination of what a well played game feels like. Posting a low number is great these days but playing the game the way it should be played is even a better feeling.
What we think the issue is at the Club isn’t really the issue at all. The wannabes want the new Clubhouse with all the amenities like wooden lockers and high end washrooms. They see it as a stumbling block to us attracting members. They see high end Clubs in our area with the majestic Clubhouse and think that is the key to attracting new members. What they do not understand is they have been tricked. At three of these Clubs the first thing you see when you approach the grounds is this majestic Clubhouse. The Clubhouse is the star. The golf course is second or third on the list. At my course, you see the golf course from the highway and then drive up a long road with an expansive view of the course. When you reach the top of the hill you have this view where you can see half of the course. In that view is a modest Clubhouse. A co-star. It is like the Clubhouse knows it is not the star. The golf course is the star. That is why everyone comes here. To meet the star. Our wannabees have it backwards.
Right now we have members who have a multitude of knowledge but they reside in the middle to lower tier of the membership hierarchy. The questions they ask are viewed as complaints. To a minor extent they are, but name me one genius who didn’t ask questions. That is how they became geniuses. Their voices are being drowned out by those that have power. Because of that power they think they are right and let everyone know it.
We have star power in the form of a golf course. With the star power comes a set of responsibilities. First is respect for the membership. Don’t let a few bully the rest. Second respect for those who came before you. Our wannabes didn’t build it, the thousands that came before you did. Third, respect the economy of the Club. Live and grow within the membership means. If you play at a private Club you have means, but because some have more than others they view that as power. Power is the ultimate aphrodisiac. —Henry Kissinger
There is a scene in the movie Tin Cup where Roy is sitting in the Wafflehouse with his buddies who have just driven 12 hours to see him play the final round of the U.S. Open. Doreen the stripper ex girlfriend of Roy’s says “ I got some extra money let’s go someplace fancy “ Curt speaks up and says “ I have been dreaming of waffles for eight hours, I love the Wafflehouse”. Doreen loses and they stay at the Wafflehouse.
Waffles are the star at the Wafflehouse that is why everyone is there just like my golf course.
I guess I am a Wafflehouse kind of guy.
Until next time.
Elbows Up Canada!
Between The Ears 