Olympics Golf: The Official Discussion Thread (merged)

[Halebopp]

What is a golf license?

 

It's a proof of basic golf skills that allow you to play golf on most courses. Pretty much everyone starts playing golf by participating on a beginners' course after which you take the tests. They test your playing skills and have an exam on the rules and etiquette. I believe most European countries have it.

[Hankshank]

Well, I suppose you refer to the "green card" that is some kind of driver's license, to play on your home course. When you later get a "official Handicap" you can play all over the place. That was at least the routine some years ago when my son got started. Do you have something like that in USA and UK?

 

(Back in the 80's when I started playing, the pro told me to take my 5 iron and went outside the pro shop. Told me to hit 4 balls. I hit four straight ones, and he said. OK, go out an play, and that was it)

[mahonie]

No golf licence required in the UK, although some courses request a copy of a handicap certificate and some have handicap restrictions. In principle I think a 'licence' is a good idea...I don't want to sound elitist but it might stop the out and out hackers chopping chunks out of my home course, not raking bunkers, pushing carts across greens and generally spoiling the course for everyone.

[I_HATE_SNOW]

What is a golf license?

 

It's a proof of basic golf skills that allow you to play golf on most courses. Pretty much everyone starts playing golf by participating on a beginners' course after which you take the tests. They test your playing skills and have an exam on the rules and etiquette. I believe most European countries have it.

 

Wow, what is the penalty for playing without a license?

[Halebopp]

No golf licence required in the UK, although some courses request a copy of a handicap certificate and some have handicap restrictions. In principle I think a 'licence' is a good idea...I don't want to sound elitist but it might stop the out and out hackers chopping chunks out of my home course, not raking bunkers, pushing carts across greens and generally spoiling the course for everyone.

 

To quote Richard: "Five million... not nearly enough". :D It won't stop the selfish, "entitled" idiots being what they are but it does give a good starting point to those who actually do care.

 

Wow, what is the penalty for playing without a license?

 

You'd probably struggle to book a tee time to begin with.

[BlackDiamondPar5]

What is a golf license?

 

It's a proof of basic golf skills that allow you to play golf on most courses. Pretty much everyone starts playing golf by participating on a beginners' course after which you take the tests. They test your playing skills and have an exam on the rules and etiquette. I believe most European countries have it.

 

Who oversees the administration and issuance of this license?

[gvogel]

Next one is in Japan, everyone will go.

 

Everyone who qualifies, that is. There will still be players in the top 25 in the world who will not qualify, because there will be four players from their country who are ranked higher. For example, Zach Johnson, last year's Champion Golfer of the Year, did not qualify for this year's Olympics. The Olympic golf field does not have enough top ranked players to qualify as an important championship, IMHO.

[Halebopp]

What is a golf license?

 

It's a proof of basic golf skills that allow you to play golf on most courses. Pretty much everyone starts playing golf by participating on a beginners' course after which you take the tests. They test your playing skills and have an exam on the rules and etiquette. I believe most European countries have it.

 

Who oversees the administration and issuance of this license?

 

In Finland it's the Finnish Golf Union that sets the standard requirements for passing the tests but it's down to club pros (and assistants) to test and assess people. No doubt there's plenty of variance in how strictly different clubs adhere to the standards. Some clubs have been outright accused of simply taking people's money and handing out the "green cards" to everyone with no regard to the person's actual playing abilities and rules/etiquette knowledge. I couldn't comment on how much truth there is to those rumours though but I guess it's fair to say the system isn't perfect.

[I_HATE_SNOW]

No golf licence required in the UK, although some courses request a copy of a handicap certificate and some have handicap restrictions. In principle I think a 'licence' is a good idea...I don't want to sound elitist but it might stop the out and out hackers chopping chunks out of my home course, not raking bunkers, pushing carts across greens and generally spoiling the course for everyone.

 

To quote Richard: "Five million... not nearly enough". :D It won't stop the selfish, "entitled" idiots being what they are but it does give a good starting point to those who actually do care.

 

Wow, what is the penalty for playing without a license?

 

You'd probably struggle to book a tee time to begin with.

 

My home course doesn't have tee times, doesn't need them either.

[Vindog]

You'd probably struggle to book a tee time to begin with.

 

My home course doesn't have tee times, doesn't need them either.

 

It was a hypothetical. Your course is not in Finland.

 

 

Next one is in Japan, everyone will go.

 

Everyone who qualifies, that is. There will still be players in the top 25 in the world who will not qualify, because there will be four players from their country who are ranked higher. For example, Zach Johnson, last year's Champion Golfer of the Year, did not qualify for this year's Olympics. The Olympic golf field does not have enough top ranked players to qualify as an important championship, IMHO.

 

Send your countries' best is what the Olympics is all about. Otherwise, it would be a closed shop, not allowing fair global representation.

So long as it is important to the players who can actually tear themselves away from their gilded horses to play in it, then that's good enough for me.

[Dave230]

Next one is in Japan, everyone will go.

 

Everyone who qualifies, that is. There will still be players in the top 25 in the world who will not qualify, because there will be four players from their country who are ranked higher. For example, Zach Johnson, last year's Champion Golfer of the Year, did not qualify for this year's Olympics. The Olympic golf field does not have enough top ranked players to qualify as an important championship, IMHO.

 

There are 13 Americans in the top 25 of the world at the moment. I, and probably most of the rest of the world, have no appetite to see 13 Americans qualify in any Olympics event.

[I_HATE_SNOW]

Next one is in Japan, everyone will go.

 

Everyone who qualifies, that is. There will still be players in the top 25 in the world who will not qualify, because there will be four players from their country who are ranked higher. For example, Zach Johnson, last year's Champion Golfer of the Year, did not qualify for this year's Olympics. The Olympic golf field does not have enough top ranked players to qualify as an important championship, IMHO.

 

There are 13 Americans in the top 25 of the world at the moment. I, and probably most of the rest of the world, have no appetite to see 13 Americans qualify in any Olympics event.

Limit of 4 per country, otherwise the South Koreans would have had half the women olympic golfers.

[TheLarch]

The number of golf licenses handed out to beginner golfers went up 44% from last year from May through August here in Finland. They're expecting a total growth of 20% for the year and are attributing it to the publicity and TV time Olympic golf received. It would be interesting to see numbers from other countries.

 

Two great tournaments and increased public interest in the sport. Olympic golf was most definitely a success in my books.

Same as it ever was......

 

http://www.thewaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/talking-heads-stop-making-sense.jpg[/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Stop Making Sense)