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golf.world@bauermedia.co.uk<br />
@GolfWorld1<br />
www.facebook.com/golfworld<br />
VIEWPOINT<br />
Golf World, Media House, Peterborough, PE2 6EA<br />
FORE WARNED<br />
I read Nick Tomlinson’s letter in<br />
the March 20<strong>16</strong> issue with interest.<br />
I agree with everything Nick says.<br />
The idea that a professional golfer<br />
feels a spectator is expendable to<br />
the extent he is not willing to shout<br />
‘fore’ is unacceptable. It is<br />
compounded by the fact that, in<br />
general, professional golfers seem to<br />
think that a signed golf ball will<br />
appease the injured spectator.<br />
The solution, however, is already<br />
available to the authorities. The<br />
Rules of Golf are clear. In Section 1<br />
Etiquette it states: ‘If a player plays<br />
a ball in a direction<br />
where there is a danger of<br />
hitting someone he should<br />
immediately shout a<br />
warning.<br />
The only argument<br />
I would have with<br />
this is that I would<br />
replace ‘should’ with<br />
‘must’ and make it<br />
mandatory to shout<br />
“fore” in such<br />
situations.<br />
It is obvious that<br />
simply pointing their club from<br />
300 yards away is insufficient.<br />
The penalties for a breach of the<br />
Rule at Section 1 include banning<br />
a player from competitions or, if a<br />
serious breach of etiquette, possible<br />
disqualification under Rule 33-7.<br />
In order to have any impact, this<br />
requires the various bodies<br />
mentioned to take action. To do<br />
nothing is not an option because, as<br />
Nick Tomlinson says, there is now<br />
a very real risk that a spectator is<br />
going to get very badly hurt.<br />
If the authorities bury their heads<br />
in the sand they are abdicating their<br />
responsibilities, and their<br />
duty of care, to ensure<br />
spectators have a safe<br />
environment to view<br />
the golf. I would add<br />
that given the<br />
authorities’<br />
unwillingness to take<br />
any action on slow play,<br />
I will not hold my<br />
breath in expectation<br />
that they’ll take any<br />
action here.<br />
D Neal Stewart, Glasgow<br />
VIEWS<br />
IN BRIEF<br />
BREAKING NEWS?<br />
Your Who Invented<br />
Golf feature (April<br />
issue) was<br />
interesting – but<br />
did it really take<br />
seven pages and<br />
what seemed like<br />
50,000 words to<br />
reveal that actually,<br />
it originated in<br />
Scotland. Didn’t<br />
we already know<br />
that?!<br />
K Chambers, Email<br />
WHAT ROT!<br />
What was Gary<br />
Neve’s letter last<br />
issue all about?<br />
If Gary has enough<br />
time to get all hot<br />
and bothered<br />
about Rickie<br />
Fowler’s attire, I’d<br />
suggest he has<br />
way too much<br />
time on his hands.<br />
Are a man’s<br />
trousers really<br />
that important?<br />
W Bern, Email<br />
FIT FOR PURPOSE?<br />
I know magazines like yours do a<br />
great job in promoting all the new<br />
technology out there, but one does<br />
have to start to question how much<br />
of it is useful. Do I really want a<br />
pair of £130 shoes ergonomically<br />
designed to offer improved traction?<br />
No, I want a pair that are waterproof<br />
for five years and cost £50.<br />
Do I want a driver that has a low<br />
COG and high MOI? No, I want a<br />
driver that smacks it down the middle.<br />
Do I want the latest wedge with<br />
all its promises of increased spin<br />
and shorter stopping? Yes, I do, but<br />
despite the promises I never get one.<br />
Do I want a shirt that promises<br />
to keep me warm in the cold and<br />
cold in the warm? No, I want one<br />
that makes my spare tyre disappear<br />
and makes me look good. And<br />
come on, there is only so much you<br />
can really do to a golf ball!<br />
Manufacturers are in danger of<br />
over spec-ing what they produce. At<br />
some stage consumers will realise<br />
repeated promises that fail to<br />
deliver will not improve their game.<br />
If we are to encourage more people<br />
PRIZE LETTER OF THE MONTH<br />
PROTECT THE TIGER<br />
It would appear that the career<br />
of Tiger Woods is drawing to an<br />
end and there is an exciting<br />
changing of the guard at the top<br />
of the world rankings. With this<br />
in mind, it is disappointing that<br />
John Huggan has used his<br />
column for the last two months<br />
to first lay into Steve Williams<br />
and then into Tiger himself.<br />
Instead of using his column to<br />
grind his personal axe with both<br />
men, would it not have been<br />
more prudent to reflect on what<br />
has arguably been the most<br />
successful golfing partnership<br />
in the modern era?<br />
It is well documented that<br />
neither man had the best<br />
relationship with press and<br />
cared little for the fans, but<br />
considering the circus that<br />
followed Tiger around, this was<br />
probably to be expected.<br />
Despite ending<br />
acrimoniously their record<br />
speaks for itself. To sustain a<br />
career at the top for as long as<br />
Tiger did is an achievement<br />
that we should celebrate and<br />
be grateful to have witnessed.<br />
John has been in the<br />
privileged position to see a lot<br />
of this at close quarters so who<br />
cares if his interviews are dull,<br />
he lit up golf when it was crying<br />
out for a superstar.<br />
The new breed on tour stars<br />
have a lot to thank Tiger for so<br />
Does Tiger deserve<br />
more respect?<br />
instead of putting a nail in<br />
Tiger’s coffn, let’s remember<br />
the good days. Maybe John and<br />
his brethren should take a closer<br />
look at themselves and ask why<br />
the players are so guarded.<br />
Adrian Miles, Email<br />
24 Golf World May 20<strong>16</strong>
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