Golf and its Growing Popularity

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[Protagoras]

The older ones like mine are the exception I guess. 101 this year.

[Phantom Lord]

How far is it across?

There is no doubt that Daly is one of the longest hitters on tour. But if he were to ever try his hand on the Long Drive Tour he would get his ass kicked. Hell, last year at the RE/Max World Long Drive Championship he went up against 10 amatuers and LOST to 7 of them! It was the Pinnacle Distance Challenge.

[Phantom Lord]

Golf courses were a rarity 100 years ago in America.

[PhilipFreneau]

I play because it is challenging and good exercise. I estimate I walk at least 5 miles pulling my cart during 18 holes.

[Alberta's Child]

Maybe the new ones are all like that, but I'm under the impression that most country clubs here in the Northeast are "stand-alone" golf courses.

[Protagoras]

Golf courses were a rarity 100 years ago in America.

Yep, so it's kinda nice to belong to one of 'em. And some of the best are that old too.

[Grando Calrissian]

It has been shown over and over that the presence of a pro sports team in a town does not provide a net gain in tax revenue for the city.

Perhaps, but you're dealing with far too many intangibles to defintively say it has no benefit.

[Psycho_Bunny]

There are plenty of public golf courses that don't turn a profit and are propped up by the City that operates them.

Isn't that essentially what I originally said?

But actually, I think you're spot-on in one regard....now that I think about it.  Most Muni's were built 30-80 years ago....usually when the city was relatively small and there are still open tracts of cheap land.

To build a Muni in a major city these days would probably be pretty financially stupid.  The cost of the land alone would would be absurd.  Stadiums are much more logical choices.  Even if it doesn't turn a profit, it's far more likely to.

[Protagoras]

I estimate I walk at least 5 miles pulling my cart during 18 holes.

You need to hit it straighter. :^}

[SoothingDave]

How far is it across?

Not very. Maybe 500 yards.

SD

[Protagoras]

Stadiums are much more logical choices. Even if it doesn't turn a profit, it's far more likely to.

A more logical choice would be for government to stay out of the entertainment business altogether.

[Grando Calrissian]

But there isnt a single stadium that runs a profit for the government.

True, but that's because no city 100% operates a stadium facility the same way it operates a golf course.

[Alberta's Child]

Baltusrol in New Jersey was opened in 1895. The existing clubhouse was built in 1912.

I suspect most of these old country clubs catered to Northeastern railroad money back in the early decades of the 20th Century.

[Phantom Lord]

Its gotta be less than 500 yards. Daly couldnt hit it that far no matter how many times he tried. He has trouble getting it past 350 when he has 6 tries and only has to get 1 in play. That is why he was beat by a bunch of amatuers in a long drive contest last year.

[Grando Calrissian]

Isn't that essentially what I originally said?

Probably. Its hard to work and post at the same time.

[Phantom Lord]

Unless you are playing a very short course and hit every shot straight, you are walking far more than 5 miles. A 7,000 yard course is 4.35 miles and that is measured in perfectly staight and level distances and doesnt measure distance between tees. You go up, down, and sideways in your adventures on the course. I would put you at over 6 miles when all is said and done.

[Phantom Lord]

No where have I said it has no benefits.

[whizkid]

I love golf.

Ever since I learned what I was doing wrong.

I was standing too close to the ball.

After I hit it.

[Crawdad]

My longest drive was approximately 650 yards. The fact that I duck-hooked it onto a runway at Maxwell Airforce Base in Alabama helped me more than the wind. It ended up well ob.

[PhilipFreneau]

>> I estimate I walk at least 5 miles pulling my cart during 18 holes.

LOL. Sometimes I agree. But when you figure a 6800 yard course is nearly 4 miles (at 1720 yards per mile), and you have to walk from the greens to the next tee (sometimes long distances, depending on the course layout), you would walk nearly 5 miles if you hit every shot straight as an arrow.