I CAN’T THINK OF ANOTHER SPORT WHERE THE PARTICIPANTS ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR THAT “MAGIC BULLET” MORE THEN GOLFERS. WHETHER IT’S SOME TYPE OF MAGICAL BALL THAT SAYS IT WILL GUARANTEE YOU MORE YARDS OFF THE TEE AND FLY STRAIGHTER THEN AN ARROW OR THAT NEW TYPE PUTTER THAT ALMOST GUARANTEES YOU NO MORE 3-PUTTS! IF THAT WERE ONLY THE CASE.
NOT TO BE FORGOTTEN, AND IS EASILY IN FRONT OF THE HYPE, ARE ALL THE WONDEROUS NEW DRIVERS THAT HAVE MORE TECHNOLOGY IN THEM THEN OUR SPACE SHUTTLES…ALL CLAIMING THAT THEY WILL PRODUCE GOBS OF NEW YARDAGE FOR THE AVERAGE WEEKENDER. ANY COMPANY THAT MAKES ANY GOLF OR GOLF-RELATED EQUIPMENT UNDERSTANDS THAT GOLFERS ARE DESPERATELY LOOKING FOR THAT ELUSIVE MAGIC BULLET AND WOULD GO TO EXTREMES TO FIND IT…WHICH TRANSLATES INTO DOLLARS.
I THINK THIS CRAZE CAN BE BLAMED ON A COUPLE OF THINGS. GOLF MANUFACTURERS BY IN-LARGE DO A GREAT JOB IN THEIR PROMOTION AND HYPE OF NEW PRODUCTS. THE MESSAGE IS SIMPLE. “YOU WANT TO HIT IT LONGER AND STRAIGHTER, YOU GOTTA HAVE ONE OF THESE.” SECONDLY, WHILE PEOPLE, AND IN PARTICULAR GOLFERS, MAY NOT THINK THEY’RE GULLIBLE, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO SHOOTING LOWER SCORES AND BEATING THEIR BUDDIES, GUESS WHAT? THEY CAVE FASTER THEN A BLOW-UP WITH A HUGE PUNCTURE HOLE. LET’S GET REAL HERE. THE AVERAGE 20-HANDICAP GOLFER CAN DO JUST AS WELL WITH A DOZEN PINNACLES AS HE CAN WITH A DOZEN PRO-V’S. HE CAN DO JUST AS WELL USING “OLDER TECHNOLOGY” AS HE CAN FORKING OVER BIG BUCKS FOR THE LATEST AND GREATEST DRIVER. HE CAN DO JUST AS WELL USING THAT OLD PING PUTTER AS HE CAN BUYING THAT NEW SCOTTY AND SAVE HIMSELF A LOT OF MONEY DOING SO…A HELL OF A LOT.
I’M ALL FOR FREE ENTERPRISE AND PEOPLE MAKING MONEY AND HAVING CHOICES, BUT IT KILLS ME WHEN PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO BUY HOPE AND DREAMS THAT THEY IN ALL LIKELYHOOD WILL NEVER REALIZE.
WELL, THAT’S IT FOR ME. GOT A GO. THAT COUPON I HAVE FOR SOME NEW ROCKET-LIKE BALL IS SOON GOING TO EXPIRE. I DON’T WANT TO GET SHUT OUT.
DENNIS SILVERS
