Few sports seem to respect their traditions like golf does, with the game largely relying on the players to police themselves.
Of course, golf has changed dramatically over the decades, with the landscape shifting significantly in the last few years.
However, there are aspects of the game which appear to be set in stone – for better or worse.
Back in 2020, there was one set of rules Gary Player suggested that he would be open to seeing changed to ensure that new players are not put off getting involved.
The change Gary Player encouraged golf clubs to make to encourage new players to the game
For average golfers, playing at some of the nicest courses around can be an intimidating experience.
As special as it can be to test your game on iconic golf holes, it also does not take a lot for someone to feel slightly out of place.
And that can certainly be the case inside the clubhouse. There are a number of quirky rules which probably do not make a lot of sense to new players of the game.
It can be difficult to keep up with what certain clubs permit in and around the clubhouse. And speaking to National Club Golfer in 2020, Player admitted that golf needs to be prepared to be more welcoming to those taking up the sport.
“Today, you tell a guy he’s got to have a pair of socks and they have to be under his knee high. They’re not prepared to do that. They are not prepared to not have their [mobile] phone,” he said.
“They want to have their hat on back to front. I don’t know. I don’t like it. But if we want to keep them playing, we might have to say, ‘Yes guys, go ahead and do it.’”
“Thank god I don’t make the decisions on that. All I want people to do is to be happy and enjoy your game of golf, and have a good camaraderie in your club and encourage them to come out and keep playing and supporting the club.
Do you think golfers should receive a free drop from divots in the fairway?
“You can’t just have a closed mind and say, ‘I was brought up that way.’ Things will change dramatically. Things are changing in this world at a very rapid pace.
“One has got to realise this world is not going to stay the same. I can only repeat and say thank goodness I don’t have to make the rules.”
What Gary Player once suggested as a solution to golf’s slow play problems
The pace of play can also be off-putting to new golfers. Anyone who has ever played the game knows that feeling of having an enjoyable weekend round completely spoiled by having to wait on every single tee for the groups in front.
And in 2018, Player spoke about what he would do to tackle slow play.
“The way to make golf more popular is simply amend the rules and speed up the game. Get rid of the reference booklets some players take an eternity to gaze at and say goodbye to five-hour rounds.
“Alternatively, the pros should be allowed to use rangefinders to speed up proceedings. There’s nothing wrong with the game, it’s just the speed at which it is played. It’s ironic that the players on the Senior Tours play at a much faster rate than their colleagues on the regular tours.”
The traditions of the game are part of what makes golf so special. So there is certainly no need for dramatic changes which upset members across the country.
However, golf loses little by becoming more accommodating to those looking to get started, as Player suggests.
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