Growing The Game
by Chipping In
It was day two of the Chipstock Festival, a gala gathering of exceptional characters and spirits, when I had an ah ha moment. Chipstock is a think tank much like the Bohemian and Commonwealth Clubs except for the rules and nobel purpose, dedicated to the advancement of fun and frivolity.
The topic up for discussion this day was how to grow the game of golf within the great unwashed. Suggestions from my noted colleagues ranged from the bizarre to the bold, with every stop in between. It was when John Jurgins suggested cheerleaders for the courses that wouldn’t allow topless cart girls, that I had the epiphany, we could save this game.
The masses we were trying to reach love football, Nascar and wife swapping. The reasons they enjoyed these activities, as near as our research could determine, was for the gambling, the crashes and the chance to meet an unknown relative. Wisely we focused on gambling and football.
Every sixth grader and most soccer moms know about four team parlays, over and unders and the risk of taking a hometown dog with their "make up" game. It’s woven into the American psyche. The goal here was to streamline golf betting with a NFL flare.
This ideas rich environment, as expected, produced many new ways to play and bet on the game. Big Al, for example, wants players to roll dice for club selection on the par threes. The odds would change on every roll. My legal man, Blue Moon Retainer, suggested full contact with any five handicapper or less. Bill "Touchy" Feeley believes trash talking would rev up the tv ratings (he likes crashes). And so it went, long into the night and deep into the red label supply.
We decided the game was now in good hands. The best ideas will be forwarded to the Royal and Ancient for review.