This is a follow-up on yesterday’s post about the USGA and Merion. What we might have here is the poster child for the “Law of Unintended Consequences”. In the USGA’s attempt to test the best golfers in the world they may have hindered another priority, to promote golf and introduce new people to the game. Over the past few years we have watched a decline in golf participation, although this past year we saw a small uptick, and two of the reasons cited are that golf is too hard and takes too long. So this past weekend at Merion we watched the best in the world slog their way through at what is probably the USGA’s premier event and prove to those not involved in golf that they were right – it is too hard and takes too long. By the way, I am a long-time USGA member and for the most part support their work.

Because the U S Open is a major it draws large television audiences that include occasional and non-golfers providing a perfect opportunity to promote our sport. Unfortunately this year we did not provide a very exciting and inviting example. Contrast this to the Masters where the scores were not off the chart but someone unfamiliar with golf would get a completely different feel about golf. Possibly an opportunity missed.