The New “Browning” of Golf Courses

I was glad to see the article, Is Brown the New Green? recently in the Wall Street Journal. John has written about this before in an article a few years back (he’s always ahead of the trends!) called, Brown Courses are Good Courses.

I really get tired thinking that Augusta (and many other PGA Tour stops) are really the epitome of a golf experience. They are almost getting to be a parody of themselves – like high-end costume jewelry.

Says Jim Hyler, president of the US Golf Association in the article:

“In my opinion, many of the standards by which we construct and maintain our courses have become, quite simply, unsustainable,” Mr. Hyler said. “With the recent economic downturn, focus on these critical issues has sharpened. If we are not careful, high construction costs, soaring maintenance budgets, and declining membership rosters will threaten the survival of many courses and clubs.”

He called for a “reset” in the way golfers look at and think about courses, with “playability” replacing aesthetics as the primary consideration. Playability, he said, “should include concepts of firm, fast, and yes, even brown, and allow the running game to flourish. We need to understand how brown can become the new green.”

I would be curious to hear John’s view on this.

Related posts:

1. Brown courses are good courses!
2. Scottish Courses Are More Fun
3. Review Of Scottish Links Courses
4. Weather And British Open Courses

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