19th hole
Golf in America;
at your service
Michael Green
@AussieGolfer
W
Pro shop staff will do everything they can to
ensure your round is a great one even if the golf
is bad. I saw one pro shop staff member spend
a good 10 minutes with one golfer assisting
him by randomly choosing holes needed to
complete their game of “blind bogey”.
elcome Mr. Green, it’s great to have
you. You’re all set for your round,
here are some tees, your card and
someone will be right with you with your golf
cart. Please see check in at the starters’ box
down at the first tee and then go hit some
complimentary golf balls on the range.”
I’ve set foot in pro shops in Australia where
staff would be reluctant to hand you a score
card let alone help your group chose the right
format of golf for the day. I’ve wandered into
some shops just itching to make a purchase
only to be thwarted by staff who are more
intent to on the footy score than making a sale.
“Oh and would you prefer TaylorMade,
Callaway or Titleist rental clubs?”
On one occasion I was keen on buying a
new putter I’d had my eye on. I’d envisaged
a few minutes on the practise green with it
before proudly announcing, “Sold!”, pulling
out the credit card and completing the
transaction. But for the life of me I couldn’t
get the attention of the staff who were in
deep conversation with a fellow member
about the merits of AFL v NRL.
“
Welcome to golf in America. Home of the
world’s most lucrative professional golf tour
and many of the world’s greatest golf courses.
But this exchange did not take place at
some exclusive, fancy gated golf club - it was
at a municipal (public) golf course in San
Fran