Aug 16 2005, 12:57 PM
This thing does look pretty cool at first glance. There are a couple of things that could be considered (IMO).
Garbage Cans - many courses are in state parks that are 'carry in-carry out', meaning that the park does not provide a garbage can and visitors are required to remove their own trash. I (and many others) find this preferable to having a landscape littered (pardon the pun) with overflowing, unattractive, environmentally unfriendly trash cans. Because of this, I don't feel that a course should be downgraded if it does not have garbage cans.
Pro Shops - an 'out of the trunk' vendor is not and should not be considered a 'Pro Shop'. Logically, an 'out of the trunk' pro shop is only available when the car that contains the trunk is on the course. While it does not amount to much, this certainly appears to be an either/or question and should be scored accordingly (i.e. - points if there's a pro shop, none if there isn't).
It appears that some courses get credit for a website when there is none. Jeff LaGrassa's very cool course eval page should not be considered a 'course website'.
It also seems like a field could be used for the safety of the terrain, unless the safety field on the hole by hole rating is used for that (or a combination of that and other safety factors like crossing fairways, etc.).
I do think that the system as a whole is very good and valuable and congratulate those involved for their efforts. Thank you!
Garbage Cans - many courses are in state parks that are 'carry in-carry out', meaning that the park does not provide a garbage can and visitors are required to remove their own trash. I (and many others) find this preferable to having a landscape littered (pardon the pun) with overflowing, unattractive, environmentally unfriendly trash cans. Because of this, I don't feel that a course should be downgraded if it does not have garbage cans.
Pro Shops - an 'out of the trunk' vendor is not and should not be considered a 'Pro Shop'. Logically, an 'out of the trunk' pro shop is only available when the car that contains the trunk is on the course. While it does not amount to much, this certainly appears to be an either/or question and should be scored accordingly (i.e. - points if there's a pro shop, none if there isn't).
It appears that some courses get credit for a website when there is none. Jeff LaGrassa's very cool course eval page should not be considered a 'course website'.
It also seems like a field could be used for the safety of the terrain, unless the safety field on the hole by hole rating is used for that (or a combination of that and other safety factors like crossing fairways, etc.).
I do think that the system as a whole is very good and valuable and congratulate those involved for their efforts. Thank you!