In the June edition of Golf Digest, a report is given on the Golf Digest W I D E Open Championship tournament.  What was so special about this event?  It was conducted with 15-inch holes, rather than the standard 4 1/4-inch hole.  60 players, of varying levels of skill (scratch level - zero handicap to those with 18+ handicaps), took part in the event.  Here are some of the highlights:

The event was described as NOT "real golf."  As such, it seemed to create "less angst, more humor, and less concern about score."  In addition, it is stated that the purpose of the event was not to reform competitive golf.  Rather..."the W I D E Open was about exploring ways to make the game (or a form of it) more fun and easier to include in recreational players' busier lives."

 

(ALL OF THE ABOVE INFORMATION CAME FROM THE JUNE EDITION OF GOLF DIGEST, PAGES 118-121, WRITTEN BY JAMIE DIAZ)

 

Now that the proper credit has been given...how does this relate to bowling?  I think to a large degree the results of this event coincide with bowlers' feelings toward the "Typical House Shot." 

 

First, the chart shows that the best golfers received the most benefit (in terms of less shots).  This is also true in THS bowling, where the best bowlers (those of the 200-210 range of years ago) are now 20-30 pins better (in average) than pre-THS, while the "average" bowler (those of the 160-180 range of years ago) is now 10-20 pins better than pre-THS.

 

Next, the golfers that were most apt to find the EVENT fun and would do it again were the "average" golfers (those in the 10+ handicap range), while the better golfers didn't find it as much fun and were even less likely to want to do it again.  On the THS bowling side, arguably the "better" bowlers don't find the EVENT as much fun as others, though they do find fun in participating with FRIENDS, while the average bowlers' arguably find the THS more fun (due to their higher scores) and SHOULD want to do it again.

 

It is important to remember what the goal of the W I D E Open was..."exploring ways to make the game (or a form of it) more fun and easier to include in recreational players' busier lives."  Whether such a change would translate into increased participation in golf is up for debate.

 

On the other hand, bowling's THS has been around for enough years to make some conclusions.  Assuming that the goal of the THS was the same as the W I D E Open, one would assume that recreational league bowling would be thriving.  But I think we can all agree that it is not.  Making something easier is not necessarily the way to increase participation...if it was, then wouldn't there be a bunch of 9-pin no tap leagues (everyone would score higher and bowling would be faster)?

 

Arguably, in both bowling and golf, there are more "average" players in the world than there are "better" players.  In order for any business (or industry) to be successful you need to get the largest audience possible to participate.  The issue though is that the "average" players, in most cases, aren't that devoted to the sport/game.  Their participation is suspect, at best, and (apparently) the mere thought of change will send them running for the doors en masse.  On the other hand, the "better" bowlers, in most cases, are devoted to the sport/game and will stick with it regardless of changes being made.

 

Golf has a sport.  If it were to introduce something like the W I D E Open into recreational golf it would also appear to have a game.  As it stands now, the ratio is 99% sport and 1% game (thanks to the W I D E Open).  On the other hand, bowling has a game and a sport.  If I had to guess a ratio, I would say 85% game and 15% sport...and that may be generous.

 

The question...is this what bowling SHOULD be?  I would argue that bowling has had its W I D E Open, the THS, for enough years to conclude it is a failure.  If nothing else, it has proven that something else needs to be done.