Purkey on the Putting Line: Editors' Blog: Golf Digest Magazine

Purkey on the Putting Line

01.22.09 | 3:39 PM

Mike Purkey's "TV Rewind" column in Golf World, one of the best-read parts of the magazine, doesn't normally draw too much fire. Mike's fair and pretty objective. His comments in the December 26 issue about the "Putting Line" tracker , however, lit a fire under a couple of you. Purkey wrote:

Far and away, the Putting Line--sponsored by Mutual of Omaha--is one of TV's best viewer enhancements. It is uncanny how precise the technology is in determining the path of the putt and how much break should be played. Shown only on Golf Channel, it usually is set up on a hole that doesn't make much of a different in the outcome of the tournament. Get Putting Line on the 16th, 17th and 18th holes--where it counts the most--and watch the drama.

These words of praise didn't sit well with readers Paul Hutton and Bob Kains, both, interestingly, from Canada, where the national pastime is hockey, another sport that television has felt compelled to enhance with gadgetry.

Dear Editor,

I couldn't agree less with Mike Purkey's glowing praise of the "Putting Line" as one of "TV's best viewer enhancements." Apparently, this amazing gadget draws a superimposed line on the green and viewers can watch a putt roll along the line all the way into the hole. Thank goodness. With only one ball and one hole on each green it was nearly impossible to figure out what the goal of the game was.

Paul Hutton
Barrie, Ontario, Canada

Dear Editor,

Mike Purkey’s suggestion that “the Putting Line⿿is one of TV’s best viewer enhancements” is not something with which I would agree. It is a distraction and removes most of the excitement of watching the putt travelling towards the hole, wondering if it will miss or drop. With the Putting Line, as soon as the ball leaves the dark blue line there’s no need to watch the rest of the putt. I agree it is amazingly accurate but just because the technology is available doesn’t mean it should be used. It reminds me of Fox Network’s use of the blue streak to show where the puck is in a hockey game. It’s just a distraction. Leave the graphics until the shot has been completed.

Bob Kains
Canmore, Alberta, Canada

Thanks, gentlemen. It's interesting that you should bring up Fox's blue-streak puck tracker. I think the Putting Line is better than that, but your reaction suggests that Golf Channel's caution in not using the tracker on the last few holes may be wise.

--Bob Carney

(Photo: aimpointgolf.com)

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Comments

Archived Comments (2) Click to expand

I think the putting line is better than the line for hockey.

A. It IS interesting to see if the golfer started their putt on the line. There's more to the equation than that, though. If it's close but not hit at the right speed, it won't go in. If it's close and hit a little harder, it could still go in. The line isn't a killjoy, but an excitement enhancer.

B. No matter how you film it, a hockey puck is hard to follow. The "comet" made it much worse, especially when it had such a hard time tracking the rubber disk. Add in the color change based on how fast it was moving, and it was really just a cluster.

Keep the putting line and do more swing analysis and Trackman shots!

Posted by justin66 February 4, 2009 8:33 AM

RE: 18 Holes for 3 Bucks
By Mr. Jamie Diaz
Gof digest Writer
March, 2009

Dear Editor,
Golf was in trouble long before enthusiasts and lovers of the game, like Mr. Diaz, realized that, for the sake of its future, we needed to do more to facilitate the playing of youngsters. First, it takes too long. Several years ago I already had cut my playing down to just nine holes at a time. Second, it has become too expensive. If playing 18 holes cost $35 at a municipal course, why do nine cost $22? And so I waited until twilight rates took effect, which further cut into my available playing times. Third, I like to walk; this is my form of exercise. But too many golf courses are built that make this impossible. And now that we are in an economic recession, hundreds of these courses are going to be in financial trouble. So, what’s the solution? Easy, economize and encourage more families and groups to play. To wit, change the focus of public play to nine holes by: a) only having nine holes available at a time, b) building two sets of tees and twin greens, giving the player more options on the same hole, c) re-routing the flow to make it easier to walk, and by d) allowing a youngster under 16 to play for just $5 when accompanied by an adult, a second youngster plays for free. Lastly, let’s do more to encourage group match play rather than stroke play, which takes longer. By cutting fees and course maintenance costs in half, and by increasing the number of players, especially young ones, we just may make it though these tough times together.

Posted by cmaestro February 9, 2009 9:41 AM

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