I just want to say "thank you" to Mike Stachura. His claim that people using equipment not of this decade are "pretending" to golf is the final straw that has broke this camel's back. His comment about people using outdated equipment are "pretending" to golf is offensive. He has the right to feel what he does, but so do I. He's a product-pusher, as there are no numbers to back up any claims made on the Hot List. Opinions about head shapes, paint schemes, looks/lack of alignment aids, etc. doesn't tell anyone that they should shell out their hard earned money to keep up with the arms race. Telling them that they're "pretending" to do something they love because they aren't like him and upgrading every other year (for whatever reason) is uncalled for. Where are the numbers that back up his claims? Coincidentally, a rival magazine reported a couple of months ago that the average male driving distance is 235 yards... is this new technology truly helping, or was it because there were too many "pretenders" involved with that survey? I've never had a subscription to GD, though I bought it faithfully every month for the past five years. Not any more. I'm going to take my outdated clubs and "pretend" to golf without your services. Thanks, it's been a great run, but I no longer feel the need to care about your magazine.It never works to try to talk a reader out of his decision to stop reading Golf Digest, not in the heat of break-up, certainly. But I want to say a few things about Golf Digest's position on obsolescence and especially about Stachura, who has said worse to me personally about my ancient rescue clubs, among other pieces of my equipment. First, Mike is no product pusher. On the contrary, he is one of the most skeptical reporters/editors I know. He's also one of the most knowledgeable because he works so hard at understanding what manufacturers are building and selling, and he is often the last to be convinced of their purported benefits. He is urging--it occasionally comes off as commanding--that you change equipment because he truly believes that it will help your game. Being anxious to make his point indelibly, he urges the way Madison Avenue might--without nuance. (Though he'd kill me for comparing him to Madison Avenue!)
Justin Blair, Three Rivers, MI
What Mike and Golf Digest both believe is that technology, on display this week in Orlando, is there for the taking and many golfers aren't taking, thus forfeiting benefits beginning with distance but extending to feel, trajectory control and the simple satisfaction of playing better. Take the advice or not. As Jerry Tarde pointed out in his Editor's Letter in March, I'm one of those fellows who hasn't bought in entirely either. I hold on to an old TaylorMade 4 Rescue club because with it I made a hole-in-one and won a car. I'm loyal that way. But deep in my heart I know I can do better. I hope your leave-taking is not permanent, Justin. But Mike ain't pushing. He's pleading.
--Bob Carney
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