The Struggle Between Technology and Good Golf Scores
By Bill Finney
October 25, 2001
Bill Finney ponders the effect that "Yuppie" technology has had on his friend's golf scores.
(Also it is worth mentioning that on October 30th he just made his third career "hole in one"
on the Sun City Legacy Course's fourth hole)
About six months ago we moved to a Del Webb Sun City retirement community in Texas. This is a place where you're just a kid if you're age 60; still young at age 70; and, you become a senior at age 80. Here, I've gleaned a better understanding of the disposition of the "elder generation" towards our "high tech" world.
There's no question that these folks "love" their computers. I have yet to find a home without one. Additionally, it's advertised that the "Computer Club" is the most popular organized activity of the area.
The paradox is that, generally speaking, these people abhor "computerization" with a passion. While exalting the pleasures of the Web and E-mail, they delight in condemning the invasion of computerization into their lives. They don't hesitate to point out that computerization is a blight on the world.
I've now had the opportunity to spend some time on the local golf courses. Through my conversations with the established "locals," while golfing, I've been able to glean a better understanding of the attitude. What follows is a dissertation of one of my early golf games.
Upon introduction to the group, my golfing partners asked me the expected questions-- "Where are you from; what did you do; do you have family in the area?"
On the tee box of the second hole a member of the group (who wore a hearing aid) said, "Do you have children?" When I replied that I have a son in Austin, he proceeded to ask, "what does he do?" I said, "He's a ITM Professional." To which he replied, "I own some of that stock; I've owned it for years!"
At this point another member of our foursome interrupted and said, "Harry, he didn't say IBM; he said ITM!" Then came the question, "What is the business of the Company?" I said ITM is not a company; it is the abbreviation for "Information Technology Management." When pressed, I then attempted to explain the duties of an ITM professional.
All three said, "Oh!" Now the conversation became awkward, and by end of the fourth hole it was pretty clear that they were not impressed that I had fathered "one of those guys." "Those guys" being the "Yuppies" who they admonished were responsible for world's blunders created by data entry errors; automated telephone answering systems; telephone solicitations; the destruction of the personal relationships that existed in business in the "good old days," and any other displeasure they could think of at the time.
"Let me tell you about what happened to me" discussions dominated the game over the next three holes until the subject was finally exhausted. The subtle impression I received was that I hadn't fathered "Satan," but I had come close.
I cringed when on the tee box of the fourteenth hole one of the guys inquired, "Have any of you fellows played on a course with golf carts equipped with GPS?" I answered that I had on the Santa Ana and the PaaKoo Ridge Golf Courses in New Mexico; two others also claimed the experience. This rekindled the passions once again!
Out of this discussion came three complaints of note. One golfer said his golf car had GPS with a speaker. He went on to say that on the seventh hole of his game, after searching for a stray ball, a voice interrupted to inform him that he was running six minutes behind. That he would have to catch up or run the risk of being escorted off the course. He was infuriated!
The other fellow said that his game was ruined when, after slicing his drive into the adjacent fairway, he didn't realize that he was following yardage data for the wrong fairway. I, myself, complained that my ego was shattered when I found that my 150-yard 5-iron shots were only going 135 yards as measured by the GPS system.
The consensus of opinion was that the GPS system was created solely for profit motive by unscrupulous entrepreneurs and was destined to defame the time-honored tradition and respect for the game. As an afterthought, I wished I hadn't reminded them that the same claim was said when the golf cart was introduced.
Trying to make amends, at the end of our 18 holes, I invited the group to a beer or two at the clubhouse as my treat. Do you know what? All three of those guys declined - saying they had to hurry home to "check their E-mail!"
A technology consultant and executive for the last ten years, Bill Finney has a unique insight into the cutting edge of personal technology.
Copyright © 2001, Bill Finney, All Rights Reserved.
Bill Finney's BioPlease share your thoughts and comments regarding this feature. You can do so by posting to our Hot Topics Forum.
