ANOTHER FIRST AT MACHRIE
A new first tee, inaugurated last Cross Week, a new tee at the third, new bunkers at fifth, a new complete hole at twelfth, and a new green at fourteenth all ready to go this year with future plans for alterations to third green, fourth tee and the tenth green. You would think that that was enough for Simon Freeman and his team to be going on with over the next few years but not so.
Forward looking Simon is not only looking to leave his mark on Machrie but the game of golf generally.
For many years Simon has nurtured an idea to assist golfers in all categories to knock off the extra strokes added by missed putts.
He has suffered, as we all have, of lipped putts, horseshoe putts and even on occasions, the ball hopping over the hole.
In considering the problem, Simon was sure he could come up with a solution.
The solution would be radical but it would have to satisfy the Rules Committee of the Royal & Ancient. His outline plans were submitted to them some years ago and Simon was given the go ahead for a prototype which the Committee could examine.
When inclement weather over the winters hampered outdoor activities, Simon worked on his idea and is now almost at the stage to invite the R & A to Machrie.
The obvious solution to encourage the ball to drop as it approached or was passing the hole was some form of suction. As water, a natural resource, was permitted by the R&A to improve the green and therefore assist the golfer. Simon considered that air, another natural resource could be controlled to assist the execution of the stroke.
Water systems are led underground to each green and are operated from a control point with a pump initiated to spray water onto the green. In a like manner a cable could be led to the green, connected to a control pad at the side of the green and instead of water being blown onto the green, air could be sucked in a vacuum system from the bottom of the cup. If the suction into the cup were sufficient it would attract any ball which might otherwise have failed to drop.
'Its so simple', the modest Simon says ' it’s a
wonder it hasn't been thought of before now'
The costs are minimal, a small motor at each green, it could all be laid at the same time as an expensive watering system. The prototype is already being refined. Instead of a pad at the side of the green for the player to start and stop the suction, Simon has approached Honeywell Control Systems to come up with an idea of activating / deactivating the system when the flag is removed and replaced.
There might be a cost effective method of supplying the power, not from mains, but a battery operated unit at each green.
Simon is very confident that his prototype will get the approval of the R& A and once approved he will be safeguarding his contribution to the golfing world by taking out a patent. Dare we suggest a likely name for the units - ' Freemans Foolproof Systems' [HOME]