Flogton

Sad news came this weekend with the passing of Seve Ballesteros.  He was an inspiration to many golfers, including to me in a small way.  Seve was renowned for hitting the ball into all kinds of horrible trouble and fearlessly trying to recover.  Usually, he did just that and he won numerous titles playing from places many golfers didn’t even know were part of the golf course.  That’s the inspiration to me although my success rate in recovering is a tiny fraction of what Seve’s was.

Seve showed a few things about golf to the world: that it builds character, that it’s really REALLY hard even for the best in the world, and that the greatest triumphs come after the greatest adversity.  Which is why I find this morning’s report about Flogton in the Times so frustrating – and there’s a business point in there as well.

Flogton is “Not Golf” spelled backwards.  This morning’s piece in the Times explains it but basically it dumbs down the game by allowing “do-overs”, using substances to make the ball fly longer and straighter off the clubface, and tossing errant shots out of bunkers.  It isn’t golf – it’s something totally different played in the same space and the thinking is the game will be more appealing if it’s easier.

The business point?  To me, it’s about standards.  We make things so easy that anyone can succeed and I think that’s doing almost no one a service.  When was the last time you sent back an email to a subordinate with the spelling and grammar corrected?  Obnoxious?  Maybe, but it also makes sure that when they communicate to customers and clients that they pay attention.  Ever reject a sloppy expense report?  Sure, a nasty conversation ensues but it’s far easier than the one the accountants will have with the auditors later on.  Maybe it has to do with everyone getting and “A” and no one fails.  Sorry – that’s not the real world and might be why many young people have a distorted sense of achievement.

Dumbing it down makes some folks feel good – I get it – and there seems to be a recognition that it’s not the same game.  In golf, rather than prompting the inspirational like Seve, the rules are eased so the thrilling becomes the routine.  In business, the mediocre are applauded and just maybe the brilliant feel as if they’ve achieved less since accomplishment is cheapened.

Thoughts?