We almost hesitate to disturb your eternal rounds on the celestial links today. Almost.

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Yet we’re compelled to drop you a line, Old Tom, for our current moment is a big one for the game you helped shape nearly two centuries ago. As the Grand Old Man of Golf, born in St. Andrews and raised tending its fairways, you would surely raise an eyebrow at the whirlwind of change sweeping through the game you loved.

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So we’re wondering: would you even recognize the game of golf today? And what might you make of it?

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Let’s catch you up. A few years back— just a blip in your perpetual plane—your former home planet was gripped by a pandemic that brought life to a standstill. Yet amid the chaos and uncertainty, golf found itself experiencing a renaissance of sorts. Seemingly overnight, a game once deemed too long, stodgy and difficult became a lifeline for millions seeking solace and sanctuary in the great outdoors.

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In the intervening years, dear Tom, golf has emerged as more than a mere pastime—it’s now a spectacle, a lifestyle and a cultural phenomenon. That game you’d fondly recall for the sound of gentle clinks of wooden clubs against feather-stuffed balls? Today it bellows with the thunderous roar of modernity.

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At the top, two factions are mired in conflict. The PGA Tour, that venerable institution of professional golf, finds itself in a battle royale with LIV Golf Investments—a brash upstart armed with both grandiose ambitions and political turmoil. Like two rival clans squaring off on the links, these two bodies vie for supremacy, each claiming to represent the true spirit of the game.

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Meanwhile on ground level, golf has splintered and multiplied like the turf of a divot-strewn fairway. Once confined to manicured courses nestled in the countryside, it’s now infiltrated urban environments as well. At such glitzy locales as Topgolf, T-Squared Social and Popstroke, neon lights, cocktails and techno beats mingle with the timeless pursuit of sinking a ten-footer.

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And how the wonders of today’s technology would make your grizzled Scottish head spin! Thanks to simulators, fitting advancements and teachers like Golftec, players can hone their craft in the comfort of climate-controlled environments, where the only hazard is the occasional malfunctioning sensor. It's a far cry from the rugged landscapes you once traversed, but effective nonetheless.

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Given the pace of change and variety of opinions, Old Tom, what should define the enduring “brand” of golf going forward? That’s a question whose answer transcends mere aesthetics or marketing gimmicks. At its core, the essence of golf should lie in its timelessness—a singular ability to unite people across generations and cultures in pursuit of a common goal.

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After all, isn’t that the ultimate link between modern-day duffers like us and immortal legends like you?

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Integrity, respect and sportsmanship are the values that have stood the test of time, even as certain elements have changed. As the game evolves and adapts to meet the demands of a new era, we think these principles—along with new dimensions such as inclusivity, variety and dare we say, fun— will serve as its beacon for generations to come. Look no further than groups such as the First Tee or projects like Canal Shores to witness the power of renewed engagement in community and impact.

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Even amidst all this change, an encouraging glimmer of tradition remains—one we think you’d especially appreciate. Naturalist golf course design is experiencing a renaissance, with architects eschewing the artificial in favor of the organic. This has brought us new courses that blend into their surroundings both seamlessly and more sustainably, sending fanatics to the farthest reaches on the planet in search of that elusive, unique experience.

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We think you’d agree that golf is headed to a place where the old and the new can coexist in a delicate dance— where tradition and innovation walk hand in hand down the fairways of the future. It's a destination that honors your legacy, Old Tom, while embracing the boundless possibilities of tomorrow.

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That’s what our experience tells us, anyway. Over the years, we’ve helped clients and patrons across multiple facets of the game, from green-grass, retail and high-tech instruction to equipment manufacturers and golf course architects. No matter who’s been beside us, our work has always aimed to blend the game’s history and its future, celebrating both the challenge and joy that we know it will deliver for generations to come.

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So Old Tom, as you gaze down upon us from the great beyond, know that the game you loved continues to evolve, propelled by the same spirit of adventure and discovery that guided you across the links of yore. And while the landscape may change, we can report that the soul of golf remains eternal. Or, shall we say, indelible.

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We remain yours in the spirit of the game. 

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Indelibly yours,

Jeff, Thom, Mike & Matt