Putting around with new ideas

COEUR d'ALENE - Carl and Susie Lewis of Coeur d'Alene were happy to test out the 15-inch cups on the greens at The Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course on Sunday.

Susie was especially eager to "shave a few strokes" off her game.

"I'm going for cutting off 18 strokes," she said with a smile.

The couple signed up for the TaylorMade 15-inch Cup Challenge specifically to check out the experimental putting cups, which are more than 12 times the size of standard regulation holes, which are 4 1/4 inches in diameter.

Marked with orange and white checkered flags, the larger holes were placed in the greens to help boost local golf interest.

"We're trying to stimulate more of the local golf community to come out, test it out," said Andy Mackimmie, head professional at the Resort Course. "It's just something we felt the industry was just kind of showing a need for, getting golfers back into the game, bringing new golfers into the game."

Carl enjoyed the Challenge enough to play the holes twice.

"It was just a thrill. It brings a whole new, different challenge to the game," he said. "You still have to drive well and chip well, but the putting is a little bit easier because of the size of the cup. It's just a lot of fun; it changes the whole game with that large cup."

Carl, who has been playing golf for about 30 years, said he thought the concept was interesting because he had never heard of it. Then he saw an interview on TV with Jack Nicklaus.

"He said he's all for it, it's phenomenal," he said. "So I thought, if one of the greatest golfers is endorsing it, then hey, let's give it a try."

Lynn Addis of Hayden played the course with a few friends. She said she wasn't worried about her ball angling one way or another and that the larger cups made it easier to shoot straight for the cup.

"You just have to get the speed down and then you're fine," Addis said.

The Resort Course offered a $100 discount for those who played in the challenge, encouraging golfers to share their thoughts and fill out survey cards. Mackimmie said the players' comments were overwhelmingly positive and the Resort Course may provide more opportunities for golfers to use the larger cups in the future once the feedback is analyzed.

"Maybe it's an annual event, a biannual event," he said. "It's just something that we'll have to take a look at to see if it makes sense."