Golf Digest is hosting their first ever WIDE Open Championship at the historic Pine Needles Resort in Southern Pines, North Carolina.

Inspired by recent comments from TaylorMade CEO Mark King, the cleverly named WIDE Open Championship feature 15-inch holes on every green. He suggested using 15-inch holes as a way to make golf more fun and appealing to newcomers.

Intrigued by the idea, Golf Digest Editor-in-Chief Jerry Tarde created the WIDE Open event to measure how fun experienced players, from club pros to high handicappers would have on such a course set-up.

The 18-hole event will feature holes created with a specially designed cutter that measure 15-inches in diameter.

That’s more than three times the diameter of a standard golf hole and only slightly smaller than a basketball hoop.

If you have an inclination to participate, the event is taking place Thursday, March 10th 2011 and the cost is $100 per person and includes lunch.

There will be prizes in net and gross divisions. To sign up call the Pine Needles pro shop at 910-692-8611. Coverage of the event, including photos will appear in the June issue of Golf Digest.

Do you think you’d enjoy a setup like this?

I’m certain we’d all shoot the best scores of our golf careers and all of our stats would see a nice boost. I don’t think it would make golf more fun, it would make golf less challenging and most of us play for that specific reason.

We’ve all heard the expression “drive for show, putt for dough,” for ever one drive, you’ll hit one-three putts (four if you’re REALLY off). Take that challenge out of the way, and you’re going to drop at a minimum 18 strokes from your game (one putt per hole).

Having said that, I still think it would be an interesting experience and I wish I could make the trip.

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