Ianzzz:Saying that equipment and balls have become more expensive is not necessarily correct
I agree, WGT have not increased current model equipment - that has in all fairness stayed constant. In the case of the Callys - I was impressed prices stayed the same at the revamp to HEX. But these were effectively just a name change, not a new development.
The flip side was the G20 being replaced by the G25's - same stats new price. The Satin wedges went the same route before that. New top range balls now cost more than the GDP of a third world nation...and so on.
The R11 is what I used, not forgiving, but probably more realistic than the R1 where you hardly ever miss a fairway - even when you miss the ding by a mile! Did I upgrade, of course! So every new product and every new dot equates to extra $$$$
The horse bolted a long time ago, and it is not returning to a level playing field. No incentive to have starters tourneys as the revenue is negated. Perhaps if we were all idealistic, then yes, but it will not happen. Perhaps the best leveller is to reintroduce tier based equipment.........but that will never fit the income model. The game is what it is, that is what it has become.