"If you hit a bad shot, it will still be a bad shot that you have to take personal responsibility for. That's the core value of golf. No excuses allowed."

That's former Sun Microsystems CEO and "Flogton" advocate Scott McNealy talking out of both sides of his mouth to John Paul Newport in this week's golf column. This thing just gets more convoluted the more you read.

True to its Silicon Valley origins, the AGA envisions Flogton as an "open source" enterprise that will evolve over time through feedback via social networks.

Work those VC buzzwords!

Mr. McNealy thinks three or four officially sanctioned Flogton games might eventually emerge. The most restrictive might follow strict USGA rules of play but allow souped-up balls and clubs. He said that format might prove popular with seniors or others who love USGA golf but cannot hit the ball as far as they used to, or would like to.

True, it is much easier to buy something than to swallow your pride and move up a set of tees.

It wouldn't be "goofy golf" where anything goes, Mr. McNealy insisted. The rules for each format would be clearly established and enforced. "If you hit a bad shot, it will still be a bad shot that you have to take personal responsibility for. That's the core value of golf. No excuses allowed," he said.

So a core value is personal responsibility, but we're going to develop formats and equipment and other things to buy to help you minimize your personal responsibility quotient? How very American!

But 18-hole scores for high-handicappers might be 15 to 25 strokes lower than with regular golf, the AGA figures, and consequently the pace of play would be much faster. To accommodate that, courses might designate certain hours, certain nines or even certain days for Flogton play. Flogton golfers could also play in the same foursome with USGA players, and even compete against USGA players using cross-indexed handicaps.

Okay that's enough.