Keith Pelley, the European Tour chief, has said that he plans to have six-hole events on the professional circuit as early as next year.

Pelley is looking to create a young, fresh format with shot clocks, must being played, different dress codes and rules.

“Let’s be honest – and scientific data proves this – attention spans are decreasing as opposed to increasing, so you have to change,” he said.

With participation levels of golf falling, golf must try its utmost to attract youngsters to the game. Such a format in a charity event or pro-am is likely to be welcomed, yet how well it would be received by the players and fans should it be declared an official tour event is another matter.

Golf must also be careful not to alienate its core fanbase by trying to sink too much to the lowest common denominator.

One only has to look at the player revolt to Barry Hearn’s gimmicky ‘one frame shoot-outs’ in snooker to see the problems of trivialising a sport’s elite events.