North Shore Golf Spring 2021

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22 >>> SPRING 2021 > > > By SHADES OF GREEN BOB GREEN Golf's governing bodies should distance themselves from inane changes The two most powerful governing bodies of golf — the United States Golf Association and the Royal and Ancient — declared: “Any further significant increases in hitting distances at the highest level are undesirable. Whether these increases in distance emanate from advancing equipment technology, greater athleticism of players, improved player coaching, golf course conditioning or a combination of these or other factors, they will have an impact of seriously reducing the challenges of the game. The consequential lengthening or toughening of courses would be costly or impossible.” That was 19 years ago. In 2020, the same organizations wrote in their Distance Insight Report: “The USGA believes increasing distance is undesirable and detrimental to golf’s long-term future for two main reasons: “First: the inherent strategic challenge presented by many courses can be compromised especially when those courses have not or cannot become long enough to keep up with the increases in hitting distance of golfers who play from their longest tees.” “Second: the overall trend of golf courses becoming longer has its own adverse consequences that ultimately affect golfers of all levels.” Wow! Like it or not, the USGA and R&A, after hitting the pause button due to the worldwide pandemic, are resuming their quest to limit the distance a golf ball can be hit. They have entered “the solution phase.” Yes, many players on the major pro tours are hitting tee shots that average more than 300 yards. But these players represent a minute percentage of those who play golf. To roll back the distance a golf ball can go because of a few elite players is inherently wrong in my opinion. Many of the world’s best players and the general golf population at large agree with me. Rory McIlroy was asked what he thought of the Distance Insight Report and he didn’t hold back: “So, I think the authorities, USGA and R&A, are looking at the game through such a tiny lense, that what they’re trying to do is change something that pertains to .1 percent of the golfing community. … 99.9 percent of the people who play this game play for enjoyment, for entertainment. They don’t need to be told what ball or clubs to use. We have to make the game as easy and approachable as possible for the majority of golfers.” McIlroy said the report was “a huge waste of time and money.” He did say he wouldn’t object to some form of bifurcation (equipment that restricts the distance the ball can go for tour professionals). I’m not in favor of bifurcation. I don’t think many tour players are either. And I’m guessing that equipment manufacturers would be vehemently against it. The cost to develop, test and produce such equipment would be astronomical. They’d be producing it for tour pros who don’t even pay for their equipment. Would you and your pals spend hard-earned money on equipment that would limit how far you hit the ball? As for the argument that the increase in distance is making our classic golf courses obsolete, I don’t buy it. For a few tour pros maybe, but not the 99.9 percent who play the game for enjoyment. The idea that courses have to be 7,000+ yards to challenge golfers is not valid either. Courses built 100 years ago are still challenging for all levels of players, including today’s tour pros. Most of those courses no longer host tour events, due to myriad reasons, but not because they’ve become obsolete to the elite players. The PGA Tour conducts several events a year on their own TPC courses, which have all been built since the ‘80s. It’s a lot more profitable for major professional sports teams to play in parks they own. Playing at their own venues also allows the Tour to control all the variables of hosting major events. These courses present a different set of challenges than the classic courses, primarily distance. They’re called Bombers Paradises for a reason. Peter Kostis, former CBS oncourse commentator and analyst, has an interesting theory about the supposed need to lengthen golf courses. Kostis says in the 1960s magazines began ranking courses based on difficulty. Those building the courses naturally wanted their layouts to achieve high rankings, hopefully resulting in the opportunity to host major events and promote what they’re selling (memberships, real estate, etc.). Kostis also thinks the reason golf courses got longer in the ’80s and ’90s is the rise in “player architects.” Kostis points out that during the golden age — the 1920s-’30s — course architects designed courses to challenge amateurs like themselves and club members. When “big name'' players and former pros began designing courses, they preferred to
design courses that challenge the world’s best players. Kostis says as courses got longer the “elite players started to emphasize length more than shot shaping and accuracy. Players then started to develop swings and manufacturers made equipment that launched the ball higher and made it spin less to maximize distance to attack long, straight holes.” He points out that Bryson DeChambeau increased his average drive by 27 yards in two years and there “has not been a gamechanging technology advancement in the past two years that can account for his 27-yard increase off the tee”. Kostis’ conclusion? “Why on earth would we want to make the game tougher just for the sake of maintaining the challenge for pros on 50-75 courses around the world!” The USGA/R&A are not going to back off their misguided efforts to roll back the distance a golf ball can go. It will hurt the game, just when golf has experienced the largest growth in history. Many have taken up the game or returned to it after years of inactivity. I, and every PGA club pro I’ve talked with, have never seen so many juniors playing regularly. The last thing the USGA/R&A should be devoting energy and funds to is creating regulations that would take away one of the fun parts of the game, smashing a long tee shot. Instead, they should put their efforts and resources into growing the game and making it more enjoyable for the 99.9 percent who play the game recreationally. WE’LL MAKE ALL OF YOUR HOME PROJECTS TAP-INS. For more than 115 years, people have relied on Andersen. With more than 100 million windows installed, no other windows are in more homes than the Andersen® 400 Series. With its innovative blend of craftsmanship and style, Andersen is the most trusted and recommended brand among residential homeowners.* Learn more at andersenwindows.com/400series *2018 U.S. Brand Study of Andersen and Renewal by Andersen brands vs. competitive brands. “Andersen” and all other marks where denoted are trademarks of Andersen Corporation. ©2020 Andersen Corporation. All rights reserved. Bob Green is enjoying his retirement after 41 years as head PGA professional at Tedesco Country Club in Marblehead. Write to him at bgreen49@aol.com.
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North Shore Golf Spring 2021

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