"Excessive golf ball distance has also had significant adverse affects as regards golf’s architectural and cultural heritage."

The Telegraph published a letter from select architects and writers calling on the R&A to do something about distance race via the golf ball. Heroes I say!

* The greater length that the ball travels has created a demand for longer golf courses. The increased acreage required for new golf courses has amplified the environmental impact of golf course construction and maintenance, with greater inputs of fuel, fertilizers, pesticides and water required.

* Increased golf ball distance has increased the danger golfers, greenkeepers and the public face. On the same angles of dispersion, golf balls travel a greater distance, creating safety problems on and around old golf courses and the need for greater safety margins on new golf courses.

* Land is one of the most important factors for the creation of new golf courses. As the next wave of golf course construction will be in the developing and highly populated world, excessive golf ball distance is a barrier to actual and responsible golf course development. The extra need for environmentally sensitive materials along with greater quantities of capital and labour for golf course development and maintenance greatly increases the cost of golf.

* The extra distance walked on long courses forces up the average time per round. Four and five hour rounds are driving many potential golfers away from the game.

* In total, the excessive length the golf ball now travels directly challenges the future development and sustainability of golf.

* This says nothing of the architectural values of our classic courses, denuded by golf ball length just as the famous Road Hole has demonstrated.

These negative length factors were highlighted during the recently held World Forum of Golf Architects in St. Andrews. A vast majority of the 180 delegates were in favour of further rectifying steps to be taken, beyond the ‘v’ groove changes then reported by the R&A and USGA representatives.

So little patience with the groove rule change! Here, here!

The undersigned believe this is the right time for the golf community (i.e. players, golf architects, course owners, tournament spectators and playing equipment manufacturers) to give our ruling bodies full support for ball and equipment measures that will help make golf sustainable and flourish in the 21st century. We believe measures should be taken to ‘roll back the ball’!

Signed:
    •    Peter Nordwall FSGA, President of FSGA (Federation of Scandinavian Golf Course Architects)
    •    Graham Papworth SAGCA, President of the SAGCA (Society of Australian Golf Course Architects)
    •    Ken and TK Sato JSGCA, Board Members of JSGCA (Japanese Society of Golf Course Architects)
    •    Jonathan Gaunt EIGCA, Senior Member and Nick Norton EIGCA Graduate (European Institute of Golf Course Architects)
    •    David McLay Kidd, Principal of DMK Golf Design
    •    James I Kidd, Director of DMK Golf Design
    •    Donald Steel, Past President of British Association of Golf Course Architects, Association of Golf Writers and English Golf Union
    •    Malcolm Campbell, Golf Writer & Chairman of the Links Association
    •    Hurdzan Fry, Environmental Golf Design

Comments

[Ludell Hogwaller]

Please add Ludell Hogwaller, BGCF, (Bad Golf Course Fixer) and President of MOG, (Mystic Order of Greenkeepers) to that list.

[lowbeast]

This is a list that many others should join. I know very little about course design, but too much about the 5 hour round.

[Matt Aamold]

Add my name to the list; the ball goes too far these days.

[Patchy]

The next wave of golf course construction? I'm assuming the reference is to China/Asia cos there aren't going to be any new courses in the States any time soon!

[Ron]

Gutta Percha, Gutta Percha, nothing newer than the haskell.

[jb]

The USGA is afraid of litigation (the grounds for which I do not know). Perhaps if the R&A initiated the changes to the golf ball the sport could avoid litigation because of the English rule and other issues that are less litigious in GB than in the US.

[Danny]

lowbeast, re the five-hour round, I have a solution. Each player on the first tee would be administered via injection a high-powered laxative, with the proviso that any attempt during the round to seek relief in an official or unofficial toilet, would result in disqualification.

[Pete]

We tried to warn you of this folly that's been created by the era of more, more,more, bigger is better & don't forget, Supersize me! It has ruined the enjoyment of the game and as your finding out, with fewer people want to participate.
Our practical solution has been to actually develop a new Hybrid golf ball, designed to a higher standard of golfing enjoyment on shorter courses, providing a quick, affordable and fun golf round.
This hi-performance ball allows us to reduce the size of the golf course, but make it play bigger. Now used on over 400 golf courses, and growing. Appeals to all levels of golfers and allows a simple & economical way to grow the game.