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