R&A Chief Slumbers On Distance: "We have probably crossed that line in the sand"
And there are a few more players coming through who have been brought up in a longer-hitting environment. So it’s a whole combination of things. I don’t really want to pre-empt the upcoming Distance Report, but that’s what we’re now thinking.”
John Huggan of Golf World talks to R&A Chief Martin Slumbers about The Open going to St. Andrews in 2021 as well as Turnberry's prospects (2023 now at the earliest), but the real eye-opening comments come on the topic of distance.
As with the USGA last week, Slumbers is hinting that the governing bodies saw huge distance spikes last year and will be revealing so soon.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that the technology has made this difficult game just a little bit easier,” Slumbers said. “At a time when we want more people to play the game, I think that’s a good thing. But we do also think that golf is a game of skill and should be reflective of skill. If you look at the data, there has been a significant move up across all tours. We’re looking at the longest on-record average driving distance. Both of those have caused us and our colleagues at the USGA serious concern."
That sure sounds like a bifurcation case, but as we know the B word is forbidden in the rulemaking world!
Here are the strongest words out of R&A headquarters in a long, long time:
“For a number of years there has been a slow creep upwards, but this is a little bit more than slow creep. It’s actually quite a big jump. Our 2002 joint statement of principles put a line in the sand. But when you look at this data we have probably crossed that line in the sand. A serious discussion is now needed on where we go.”
Strap in, this is about to get interesting!
Monday, February 12, 2018 at 08:55 AM
Reader Comments (23)
Toonamint ball time.
The change has to be across the board. We need a pro ball and am ball. Or make the size slightly larger for pros. Give em time to adjust. The best will stil be the best and when ams feel like they are ready they can swap to the pro ball. The model works for baseball and they haven't had to make the fences 430 feet to all fields.
http://www.baseball-almanac.com/hitting/hihr6.shtml
Stay calm, there's not many in the game that can do this, so proofing the game for a few seems folly to me.
And as others have said, exceptional whackers will still have substantial distance advantage, no matter what ball is played.
I thought the Potter Jr. win would stifle whiffle ball speech. Guess not.
The one I specifically recall was a long par 3 (don't recall which one) where the first pro hit a 3 wood and then DJ hit an iron. They ended up within yards of each other (from the camera view to the right of the green).
There is no rollback that will have those 2 hitting more similar clubs on that hole.
Strength isn't everything.
That really was fun to watch.
I don't remember a single missed shot in the last 10 or 12 holes. Watching Ted tack his way around the golf course as it got more windy and chillier was just fantastic, an awesome display of superior decision making and flawless execution.
That's what golf is all about, the broadcast was tremendous. Some just don't know where to look.
It might have been an even better tournament with a deader driver face and a ball rolled 10%.
1. T. Finau 329 yds, Ping G400
T2. T Mullinax 320 yds, Ping G400
T2. K. Tway 320 yds, Taylor Made M2
4. L. List 318 yds, Taylor Made M4
5. J. Rose 317 yds, Taylor Made M3
6. G. DeLaet 316 yds, Titleist 917D3
7. R. Palmer 316 yds, Taylor Made M1
8. J. Day 315 yds, Taylor Made M3
9. B. Hagy 313 yds Ping G400
10. G. Woodland 313 yds, Tayor Made M3
Billions wasted on “mine’s bigger” by golf courses who didn’t need more length.
I’ll agree that a rollback could be needed, but owners/committtees/ idiots have been altering course with an eye towards players who never see their courses, all so they can play golf course expert