Does the Modern Technology Turn the Golf Game

[colintrav]

Into a Pitch and Putt round or do you feel that is just a baseless myth and unproved .

Yet we see numerous adverts for various Golf EQ claiming improved distance , Control and when we see Pro's on the TV hitting drives of 300 plus and only using a 7/8/9/Wedge it certainly does give some food for thought.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

It probably does for the pros and the single figure guys but for weekend players and people like myself the technology is an advantage. It makes the game easier and therefore more enjoyable which is the whole point of playing in the first place. Game improvement clubs and 460cc drivers make it accessible for more people and that can only be a benefit.

 

[DCB]

Although there have been certain aspects of modern equipment that have benefited most amatuers I do feel it is rather overrated. Yes we can drive further, but often are in the rough as a result. Good job the wedges are special then

Biggest move forward has been in the ball dept.

Pitch and Putt......if only

 

[RGDave]

....into a Pitch and Putt round or do you feel that is just a baseless myth and unproved .

Well, for me, soon enough someone will have to get a grip on it all.

I accept that average "this and that" may not have changed one iota for h'cap players, but when you see pro's flying past bunkers and generally "mocking" good courses, you have to wonder.

If the tour(s) approved some 90% distance balls (from all manufacturers of course) then it could be interesting.
(note; this is not my preferred method, just an idea, so don't shoot me down).

 

[Herbie]

I look at the way the big courses were played by the pro's of yesteryear and the pro's of today with all the advanced kit made to suit and although there are some noticeable advances, the play to the greens has seen little advance in my view. Take agusta, the course has been lengthened and had a few alterations over the years but the players are still taking approach shots from more or less the same spots as earlier years and the accuracy has seen little change in my view, other than more top golfers doing it simply because there are more top golfers today.

 

[RGDave]

Take Augusta, the course has been lengthened and had a few alterations over the years but the players are still taking approach shots from more or less the same spots as earlier years and the accuracy has seen little change in my view, other than more top golfers doing it simply because there are more top golfers today.

True, but there will come a time when lengthening will not be possible. My feeling is that the very top courses ought to look at more bunkering/trees/hazards that put the premium on accuracy more than distance.

The fairways are "too easy" on a few courses, and the punishment not enough. If Augusta had more bunkers on 13 and 15, for example, it might present an interesting choice for players. How many went in the water this year on those par 5s?...not many...but when players are hitting 5 irons from 225 it's no surprise...big, punishing bunkers at 300 yards from the tee would add some spice to long holes and present no relevance to the majority of h'cap members.

I know SO MANY courses where the bunkers are still where they were 40 years ago, right in my way!!! why not add a second or a third one (even) so you get caught at 220/250 AND 280 off the tee....

Augusta is not a good example...it's unique...but in general, you know where I'm coming from...

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I'd like to see real punitive pot bunkers even on an inland course where there really is a shot lost if you go in. Position a row of these between 260 and 310 and make them aim their drives instead of blasting down the fairways

 

[Herbie]

I must agree, I love playing courses that make you think 'bloody hell' before you tee off. lots of hazard and risky stuff makes me play better, or it used to, I must go play a toughy sometime soon.

And I agree that going in a bunker should make it more towards a lost shot than simply playing another shot as if you were on the fairway.

 

[User 105]

I think the danger with limiting equipment benefit is you'll end up like F1. Ok things will slow down (shorten) one year, then the manufacturers will find another way round the regulations.

And then think of us poor amateurs. The rules will filter down to our level, like the changes in grooves on wedges, and we'll be changing our clubs every year or two to keep legal.

I think something can be done with course design to penalise poor accuracy. I'm not sure I want a course littered with bunkers though.

I think the trouble is a lot of these courses, the majority of times, aren't played by scratch players. So if you make it really tough for a pro, think how difficult it will be for us less talanted souls. You have got to strike a balance I think.

How about make the pro's play off one knee

 

[USER1999]

I think if you make it hard for long hitters it won't affect the average joe, same as limiting the grooves, we won't notice. We are not good enough.

 

[User 105]

I think if you make it hard for long hitters it won't affect the average joe, same as limiting the grooves, we won't notice. We are not good enough.

Murph I was more on about the extra cost of having to replace clubs to keep them legal, than us amateurs gaining a benefit really.

I think the other thing is if they change the equipment specs to make it harder for the pro's (less forgiving etc), and we have to use the same gear. It's going to make it even harder for us mere mortals.

 

[madandra]

I think the only way to control it is by limiting the spec of the ball. The old greats could still nail a drive 300+ yards but they couldnt stop a 3 wood within 12" from 240 yards. The oldies had to manufacture more shots and add the roll to the equation. Another thing they should do is make bunkers more difficult to get out of and not the limp excuses of sand traps we see on the PGA. Landing in a bunker should mean half a shot so if you landed in two it should mean a lost shot every two bunkers.

 

[rgs]

The bunkering needs to become more penal.

The other isse which needs to be addressed is the ball. We need to see the ball manufacturers forced to reel in the ball to about 80% of its current abilities. IMO this is probably the easiest option especially for the pros.

 

[SammmeBee]

I actually think golf courses have become too 'Tiger Proofed in the last few years and it was nice to see at Augusta this year compared to the last few years that if you make it slighty more playable that it makes for a good spectacle and a game that 'anyone' can win....

If you make the courses too hard then it really takes the challenge out as you then get someone hitting their driver once in 72 holes to take all the trouble out of play and yet still winning - courses need to be fair not impossible...I would rather shoot 72 and lose than shoot 76 and win....

Making courses impossible is not the answer.....

 

[mono217]

Pitch x99 puttx10 lol only messing