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Increased distance - Golf Balls vs Club Technology?

delc said:
A lot of clubs have added extra back tees over the years to lengthen the course. These could just revert to their original tees! :)
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Go on then, enlighten us of these clubs.

delc said:
New courses could be built shorter. Many existing short courses would become more of a test again. If courses can't be shortened for any reason, then increase the SSS. Simples! :)
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My club opened 9 years ago, it measures 6294 yards off the back tees so is hardly long as doesn't get overpowered by all this technology.
 
HawkeyeMS said:
Go on then, enlighten us of these clubs.
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St Andrews stuck a new Tee for Hell Bunker hole actually on the Eden course for 2005 Open. I think they created some new Tees for 2010.

Muirfield did a deal with Archerfield (or maybe Rennaissance?) to create space for a new Tee on 9 for 2013 Open. And it created a new Tee on 13 for the 2002 one.
Birkdale did similar when it had it. No doubt there will be a new Tee somewhere at Hoylake this year.

Wentworth created new Tee on 4 and 17 in about 2007 and on 6 in 2010.

So certainly a few! But only the odd hole and only for the Guns! And in some Pro tournaments, the back tees aren't actually used on all holes.

Imurg said:
Where are those courses being built?
Hardly any are ........anywhere.
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I know of 2 definite ones. And another held up in Planning.
 
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During the Farmers Open they actually used a shorter tee on one of the Par 4's to tempt the big hitters to try and drive the green. Very few made Eagle and a few made Bogey having gone for the green.
 
Foxholer said:
St Andrews stuck a new Tee for Hell Bunker hole actually on the Eden course for 2005 Open. I think they created some new Tees for 2010.

Muirfield did a deal with Archerfield (or maybe Rennaissance?) to create space for a new Tee on 9 for 2013 Open. And it created a new Tee on 13 for the 2002 one.
Birkdale did similar when it had it. No doubt there will be a new Tee somewhere at Hoylake this year.

Wentworth created new Tee on 4 and 17 in about 2007 and on 6 in 2010.

So certainly a few! But only the odd hole and only for the Guns! And in some Pro tournaments, the back tees aren't actually used on all holes.



I know of 2 definite ones. And another held up in Planning.
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Apart from open venues and the home of the PGA, how many clubs that we play on have had to lengthen the course to cope with the technology? We all know the obvious examples but those are championship courses for the pros who play a completely different game.
 
HawkeyeMS said:
Apart from open venues and the home of the PGA, how many clubs that we play on have had to lengthen the course to cope with the technology? We all know the obvious examples but those are championship courses for the pros who play a completely different game.
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For god sake. Don't let good sensible points get in the way of a completely flawed and ridiculous argument.
 
EuanRoss said:
For god sake. Don't let good sensible points get in the way of a completely flawed and ridiculous argument.
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Really the R&A and USGA should have stamped down on expensive large headed drivers years ago, but they didn't. Same applies to anchored putting which they have finally got round to banning from 2016!
 
HawkeyeMS said:
Apart from open venues and the home of the PGA, how many clubs that we play on have had to lengthen the course to cope with the technology? We all know the obvious examples but those are championship courses for the pros who play a completely different game.
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Agreed!

And remember that the 'major Championships' that added Tees only added 1 or 2 - apart from Muirfield last year with 6, but not a lot had changed since 1935! Nothing like the 'whole set' 30 or more yards back that Del implied was required (the 420 yards he mentioned)!
 
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delc said:
Really the R&A and USGA should have stamped down on expensive large headed drivers years ago, but they didn't. Same applies to anchored putting which they have finally got round to banning from 2016!
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You should have mentioned that to Peter when you called about banning caddies from lining up their pros. Was he in when you called today?
 
delc said:
Really the R&A and USGA should have stamped down on large headed drivers years ago, but they didn't.
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Er! They did! And not long after it became an issue either (2004).

Notice that I've removed the 'expensive'. That's not their role. If they did that, Scotty Cameron and loads of others (Miura, Vega etc) would be banned!

delc said:
Same applies to anchored putting which they have finally got round to banning from 2016!
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Wheee! Another quantum leap!
 
delc said:
Since the 1960's average driving distances on the Men's Pro Tours has gone up from a tad over 250 yards to almost 290 yards. If it's not the balls, it has to be the clubs. Longer graphite shafts, larger aerodynamically shaped heads and hot faces..
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The golf balls have changed A LOT since the 1960's, so it's BOTH.

In 2009 there were 146 tour pros that CARRIED 260yds average

In 2013 there were 161 (only 15 more)

There's always going to be a few outstanding athletes at the very top.

Since the 1960's the ball has changed, the clubs have changed and the playing conditions have changed (firmer fairways with shorter grass). Even off centered hits caused by the old persimmon clubs being damn hard to hit perfectly every time would have dragged the OLD stats down, pros struggle to hit fairways even with the big heads we have nowadays... but at least the bigger head allows then to swing outta their boots and give us some exciting TV to watch!!! :D
 
Really the fa should've clamped down on those expensive technologically advanced footballs that lead to all those glorious free kicks we see going right into the top corner. Football these days seems to be all about the fittest guys being the best, I long for the days of guys like Mick Quinn. All these amazing tricks and flicks, no place for that. Give me Norman Hunter booting lumps out of people rather than Messi skinning 5 guys and then nutmegging the keeper. All this passing and moving nonsense, just blooter it forward from the centre half to the forwards. Footballers should go back to the days of having 10 pints and a curry after a win rather than eating pasta and grilled chicken and drinking all these energy drinks.

oh no my tongue is stuck
 
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EuanRoss said:
Really the fa should've clamped down on those expensive technologically advanced footballs that lead to all those glorious free kicks we see going right into the top corner. Football these days seems to be all about the fittest guys being the best, I long for the days of guys like Mick Quinn. All these amazing tricks and flicks, no place for that. Give me Norman Hunter booting lumps out of people rather than Messi skinning 5 guys and then nutmegging the keeper. All this passing and moving nonsense, just blooter it forward from the centre half to the forwards. Footballers should go back to the days of having 10 pints and a curry after a win rather than eating pasta and grilled chicken and drinking all these energy drinks.
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If you really want football like that, come to Scotland!! :D
 
Foxholer said:
Er! They did! And not long after it became an issue either (2004).

Notice that I've removed the 'expensive'. That's not their role. If they did that, Scotty Cameron and loads of others (Miura, Vega etc) would be banned!



Wheee! Another quantum leap!
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They limited driver head size to 460cc, which is probably about the practical limit anyway. A lot of premium drivers are slightly smaller than this anyway to gain an aerodynamic advantage in reducing drag, remembering that good players swing them through the air at over 100mph.
 
Ok I have to admit defeat in this thread

I acknowledge that when I first tried golf in the 80’s the constant 150yrd slice with a small headed wooden driver is a true reflection of my ability and I have no business using advances in technology in order to assist in my enjoyment of the game

Apologies if any course has been lengthened or tricked up in response to my current ability to now hit it 200yards and on the fairway (sometimes)

What do I do now?
 
Not going to take the waterproof jacket thread off topic but would like to ask Del where you stand on using modern technology in your rain wear as opposed to a simple smock or kagool (maybe even a Pakamac)

I gotta guess at an easy increase of at least 20 yards in driving distance during play in heavy rain using the lightweight/comfortable/breathable modern rain gear over the type worn 30 years ago, regardless of club/ball
 
Slab said:
Ok I have to admit defeat in this thread

I acknowledge that when I first tried golf in the 80’s the constant 150yrd slice with a small headed wooden driver is a true reflection of my ability and I have no business using advances in technology in order to assist in my enjoyment of the game

Apologies if any course has been lengthened or tricked up in response to my current ability to now hit it 200yards and on the fairway (sometimes)

What do I do now?
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Only option is to give the game up, you're clearly having way too much fun an taking too long about it. Shame on you ;)
 
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