Well, I got the sense that you think it shouldn't impact recreational golfers whereas I think it should.
yes, growing the rough negatively impacts the recreational golfer. Slower rounds, more lost balls, frustration.
a ball for an amateur that would go 5 yards less is much better and I hope it becomes a full rollback for all by 2030 or so
The only courses that are going to need to grow the rough would be those hosting top level comps aren't they? Why would amateurs effectively benefit from making their home courses longer?
Since pros don’t have arcoss sensors on their clubs I got this from last years distance report. Looks like the big hike ended around 2005 but it has still increased since then.
Arcoss data is all very well but I haven’t heard many people saying there’s a distance problem for regular club golfers so I don’t think it is relevant in this debate. I cant remember most of the thread though so I could be wrong.
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One of the reasons I ditched modern clubs was because I wasn't experiencing golf's full spectrum.
If even a relatively short hitting old fart like me had noticed the change then long hitters must have their heads in the sand, or they just like drive, short iron par fours and not having any par fives that play as three shotters.
My understanding is that your average club golfer has a mid-teen (17.2) handicap. Obviously distance doesn't denote handicap as a very long hitter may have a terrible short game. But to answer your question I would say driver, hybrid.What do you think a 400 yard hole should play (club-wise) for an average club golfer?
My understanding is that your average club golfer has a mid-teen (17.2) handicap. Obviously distance doesn't denote handicap as a very long hitter may have a terrible short game. But to answer your question I would say driver, hybrid.
What do you think a 400 yard hole should play (club-wise) for an average club golfer?
Average club golfer probably needs to be a little more defined.What do you think a 400 yard hole should play (club-wise) for an average club golfer?
Average golfer is hard to define so here's a few options with today's equipment:
20 to 40 year old, 12 to 18 handicap - drive 250+ followed by short iron (8 or less) to green.
40 to 50 year old, 12 to 18 handicap - drive 240+ followed by 7 iron or less to green.
50 to 60 year old, 12 to 18 handicap - drive 220+ followed by mid-iron or hybrid to green.
60 to 70 year old, 12 to 18 handicap - drive 200'ish followed by fairway wood or long iron to green.
Assuming the course was built 1980 or earlier, the hole might have been designed to be played for the majority of players as drive 200+ followed by fairway wood or long iron to green.
The above of course are hypothetical and don't take into account any miss-hits.
It's the 325 to 350 yard holes that have really been made a mockery of though.
From the report quoted in post 488, your driving yardages are about 20 yards out (too far) according to 2022 data.
I would agree with this.Those averages no doubt include all types of weather and course conditions, I'm imagining about good weather and course conditions.
From my experience, for a reasonably fit young to middle aged golfer, the need for long irons and fairway woods on all but the longest par fours no longer exists.
It's their prerogative, they don't even have to keep to the rules of golf if they don't want to.