20 BALL ROLLBACK The debate about distance can sometimes feel as old as the game itself. “We have already got to the stage where there is too much walking and too little golf,” said Dr Alister MacKenzie, almost 100 years ago. More than half of PGA Tour players now drive the ball, on average, further than 300 yards. But golf’s governing bodies are hoping to rein that in, with a proposed model local rule (MLR). This would give tournament organizers the ability to use a modified ball, which it is thought will travel about 15-20 yards less than the current ball, when hit with a driver. One of the primary conclusions from the Distance Insights Report that was prepared by the USGA and R&A following years of research, relates to golf courses. It reads: “Overall, the trend towards longer courses puts golf at odds with the growing societal concerns about the use of water, chemicals and other resources, the pressures for development restrictions and alternative land use, and the need to mitigate the long-term effects of a changing climate and natural environment.” So, what do those who design golf courses think? We spoke to five ASGCA members to find out more. “ Golfers have an internal yearning to hit the ball as far as possible” // Brandon Johnson, ASGCA, says: “I do question what it is all for. Just elite tournament play? Scoring? Trying to retain the championship merits of historic clubs? The ball is only one of many factors in the distance equation. The fitness of elite players has also had a huge impact. “Professional and elite players will still smash the ball incredible distances with a slight change, but I don’t see the MLR causing huge ripple effects through the game. It is not as if the rule targeted distance benchmarks back to a specific era like the 1940s, 60s or 80s. Primarily, courses that are considered short or even obsolete to elite golf due to distance will remain so as the overall footprint for professional golf will remain the same as well. “Perhaps there is an impact on how the governing bodies can set the courses up for tournament play? I’m hopeful the new rule allows for the true three-shot par five, with that critical second ‘go for it’ shot or delicate layup making a comeback into the elite game. “As it stands, the recreational game, which is 99.5 percent of With the USGA and R&A proposing a new local rule that could rein in driving distance in the elite game, Richard Humphreys asked five ASGCA members for their thoughts. Thoughts on distance
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