SamSaid!

PAR/BIRDIE

     Golf is truly a wonderful game. Ask any one of the 25-30 million Americans who play. Sure, it can be maddening and frustrating, but it also has its share of mini-triumphs. Consider the environment of play  —   nice green grass, open sky, warm sun, clouds, trees rustling in the breeze, birds chirping, good companionship, and rules that apply to all. Tough to beat. But golf is changing right under our eyes. Hello technology

     The change in golf is fueled by three factors. Not too long ago, the best male athletes opted for baseball, basketball and football. Golf was almost an afterthought. Now, many of the better, bigger, stronger athletes turn first to golf. In addition, due to advanced technology the golf ball is livlier and will travel over longer distances. Add to that superior equipment (technology again)  – the golf clubs used to strike the balls. When these three factors are combined  –    better clubs, livlier balls and stronger players  –  golf becomes a different sport. No longer is the 250 yard drive the standard. Now it is 300+ yards. The result of having more and more long hitters is that many golf courses are obsolete, meaning that they are too short. For most players, a golf course of 6500-6600 yards is a good test of skills, but not for the golf professionals. Now the Pros are designing golf courses of 7000 – 7200 – 7500 yards in length  —-  way beyond the range of 95% of players. It is almost as though there is Golf A and Golf B.

      Add to that the emergence of stronger, better, women golfers. High school girls can now hit the lively ball over 250 yards. They have found the secret of club head speed. They can't quit match the brawn of the men (ask Annika Sorenstam), but they are very good and will get better.

     The only ways to nuetralize the long hitters is to (a) deaden the golf ball, or (b) deaden the clubs. Otherwise, golf course owners  will start to think about lengthening hundreds of courses to emulate the male pro standards which are popularized by TV . Making golf courses longer and tougher will not make the game more popular or rewarding to 15-20 handicappers or the weekend hackers. Certainly I am not suggesting that the game be cheapened by shorter easier courses, but every player likes to think he/she has a chance to par most any hole. On a 7500 yard golf course, not a chance!

     Men and women can play enjoyable golf on 6000 – 6500 yard golf courses well up into their 70s and 80s. The game is really meant for the ordinary players, not the Pros. Sometimes technology has a constructive result. Sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes it is wise to leave well enough alone.