Re: It's Soapbox Time

I agree with most of your points.

If a green is huge and flat that is a problem. But if it's huge with a lot of undulations (sp) that is ok. If your 60 feet away on a tough green, 3 putt is a good possibility even for the pros.

Driving distance: Well the problem on a lot of courses here is not the fairway hardness it's the size. A lot of the big hitters don't get much roll anymore. They're bombing it 330 on the fly. I suggest using a lot of split fairways. Grow rough accross what was the fairway from 300-350. Force them to hit a 3 wood off the tee. Leaving a long second shot.

I agree with you though that the best resolution is to add more trouble, not to mess with the equipment. That being said I wouldn't mind seeing them cap equipment where it's at, but reducing equipment like they are suggesting with the balls is a big mistake.

Re: It's Soapbox Time

I agree and disagree at the same time. huh???? Well, equipment has gotten out of control. Imagine what Bobby Jones or Walter Hagen could have done with today's equipment!!!! There neds to be a limit on the equipment.

I do agree that the courses in the US are set up for the big bombers. Why don't they put a bunker in the 300 - 350 range or like dannyra suggested, let it grow over with rough. I know when playing SimGolf, I always design my par 5s that way players have to play to the landing areas. Also, lets get some multiple tiers on these 10,000 sqft greens! But please, no more bunkers in the middle of the greens....

Re: It's Soapbox Time

I'm with Gord - let's attack both angles. Considering just the loft changes over the past 70 years, it's no wonder we're hitting it longer - our 5 irons are between 4 and 6 degrees stronger than they were 70 years ago!

That said, I love the idea of setting up courses that force tough choices - try the long bomb over the hazard (sand, rough, whatever), or lay up.

PGA TV is trying so hard to create drama during events, I think there'd be more drama is someone is tied going into the last 3 holes, and is facing a split fairway with some thick rough right about where their driver would land. Meanwhile their opponent caught it on the screws and flew the danger. THAT would make drama.

I've played a few courses where trouble lies ~ 250 off the tee (the avg distance for avg golfers), forcing a choice. These same courses have nice things like split fairways (still wide, but the risk/reward thing is fun to factor in).

Speaking of SimGolf - I do the same thing with 2 of my 4 par 5s - force 'guts and glory' shots from the tee. My other par 5 is a freeway style, and my 4th is a monster, designed to produce bogeys. Par 3's I do a shortie ( <100 yds), a midrange ~150, a 230 yd par 3, and a dogleg 3.

Re: It's Soapbox Time

lol yea u gota move wit the time guys, technology evolves. And everyone is able to use it, aint jus the long hitters so wheres the advantage?? Further you hit it, further you the hit it off target. Alot of older people (jay haas n all them people playin good at an old age) are claimin to hit it further now than they ever did. Tiger was putting 40, 50 yards on dimarco at the masters but dimarco didnt seem to struggle because of it. No point punishing the longer hitters jus cuz they are able to bomb the ball that far. Everyone plays the same course and you cant acostum them to make every golfer make a choice. Or you would have alot of bunkers!

No need for change i think, golf rules as it is

Re: It's Soapbox Time

So the courses should be 8,000 + yards? If things keep going like this, the older courses will be par 3 courses and the new courses will span across 2 states and you will need a car to drive from the tee box to your second shot....

Re: It's Soapbox Time

I agree that something other than lengthening the course needs to be done, but growing the rough in from 300-350 yards is a little ridiculous. Like was already said, you can't punish the long-ballers just so that everyone has to play to the average player's length. The whole risk/reward thing, with a narrowing fairway at 275 yards, or bunkers or whatever, is a great idea, but forcing a player to lay up is a little ridiculous.