Comments on: A Quick Nine With ‘The Ball Jack Wants You To Play’

By: Brian

Brian — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 14:54:15 +0000

I don't necessarily agree that as long as everyone uses the same equipment, it should all even out. The bigger issue I see is the obsolescence of golf courses that were designed with a shorter ball flight in mind. It is hard to imagine that Tiger and Fred Funk would be on equal footing playing a long wide open course as long as they played the same distance limited ball. Tiger would still be hitting 5 irons into greens that Funk was hitting 3 wood into. By the same logic, would Tiger and Funk be on equal footing playing with the same ball on a normal length course where the fairways were 10 yards wide and the rough was 8 inches tall. You might think that Funk would have the advantage because of his Fairway %, but then you have to factor in that Tiger is probably hitting 3 iron from the tee so should hit just as many fairways as Funk, thereby taking away his Fairway % advantage. A lot of courses are having to be lengthened and "tricked up" to accomodate the longer ball flight. In most cases this only serves to give more of an advantage to the long hitters, regardless of whether they are playing a distance limited ball or not. Augusta is a perfect example. The longer they make it, the better chance Tiger has of winning it.

I think a combination of a distance limited ball and proper course design and setup is one of the only ways to stop the ruination of golf by technology. With a distance limited ball and a good course design that encompasses all aspects of the game (length, accuracy, shot shaping and making ability, short game and putting)things would be on as even a footing as they are ever going to get based on the huge differences in golfers strengths and abilities.

By: The Biggest Stories of 2005 | The Sand Trap

The Biggest Stories of 2005 | The Sand Trap — Sat, 05 Nov 2005 15:32:36 +0000

Our top five stories of the year… and three that almost made the cut. Can you guess what they are?

By: Joe

Joe — Mon, 18 Jul 2005 01:40:25 +0000

Perfect article. You've hit the nail on the head that so many people seem to ignore.

By: Jack Nicklaus | The Sand Trap

Jack Nicklaus | The Sand Trap — Sat, 16 Jul 2005 03:00:00 +0000

Jack Nicklaus dominated golf for three decades and is golf's most decorated champion.

By: Cody Thrasher

Cody Thrasher — Wed, 13 Jul 2005 14:39:14 +0000

Very fascinating write-up!

I agree though, as long as the same equipment is available to all the golfers, it shouldn't really matter.

And as was mentioned, putting and chipping is still going to be the determining factor for low scoring no matter what people think. Drive for show, putt for dough! It gets old hearing it, but it's always so true!