USGA/R&A Distance Insights Project

[DaveP043 2,361]

30 minutes ago, boogielicious said:

He makes some sense. These are some of the points posters have made in this thread.

That's the same article linked by @ChetlovesMer about a dozen posts back.  I agree, it makes sense, but Brandel doesn't suggest a mechanism for making it happen.  Will the PGA Tour voluntarily take steps to reduce driving distance in its events, let the grass in the fairways grow?  I just don't know.

[boogielicious 2,749]

1 minute ago, DaveP043 said:

That's the same article linked by @ChetlovesMer about a dozen posts back.  I agree, it makes sense, but Brandel doesn't suggest a mechanism for making it happen.  Will the PGA Tour voluntarily take steps to reduce driving distance in its events, let the grass in the fairways grow?  I just don't know.

Agree. They don’t always get lots of roll from the fairway. Penal rough can help, but BD and others were still hitting greens at the US Open in 4” rough.

[iacas 9,822]

1 hour ago, boogielicious said:

He makes some sense. These are some of the points posters have made in this thread.

The lousy use of statistics really doesn’t do it for me, though. His solution is basically:

• Taller rough.
• Taller fairways.
• Slower greens.

Meh.

I think the “solution” is that fairways and greens should be firmer. Like the Presidents Cup in Australia. Distance was less important there, and you still had to play really good golf. You had to control where you landed the ball, the spin, etc. You had to play from the fairways more so, and sometimes the angle mattered because the ball could roll.

But this faces the same problem the pro-rollback people have: the PGA Tour probably won’t go for it.

[MiuraMan 40]

On 1/7/2021 at 10:06 AM, iacas said:

I think the “solution” is that fairways and greens should be firmer. Like the Presidents Cup in Australia. Distance was less important there, and you still had to play really good golf. You had to control where you landed the ball, the spin, etc. You had to play from the fairways more so, and sometimes the angle mattered because the ball could roll.

But this faces the same problem the pro-rollback people have: the PGA Tour probably won’t go for it.

I agree fast and firm is my preference for our fields of play. To satisfy my curiosity I looked at the weather averages for Melbourne in December:

"The average minimum temperature (usually the minimum temperature is noted during the night) in Melbourne in December is 14.4°C (57.92°F). The amount of rain in December is normal with an average of 58mm (2.3in). The average maximum temperature lies around 25.0°C (77°F). With a water temperature of around 16.0°C (60.8°F), this is not the best month to swim. If you enjoy looking at a blue sky and like sunbathing than this month is a great period to visit Melbourne. It has 265 hours of sun."

Talk about ideal golf weather!! 

I live in lower Delaware; along the coast where the avg rainfall is around 46"; in 2020 we had over 80" of rain. There were a lot of "CPO" days - at least 60% of the time. This year was not fast and firm. 

[cutchemist42 44]

On 1/7/2021 at 8:25 AM, boogielicious said:

Agree. They don’t always get lots of roll from the fairway. Penal rough can help, but BD and others were still hitting greens at the US Open in 4” rough.

I have read commentary that's because you can hit wedges at those speeds out of that length of rough fine. A 6i/7i could produce a different result 

Not my original opinion but I think it might make sense.

Putting that aside...I do think the Presidents Cup was a better golf/tv product than anything the PGA puts out. Seemed like it was popular too.

So I'm honestly asking.....why doesnt the PGA like their events being more like that? 

My preference would be to not have every event like the Presidents Cup, as I think variety is good. However the PGA product does not give me that variety currently.

Edited Wednesday at 03:56 PM by cutchemist42

[iacas 9,822]

5 hours ago, cutchemist42 said:

So I'm honestly asking.....why doesnt the PGA like their events being more like that? 

Two reasons.

• Tour players might complain it’s too difficult. The Presidents Cup is better players generally.
• Soil and weather won’t allow firm/fast in most courses.
• Bonus: they might not think brown looks as good on TV.

[cutchemist42 44]

24 minutes ago, iacas said:

Two reasons.

• Tour players might complain it’s too difficult. The Presidents Cup is better players generally.
• Soil and weather won’t allow firm/fast in most courses.
• Bonus: they might not think brown looks as good on TV.

Ah, yeah your points make sense.

I dislike the thought behind the first though personally. I dont think less of a soccer or football player when their play looks worse in conditions that arent perfect. 

You 2nd point would work really well for me. If some courses simply cant play firm and fast, it would result in the variety I would want if I were PGA commish.

Is firm and fast a southern or northern thing??

 

[Vinsk 1,835]

9 minutes ago, cutchemist42 said:

Is firm and fast a southern or northern thing??

People or golf courses? 🤭