and @Buckeyebowman, Because of that "one time" they hit it further, they think that is their reasonably good average.  Often, that "one time" was downhill, downwind, and off a cart path to boot!  The only good way to deal with distance is to get on a launch monitor and do a reasonably good average of your carry numbers.

I played Pebble Beach years ago when I was in the PGA. Obviously I didn't pay the regular green fee but it was still expensive (1990). It was a probably about a 5 hour round with two gentlemen who decided they wanted to play the back tees (I was with a friend who was also in the PGA and we didn't want to play all the way back) who couldn't have shot 100 from the front tees. Even with that, we waited on every single tee for 18 holes. Believe it or not, the course wasn't in very good shape (November). Was it a great round of golf....no. Was it a great golf course...yes. All that being said, I wouldn't pay anywhere near 500 bucks to play it. 

I'm thinking that I got the last round of the year in Sunday, and it was only 7 holes. 🥶

I think most people "think" they hit it farther than they do until some actual measurements are done. They really aren't fooling anyone but themselves. Where the ball lands won't lie to anyone. I am realistic about my distances because that is important to me in order to play a quality game. I find on average that most hit it around 25 to even on occasion 50 yds less than they realize. I would state that most are around 15-25 less.

He prolly thought it wasn't fair the ball was in a sandy depression so he must have thought he needed to level the playing field.. I mean literally.