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Golf Technology: What's the Fuss? |
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Written by Chris Gregor
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Saturday, 01 December 2007 |
 Chris Gregor
As far as I can tell, the biggest fear from the conservative sector has to do with the distance golfers of today are able to achieve. The concern, I guess, is that this new technology will turn our hallowed game into nothing more than a pitch and putt contest. In addition, it will render many of the classic courses obsolete for the modern game. It is certainly true that golfers on tour these days hit it further, significantly further in fact, than their predecessors of yore. In 2007 for example, the PGA Tour had 18 guys sporting an average driving distance of more than 300 yards with the freak, Bubba Watson leading the way at 315.2 yards. By comparison in 1980, the tour had only six guys hitting it further than 270 yards. Dan Pohl was the sultan of swat back then averaging a ladylike 274.3 yards off the tee. Shoot, Bubba hits his 2-iron that far these days. On the surface a 45-yard increase might be seen as detrimental. I profess however, that there are not only several factors contributing to the increased yardage, but that it has had no adverse affect whatever on the game. In fact we are simply witnessing just one of many natural progressions that have altered the look of the game throughout the years. For those of you squawking about the new technology, feel free to re-shaft your clubs with hickory sticks and trade in that box of Titleist Pro-V’s for a dozen Gutta Percha’s.
Since its inception the game has been in a constant state of evolution and I don’t understand why the nay sayers haven’t been screaming bloody murder long before now. I also think it short sighted to single out technology as the biggest cause of the distance explosion. The guys on tour today are simply bigger, stronger and way more dedicated to physical conditioning than their counterparts of years past. (Few of them smoke nor pound cocktails ‘til midnight between tournament rounds which was not so uncommon back in the day) I’ll guarantee you that if you transported Bubba, Tiger or any of the current distance leaders of today back in time, they’d still hit further than the rest. Forget the equipment and repeat after me; 130 mph swing speeds! Besides, hitting it farther doesn’t necessarily equate to better play. The low scoring average in 1980 was owned by the Merry Mex himself, Lee Trevino at 69.73. The low scoring average this year by a human (Ernie Els – 2nd in 2007 PGA scoring Ave.) was less than ½ stroke lower (69.29). Tiger was almost two shots better than the 1980 mark ((67.79) but he’s a statistical anomaly so we’ll disregard him. So even though the distance has increased significantly, the scoring average has by no means been battered into submission. Now I am not naive enough to argue that 300-yard tee shots haven’t contributed a least a bit toward the lower scoring. But just a bit. I would contend that the course conditions of today play a much bigger factor in lower scores than the added distance. Small armies of grounds crews insure that PGA tournament courses of today come complete with perfectly manicured greens, bunkers, and fairways. Come to think of it, the fact that today’s fairways are mown as close as most of the putting surfaces of decades past, likely contributes as much to the added distance as the C.O.R. of the face on a given driver. Which brings up another interesting observation; How come no one seems to be worried about lengthening The Old Course at St. Andrews or any other British Open venue for that matter? It’s simple; can you say gorse, fescue grass, and pot bunkers so deep that crampons and climbing rope are carried by the caddies? None of those courses are overly long, but hitting it sideways makes advancing your ball forward a shaky proposition, that’s provided you can even find it in the first place. To toughen up some of America’s revered older courses, simply grow the rough thick, deepen the bunkers, place the O.B. stakes close enough that they actually become a factor, and fine any players caught using the fitness trailer! That ought to do it. And c’mon people, if length were the barometer for success, Bubba would kicking butt on tour, doing Buick commercials, having a sport drink named after him and maybe even marrying a Swedish bombshell ex-nanny. Since he’s doing none of the above, ex-nanny included, it’s hard to see how his 315-yard driving average is hurting the game.
The bottom line is that there are many skills required by this game that must be executed well in order to win. Hitting it a mile is just one of them and I think it clear that length does not equate to success. Sure it can help, but one still need to hit it straight, find some greens and make some putts. Please don’t forget; in golf it’s not about “how” but rather “how many” that really matters in the end. Always has been, always will be. |
