Save the course

[Steb]

I'm not against technology introducing new materials and manufacturing techniques, for it has made available very cheap clubs for beginners to give the game a go. But the distance sux and even I find myself in a dilemma. I wish to be competitive and I use a reasonably modern 10 year old driver. My approach shots to the par 4's at my medium length 6200 yard Par 70 course are SW, SW, 8, SW, PW, 8, drivable, 9, PW, 1/2 LW. The game has lost something that I rediscover when traveling to a championship course. Now I'm not a short driver by club standards, but I'm still 30-50 yards short of where I should be if technique was solid. When I pick up those yards, the driver probably won't come out that much and the course will feel like a constant lay up.

[Steb]

Some interesting points made recently by international course designer and Champions Tour player, Graham Marsh, calling equipment advances crazy:

• Courses have to be built longer, which means seeking larger blocks of land which in turn means more travel time to more remote locations.
• Such courses take longer to get around just by the nature of their length.
• People don't have this extra time to spare, so numbers are dwindling.
• If long course can't be built, short 7000 yard course (which he notes was considered massively long in the 60's and 70's) will have to suffice and has to be designed with narrow fairways, deep bunkers and well guarded greens to defend itself.
• Amateurs might have shorter approach shots but not the short game skill to negotiate such penal courses.
• So they're shooting higher and not having more fun as manufacturers would have you believe with new equipment.

[lagpressure]

Graham Marsh would know..

I think another issue, is that many players of my era got caught in the middle of the technology shift.. meaning you learned a game and mastered it based upon a certain style of play with very specific equipment specifications. Then half way through your career, you are literally forced into long lightweight gear that simply does not work in tandem with the technique that you spent years and years refining and perfecting.

Nicklaus, Palmer, Player, Hogan, Snead, on and on played their entire careers on the main tour with basically the same gear.
Persimmon and blades. Snead played from the 30s' to the 1980's with basically the same stuff. That really helps you develop.

Tom Watson may be a guy that simply grinded it out with the new stuff, and is now at age 60 figuring it out... and what he had to do to adjust. It certainly would be interesting to hear his thoughts on it..

[welshdentist]

Whilst I don't disagree with the 'movement' I do think there is a common denominator between the pros who complain about courses being 'overpowered' - can anyone spot what it is?

That they are desperately disappointed that there high level of skill is being dumbed down/rendered useless/advantage is removed by gym gorillas/slashers who bomb and gouge while missing the centre of the club by up to half an inch and the fairway by up to 50 yards?

I'm guess you might be meaning that they are jealous as they don't bomb it 350 and can't compete.

I too am in the minority as I know what I would rather watch. I am bored with modern professional golf and the hit it as high and far as possible mentality.

I want to see a ball fly off low like a bullet and rise with shape, trajectory and distance control. For players to outthink or play a course as it was designed.

Pro golf at the moment = Bomb it find it blast it high putting contest

And I am not that old....