Will golfers soon hit 400-yard drives?
Gary Player thinks so, and he's not happy about it. He sounded a warning to golfers, golf courses, golf-club makers and golf-ball manufacturers Tuesday. That warning: Technology is getting out of control.
Eight players average at least 300 yards in driving distance, led by J.B. Holmes' 311.7. Thirty years ago, one player cracked 280 yards. It's too much for many reasons -- including the costs to lengthen and maintain courses, how it affects home courses for members after events leave town and the integrity of the sport.
"We have not scratched the surface of golf yet," Player said. "We are in our infancy. Unless we slow the ball down, you cannot put the tees back in the streets anymore. Golf is suffering terribly.
"You see golf courses just weeds now closing down. You can buy golf courses for a dollar now because it's the maintenance of the golf course, because they have seen what is happening: these pros hitting a driver and 6-iron to a par 5 from Timbuktu to Tokyo to China to here. Everyone is lengthening golf courses."
Player went on for several more sentences, but his theme isn't new. Jack Nicklaus has said something similar for many years.
The Masters provides an example of the issues caused by the improved technology affecting the game. After Tiger Woods shot a course-record 18 under in 1997, hitting nothing longer than a 7-iron into any of the par-4s, Augusta National began to make changes.
The second cut, otherwise known as rough, was increased in 1999. By 2002, the course was lengthened to 7,270 yards. Woods won again (12 under). It was lengthened again in 2006. Phil Mickelson shot 7 under to win. It is now 7,435 yards long.
Augusta National doesn't have a record that details changes to course length, but the changes have been significant. No. 15, which Woods devoured in 1997 with a driver-pitching wedge combo when it was 500 yards, now is 530 yards. Trees were added on either side of the fairway to add trouble for wayward drives. Greens have been subtly changed and bunkers reshaped on numerous holes.
Just about everything that can be done has been done, but not every course has the financial wherewithal of Augusta National. Player's point is that long courses don't favor amateurs and club members, who watch their courses become so long they are no longer fun to play.
"The pro is a mere tiny part of the game," Player said. "And this is going to happen. I can promise you, it is going to happen in time because hundreds of millions of dollars are being wasted on unnecessary programs."
