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USGA and R&A unveil Distance Insights Report

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On Tuesday, golf’s governing bodies released the “Distance Insights Report” in which the two ruling authorities found the “continuing cycle” of the “100-year trend of hitting distance increases in golf” is “detrimental to the game’s long-term future.”

The Distance Insights Report is a 102-page document, which includes data and information from 56 different projects that was co-released by the USGA and R&A and which hints at potential significant changes in the equipment rules over the coming years following a “broad review of both clubs and balls.”

In a key findings statement released by the USGA and R&A, the organization revealed that “after extensive stakeholder research, the report features more than 100 years of data, informed by a library of 56 supporting documents.”

Here were the key findings of the report per the USGA and R&A

  • There is a 100-year trend of hitting distance increases in golf, as well as a corresponding increase in the length of golf courses, across the game globally The USGA and The R&A believe this continuing cycle is detrimental to the game’s long-term future.
  • The inherent strategic challenge presented by many golf courses can be compromised, especially when those courses have not or cannot become long enough to keep up with increases in the hitting distances of the golfers who play from their longest tees. This can lead to a risk of many courses becoming less challenging, or obsolete.
  • Increased hitting distance can begin to undermine the core principle that the challenge of golf is about needing to demonstrate a broad range of skills to be successful.
  • If courses continue to lengthen, it is at odds with growing societal concerns about the use of water, chemicals and other resources
  • Longer distances and courses, longer tees and longer times to play are taking golf in the wrong direction and are not necessary for a challenging, enjoyable and sustainable game.
  • A concern has been identified that many recreational golfers are playing from longer tees than is necessary relative to their hitting distances, and, in particular that the forward tees on many golf courses are very long for many of the golfers who play from them.

The USGA and R&A have also stated that with these findings “a broad review of both clubs and balls will be conducted to understand and assess a full range of options for addressing these issues relating to hitting distance.”

The review in question will highlight the following areas in particular (again, language directly from the USGA and R&A)

  • The review of overall conformance specifications for both clubs and balls, including specifications that both directly and indirectly affect hitting distances. It is not currently intended to consider revising overall equipment specifications in a way that would produce substantial reductions in hitting distances at all levels of the game.
  • The assessment of the potential use of a Local Rule option specifying the use of reduced-distance equipment. Such an option could be available as a choice at all levels of play for competitions, courses and individual players.
  • Guidance on the availability of short enough forward tees and the appropriate tee-to-hole playing distances for golfers of all levels.
  • Several other topics including equipment testing processes, potential guidance on how design, agronomy and setup can affect hitting distance, and others.

“Bifurcation” has been a hotly discussed toping amongst recreational golfers but was not addressed directly in today’s report.

Bifurcation could potentially lead to both Tour pros as well as recreational golfers playing clubs and balls manufactured to different regulations, but both organizations stressed during a Monday press conference the preference for a single set of rules across the sport.

Tuesday’s review stated that it was “not currently intended to consider revising the overall specifications in a way that would produce substantial reductions in hitting distances at all levels of the game.”

Speaking on the report, Mike Davis, chief executive officer of the USGA stated

“This is not about the last few years or the next few years but rather about the long-term future of the game. This report clearly shows a consistent increase in hitting distance and golf course lengths over the last 100-plus years. These increases have had a profound impact on costs to build, modify and operate golf courses and they have impacted golfers at all levels. 

We believe this problem will continue unless this cycle is brought to an end. With collaboration from the entire golf community, we have an opportunity to stem this tide and help ensure golf remains sustainable and enjoyable for generations to come.”

The full 102-page Distance Insights Report is accessible here.

What do you think, WRXers?

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Gianni is the Managing Editor at GolfWRX. He can be contacted at [email protected].

46 Comments

46 Comments

  1. 8thehardway

    Feb 6, 2020 at 12:20 pm

    Ban drivers. No clubs under 16* or over 44 inches allowed in tournaments and maybe ban ’em for handicap purposes.

    Recreational golfers’ score lower, play appropriate tees and save billions on clubs and millions on lessons. Golf is easier, more people play.

    Courses don’t need to build longer, maintenance reduced and Tom Kite has another chance to win the British Open.

  2. Ell

    Feb 5, 2020 at 6:43 pm

    Suggest getting the 1986 book ‘Search for the Perfect Swing’ by Alastair Cochran and Jhn Stubbs. Chapter 26, page 170, Table 26:2, “The computed effect on various drives of using a lighter ball”. The table compared the differences in Carry and Total Yards between a 1.62 ounce ball and a 1.3 ounce ball. I also agreed with changing from 18 holes to 12 holes, as per the original golf round.

  3. Paul Shirley

    Feb 5, 2020 at 6:11 pm

    for all pro tour players courses just start tapering the fairways starting at 250 yards out 20 yrs wide , 260 15 yds wide , 270 10 yds wide , 280 and up 5 yds wide , with the rough 4″ deep off the fairway , also make the greens harder , i am 82 yrs old with usga 10 handicap , avg drive 225yds .

  4. HappyDuffer

    Feb 5, 2020 at 6:05 pm

    And what a surprise the governing bodies fail to understand what the data is really showing them and see only what they want to see. That said… increasing pro course lengths is not the answer. Perhaps they should reduce the cor limits for the pro tour only?

  5. A. Commoner

    Feb 5, 2020 at 12:29 pm

    Quite a report! Part I: things you already know…Part II: ‘thingees’ we are going to look at. I think, with all the lead-up, many people expected more.

  6. Marty

    Feb 5, 2020 at 11:28 am

    The USGA and the R&A are doing nothing more than moonwalking across the stage. Well at least they have their white glove on – for what good it does them. Now they need to actually go out and play a round of golf and see how that squares with their report.

    They also need to rollback the ball and raise the goal another five feet in the NBA.

  7. Kevin

    Feb 5, 2020 at 10:02 am

    The most important thing that the R&A/USGA have not talked about is how the distance the pros are hitting it is hurting recrational golf due to pace of play. There are countless golf hacks, we’va all seen them, cargo shorts, shirt un-tucked, hat on backwards… They see Koepka, McIlroy, Woodland hit it 330+ on tv and think,’I can do that too’. They get to the course thinking they will impress thier playing partners, play from ‘the tips’ and come out of thier shoes when they swing. Yes, they hit it 300+ but nowhere near the fairway and into the deep hay, trees, bushes etc. Then spend 10 minutes (not 3, they don’t know the rules) looking for that $4 ProV1 (that they probably found on the previous hole during THAT 10 minute search). These are the guys that turn a 4 hour round into 5+ for EVERYONE behind them and that is the biggest threat to the game we love. I wish i had a easy solution to this problem but I don’t. Trying to educate these guys about playing for the correct tees, playing within themselves and limiting ball searches to 3 minutes is probably futile. More marshalls would helo but that will cost each course more $. Rolling the equipment back so the guys on TV are hitting it 275 off the tee? Maybe.

  8. CPG

    Feb 5, 2020 at 8:38 am

    Dial equipment back? So you want to take a guy that swings it 95 from hitting a 7 iron to a 5 iron and a guy that swings it 125 from a wedge to a 8 iron….makes perfect sense.

    • YouSoSully

      Feb 5, 2020 at 9:57 am

      Realistically the current 7 irons have the loft of some older 5 irons. It shouldn’t really matter what number is on the club you hit, it should be more about loft. When I hit my 48* PW 15+ yards shorter than my groups 43* PWs I don’t blame the tech in my equipment.

  9. Patrick

    Feb 5, 2020 at 7:08 am

    USGA and R&A are completely right on this subject. Stop complaining about “what the governing bodies need to do is….blah blah blah”. Your like that Boomer at work that bitches just to get through the day.

  10. Alex

    Feb 4, 2020 at 11:18 pm

    USGA is out to lunch. Clubs are at their limit. So players are getting longer via better training and or better fitting by knowing what produces better results.
    Longer plays will still be longer even if you roll the ball back. In fact they will be even longer in comparison to the shorter players. PGA tour pros are whiney little b___s. They complain about courses being too tough all the time. So when you have more players that are stronger than in the past with courses allowing you to hit the ball all over the map, this is what happens.
    And then USGA is wasting money doing these stupid studies.
    Maybe USGA should not allow trackmans and gyms on tour. I dont see ATP complaining about Fed Nadal and Djok being the best 3 of all time. Maybe ATP should change it so you can’t play into your 30s.
    As ohers have said make it tougher at 300+ yards if Rory can hit it 330 dead center than hats off to him.

    • Regis

      Feb 5, 2020 at 7:46 am

      If the USGA is “out to lunch” then its obvious you have been refused service at the restaurant. Golf courses have been closing at an alarming pace for 20 years , That includes private clubs. Real Estate is too valuable and environmental restrictions and maintenance costs are forcing owners out of business. The alternative is to raise fees, Tough to do where participation peaked about 20 years ago and nothing seems to attract new interest. Nicklaus started raising these concerns 25 years ago. Biggest complaints offered as to lack of interest Too expensive. Takes too long. All tied into golfers demand for “championship” courses ” carpeted fairways and pristine greens. People will learn to adapt to electric cars (Aaagh).Real Golfers will learn to adapt or give up the sport.

  11. JB

    Feb 4, 2020 at 9:29 pm

    We do have to do something to prevent further distance gains. We don’t necessarily need to roll things back, but distance gains at the current rate are bad for the game.

    • Vincent Collier

      Feb 5, 2020 at 7:02 am

      Why? How?

      Maybe for the top 120 freaks of nature who spend their days conditioning /practicing and have companies fitting them with radar and 3D modeling

      But for the 99.997 rest of the golfing public? Not so much

  12. JThunder

    Feb 4, 2020 at 8:40 pm

    So, two problems identified are that 1. courses are becoming obsolete because of distance gains and 2. too many amateurs play courses at longer tees than they should.

    And no one spots the contradiction?

    “Golf needs to be easier for amateurs” is NOT in the spirit of the game. The game, for hundreds of years before modern manufacture, was difficult for everyone. Games – and sports for that matter – are *supposed* to be a challenge. If they were easy – “point and shoot” – then why would anyone bother? Why accept any rules or keep score? Want to make golf “easier” – take a mulligan on any shot you don’t like, “gimme” anything inside 20 feet, and refuse to write down anything worse than bogey. Done.

    If you want to protect “courses” (ie; the egos of designers and club members) at the elite level, the only solution still possible is a “tour ball”. The ball itself is only a small part of overall distance gains – along with clubheads, shafts, fitting, customization, fitness… etc. BUT, some of these cannot be rolled back and the industry would not accept others.

    I think “bifurcation” is a shame in a game that’s always prided itself otherwise. But when capitalism outpaces regulation and common sense, I guess the results are often shameful. (Driverless cars, anyone? Delivery robots?)

    OR – just accept that tournaments are still won by the person with one less stroke than everyone else. Because that is always true regardless of whether everyone shoots 59 or 82.

  13. Deacon Blues

    Feb 4, 2020 at 8:14 pm

    It’s really quite simple. Either eliminate the concept of par altogether (as proposed in this April 2018 GolfWRX article: http://www.golfwrx.com/495034/lets-retire-old-man-par-a-modest-proposal/), or aggressively modify par (instead of course setup) at elite male events so that winning scores are at even par or slightly better. The USGA has done this at the US Open for years, but neither they, nor the PGA Tour, nor the other pro tours should feel compelled to make each course a par 70 or more. Augusta National should probably be a par 68 at this point, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

  14. ShortKnocker

    Feb 4, 2020 at 7:56 pm

    Roll back the ball. It is 98% of the problem. Golf isn’t supposed to be easy and amateurs will always suck regardless of how far they hit it. If I can only hit it 200 yards then perhaps I should swallow my pride and move up a set of tees. Every week I see folks who can’t hit it out of their own shadow playing the back tees. Shame.

  15. I know donkeys

    Feb 4, 2020 at 6:16 pm

    Matt Kuchar sucks big donkey.

  16. simms

    Feb 4, 2020 at 5:40 pm

    Killing the distance is easy but will it also add more shots to the amateurs playing the same course? Any course the pros play can be made harder by adding water, sand and waste areas full of bushes and trees. You Put 50 yards of penalty area starting at 290 yards to 340 on 490 plus par 4’s and 600 yard par 5’s and you add 3 to 4 shots around to the pros average round. Killing the 300 yard plus drive on par 5’s would end the distance problem overnight. But would that same waste and penalty area 230 to 280 from amateur tees hurt that game more?

  17. bravo

    Feb 4, 2020 at 4:47 pm

    I feel that distance at an elite level is reflection of many variables. In all sports the athlete over time just is better than what it was 5, 10 years prior…but the state of golf does not accept this – the evolution of technology and how to apply effectively to the modern athlete is what is driving the ball farther..Its not killing the game of golf in fact I feel it has revitalized the game than it was say 5 years ago..the perception you have to make golf courses longer is bs: thats limited thinking / pure laziness on the course designers part…considering that the courses that are being built will never see a major event/competition.. why make it longer? Golf is a dying sport and unattractive if you are at a loss of time. To develop the necessary skills to be basic on the course is a challenge and to get a round in against other amateurs is long and tedious -This has nothing to do with the course being long. The problem in general is with how it is being interpreted… The Tour dictates how tough the courses play, they want the pro’s to score and use what skills they have…to say it is not a skill to drive the ball within a window to at least wedge it on the green – YOU are f**king stupid especially swinging at the speeds they do… The governing bodies want to place blame* lets call it what it is – the old guard of golf is what is killing the game…

  18. Mat

    Feb 4, 2020 at 4:27 pm

    “But if you slow down the equipment (I’m looking at you, ball!), don’t you mess up recreational players? Don’t you need to bifurcate the game? No, you don’t. First, it’s already bifurcated. Recreational players typically don’t get fitted for their clubs, they use a ball wrong for them, and they’re not the ones making courses obsolete. They won’t be affected by a slower ball because they can’t hit it with purpose anyway.”

    This paragraph is __EXACTLY__ why the USGA is out of touch. The USGA has bought into the fantasy that 25-cap players have bought into… somehow the weekend hacker is too long. The hard truth is you need to hide the long tees from the average player. Frankly, if a few more 59’s show up on tour, who cares? If you get players breaking 90 more often, you’ll have more golfers. Do it with appropriate tees, and for goodness sakes, leave things generally alone. Data sets are better now, but really, how much “longer” do you think the 25-cap crew is compared to 2010? Zero. That’s what. We already hit a maximum, we’ve lived with it for 10 years, and the world hasn’t ended. Why punish us now?

  19. Mat

    Feb 4, 2020 at 4:19 pm

    This is insane. It’s all a setup to change equipment rules. It’ll drive a lot of people away from the game.

    Bifurcation should be in the game *rules*, not the equipment. If the USGA wants to impose a ball restriction, fine, but it has to be for EVERYONE. Changing to “only the pros use this equipment” is a death sentence to the health of the game. Golf is the one game where absolutely no one wants to be seen as a cheater (sans Patrick), so at what level to you require “tournament balls” or “tournament clubs”?

    If the USGA wants to “roll back” the ball, fine. But it needs to be EVERYONE. No exceptions. I’m not interested in KickX balls.

    • Vincent Collier

      Feb 5, 2020 at 7:12 am

      A death sentence? Hardly…

      How about this scenario, a large manufacturer decides it needs to sell clubs and sees the USGA/RA as impediments to that. And decides on releasing an “unlimited” line of clubs/balls.

      At some point distance will reach its theoretical limit… physics dictates that. Why fight it. Baseball limits rebound by requiring wood bats; the limit has been reached there.

      Grow the rough, bring back the second cut, narrow landing zones, and firm the greens for tournament play… THAT is a whole lot more practical than whatever will come out of the USGA/R&A

  20. Retired Cart Boy

    Feb 4, 2020 at 4:03 pm

    Bifurcation today, bifurcation tomorrow, bifurcation forever!

    I don’t understand why this is so difficult. The game needs to be made easier for most amateurs, and harder for the professionals. You’re not going to be able to accomplish this with both groups using the same equipment.

  21. [email protected]

    Feb 4, 2020 at 3:27 pm

    I’m a 76 year old Passionate golfer who’s recovered from 2 strokes & I normally play 4 times weekly & practice on days I’m not in some doctor’s waiting room. This schedule can be substantially less during our winter months (like today 10 degree chill factor with 25mph north wind).
    I took particular note of one comment in the Distance Report:
    “We have a particular concern that the forward tees at many courses are very long for the hitting distances of many of the golfers who play from them.”
    My average Driver distance is 175 yards, including rollout on medium firm fairways. At 70 YO I started playing the “white Tees (old man Tees (5644 yds)., but after a few years & a bad stroke I was no longer able to reach most of the par 4’s & a few par 3’s in regulation using a 3-wood.
    A golfing friend of mine suggested I consider playing the Red Tees (“Women’s Tees”).After a few weeks of trying to set my male ego aside & deciding I would just have to be tough enough to suffer the “Slings and arrows” of others I took the leap & I’m not sorry that I did. Wow, it was so refreshing & energizing/confidence building to be able to hit a few mid irons into some of the par 3’/4’s. I felt like I was back to playing golf instead of just trying to survive another bad round.
    There’s a few other old Hackers in my golf group that need to move up, but, their male egos are dominating them, IMO.
    I make these comments that the rules makers of golf give serious consideration to us hackers. I quit trying to buy new clubs every year or 2 in hopes of regaining some distance. Fact is, I quit trying because I can’t hit the new Pricey wonder clubs any better than my current equipment & I can’t afford it either.
    I liked the analogy about baseball in comparison to Golf. It helps clarify the issues if Distance. except distane does not apply to equipment changes in baseball

    Thanks
    Fastfade (the Hacker)

  22. Bob

    Feb 4, 2020 at 3:25 pm

    2013 US Open at Merion Rose won at +1. Why? Short course that demanded you hit the ball in the fairway or you weren’t going to hold a green or at the very least have a good look at birdie. How long have the same restrictions been on these golf clubs? Quite a while now. The athletes are better and there are many more known ways to increase distance by putting in the work. Quit crying about distance. Phil has more club head speed now than ever and he hasn’t done squat since he’s gained the speed. Eliminate 1st cut of rough and make it an absolute penalty to miss a fairway. You’ll start seeing longer irons into greens and a premium on iron play and shot shaping. Tbh on a week to week basis I dont see the issue with some low scoring rounds of golf. This isn’t the balata and persimmon era even though no one complained when they were shooting low scores. Sports evolve and the athletes obviously get better. Make the courses tougher and not longer.

    • Vincent Collier

      Feb 5, 2020 at 7:15 am

      Amen

      Grow the rough, bring back the second cut, narrow the landing zones and firm the greens… change the conditions for tournament play

  23. Jeff Allen

    Feb 4, 2020 at 2:39 pm

    Yes, because I want to see Mike Trout using Ty Cobb’s glove, or Usain Bolt running in Jessie Owens’ shoes. Let it be

  24. DJ

    Feb 4, 2020 at 2:25 pm

    Require each manufacturer to make a tour only ball with restricted characteristics if you can’t/don’t change the course layouts. Reduce the number of clubs allowed from 14 to 12. Don’t allow wedges over 56 degrees. Reduce the number of holes on a layout from 18 to 14 allowing for longer holes or 90 degree dog legs. Design the holes to run uphill at 10 degrees up to 340 yards then drop down a bit to the green – eliminate some rollout. Mow the fairways back towards the tee box to influence the grain.

  25. 19_Majors

    Feb 4, 2020 at 2:11 pm

    Webb Simpson beat Tony Finau in a head-to-head playoff last week. One of the shortest hitters on tour vs. one of the longest hitters on Tour. If distance was everything, Webb would’ve had no chance of winning. But Webb ended up in that playoff, and Webb won. How far golfers hit it clearly isn’t the only thing that matters. We don’t need to reel in ANY equipment or make golf courses ANY harder until there is a clear trend of WINNING TOURNAMENTS favoring only long hitters.

    • Progolfer

      Feb 5, 2020 at 8:04 am

      Webb averaged 8.5 yards less than Finau in the WMPO. No offense, but that debunks your argument.

    • Dyson Bochambeau

      Feb 5, 2020 at 10:09 am

      Compare the top 10 in distance to the top 10 in the world

  26. Kim Hay

    Feb 4, 2020 at 2:00 pm

    The whole argument is summed up in the second bullet point of the key findings “golfers who play from their longest tees”. So, the USGA and the R&A is focused on the 5% or less golfers who play from the longest tees and that the courses may not be challenging enough for them.

    It is time for these bodies and golf clubs in general to focus their efforts and marketing on the recreational golfer, those who carry a handicap from 5 to 48. Ask them if courses are too tough or if they need longer tees. Golf clubs should be promoting quality, fun courses from 4000 to 6300 yards for the 95% of the people who will come to play. Let the “championship” courses chase the 5%. Keep operating costs down and promote your product to families, juniors, seniors and the occasional golfer.

    This game will not survive without a complete re-think of who it is for and how we can provide that product. I do not see the USGA and the R&A doing much to in that regard.

    • GMatt

      Feb 4, 2020 at 3:58 pm

      You’re asking the USGA to think? Good Lord that would be like putting lipstick on a pig… they’re incapable of relating to their membership (which I refuse to be one) and only focused on the top less than 1% of all golfers… They are way out of touch

  27. PaulVL

    Feb 4, 2020 at 1:59 pm

    You don’t need to make courses longer, or change equipment/balls, just make the courses the pros play on more difficult. Put more dog legs, left and right that cannot be cut off by long hitters. Make the landing area for long hitters smaller, with tall rough, or difficult fairway bunkers with a greater risk, than reward. Unfortunately, money is the key motivator for the manufacturers, players and PGA, so I doubt little will change.

  28. Club Pro Guys Neighbor

    Feb 4, 2020 at 1:38 pm

    As a PGA Professional, this report does not speak to what is important to continuing to grow the game. Making the game harder is not the answer. You have the PGA trying to include everyone and the USGA trying to make it more difficult which would disproportionately affect the average golfer not the competitive golfer. While courses could be outdated because of length there are many things that can be done to make courses more difficult at there 300+ distances off the tee ie. trees, bunkers, penalty areas. This obstacles would make the course tighter and more difficult for longer golfers, but would maintain less of a degree of difficulty for the higher handicap and shorter players while also reducing the area of the course that requires significant input from water and chemicals.

  29. Rich Douglas

    Feb 4, 2020 at 1:35 pm

    Use baseball as a comparison. In 1930, the entire American League hit .300. In 1968, only one person (Yaz) did it. In other words, players didn’t necessarily get better and better. Fences are still the same (or similar) distances as they were 50 years ago. Hitting .300 or batting 30 homers is sill a big deal. Why? Why haven’t things changed? Why, except for the steroid years, aren’t players hitting it 400 feet?

    Because of the pitchers. See, as hitters got better, stronger, and bigger, so did pitchers. They got faster. They developed more breaking pitches. They got better.

    Golf has no such off-set. It is the player against the course. The only way to hold back the players–who get stronger and more fit all the time–is to (a) slow down the equipment or (b) make the courses harder or longer. But if you do (b), you run the risk of ruining courses or making them unfair (rewarding and punishing shots almost at random). So what to do?

    You have to do something about the equipment. Some measures have helped, like limiting what the driver can do. (Irons are already pretty self-limiting.) But the players keep getting longer.

    But if you slow down the equipment (I’m looking at you, ball!), don’t you mess up recreational players? Don’t you need to bifurcate the game? No, you don’t. First, it’s already bifurcated. Recreational players typically don’t get fitted for their clubs, they use a ball wrong for them, and they’re not the ones making courses obsolete. They won’t be affected by a slower ball because they can’t hit it with purpose anyway.

    The problem here isn’t what it will do to recreational players. It’s what it will do to equipment manufacturers who sell fantasies to those players. And those companies seem to rule the game. Good luck changing that!

    • ewfnick

      Feb 4, 2020 at 1:41 pm

      This.

      • Dick Ruggles

        Feb 4, 2020 at 2:39 pm

        They raised the mound and pitchers dominated 1968. They lowered it in ’69 and hitters improved.

        Wound ball. Persimmon woods. Steel shafts. No 60* wedges. Golf fixed.

    • Thomas A

      Feb 4, 2020 at 2:24 pm

      Webb is not one of the shortest on tour anymore. He’s been working on his body and swing for the past two years and has gained substantial distance.

    • Shallowface

      Feb 4, 2020 at 2:48 pm

      I thought you were going to get this right, but you missed.
      The reason baseball hasn’t changed has nothing to do with the athletes.
      Baseball didn’t allow it’s equipment to change as golf has. Neither the bat nor the ball.
      There is a good reason for this. Baseball stadiums are by and large built and maintained by taxpayers. Baseball can’t come to the taxpayers and ask for new and bigger stadiums because they didn’t have enough sense to keep a handle on equipment.
      I would submit that pitchers have gotten worse over the 50 years I have been following baseball, not better, but that’s a discussion for another place. There are no Seavers or Gibsons out there throwing 15 complete games in a season with ERAs under 2.00.
      Truth is I don’t know why the USGA bothers. If they attempt to shorten the ball, the PGA Tour will choose to ignore it, and the buying public will follow, rendering the USGA even less relevant than it is today.
      The USGA will do nothing, and like it.

    • Jeff Allen

      Feb 4, 2020 at 3:06 pm

      Only partially correct look at a 1930s era glove vs today

      • Shallowface

        Feb 4, 2020 at 4:54 pm

        My comment was “neither the bat nor the ball.”

        Gloves aren’t relevant when the discussion is about stick and ball distances.

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News

Morning 9: Wyndham Clark on back injury | DiMarco’s bold Champions Tour take | Houston Open photos

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By Ben Alberstadt with Gianni Magliocco.

For comments: [email protected]

Good Thursday morning, golf fans, as day one of the Houston Open gets underway.

1. Wyndham Clark hurts back…still hopes to play

ESPN’s Mark Schlabach…”Reigning U.S. Open winner Wyndham Clark injured his back while working out at home Monday, but he hopes to play in this week’s Texas Children’s Houston Open, which starts Thursday at Memorial Park Golf Course.”

  • “Clark, the fourth-ranked golfer in the world, said he was lifting weights and “got caught in an awkward spot doing a lift and [his] back went.”
  • “It’s not something that happens regularly, but it happened and you live and you learn,” Clark said. “I’m trending in the right direction. I’m hitting it or feeling stronger and more mobile every day. I’m going to give it my best effort tomorrow and hopefully I can play and compete. If not, I’ve got to get ready for tournaments to come after this.”
Full piece.

2. DiMarco’s bold Champions Tour take

Our Matt Vincenzi…”While speaking on the Subpar podcast, former PGA Tour winner and current PGA Tour Champions player Chris DiMarco said he hopes LIV buys the Champions Tour.”

  • “We’re kind of hoping that LIV buys the Champions Tour,” he said.
  • “Let’s play for a little real money out here. I mean this is kind of a joke when we’re getting $2 million. There were like seven guys last week from TPC (Sawgrass, at the $25 million PLAYERS Championship) that made more money than our purses.”
Full piece.

3. Charley Hull’s course management problem?

Our Matt Vincenzi…”Charley Hull came just short of her third LPGA Tour victory over the weekend at the Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship when she played her last two holes at 3 over to slip all the way to 10th on the leaderboard.”

  • “After the round, Hull was blasted by Sky Sports commentator and former LPGA Tour player Trish Johnson for her lack of golf course management.”
  • “While speaking on the Sky Sports Golf podcast, Johnson spoke harshly of Hull.”
  • “I’m probably her harshest critic, because I know how good she is. She doesn’t win anywhere near enough for her talent, and she doesn’t get involved enough, in all honestly.
  • “The thing with Charley is that you’re never going to change her. I read something the other day that said how much she loves the game and it’s her love of the game [that costs her]. She’s never going to change and she’s just going to go for every pin.
  • “In theory that’s great, but it won’t win you golf tournaments, it just won’t because she’s not that much better than anybody else.
Full piece.

4. Sahith’s interesting idea

Golf Channel’s Brentley Romine…”Which brings Theegala to his big idea: “There’s got to be something, like a fan challenge or – I think it would be awesome to see a scratch handicap go out and play like the Monday after a tournament, keep the same conditions and see what they would shoot just to put it into perspective how hard a PGA Tour golf course is.”

  • “Theegala loves the thought so much that he’d even come out and watch.”
  • “Shoot, I’d commentate on it,” Theegala added before continuing, “I have a pet peeve, sometimes when I watch golf on TV, a great example is hole 8 at Valspar last week. It’s a 230-yard par 3, the green’s 12 yards wide and someone will hit the middle of the green and, you know, they’ll be like, ‘Oh, really smart shot there.’ I’m like, ‘Well, no, he’s absolutely laced this 4-iron in the middle of the green, that’s right where he’s looking and to hit a 4-iron that straight is really, really hard.’ … Even like chipping, a lot of the stuff just looks flat on TV, but then when you get over the chip, like, oh, great, I have to land it over a mound on a downslope down grain?”
Full piece.

5. Top am Rachel Heck not going pro

Golf Channel’s Brentley Romine…”As Rachel Heck nears the end of her college golf career, she has decided that the LPGA isn’t for her.’

  • “Heck, the 22-year-old Stanford senior who won an NCAA individual title as a freshman and has climbed as high as second in the world amateur rankings, penned a first-person essay for No Laying Up in which she explained her reasoning for remaining amateur after graduation this summer and starting an internship not in professional golf but rather private equity. Heck, a political science major, also will be pinned as a lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force.”

Read her piece on No Laying Up: https://nolayingup.com/blog/why-im-remaining-an-amateur

Full piece.

6. DJ’s new LIV signing

Golf Monthly’s Elliott Heath…”Dustin Johnson‘s LIV Golf team 4Aces GC has announced former TravisMathew CEO Chris Rosaasen as the side’s new General Manager.”

  • “Rosaasen, who is a long-time friend of Johnson, is also the founder of the team’s apparel sponsor Extracurricular and has been CEO of the Omniverse Group for the past four years.
  • “He joins with more than 20 years of “brand-building, marketing, and business leadership” according to LIV Golf, which says his “record of innovation in the golf industry will strengthen and accelerate the growth of the 4Aces GC brand.”
Full piece.

7. Photos from the Houston Open

  • Check out all of our photos from this week’s event!
Full piece.
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Four books for a springtime review

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One thing that never changes over time: snowy evenings give purpose to reading (is it the other way around?) It has been a snowy 2024 in western New York, and I’ve had ample time to tuck into an easy chair with a blanket, coffee, and a book. You’re in luck, because despite the title of this piece, I’ll share five books and their worth with you.

There is great breadth of subject matter from one to five. Golf is as complicated as life, which means that the cover of the book isn’t worth judging. The contents begin the tale, but there is so much more to each topic presented within. If you’re like me, your library grows each year. Despite the value of the virtual, the paper-printed word connects us to the past of golf and humanity. Here’s hoping that you’ll add one or more of these titles to your collection.

        

Rainmaker

Hughes Norton interviewed with Mark McCormack for 20 minutes (30 if you count the missed exit at Logan International) while driving the founder of IMG from Harvard to the airport. The lesson of taking advantage of each moment, of every dollar, because you might not get another opportunity, is the most valuable one that life offers. I say to you, be certain to read this book, because another opportunity to bend the ear of Hughes Norton may not come our way.

Hughes Norton was with Tiger Woods for waaayyy fewer years than you might guess, but they were the critical ones. Be warned: not all of the revelations in this tome are for the faint of heart. Some, in fact, will break your heart. Golf was a sleepy hamlet in the 1990s, until the 16-lane interstate called Eldrick “Tiger” Woods came into town. Everything changed, which meant that everything would change again and again, into eternity. Once the ball starts rolling, it’s impossible to stop.

My favorite aspect of this book is its candor. Hughes Norton is well into his time on Planet Earth. He has no reason to hold back, and he doesn’t. My least favorite aspect is that George Peper got the call to co-author the book (and I didn’t.) Seriously, there is no LFA for me, so this is the best that I could do.

Decision: Buy It!

The Golf Courses of Seth Raynor

Michael Wolf, James Sitar, and Jon Cavalier, in abject partnership, collaborated to produce a handsome volume on the work of gone-too-soon, engineer-turned-golf course architect. Seth Raynor was pulled into the game by Charles Blair MacDonald, the crusty godfather of American golf. Raynor played little golf across the 51 years of his life. His reason? He did not wish to corrupt his designs with the demands and failings of his own game.

Jon Cavalier began his photography career as a contributor to the Golf Club Atlas discussion group. I met him there in a virtual way (we still have yet to shake hands) and have exchanged numerous emails over the years. Despite the demands of his day job, Cavalier has blossomed into the most traveled and prolific course photographer alive today. His photography, both hand-held and drone, makes the pages pop. Michael Wolf invited me and two friends to play his home course, despite having never met any of us in person. His words, melded to those of James Sitar, are the glue that connect Cavalier’s photos.

My favorite aspect of the books is the access it gives to the private-club world of Raynor. Fewer than five of his courses are resort or public access, and knowing people on the inside is not available to all. My suggestion? Write a letter/email and see if a club will let you play. Can’t hurt to try! My one complaint about the book is its horizontal nature. Golf is wide, but I like a little vertical in my photos. It’s not much of a complaint, given the glorious contents within the covers.

Decision: Buy It!!

Big Green Book from The Golfer’s Journal

Beginning with its (over)size, and continuing through the entire contents, there is no descriptor that defines the genre of the Big Green Book. It is photography, essay, layout, poetry, graphics, and stream of consciousness. It harnesses the creative power of a lengthy masthead of today’s finest golf contributors. Quotes from Harvey Penick, verse from Billy Collins, and prose from John Updike partner with images pure and altered, to immerse you in the diverse golf spaces that define this planet.

One of my favorite aspects is the spaces between the words and photos. Have your friends and others write a few notes to you in those blank areas, to personalize your volume even more. One aspect that needs improvement: the lack of female voices. I suspect that will be remedied in future volumes.

Decision: Buy It!!!

Troublemaker and The Unplayable Lie

Books that allege discrimination and mistreatment check two boxes: potentially-salacious reads and debate over whose perspective is accurate. In the end, the presentation of salacious revelation rarely meets the expectation, and the debate over fault is seldom resolved. Lisa Cornwell spent years as a competitive junior and college golfer, before joining The Golf Channel as a reporter and program host.

Despite the dream assignments, there were clouds that covered the sun. Cornwell documents episodes of favoritism and descrimination against her, prior to her departure from The Golf Channel in 2021. Her work echoes the production of the late Marcia Chambers, who wrote for Golf Digest in the 1980s and 1990s. Chambers took issue with many of the potential and real legal issues surrounding golf and its policies of access/no access. Her research culminated in The Unplayable Lie, the first work of its kind to address issues confronted by all genders and ethnicities, and immediately predated the professional debut of Tiger Woods in 1997.

My favorite aspects of the two works, are the courage and conviction that it took to write them, and believe in them. My least favorite aspects are the consistent bias that many groups continue to face. Without awareness, there is no action. Without action, there is no change.

Decision: Buy Them!!!!

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Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open

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GolfWRX is on site in the Lone Star State this week for the Texas Children’s Houston Open.

General galleries from the putting green and range, WITBs — including Thorbjorn Olesen and Zac Blair — and several pull-out albums await.

As always, we’ll continue to update as more photos flow in. Check out links to all our photos from Houston below.

General Albums

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.

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