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Do we need alternatives to adding distance to PGA Tour tracks?

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As even the most casual fans of this maddening game know, since the advent of titanium drivers, the golf courses of the PGA Tour have been adding yardage to preserve difficulty. Since 1990, for example, Augusta National has added more than 500 yards.

GolfWRX member MadMaxx makes an interesting point about the added yardage at PGA Tour tracks, offering alternative suggestions for ratcheting up the difficulty level that don’t necessarily adversely affect shorter hitters.

“Lengthening courses only makes it harder for shorter hitters. If it were up to me I would shorten the courses. The big hitters would be able to drive the par 4’s but make the risk/reward very penal.

“Hit it short, left,right or long and make them pay around the greens. Water, pot bunkers, domed greens, run offs into trouble. Any landing spots in short iron range should be undulating so they never have an even lie and have unpredictable kicks. Pot bunkers put the fear into anyone. Make the most favorable landing areas for approaches reachable by even the shortest hitters.”

“Of course, this would necessitate some serious earth moving, which is one of the knocks against lengthening courses. Also, tour pros would hate just about everything he proposes. However, at least courses wouldn’t face the “running out of real estate” issue, and Maxx offers a potential remedy for the obsolescence of classic courses.”

Disco111 agrees

“In truth, this is exactly what the tour needs.”

Lijka writes

“I agree, there are a lot of ways to make golf more interesting. We don’t have to tack on a few hundred yards onto every course just to make par a bit harder to reach. There are all sorts of ways to make things more intellectual and tricky in order to make it more entertaining and/or difficult (if that is really the goal). I do think though that regardless of course set up and all other things being equal, being a long hitter will always be a natural advantage and the goal shouldn’t be to punish those that are.”

Cardoustie agrees and offers this perspective.

“The other part you’re missing is that these big courses are longer but ALSO wayyyyy WIDER. Definitely easier for bombers. Big targets and HUGE greens. I keep using this example. Merion GC at 2013 US Open that Rose won … 6,996 yards. High rough, small tilted greens, narrow fairways = higher scores.”

Of course, wildcatden’s, point that there are other ways to make courses difficult may be the most salient of all. He offers this image.

What do you think about lengthening vs. toughening courses, GolfWRX members? Join the discussion in the forum.

 

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19th Hole

“Is it a Titleist?” – Jerry Seinfeld shares never-before-heard details of iconic scene

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On Thursday, legendary comedian Jerry Seinfeld joined the Rich Eisen Show and shared an awesome story from a “Seinfeld” episode titled “The Marine Biologist.”

In the episode, a golf ball goes into the blow hole of a whale. According to Seinfeld, that was never in the episode’s script.

Seinfeld recalls saying the night before the filming of the episode, “What if what puts the whale in distress is Kramer’s golf ball?”

“He’s hitting golf balls at the beach. George is at the beach with a girl, we haven’t connected them!”

“We write that speech the night before at two o’clock in the morning…The sea was angry that day my friend.”

 

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A post shared by Rich Eisen (@richeisen)


Kramer finishes the iconic scene by asking “Is it a Titleist?” Seinfeld told Eisen the show sought Titleist’s permission to mention its name, saying the ball had to be a Titleist. Fortunately for lovers of the iconic show, the company agreed.

If (somehow) you’re unfamiliar with the scene, check it out below.

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19th Hole

Phil Mickelson drops big retirement hint; Says LIV will grow the game ‘on a much more global basis’

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While speaking with Bloomberg, golf legend Phil Mickelson acknowledged that he is inching close towards retirement.

“I’m 53 now,” Phil said, “and my career, you know, it’s — if I’m being truthful, it’s on — it’s — it’s — I’m a — it’s towards its end.”

Mickelson added that one of his focuses now is helping other young players.

“Now, I would like to help others find the same enjoyment and fulfillment that the game has provided me. I’d like them to experience that as well.”

The six-time major champion credited LIV with reaching new markets in golf to help it grow.

“I think that’s exciting for everyone involved in the game because we are going to reach markets that we didn’t reach before. I think it’s going to inspire more golf courses, inspire more manufacturers selling clubs and equipment, but also inspiring young kids to try to play golf professionally. I just see that the game of golf is going to grow on a much more global basis because of the excitement and the presence that LIV Golf has.”

Mickelson is playing at this week’s LIV Singapore and shot a first round 72 (+1).

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19th Hole

Tiger explains why golf has ‘negative connotations’ for daughter Sam

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While Tiger Woods’ son, Charlie, has certainly inherited his father’s love for golf, his daughter, Sam, has not.

On Wednesday, Tiger made an appearance on The Today Show with Carson Daly and explained his daughter’s relationship with golf.

“Golf has negative connotations for her. When she was growing up, golf took daddy away from her. I had to pack, I had to leave, and I was gone for weeks. So, there were negative connotations to it.

“We developed our own relationship and our own rapport outside of golf. We do things that doesn’t involve golf. Meanwhile, my son and I, everything we do is golf related.”

The nine-minute interview touches on plenty of other subjects, such as Tiger’s relationship with his late father, Earl.

It’s arguably the most open we’ve seen the 15-time major champion in an interview and is most definitely worth watching.

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