Opinion - with Boyd Lockhart
Is There An Alternative To Longer Golf
Courses ?
Eight
thousand yard courses ? “No way !” you say. Well take a look at the lengths of
the courses that the world’s top players are faced with nearly every week.
Yardages have been up to the mid seven thousands at several venues on the P.G.A.
tour this season, with par-fours stretched to 450-490 yards and par-threes to
over 235 yards.
I feel this mindset has been
the motivation for equipment manufacturers to continue to produce products that
allow players to achieve greater distances and accuracy. Some will argue its the
other way around, and, perhaps so. I am, by no means, against new technology, as
the new equipment has allowed players, at every level, to achieve more enjoyment
from their user-friendly clubs and balls.
Yes, we are influenced greatly
by what we see on the tube and at times we get duped by the professional
marketing, it’s all part of the game; but yardage alone may be getting
over-rated. Perhaps limits on course length will come, and hopefully for all,
not just the tour players.
What’s the alternative to
longer and longer golf courses? Deeper rough and fairway bunkers could be a
factor, as many courses are void of traps in the landing areas. Another option
would be to increase shot difficulty around the greens. Green side sand traps
don’t seem to slow the tour players down. I’m sure you have noticed how
attractive these bunkers, with their shallow firm base, are for professionals.
Many times when they shoot for a tight pin-placement, they hope to bail out in
one of these bunkers, where their percentage of getting up and down is pretty
high, compared to landing in the surrounding areas, usually grassy mounds.
What if these bunkers were five
inches of grass, instead of sand ? It’s my opinion that even the tour players
would start shooting for the center of the greens, instead of the pin. Playing
from long grass will never be easy !
- Boyd Lockhart is a Life
Member
of the Canadian PGA
