One of the fun things at the PGA Championship is their decision to reinstate the Long Driving Competition. They had done it for years before doing away with it but since 2014 we’ve seen some massive belts.
Probably the most famous of its past winners has to be the Golden Bear himself. Way back in 1963 a young Jack Nicklaus smacked one 341 yards…with a persimmon clubhead. Who knows what he could have done with one of those high tech drivers the boys use now.
Nicklaus valued that win so much he still carries the money clip he won for winning.
Everyone, even Jack likes the long ball.
This year Rory McIlroy had the lead in the contest until he was dethroned by Ben An who snuck one past Rory at 347 yards. That’s a mighty poke for a guy who averages 299 yards on the PGA Tour but just another indication how far technology has taken the game.
In my opinion, and many others it has taken the game, or I should say the ball too far…way too far.
Technology has been a boon to professionals and amateurs alike. The same technology that lets Rory and Ben and hoards of others fly it 330 in the air helps me get a few more yards when I catch it good. How can a 60 year old drive it as far, and straighter than he did at 30? Technology for sure it’s not any new found skill.
But back to Ben and Rory and the rest. We all love the long ball whether it is the driver, or the home run or the three pointer or the long bomb. Long is cool. But today things have become too cool.
Just ask Jack, one of the original long ballers. Now, lately I’ve found myself on the verge of blasphemy by disagreeing with our hero Mr. Nicklaus. I don’t think golf in the Olympics is a big deal. He does. And I can’t support that boorish, brutish, bigot Trump as he does but Jack and I both agree that the ball is out of control.
The ball just goes to far.
Just take the first hole at the Baltusrol, the 478 yard par 4. If Rory catches a fair drive and hits it 330…he ‘s left with 148 yards. That a wedge for him. Is that what A.W. Tillinghast had in mind when he designed this course. Which by the way will play at 7,428 yards and is valued as one of the classic layouts in all of golf. Drive and wedge… I think not.
And it’s the same on many other holes and most other courses these pros play. Check out Geoff Shackelford’s analysis of Rory at the ’15 Quail Hollow. The course listed at 7,500 yards and Rory hit 9 iron or less into 15 of the 18 holes.
Now, Rory is fit and strong but it is more that that. The ball goes too far, way too far.
It’s time the USGA and the R&A did something and reigned in the ball. Let us weekend golfers play the super long ball, god knows we need it but a professional version of the ball could be used by the pros.
They hit it far enough and they are making so many great classic courses into pitch and putt layouts and that’s a sin.
Ball go far…too far.
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