Hands Off My Balls

Excess distance is not a problem area with our game, nor is it likely an issue most everyday golfer’s deal with.

Do you have any of these aspects attached to your game:

• hit the ball 300+ yards on a frozen rope?
• concerns about what iron to hit into a par 5 from 245 yards?
• play most par 4’s with a driver and a half wedge?

Like the world’s best, we have worn out wedges, though more so from us hitting off cart paths, tree roots, and other course hazards not intended to house golf balls.

The R&A/USGA, however, seems to think jaw-dropping driving distance is an issue...for everybody. There is newfound zeal to try and reign in equipment, and especially rolling back the golf ball.

Distance gains are only an issue at golf’s highest levels. This isn’t a serious issue like folks using iron covers or spending an hour of their round fishing for golf balls.

Yes, the world’s best are obsoleting some classic courses, however, this isn’t the same as us hacks being one club shorter on a par 4 (that we’ll still hosel rocket into the greenside trap...or air mail the green).

• Average professional golfer drive - 296 yards
• Average male amateur drive - 220 yards
• Average female amateur drive - 150 yards

Further complicating matters is R&A/USGA state that they don’t want to bifurcate the rules….(we’ll wait for you to check out dictionary.com). Simply put, folks competing in the US Open or the Bushwood “Hit ‘n’ Giggle” will have the same equipment standards.

If the professional ranks want to be treated like NASCAR where the equipment is the same for everybody, no problem, please do so without stripping away the thrill of longer tee shots and other odd flashes of joy for us mere mortals.

Who among us wouldn’t love another 20 yards on our drives, moving up to hitting an iron, an actual #$#%#%# iron into a par 4, rather than our trusty, tired, oh so very tired, fairway wood for an approach shot? Also, who among us also doesn’t relish the extra spin on an approach from an “illegally” grooved wedge?

The only folks grinning like a teenage boy at a stripclub in all of this will be the lawyers lining up to litigate both sides of the manufacturers vs. USGA/R&A debate. Gives new meaning to rolling back balls, doesn’t it?