short putters

First topic message reminder :

Isnt it just so nice to see pretty much everyone using short putters ...
Just looks so much better.
They seem to be coping ok too , largely.

Did they hit it from the same tee though? Bet if they had a bit of time to get used to it though they would do it.

Byron Nelson used to say that the single most important technological advance during his career in golf was the lawnmower.

Because I am a very sad individual, I have a spreadsheet with every winner and winning score in every Major Championship that has ever taken place so I can tell you what the trend in winning scores is. I don't have it at work though. It is all a bit irrelevant due to the changes in other factors like tee positions and agronomy.

Every time we have this debate I posit this suggestion, and nobody ever so much as acknowledges it, but here goes. Why does the fairway have to be continuous? Why not just grow the rough across the hole from say 300yds to 360yds?

Seems fair enough Smithers, very cheap too. Maybe they will do that at TOC this year on 18 to stop the 254 being shot.

Exactly. It could even allow courses that are already considered too short to be used again.

SmithersJones wrote:Exactly. It could even allow courses that are already considered too short to be used again.

Easily returned to normal conditions for members too.

Smithers, I think it's because the public like to see the professionals mash it with the driver. Forcing them into using fairway woods / irons / rescues off the tee makes it less of a spectator spectacle, apparently.

super_realist wrote:

SmithersJones wrote:Exactly. It could even allow courses that are already considered too short to be used again.

Easily returned to normal conditions for members too.

Yep, it's a winner all round if you ask me. Perhaps the tv people wouldn't like it, the flyovers and aerial shots mightn't look so good!

golfermartin wrote:Smithers, I think it's because the public like to see the professionals mash it with the driver. Forcing them into using fairway woods / irons / rescues off the tee makes it less of a spectator spectacle, apparently.

But think of the drama as a 300 yard tee shot trickles towards the end of the fairway - will it/won't it?

Smithers, Some PGA Tour courses do that, usually in conjunction with a creek or significant elevation change. But golfermartin is right; especially at resort courses like Doral and PGA National the owner is on an ego trip and wants to see someone going for the 400 yd drive.

Super - I wonder if TOC isn't a better match than medal play venue for today's professionals?

I don't think it's great for either SR, there's no great risk/reward element to it, very little chance of losing a ball as there's no danger off the tee, no real hazards for pro players as bunkers are easy to avoid, minimal rough, and most gorse has been chopped out. Whilst the green complexes are fairly straight forward.

There's only 2 par 5's and 2 par 3's, so lack of drama, and the par 4's are all very easy with the exception of 17.

It's virtually impossible for a pro to miss a green, so all it would be is a putting contest.

super_realist wrote:I think that the improvement of the golfer is a big difference.
Put a modern day big hitting golfer with 1970's equipment on a 1970's course and I think there would be a big difference between them and the unprofessional fatty that were "pro" during that era.

If courses were that easy now with modern technology, then there wouldn't be such a massive gap between those challenging, and those who miss the cut and prop up the field.

I think you're wrong. Some modern players (not that we can make a valid comparison) may achieve a higher clubhead speed than some of the past bombers with the same kit but I seriously doubt, in the majority of cases, that it would be a statistical difference. Give a young Nicklaus or Palmer etc a modern driver with a 50-something gram shaft (or whatever) and they'd hit it out of sight like the Bubba et al do.

beninho wrote:Adjust the ball in the professional game. But not for your casual player. Adjust anything you want for the professionals, but the normal golfer should be able to use whatever he wants (within reason). The game needs to be enjoyable for anyone to play.

It is enjoyable already. I like the fact it's a tough game to play well. I don't like the idea of people with no patience etc thinking it's all down to the kit. Can't play it, go play something else.