Augusta National getting longer
 

I wonder when these guys are going to run out of real estate?

http://sports.yahoo.golfserv.com/gdc...O&id=33451

Re: Augusta National getting longer
 

Studying the aerial photograph reveals the following:

As far as I've understood the current parking lot is where the new driving range will be located.

1. Options, Hole by hole
2. Can't see they will sacrifice the putting green since that's where the ceremony takes place. New tee will be very close to it.
3. Seems they can still add 25 yards, not much more.
4. Probably at max.
5. They will obviously chop down some trees and more or less max it out. A big bad slice on #2 calls for a FORE to 4th tee.
6. At max unless they move the green. Not likely.
7. Pretty much at max
8. With the 30-40 yards added it is close to max unless you stand on 5th fairway.
9. No room for further length
10. No room for further length
11. No room for further length
12. They can still make it longer than 505, but will become a par 5.
13. It works. Don't fix it.
14. No room for further length unless they buy a hole from the adjacent course.
15. Seems they can still add a lot of length to this hole.
16. With this new change the tee will be close to 11th fairway. Bet that's why they added the trees in 2004.
17. Can be lengtend by some 30 yards.
18. After this new change, they will be at max.
19. Close to max, but moving 15th tee may give room for 5-10 more yards.

This is a good response to asking the wrong question.

That question isn't "how long should the course be" it is, how FAR should the BALL go?

We can all play 10,000 yrd courses of the future with a superball, or one made of kriptonite.....

Or they can just bring back the golf ball of old, with a longer lasting cover thanks to all of our technology.

The ball of the last few years goes so much farther than the 'old' balls it is absurd.

Follow the Money I suppose.....

Peace - EdZ

I agree EdZ....we've been talking about this on Brian's board a bit...

Like I said...they use wood bats in baseball still...what's the big deal? If these guys are so good why should they be worried anyway? Everyone uses the same ball type and you have no more problems.

Can't believe they're making it longer....that's savage.

What do u mean follow the $$$ EdZ?

A lot of people make money selling 'distance' and the ball is a big part of that. A revenue stream that ends for all but one company when the 'standard' ball is finally decided upon.

Far better to teach great swings, the long term answer to more people playing golf well.

It's the manufacturers
 

One argument is the pros will get a shorter ball and the rest of us could keep going with ball technology. But I've seen many manufacturers say, "people want to play what the pros play". So, clearly they are worried about losing revenue.

I believe the USGA has several of the ball companies designing a ball that goes 10% less. They are not saying what they plan to do with this study. Dialing the ball back is pretty easy to do, technology wise.

Less Revenue to the right people
 

The courses are forever expanding and the only people that are gaining are those that sell clubs but lets look at the problems with this....

The earth is so only big and golf's popularity will go in spurts over centuries and the less land that they consume the more likely courses will cost in upkeep and land value. Courses can not keep growing as technology increases. In the Bobby Jones era most people (including him) hit drives in the range of 230-240 yards. Jack Nicklaus said that his average was 260 yerds in his prime and maybe a just a little more if he killed it

Bring back ye old wooden persimmon clubs - I tell you that without any doubt they feel more satifying at contact than these titanium blocks. Theres not much a manufacturer can do with wood.... I would like to see a big bertha version of persimmon - I don't think so many would go for it.....lol

Re: It's the manufacturers
 

And they should be.

It is interesting and sad that marketing machinery does a good enough job to keep the general public unaware of the fact that buying a set of clubs off the shelf will NOT give them what the pros have, but lousy shafts and equipment that do not suit them.

But that is the same for other sports. Downhill skiing for one.

I tend to think that it will end as a matchup between the people running St Andrews, Augusta National and other traditional major venues and the golf equipment industry.

"No one is bigger than the game", they say. Does that include the big equipment brands or not?

Tradition v/s commercial interest. The ultimate test for the game of golf if you like.

Gave it a thought & came up with this. Regardless of what you think of TW and MW you should get the idea.

How about:

One tomorrow someone will:
1. Sit on the the rights to "The Golfing Machine"
2. Buy out Tiger, Michelle Wie or whoever is best from their swoosh contracts
3. Fix their swngs ;-)
4. Make sure they become GSED's.
5. Put TGM logos on them
6. Have them play equipment without logos
7. Build 100.000 TGM centers providing affordable instruction.

(Does not have to be all TGM, but the principle is to have pros marketing various golf schools & fitness concepts instead of equipment).

- Entire money flow diverted from equipment to instruction, fitness etc
- Average handicap of all players worldwide down to 10.
- No public interest in better equpment
- Courses will not have to be longer

Eat that, Mr Golf Equipment Tycoon. :twisted: :D

LMAO! THAT ROCKS!!! :D :D :D

Haha that's great man. Makes you think tho eh...it kinda makes sense.

a nice read:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...614/index.html

Thanks for the link.....

If the idea is to get more people playing the game, I certainly stand by the "teach them well" view. NOTHING brings golfers back to play again more than a great shot, or a great round.

As for other reasons, depends on who your target market is. Some people don't play more often because 4-6 hour rounds take too much time out of a busy life. Others play the game for exactly that reason, to get away from it all. So your solution needs to take into account which markets you want. Speed golf for some, cheaper courses for others.... and WALKING for all (it really bothers me that most courses in my area don't even let you walk, and these aren't the big 'development' courses where you are really forced to by the design).

but better shots, and better scores will do it for ALL markets and that is only going to happen with great, widespread, and accurate teaching of all areas of the game.

That screensaver I mentioned a while back - the imperatives and essentials along with model hitters/swingers. Give it away with a TGM book or hat or towel or headcover/bag tag. Get the BUZZZZZ going full steam...... or should I say full compression

Gotta love this place eh? 8)

screensaver
 

Edz, did you talk about the screensaver in more detail in another thread? After the new LBG site is done, that might be a fun project.

Probably sheer ignorance on my part, but I was surprised to see this. (I.e. golf school marketing on Michelle Wie). Pics from todays newspapers over here. (Article not related)

Since MW shot a 64 already at age 10 it seems Lead has already implemented the idea. Well done. :D