The solution to the USGA's failure on technology

[Jeff_Lewis]

The solution is none of the things one hears on golf telecasts these days. Not tricky pins, not high rough, not longer and longer courses.

The solution is shorter courses. 360 yard holes. If we want to see the pros hit long irons now, the only way we will get to see it is off the tee on long 3s and short 4s.

Tiger-proofing is a 6900 yard course. His edge is much much less.

[Joel_Stewart]

Jeff:
Earl Woods suggested this years ago for Augusta saying if you want to bring the field back into play, tee off from the ladies tees.   I'm a little surprised more wasn't said when Tiger dusted the field at Bethpage with a monster set up.  Perhaps this is what sponsors, TV (and occasionaly the USGA) want, a course where the most visable athlete in the world comes in and wins.  

[ForkaB]

I think this is a good idea which will, of course, be ignored.  US Opens at the shorter, more subtle courses such as PVGC, Merion, NGLA, CPC, Prairie Dunes would be fantastic, both in sporting interest and in giving "major" golf a bit of needed diversity.  I'd love to see Tiger battling Price, say, on Sunday at Cypress.  If all 4 of the majors are just going to be long slogs, what value is there in getting a "grand slam?"

[Tim_Weiman]

Rich Goodale:

I'm delighted to see you express support for the concept of diversity for the major championships. The worst thing I've seen in recent years are attempts to establish a single standard for what constitutes a good "test".

You are absolutely right. If the majors aren't different, there is no point to the whole concept of the Grand Slam.

As to Jeff Lewis' basic idea of shorter courses, I think it is a move in the right direction. The continual lengthening of the playing field makes no sense.

[Jeff_Lewis]

Tom Fazio was just interviewed on NBC's Honda coverage. He said his new course, next year's venue, would be 7450 and that would be an average length course going forward. Given the opportunity by Jimmy Roberts to express a view about technology, he took a big old pass.

[Matt Kardash]

I often discuss this very topic with my father. He always says that they should play shorter courses. And while that is a valid point, i think it would be so boring to watch tiger and pratically every other player for that matter hit iron off every par 4. It would close the gap between tiger and the rest but it is not going to produce "better golf". Watching good golf, is watching a golfer use all his clubs. In an ideal world, shorter courses might be the answer, but in reality it just doesn't work. Not without reducing technology, of course.

[Keith Durrant]

It occurred to me that one small rule change would change the dynamics of the length question:

Either limit the length of a tee-peg to say 3/4 inch or for even more fun disallow tee-pegs altogether !!

Club-makers could still make new designs etc., but drivers with lofts of less than 10 degrees would become very difficult to hit, and average driving distances would dip back under 300 yds.