Tim W:
The long and short of it ...
When courses are firm and fast the margins of difficulty INCREASE because balls can run into areas that in other times would not happen. This is of major concern to the better player and those who hit the ball a long ways.
On the flip side for the shorter player is this ... with firm and fast this type of player can narrow the gap in total distance between himself and the longer player. The better player ALWAYS has the advantage in carrying the ball. The shorter player does not. Give you a clear example -- Corey Pavin would not have had any shot in winning the '95 Open at SH without firm and fast conditions taking hold at th ecourse from Thurdsday on when the course began to dry out.
The additional roll allows the shorter player to get into position for a second shot. This is especially true for senior players and the like. I am absolutely flabbergasted that so many courses keep the turf so wet that these short hitters must constantly struggle with wood approaches on any par-4 that goes beyond 420 yards. It's hit and plug or hit and roll at best 5-10 yards. When I caddied a number of years ago at UMCC in Clifton, NJ this was often the case.
The other aspect of firm and fast is that putting surfaces do not become dart boards. They require plenty of thought as to how the ball will hit and release. Players must gauge both aspects of flight and roll.
When courses are soft this gives the longer and better player a distinct advantage because he can then aim at the corners and know the ball will not roll much, it at all.
The problem is that many people, including the braintrusts at many facilities, are mistaken to believe that green is the golden rule in turf and therefore bombard the grounds with endless streams of H2O. I can't for the life of me understand how a course can be so wet that one takes veal cutlet size divots during the height of summer in dry circumstances. A little brown color in the fairways is perfectly OK and should not be eliminated like it was some sort of disease.
The issue is usually twofold; many superintendents are intent on playing it "safe" and therefore over do the H20. Or, the superintendent is TOLD by key higher-ups to water as much as necessary in order to keep the color green. What amazes me is that such a wasteful use of precious resources is not needed. Golf, in its optimum, is a game that feature the unique and exciting mixture between the aerial and ground games.
