No tee pegs equals shorter courses

[Adrian_Stiff]

I think part of playing golf is the tee shot and to x% that is the part of golf they like. I don't see it will recruit more players, I do see x% leaving because it substantially alters the game.


We all know the way make shorter courses play longer, just needs a 90% ball.

[Jon Wiggett]

We all know the way make shorter courses play longer, just needs a 90% ball.

+1 and maybe a shorter ball just for the professional tournaments and major amateur tournaments.

Jon

[Niall C]

Adrian


If a 90% ball was adopted by the ruling bodies, how many of your X% would leave because they were frustrated that they couldn't hit the ball as far ? and that they were hitting long irons rather than mid irons for there approaches ? or that they couldn't get up in two where previously they could ?


Niall

[jeffwarne]

Like Pat said, I use the off the deck driver for a safety shot, especially if a fade is called for, but when I tee it super low or off the deck, I still at least fluff up the lie.
I'm sometimes embarrassed to hit the shot as I generally take a carving left divot-an eyesore on the teeing area.

[Thomas Dai]

I used to play with a guy who teed the ball up on a pencil, must have 3" high. The pencil must have had a tiny hollow at the top so the ball wouldn't fall off. This was back in the days of persimmon drivers as well, and jeez, could the guy strike it well.
Atb

[Adrian_Stiff]

Adrian


If a 90% ball was adopted by the ruling bodies, how many of your X% would leave because they were frustrated that they couldn't hit the ball as far ? and that they were hitting long irons rather than mid irons for there approaches ? or that they couldn't get up in two where previously they could ?


Niall

I don't think anyone would since the 90% ball only comes into affect at a certain level or handicap/competition/professional standard. Maybe when you get to category 1 Amateur or maybe just for the pro's. I think the ball going further is a good thing for most people.

[Niall C]

Adrian


So golfers would effectively be using two standards of ball ? Don't you think that would cause more problems than it solves ?


Niall

[Kalen Braley]

Seeing all these opposing posts is proof positive once again that the game is in desperate need of bifurcated rules...

Just about every other sport has these, I don't know why golf is so resistant to it!

[Thomas Dai]

Two standards of ball -


Don't we kind of currently have that anyway? Lower spec balls that roll a lot and don't like to stop when they land on firm greens and high spec balls which fly higher and stop quicker? Different core and surlyn and urethene covers and all that.......and different price points too.


Atb

[Mark Pearce]

Two standards of ball -


Don't we kind of currently have that anyway? Lower spec balls that roll a lot and don't like to stop when they land on firm greens and high spec balls which fly higher and stop quicker? Different core and surlyn and urethene covers and all that.......and different price points too.


Atb

Yes, but we get to choose which to play with and the pros can play with any ball we can, which is not what is being suggested here.

[Adrian_Stiff]

From about 1974 to 1980 in the UK if you were a pro you had to use a 1.68 ball, I am not 100% sure but maybe also in the bigger amateur events the 1.68 over the 1.62 went 10% less.


I am thinking that if the pro's say used the 90% ball it would mean the courses could be back to 7000 as a max, these courses would be enjoyable at 6300 from the regular tees and with the 100% a lot of more of the architecture gets retained and usuable for both.


I dont see a blanket 90% ball being a solution.

[Bill Crane]

We all know the way make shorter courses play longer, just needs a 90% ball.

+1 and maybe a shorter ball just for the professional tournaments and major amateur tournaments.

Jon

I agree that this does not have to be all or nothing.  To have more diversity in golf, why couldn't the PGA Tour have specific tournaments that featured no tees and no drivers, only 3 woods under a certain size - similar to Phil Mickleson's driving 3 wood - hit off the deck ?

Right now some tournaments are played as Stableford, some are Match Play, how about the no Driver format.  For diversity this would add some interest especially for some non major type sites by taking some distance out of the equation and adding another shotmaking feature.   It may make it easier and more relevant for Pros to go back to some of the shorter older layouts that have character without lengthening those courses.
   
How about the Rhode Island Off the Deck championship at Wanamoisett.  The Cape Cod 3 Wood Open at Eastward Ho!     Etc.
 
Bill
s k a Wm Flynnfan
 
 

[Pat Burke]

I got it!!


Ball size has to be proportional to clubhead size!!

[Sean_A]

Don't think much of the no tee peg idea.  For me, the obvious way forward is bifurcation.  The pro tours, amateur events counting for world ranking points and at least USA college golf use the short ball.  Everybody else use any ball they like unless a club or whoever mandates some events will be the short ball.  However, if we have birfurcation, I would push for more than 10% reduction...probably more like 20%.  This would make 260 a big carry which is about right for getting players to think about shaping shots around hazards rather than trying to carry all hazards.  That said, I get the impression the USGA & R&A are entrenched against bifurcation of the ball.  Maybe Augusta will have to start the ball rolling...it would save them tons of Tiger proofing money 


Ciao 

[Joe Hancock]

Maybe Augusta will have to start the ball rolling...it would save them tons of Tiger proofing money 

Just think of all the implications of ANGC having any incentive to save money! But they don't.