Dear USGA,
As stewards of the game, you have dropped the ball - literally. Watching Oakmont’s 8th hole (par 3) play to the tune of 300 yards and the 12th at 684 yards, is the epitome of head-in-the-sand thinking and leadership that has tarnished the reputation of what should be the most respected organization in golf.
I had the great opportunity and privilege to play Pinehurst #2 last week. The course is as thorough an examination as any in the world, but looking back on the new(er) ‘championship’ tees really turned my stomach. Adding anything more than what Donald Ross envisioned to a national treasure such as #2 is a travesty.
You have essentially allowed the club and cart manufacturers to necessitate the disfigurement of some of the greatest courses to the point (via added length) that they are no longer a test for the greatest golfers without building new garish tee boxes. The point has been made many times, by many people smarter than me that one would never think to add 150 feet to the outfield at Fenway park, a foot to the net at Wimbledon, or push the goal posts at Soldiers Field back another 10 yards because the powers that be allowed the ball to be so drastically changed.
It is nauseating to see par 5’s be turned into par 4’s due to the ball to traveling unfettered distances for too many years. Max Behr pointed out the problem in 1920’s (!). Jack Nicklaus has talked about the ball problem for some twenty years, yet you keep your blinders on.
We have too many tee boxes on too many golf courses. The tee to green walks have turned into unrecognizable cart rides. Additional yardage has added both cost and time to a round of golf, to the point that a foursome of low handicappers have a hard time completing a round in under 4 hours.
If the leadership in your organization had a modicum of respect, they would apologize to the golf community for being complicit in the changes made to many of the great courses built before 1950.
As an architectural enthusiast, I tire of hearing how courses have become ‘too short’. Enough is enough.
The benefits of a ball rollback would far outweigh the one or two (faux) negatives. Simply put: More people would play the game if the time and cost weren’t such a heavy burden.
I believe the public at large would be happy to play a Ross or a Raynor exactly as it were intended vs. a stretched version where the lines, bunkering, and angles were compromised due the modern ball.
Leaders lead. Hoping you will.
Sincerely,
Joe Sponcia
Knoxville, TN