Squash generally uses 4 specs of ball to differentiate between different levels of ability but for golf it could be 3 or 5 or whatever but with the same idea as mentioned above.....the better you get (as determined by hcp/turning pro) the more the ball is rolled-back.
For begineers/high hcps you could even roll the ball forward, yes forward, by allowing a Polara type self-correcting ball or have some techno gadget inside it that allows it to be found in the gunch. 'Grow the game' and keep players playing and all that.
And as I mentioned on another thread, folks spend money everyday on clubs, balls, lessons, fitness etc etc in the hope of hitting the ball further. Then more money is spent on buying land and lengthening courses and maintaining larger areas of property. And it's often highlighted that 18-holes are ever taking more time to play. I suspect Mr Spock would say "illogical". Just roll the bloody ball back, the more so for the better player.
Atb
PS - By the way, shortening shafts doesn't automatically reduce distance unless you cut them way, way, way down. Indeed for some (most?) a bit shorter it can mean the opposite as the quality of the strike improves,