Par, and it’s relationship to the pro game and amateur handicapping, whether for good or bad, is a long established benchmark within the game, but a benchmark that has become devalued over the last couple of decades, significantly devalued. Birdies and eagles are now expected, seen as routine even, whereas once-upon-a-time they were achievable but they had to be earned.
I believe the RM composite course, wonderful that it seemed to be, was a par-70 with two par-5’s, except they weren’t really par-5’s given that one was reachable for most of the guys we saw on TV this week with a mid-iron second shot and the other with a long-iron/hybrid second shot. Also most of the par-4’s seemed to be short-iron second shots often after less than a Driver from the tee whilst the par-3’s were being played with very short-irons.
The guys we see on TV are good, brilliant actually, but they now make courses, even great courses in firm and fast conditions with magnificent and very firm green complexes look relatively easy relative to the traditional par benchmark for a few reasons including equipment.
It would be interesting to know what posters herein hcps would be if they were hitting the sort of clubs highlighted above for second shots and tee shots on par-3’s? Quite a bit lower than they presently are I suggest, unless their hcps are already calculated from very front tees.
As to matchplay, yes more matchplay events would be nice, but it’s already hard enough to get the top level guys we see on TV travel too far for events and the likelihood of them being prepared to travel with the possibility of playing only one round isn’t I suggest high unless loads of appearance money or other inducements are offered. Lots of infrastructure costs and logistical issues as well to cover an event where many matches might not go to the 17th-18th holes but the occasional match goes down the 19th-20th where there might not be any cameras.
Atb
PS - some form of simulataneous co-sanctioned joint men and ladies event using both courses at Royal Melbourne would be nice. It was done Downunder earlier this year, and in the past, and in Victoria too.