TOC/The Open - par-4’s

[jeffwarne]

I’m just going by the USGA driving distance report commissioned in 2019, Sean… maybe 5-8 yard increase in average since 2002.


Also, the average distance of the longest driver has stayed about the same in the last 20 years (at around 315 to 322 yards).

LOL-except he hits a driving iron now on many holes.


But you are correct about the course being much firmer and faster than in 2015

[Sean_A]

I’m just going by the USGA driving distance report commissioned in 2019, Sean… maybe 5-8 yard increase in average since 2002.


Also, the average distance of the longest driver has stayed about the same in the last 20 years (at around 315 to 322 yards).

So much of this stuff is simple to see with one's eyes!

Just a quick look says 2005...279 average, one guy over 300 yards.  2022...289 average, 18 guys over 300 yards. And there are a ton more that can carry it 300...if I had to guess I would say over 75! No chance in 2005 anything like that number could carry the ball that far.

Ciao

[Ally Mcintosh]

The combined USGA / R&A report is summarised in the following article. It clearly indicates that there is a problem to be tackled. Yet that problem has not had huge year-on-year growth since 2003…. Still, 5 yards is very much the low end and there has definitely been noticeable change. Perhaps just not enough to think that balls are flying way over bunker nests now when they weren’t 10 years ago.


https://www.golfdigest.com/story/usga-r-a-release-latest-distant-report--here-s-what-the-numbers-/amp

[Kalen Braley]

Was just thinking while watching today...

Couldn't they have just switched the portions of the green for 7 and 10 to avoid the cross over?  Have the Royal Ancient dudes ever considered this?  Or would that be 'too much'?

[Marty Bonnar]

Was just thinking while watching today...

Couldn't they have just switched the portions of the green for 7 and 10 to avoid the cross over?  Have the Royal Ancient dudes ever considered this?  Or would that be 'too much'?

Ahem,
7 and 11.
Love,
Mr Smartytrousers.

[Carl Rogers]

TPC is exhibit one for why the ball must be rolled back.

[Niall C]

TPC is exhibit one for why the ball must be rolled back.

TPC ?


Assuming you mean TOC then I can't agree. The essence of TOC is still there. There are numerous ways to play the holes depending on the conditions, your game and how you feel. It is 3D golf compared to the two dimensional fare you normally get.


The yardstick shouldn't be how many under par the pro's were but how many different shots did they have to execute very well to make their scores.


Niall

[Thomas Dai]

Firstly, well done Cameron Smith.

Many magnificent short iron and wedge shots were hit this week and a bunch of terrific greenside up-n-downs were achieved too. All very impressive.
However, I’d be interested to know how many of the different numbered irons the players carried in their bags over the last few days were actually used for their approach shots into the par-4’s.
I suspect most irons stamped with a 6 or less may not have been used at all for full shots into the par-4’s.
Shame as seeing highly skilled players rifle long or mid iron approaches into greens highlights the great skill that elite players possess. And it would be nice to see them exhibit it.
Hopefully we’ll some at Hoylake next year. Fingers crossed but breath not being held.
Atb

[Ally Mcintosh]

Dai,


One thing to remember is that an 8-iron now is effectively the same loft as a 6-iron thirty years ago (36-38 degrees)… maybe a small consideration but a consideration none the less.


You are talking at least 1.5 clubs difference.

[Kalen Braley]

Was just thinking while watching today...

Couldn't they have just switched the portions of the green for 7 and 10 to avoid the cross over?  Have the Royal Ancient dudes ever considered this?  Or would that be 'too much'?

Ahem,
7 and 11.
Love,
Mr Smartytrousers.

Oops! 

But i think the corrected comment still stands.

I know its TOC and hallowed ground and all that, but given the near countless changes to the course over the last half millennia, I suspect this wouldn't even be one of the biggest.

[Thomas Dai]

Dai,
One thing to remember is that an 8-iron now is effectively the same loft as a 6-iron thirty years ago (36-38 degrees)… maybe a small consideration but a consideration none the less.
You are talking at least 1.5 clubs difference.

Valid point Ally but the tees have gone back a great deal over the last few years, some of them are not even 'on the course' anymore.
This Open might have provided entertainment, and some might argue that this is what pro-golf is all about, but it would be nice to see these elite players show off their incredible skills with all the clubs in their bags by doing something more than just drive, pitch and putt.
atb

[Jeff Schley]

Dai,
One thing to remember is that an 8-iron now is effectively the same loft as a 6-iron thirty years ago (36-38 degrees)… maybe a small consideration but a consideration none the less.
You are talking at least 1.5 clubs difference.

Valid point Ally but the tees have gone back a great deal over the last few years, some of them are not even 'on the course' anymore.
This Open might have provided entertainment, and some might argue that this is what pro-golf is all about, but it would be nice to see these elite players show off their incredible skills with all the clubs in their bags by doing something more than just drive, pitch and putt.
atb

Thomas shouldn't the conditions drive the requirements?  This year it was very fast and firm without much weather playing a role, other years it is blowing a gale and you need long irons to hit it 150 yards into it. So tune in next year and let's see what is required. No one can predict the weather and conditions, depending it will favor certain players based on their strengths.

[Thomas Dai]

The first person to tee off on Thurs was 53 yr old Paul Lawrie, even when younger not a long hitter. He drove the 18th green and holed the putt for a 2.
Just about the last person to tee-off on the 72nd hole on Sunday was Cameron Young. He too drove the green and holed the putt for a 2.
In between many others did the same.
There have been plenty of dry condition Opens at TOC and plenty of wind behind situations too but what Messrs Lawrie and Young bookened on Thurs and Sun and what many others did during all four days at various points around the course plus the need to use very unique ‘tricked-up’ hole locations, tees pushed back so far that they aren’t ‘on the course’ and rough in places not usually seen should say something not just about TOC but about the nature of the pro game these days.
And where the pro game goes the amateur game follows and all this inter-links with the much bigger picture of how the game of golf is perceived in the big wide world and it’s future place on a planet with finite land, water etc resources.
The game, the planet, is far more important than a few golf ball and club manufacturing companies. Re-calibrate the bloody ball, re-calibrate it now and re-calibrate it back a lot.
Atb