Bryon
It’s an interesting topic but I feel the issue keeps coming back to the old question on controlling the technology which in return will control ball travel. When the Professionals can drive the 18th Green from the Tee at TOC negating the need of the Valley of Sin, then I would have expected our Governing Bodies to take note.
Hazards by their very nature can be expensive to construct and also maintain Also the way the Professional game has gone over the last 10-15 years the hazards may well be out of date just as fast as modern computer software.
The wayward shot, in itself will serve as the hazard to the golfer, to commit funds for the possibility of an errant shot is just not feasible, so I feel it’s a non-starter.
We need to now address the problem of distance and the Professionals need to accept that the current state of affairs is just not tenable. It may give you, the Professional or Scratch Golfer a great buzz but at what cost, the conversion of our great courses to a Pitch & Putt circus. Part of the way forward to resolving this problem is in your hands, you decide what is more important, a quick thrill of a 300yds drive or the future of the game and courses as we know them today.
I believe that we have to face the problem head on, a minor tweak with the ball will not cut it in the long run, we have to be drastic to allow the thrill of the game and enjoyment of hitting the ball as far as we can (not 300yards but max of up too 190/200yards) to remain at the heart of golf. I would not just roll back the ball but clubs as well to the standard of when many of the great courses were designed and opened. Yes I am talking about using technology to rate the club/ball to the days of the Haskell/Gutty period. Before you moan the games in the past are well documented and gave great joy to both spectators and players alike. Hickory players love the game and feel more akin to golf giving full entertainment and pleasure. It would still allow a quality golfer all his shots, the only casualty would be the sacrifice of the length of travel of the ball. The gains, playing the great courses again as they were designed and the real thrill of the game.
To move or add new hazards, make longer courses, etc. etc will not do much to improve the game in the long or for that matter the short term IHMO. The problem is no tests or course exercises/studies are being taken, no mods on a real roll back or club modification is taken place, so not information or data to put before the Governing Bodies or for that matter the Golfers themselves.
We need an open and serious debate, not just on this forum, but between clubs and the regional bodies and the Governing Authorities. Some test programs need to be agreed, with results being published, proving or disproving the viability of various ideas and suggestions. Its not something that will be achieved overnight but in time the pressure on environmental and financial natures may well force the issue leaving us very little choice, we need to decide before being forced into a compromise. We will force golfer away by ever increasing the costs, but what will be the result of doing next to nothing to resolve the current problem?
Melvyn