Speaking of length, did anyone here ever see Tom Winrow hit a driver?
Bob
It just so happens that I used to play golf at UF with Tom after he left Ohio. I had never seen anything like him before and to some degree since. Bigger and huskier than me (6'5, 250#-probably 6'6", 280+), he had a laminated Ping driver in those days (1970-ish) actually the first most of us had ever seen on the east coast. With a grip like a small tennis racket for his massive hands, about an F-10
swingweight, god knows how heavy a club and a shaft that was stiffer than (Fill in the blank), none of us could swing his magical driver except to hit weak shots to the right. Even Andy Bean couldn't really hit it.(Then as now, "It must be the club!")
He swung harder than you could swing a baseball bat in your wildest dreams. It seemed he swung with abandon, but he really nailed it dead center solid most of the time. He was a little crooked, but Jesus could that guy hit it far. If you stood next to him when he swung, you had to hold onto something (That part is hyperbole!). The sound of him hitting a ball from 3 feet away
was incredible. Scary. Hell, the sound of the club swishiing the air was surreal.
For those of you that remember the old Ross Univ of Fla course you can visualize it (AS it is now gone) but the 8th was about 585 par 5, (Down a hill and then back up-novel for Ross, huh?) he hit one that hit a tree less than 200 from the green about 35 feet up. That tree was on the upslope. That was and is the single longest ball I have ever seen. He had to let up a bit to drive the first hole 360 downhill.
For those of you that know and have played with Matt and think he is long? You don't know long.
Aye caramba.
Side by side Hank Kuehne would look like a skinny kid next to Tom. But Hank's rhythm, timing and balance are much much better.
Bob
Just imagine young Tom with today's equipment and balls.(There is no difference and Tom proves it, right?)