Norman on Valid Open Venues

[John Beaumont]

People may be interested in a report filed today by the golf correspondent of the British Daily Telegraph from the European Open currently being played at the k Club.  She writes as follows: "Where, on Wednesday, Darren Clarke had talked of how modern technology would force up the K Club's yardage from 7,300 to 7,600 between now and the 2006 Ryder Cup, Greg Norman said that the first 8,000 yard course is only six years down the road.  He then spoke of St. Andrews in the past tense as a valid Open venue, which was probably the first time that one of the great players had dared to go that far.  "When we first played St. Andrews," he began, "the more we played it the better we liked it.  But new technology has come along and taken that golf course away from the rotation as far as I'm concerned, which is a shame, because it's one of the greatest golf courses of all time." - I can't say just how depressing I for one find the whole thing.  If someone invented a soccer ball that flew out of the stadium at the merest touch, the authorities would soon step in and redress the balance.  not with golf it seems.

[Mark_Huxford]

John, I think there are a lot of red herrings in the technology debate today. I believe titanium and low torque graphite are just means to an end - which is lengthening the driver shaft.

Back in Hogan's day the driver was 43" long and it really regulated itself because it just became too heavy to swing with any speed if you made it much longer. The one rule all club makers are tied to is that every ½" in length adds 3 swing-weight points to a club. By their very nature longer clubs mean more off center hits also and persimmon is certainly not a very forgiving material to make clubheads out of.

Today with titanium you can make a big forgiving clubhead that is lighter than a steel or wood equivalent. Combined with a low torque graphite shaft (bigger heads twist the shaft more on off center hits) you can make a playable driver 45" easily and even go as long as 48" without giving up all control. Most PGA Tour pros now use a driver between 45" and 46" with Tiger being the one notable exception at 43 ½".

The rules already limit the minimum length a club can be. I say limit the maximum length as well. 44" should be enough for anybody and the USGA can pick up the tab for the butt trimming and regripping.

[John beaumont]

I was really interested in Mark's comments and in connection with this it's worth noting that the same newspaper had a report of an interview the previous day with Darren Clarke.  Clarke is reported as stating that if metal woods were banned, courses would survive for longer and the best players would come to the top on a more regular basis.  He then said, "If you were to give everyone on the range wooden drivers rather than metal, you wouldn't have too much trouble in picking out the best ball-strikers."  Of course, perhaps the most interesting insight into these things is the reference (cleverly dropped in by the journalist) to the fact that Clarke does not have a contract with a club manufacturer and therefore is free to speak on modern technology as few of the rest of the players can.  This speaks volumes, don't you think?

[Ran Morrissett]

I didn't realize that Norman held the record at St. Andrews? Sounds like Tiger Woods got lucky to win on such an easy course  

[TEPaul]

It's very interesting to me as this distance problem continues to get more serious combined with the fact that those that benefit most are the touring pros, that those that seem to be seeing the negative effects of the distance increase the most are the touring pros!

I can't tell you how many touring pros are saying the same things Clarke and Norman are!  Not only do they seem to want the game to be more of a phyisical challenge, they seem to truly rue the fact that some of the great old courses are being obsoleted and by them!

To both the manufacturers and the regulatory bodies: HELLO--ARE YOU THERE!!

[A_Clay_Man]

As one who looks behind, under and between the lines, I find that this is just another example of the "primadonna effect". While I don't intend to attack GN personally (Sheesh FF ), these sentiments seem to echo the cockyness that's pervasive within the PGA territory.

As Ran's comment hints at, the course is in no way giving up newer and lower course records on a regular basis, is it?

[TEPaul]

Cockiness or not I like the messge Norman is sending to those that think nothing of the distance problem! Unfortunately the scores not changing much is the primary argument of those that think nothing of the distance problem.

Cocky or not, I like Norman's message better!