I understand what VK is saying here with defenseless courses as they relate to equipment related distance gains, so perhaps I'll try to elaborate:
In a previous post he talked about a 15-25% distance rollback. So all numbers I use assume an average of 20%.
For example on 17, a 415 yard par 4:
- Instead of players bombing it 320 off the tee and catching the speed slot to get 25-30 more. Now they hit it 256 (80% of 320) and are on top of the hill with 415-256 = 159 remaining.
- And now instead hitting that 160 yard PW, which is only 128, now its a 7 iron, (which used to be 200, but is now 160).
And then on say 18, a 460 yard par 4:
- Instead of playing it safe with a 260 yard 3 iron, which now only goes 208, they are forced to use a 3W or Driver to leave a reasonable approach of 200.
- And instead of hitting a 200 yard 7 iron, (which now only goes 160), they now must use the 4 iron which now only goes 195ish.
These are only two specific examples, but you can do this on every hole to get the gist of VKs message... which is you wouldn't need the weather to protect the course's shot values because these players would have to use longer less accurate clubs on shot after shot, hole after hole... ergo built in protection. It restores the value of shot making as opposed to Bomb and chip on 400+ yard holes, and Bomb and mid iron on par 5s. And it also completely ends the course lengthening arms race....
MSGA! Make Shot-making Great Again!