USGA/R&A Distance Report

Stu1961

Yeah, the problem is they’re not on the same page as 99% of golfers. Everything I’ve read says that once you’ve been playing ~ 3 years or so you’ve probably plateaued and won’t get much better. Handicaps not decreasing that much over the years bears that out.

From MyGolfSpy in an article from 2014.

https://mygolfspy.com/labs/study-overall-golfer-performance-by-handicap/

“Only 10% of golfers who track their handicap break 80 on a regular basis. Let me say that again. Only 10% of golfers break 80 on a regular basis. 49% of golfers break 90 on a regular basis. 86% of golfers break 100.”

Also, the majority of golfers don’t keep a handicap.

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jon-sherman-945497ba_there-are-roughly-65-million-golfers-in-the-activity-7096840834267897856-Y52b#:~:text=Less%20than%201%25%20of%20them%20are%20scratch%20or%20better.,a%20lot%20of%20missed%20putts.

“There are roughly 65 million golfers in the world.
Less than 1% of them are scratch or better.”

The USGA governs like those numbers are reversed. With 99% of golfers being scratch or better.

Sneakylong
Oh, I think they are more than aware of stats like these. The majority of golfers probably plateau because they don’t play often enough, and/or train and practice, or even care. They also probably don’t don’t know or play by the rules, or even keep handicaps. I can’t blame the USGA for not catering to them. Plus, if your stats are accurate, and the improvements to equipment over the last 35 years have not led to these golfers having lower handicaps - then the ball rollback should not effect those handicaps either. You can’t bemoan a loss of something which you never took advantage of.

I do not believe their primary goal is, as many have stated, “protecting par”. They could do that with 8000 yard courses, or many of the alternatives mentioned in this thread. I think they believe that equipment (balls primarily, then club sweat spot/forgiveness) has made the game easier at all levels and that it has leveled the playing field (like a muddy track in horse racing). Lower pro scoring averages (even with lengthened courses), number of first time winners, the drop in age of winners, the number/frequency of sub 60 rounds … lots of stats bear this out. They WANT to make it more difficult again so that the cream can rise to the top more frequently. Stars sell. The fact that this could also result in protecting par is simply gravy. Well, IMO.

Sneakylong 20putts.

“There are roughly 65 million golfers in the world.
Less than 1% of them are scratch or better.”

The USGA governs like those numbers are reversed. With 99% of golfers being scratch or better

Not sure you saw this as I edited my post. Regardless we can agree to disagree as in a lot of cases where we find ourselves on opposing sides.

Sneakylong
65 million golfers … and only 3 million with USGA handicaps… sounds about right. I’m guessing that that 4.6% cares a great deal more about the game than the “bottom” 95.4%

And only about 1% of people can dunk a basketball … should they change the rules of basketball and lower the hoop too?

Want to ensure mediocrity at best - cater to the LCD. Make the game even easier and turn the PGA into a rock, paper, scissors league where the winner is determined by who got the luckiest that week and/or made more putts. While we are at it - increase the cup size to 8.5” because most golfers suck at putting too.

The USGA is just removing the training wheels/gutter bumpers. And doing so like they are removing a bandage from a toddler. 5% isn’t nearly enough (unless other changes are coming). I recently saw a chart showing Greg Norman’s club distances while he was at his peak … and couldn’t help but think there was something very wrong with mine, at age 60, being two clubs longer.

Pro's: 14 yard loss an a 300+ drive will turn the game from drive + half swing wedge into drive 3/4 swing wedge. About as exiting to watch as it is to play. To bring back the 'old' skills of iron play the rollback should be at least 50 yards.

Amateurs: losing 10 yards by having a higher spin ball can be easely be compensated by using lower lofted drivers. And having some extra spin on the iron shots to the green will be an advantage to them. The problem lies that they will loose 5% on every shot. A 500 yard par 5 will play like a 550 yards and most amateur courses just do not have the money to move all they tee boxes forward.

Changing forgiveness is even more absurd to do if you just compare the impact pattern on a pro driver and a 10 handicap driver, one does not need to be a rocket scientist to see who will be severly affected and who doesn't one bit.

The only thing that makes sence is making courses tougher for pro play.

Stu1961 And only about 1% of people can dunk a basketball … should they change the rules of basketball and lower the hoop too?

They banned dunking from 1967 to 1976. Another example of misguided governance.

Btw I'm only 6 feet and was co-captain of the Harwich Rough Riders in the early 70's. I could dunk a basketball in high school. Anyway I digress. Other than that we completely disagree on the USGA.

I could’ve dunked here, but it was outlawed. March of 1973 against Nantucket (we kicked ass). It was us seniors last game. Two of us could dunk and after the game we both dunked in protest.

Luc_Van_Daele The only thing that makes sense is making courses tougher for pro play.

I think they know how to do that already, and have incorporated some of those things ... but that just makes the course harder, not the game. Plus, tricking up a course favors luck over skill in most instances. Do you believe their only goal here is to reduce pro scores? I don't. They could put 100 yard long ravines in the fairways starting at 275 yards (or knee deep grass). They want to bring back skill sets ... and not by removing one to do so. They still want to reward players who can hit it longer without having everyone averaging close to 300 yards. Would the game have been as exciting without Nicklaus or Woods, in their prime, hitting it further than most everyone else? If they could have everyone average about 280, I think they would be very happy - even if there were outliers hitting it 300 or more (as it was in 1990ish). 5% isn't going to do that, but as I said above, they are proceeding as if removing a bandage from a toddler.

Luc_Van_Daele A 500 yard par 5 will play like a 550 yards and most amateur courses just do not have the money to move all they tee boxes forward.

Unless they are a newer course, don't they already have those areas? If not, change the designations on current tee boxes. Make the whites the new blues, and the blues the new champions tees (champion tees can be changes to masochist tees). Plus, it's a lot less expensive to make changes on land they at least own. Though, if I were a club, I would be a little pissed having spent a ton of money to accommodate the equipment changes, and now have to go back.