Distance Alert: ‘I Would Love To See Where A Drive Of 300 Yards Is Absolutely The Limit’

Ah, the distance conundrum. Tour pros love hitting the ball far as far as possible. Cause guys and gals dig the long ball. Yet, some are embracing the philosophy that the stupendous distance requires longer courses, less imagination, more maintenance costs and slower pace of play.

Again, no one has ever wished they hit the ball shorter. At least none of my golf companions. But the pros are an infinitely more talented breed with incredible skill, dialed in diets and workout regimes, unlimited club tweak options to optimize a low spin ball.

GolfDigest.com’s Dave Shedloski took the temp of several pros on where they stand.

Matt Kuchar: “It’s pretty much all about us … whatever they’re thinking of doing,” says veteran tour pro Matt Kuchar. “Someone like my father, he swings a driver at 85, 90 miles an hour. If you didn’t tell him the ball was different, I don’t think he would be able to tell.”

Jason Day: “I think everyone has to ask themselves is the game of golf in a good spot right now in regards to distance, or do we have to dial it back?” Day then answered his own question: “I don’t know why they would want us to hit it shorter.”

Nothing in golf enthralls a gallery more than pugilism from the tee box. Driving is by far the most athletic shot in the game. Big tee balls elicit whoops and hollers and, yes, the cringe-worthy shouts like “mashed potatoes!!” Distance sells. On tour courses and in pro shops.

Dustin Johnson: “To be honest, it’s not like the scores are lower than they used to be or they’re any different. I don’t think it goes too far, and I don’t think we make this game too easy, or it sure is not easy for me.”

Luke Donald (noted short knocker): “I don’t think long hitters should be stopped from doing something they do better than the rest of us,” said Luke Donald, who nonetheless believes distance has become an issue.

Peter Malanti (110th in driving distance): As the ball has gotten longer, it has become disproportionately longer for the biggest hitters,” said Peter Malnati, who advocates for a 10-percent rollback that would impact all players. “Selfishly, I wouldn’t mind seeing them make a ball that affects only the top guys. That’s being selfish. I would love to see where a drive of 300 yards is absolutely bombed. That’s the limit. It’s clear that the path golf is on is not sustainable in regards to courses that we’re building that all are approaching 8,000 yards. That seems crazy.”

Unless the Masters folks enforce a limited flight ball, nothing will happen. But its always a good debate on what’s best for the game while keeping the entertainment quotient high.