Governing bodies want your views on distance debate
DISTANCE remains the great debate in golf and The R&A and the USGA want to know what you think about it all.
To find out more, the game’s governing bodies have launched the Distance Insights project – a global online questionnaire and datagathering exercise on distance in golf.
The detailed questionnaire is open to all interested participants in golf until 31 October and available in 10 languages.
Administered independently by Sports Marketing Surveys Inc., it can be accessed at both www.randa.org/ distance-insights
Each person who takes the survey will be asked a series of universal questions about distance in golf such as:
What do you think makes golf most interesting to watch?
Do you think recreational golfers are hitting shots further than they did five years ago?
Do you think elite/ professional golfers are hitting shots further than they did five years ago?
What do you think should be most important to success in the game of golf?
Participants who express interest while taking the survey may be invited to take part in follow-up telephone interviews or online group conversations to gather deeper perspectives on the topic.
While individual responses will be confidential, anonymised global survey results will be published in the final Distance Insights project report in 2019.
The R&A and the USGA embarked on the Distance Insights project in May to initiate the most comprehensive global study of distance in golf to date.
The aim is to achieve better understanding of the contributors to and impacts of distance on golf.
Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive of The R&A, said, “We want to hear the views of those involved in golf throughout the world about distance and what it means for the sport.
“This is an important stage of the Distance Insights project and we would encourage people with an interest in golf to share their perspectives with us.
“There are many different points of view and considerations on distance and we want to make sure we have as full a picture as possible.”
Mike Davis, CEO of the USGA, said: “This is the best opportunity for people to share their thoughts and data with us.
“We know a final Distance Insights report that reflects a breadth of perspective will be critical to deepening an understanding around the complex nature, and farreaching implications, of this subject matter.”
Information on the Distance Insights project, including faqs, historical data and general terms and conditions for submitting data, can be found at www.randa.org/distanceinsights.
We want to make sure we have as full a picture as possible