Is it good that we’re all longer than ever?

During the four months it has taken us to organise, research and compile this feature, we talked to in excess of 100 amateur and club golfers. It was telling that nearly every single one told us they were hitting the ball further than they were 10 years ago. It was even more telling that their reaction to their new-found distance was overwhelmingly positive. Not a single amateur told us they wanted to see driver or ball technology rolled back or restricted in any way.

The general consensus of opinion among our unoŽcial focus groups was that the continual development of golf club technology had enabled them to maintain their distance o‘ the tee over the years and continue to enjoy the game as they got older. “I hit the ball further o‘ the tee now, at 50, than I did when I was 30,” says Golf World

(UK) editor Nick Wright. “The driver used to be the most intimidating club in the bag, but now it’s arguably the easiest and most enjoyable to hit.

“A couple of months ago, myself and an old friend decided to visit the public golf course where we both learned to play with our fathers. Neither of us had been back for 20 years. On holes that once required driver/5-iron, I was now reaching with driver/9-iron. I walked o‘ with my best ever score at the course. Was I bothered that I didn’t hit anything longer than a 7-iron into any par-4? Not on your life.”