Golf: Governing bodies say time to rein in distances
NEW YORK : Golf’s ruling bodies have said it is time to rein in the increasing distances players are hitting the ball, a trend they assert is detrimental to the game.
The ‘Distance Insights Report,’ released jointly by the US Golf Association (USGA) and the Royal & Ancient (R&A) on Tuesday, leaves the door open to a “bifurcation” of the rules which could lead to elite and recreational players using clubs and balls manufactured to different regulations. The report said that since 2013, the average driving distance on the Us-based PGA Tour and European Tour has increased at a rate of about one yard per year, now averaging 294 yards. Top women have shown a similar rate of increase, now averaging more than 250 yards on the LPGA Tour.
Such distances can reduce the strategic challenge of many courses, for example by allowing players to avoid the danger of a deep bunker not by accuracy but simply by smashing their drives over the potential trouble.
“We believe that it is time to break the cycle of increasingly longer hitting distances and golf courses and to work to build a long-term future that reinforces golf’s essential challenge and enhances the viability of both existing courses and courses yet to be built,” the report said.
“In reaching this conclusion, we recognise that some have the view that the governing bodies might have done more in addressing the implications of the continuing increases in hitting distances and course lengths.
“Our views have evolved as events have unfolded and new information has become available ... and we believe that it is never too late to do the right thing for the future of the game.”
Some of the world’s most famous courses are being overpowered by players.
The Old Course at St. Andrews has been rendered almost toothless in calm conditions with many professionals able to reach several of the par fours off the tee.
At Augusta National, home of the Masters, the club has bought surrounding land to give itself the option of lengthening the course but it is running out of room to go beyond the hole extensions already made in recent years.
The IPL grabs all attention but it is the unfashionable Ranji Trophy that fuels the growth of Indian cricket. India has the biggest (38 teams) and longest (six months) first-class structure, involving 10,000 players.
Ranji is a vast net that taps talent and provides it a platform to shine. Long criticised for being of low quality and uncompetitive, people now see merit where they earlier only noticed mediocrity. If India is a top team in the world, Ranji deserves credit.
As Ranji reaches the business end, some results in the league stage are striking. Delhi and Mumbai, once dominant, are struggling to stay in contention. Tamil Nadu are effectively out and the demise of Hyderabad, bottom of the table after six