Posted on 03/02/2006 5:08:12 PM PST by gobucks
In the golfing galaxy, the arrival of March means the Masters is near. The first shot soars into the air at Augusta National five weeks from today, bringing the annual avalanche of sights and sounds: Amen Corner, the azaleas, the pine trees ...
Jack and Arnie ripping the place?
First, some context: Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer did not engage in a foot-stomping, steam-spewing tirade. Nicklaus and Palmer sat calmly in oversized leather chairs at a recent Golf Digest event and criticized the course changes made by Augusta National Chairman Hootie Johnson.
This is not standard behavior for former Masters champions, who seldom go public with negative thoughts about Augusta National.
"I still like the course, but I think they've ruined it from a tournament standpoint," Nicklaus said. "Augusta is a big, big part of my life, and I love it. That's why I hate to see them change it."
Said Palmer: "I love the place ... but now, I'm not so sure. There are some things that are taking the realistic Augusta away. It's changed dramatically from the course I've known the last 50 years."
Johnson engineered changes on six holes last summer, lengthening the course by 155 yards (to 7,445) and adding trees and bigger, deeper bunkers. Nicklaus and Palmer apparently are most unhappy about the narrowing of some holes; Nicklaus suggested the changes destroy Bobby Jones' original vision of giving players latitude off the tee, so they can choose different angles into Augusta's famously slick greens.
Nicklaus and Palmer, with 10 Augusta titles between them, play prominent roles in the history of the Masters, and history is a huge part of the tournament's appeal. So when Nicklaus bluntly says Augusta National officials have "ruined" the course, it's worth considering.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
What's interesting is this argument has been going on since 1848,and will probably continue as long as this "Greatest Game" is played.
However, I've been playing for 30 years. I carry two or three different brands in my bag. Two of them give me ten-fifteen more yards than the other, which gives me more feel. And they're all legal brands.
Go figure.
There really wasn't much change in the distance that golf balls flew until just recently. Mostly the golf balls were redesigned to fly straighter until about 3 years ago when the Pro-V1 took distance to a new level. I just tried the Bridgestone B330 (that Couples uses) and that ball seems to be about as long as the Pro-V1.
That would make me shoot 110;)
I have to have only one brand in my bag,although I change brands about twice a year,I must have the same ball marker and divot repair tool,along with a white 2 3/8" tee,not natural or orange or freebie logo tee,in my right front pocket,nothing else can be in any other pocket,then I'm ready to play.
Man I love this game.
One of my favorite golf quotes is by Jeff Sluman,
I hate this game,and I can't wait till tomorrow to play it again
Take your juvenile rant and small mind back to your bathroom. Enjoy, adults will look the other way.
I have played several of Jack's and Arnie's courses. To be honest, they sucked.
The reason that ball technology has exploded recently and thus the distance is that the USGA still uses the standard from 1976! Including the club used for testing ball velocity. A wood driver!
A violation of the rules and grounds for DQ as soon as a stroke is played with a different ball than you teed off with.
Meaning, if you start your round with a Titlest DT 1, every shot must be played with a Titlest DT 1. Playing a Titlest DT 2, or another brand is illegal.
Not that it matters in your friendly foursome.
Yeah, the club used for testing makes a big differences. It seems like the Pro-V1 is a little longer than other balls with a driver, but you really pick up a lot of distance with irons and fairway woods which put much more spin on the ball. The Pro-V1 seems to generate more lift and less drag from backspin and it just hangs in the air and carries much farther on shots you hit hard with high spin rates. The USGA might need to start testing with a metal driver and add some tests with a 3-wood, 5-iron and 8-iron to get some control over golf ball aerodynamics. I'm not complaining though; it's fun to hit 170-yard 7-irons. When I was a high school player that was a 5-iron for me.
But I bring it up to my golf buddy,just to screw with him;)
I know the rules, and he knows I know,he asks me about certain situations,we have called penalties on ourselves,the most honest guy I know.
"Are we going to play golf,or some other game".
Keep messing with him!
Knowing the rules is a great way to mess with people. Especially when you do something to improve your lie, they object, and you point out the rule that allows it!
Let the amateurs use whatever they want. Don't render many of the classic older courses (Merion East for one) useless by virtue of technology. All they do now is bomb it as far as they can into the rough. What percentage of fairways do Woods or Mickelson hit compared to Nicklaus or Player?
We don't play much match play,I pulled it on him before,he knows that one now.
Not so. The same ball must be played the entire round.
Those are obviously the tournament tees. What do the pros hit 240 yards? 5 Iron?
The blues and whites are probably 50 to 60 yards shorter.
Its a strong mid iron for 90%+ of the guys who will be playing.
And any par 3 under 200 is an easy hole for them. And any par 3 under 180 (excepting Sawgrass 17th) is a calk walk.
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