Golf Equipment of the Future Could Make Some Courses Obsolete

When the players completed last weeks US Open, I couldn’t help but think what golf will be like in another 30 years. Personally, I would have liked seeing the equipment stay the same as it was in the 1960’s. Before graphite started to really come into existence. I’m fine with the wedges having loft up into the mid 60 degrees. It is the distance that the golf balls travel today that I feel is hurting the game more than anything.

You can argue that golf fans prefer to see tons of birdies and eagles tossed in to the scores but to a golf purist, they want to see shots “Made” Not have the distance issue come into play as much as it does. You are always going to have long hitters but, let them do it with the same equipment that Jack Nicklaus played with. Unless I am wrong, Nicklaus didn’t use graphite for his shafts. Preferring the steel in his Macgregor MT Woods. He did pretty well with them too. Jack always felt that he was more accurate without graphite.

The golf balls are also much tighter wound and as a result, they fly farther and you can also put more spin on the ball. When Titleist began their Pro V, it changed courses, actually the ball goes a minimum 30 yards past the Maxfli, Wilson Staff, Spalding Black Dot and original Titleist. I am speaking about 40 years ago of course.

Amazingly enough, Nicklaus and several other long hitters like Tom Weiskopf, could hit those long par 5’s in two shots. Most times however, they were hitting a fairway wood or long iron into the green if they could reach it at all. Regarding the up and comer Weiskopf, who also came from Ohio as did Nicklaus. Tom Weiskopf had the raw talent to be a great player but his temper use to get the best of him and as a result, he never achieved the stardom many forecast for him. There were a couple other pros who could hit the ball a mile back in Nicklaus day. Larry Ziegler was probably the longest of the better players but Larry never won any majors. He did win several lesser PGA Tournaments.

Can you imagine if 30 years from now the golf ball travels another 30 yards and couple that with these big fat drivers. 400 yard tee shots could be the norm. I would hate to see that happen but it just might be what the future of golf has in store. With the power of some of todays longer hitters, it’s scary to add another 40 yards to their tee shots.