More Pros Embracing Variable Distance Golf Ball Idea

A few years ago if GolfChannel.com's Will Gray had surveyed PGA Tour players about something like the USGA's variable distance ball suggestion, the good soldiers would have all demanded that people pay to see them hit it as far as possible.

Of course we know that (A) most people only pay money to see a handful of players and (B) most of those paying people couldn't tell the difference between a 290 yard drive a 325 yard one.

But good news, instead of reciting talking points of manufacturers, the idea of a golf balls to suit surfaces makes sense to players who have seen what the folks in tennis have done to better suit their implements to surfaces and athletes.

Charl Schwartzel views Davis’ idea as an added opportunity to help pace of play if new tees built well beyond the course’s original design no longer have to be used.

“Now you have to walk 150 yards back and then walk this way, so you’re walking 300 yards and you’re still at the same place,” Schwartzel said. “If you can make the balls and clubs go shorter, and you can play the old courses, then the game will be 3 ½ hours again. It’s simple. But you’ve got to walk so far, how are you going to play quick? It’s impossible to play quick.”

He keeps talking like that I might even forget he killed an elephant!

After Jamie Lovemark is quoted saying folks pay to see the long ball, Augusta National comes up (as it's known to do in these discussions).

“I think if the USGA or R&A try to do it, there might be a lot of players kicking and screaming,” he said. “Somehow when it happens at Augusta, there’s a slightly different respect level there. Not sure why, it’s just something special about Augusta.”

And even better was this:

“Something’s got to happen,” McDowell said. “We’re starting to lose the integrity of some of the most beautiful courses in the world. They’re becoming outdated, which is just a little scary, really.”