The entertainment value of the Professional Golf Tour is it's lifeblood. Professionals travel from one site to another to entertain. This production is televised for those who cannot or are unable to attend personally. The fact that these super stars are able to do, what they do, with the same equipment that the rest of us use is what makes it so entertaining.

We all secretly aspire to be able to perform the way the pros do, and especially when there is an outstanding superstar. We expect these superstars to hit the ball a long way. We expect them to cover the flag with every shot from 200yards in. We expect them to hit every par 5 in two. And when they don't we realize that they are really human after all and if only we had the time we may have been able to shine as they do.

What would happen if we decided to make our heroes play with different equipment? Why would we even think about doing this? The courses they play are adequately long and changing tee positions or course set-up, by growing a little rough in strategic places, would bring out the best of the best. Yes this would make them think about hitting a driver on every par four or even on the shorter par 5s. But what is so sacred about having to pull out a driver on every hole. Nicklaus didn't do it in the 60s. We also hear, and have heard this same song for the last 100 years, that the authorities have considered restricting the distance the ball goes for all of us.

There are only four major championships in the world and one or two in every country where golf is played where the object of the exercise is to find out who is the champion. At these championships we must chose a course that will challenge the skills of those who will participate and if this requires that it be 7300 yards then so be it. We cannot nor should we ever expect that a course designed 100 years ago should remain a challenge for the elite players of this and future generations.

For the major championships find another course or redesign it to bring out the best in those who try to compromise it.

The facts about advances in technology are as follows:

• The increase in distance pros are hitting the ball is about 20 yards in the last 50 years.
• The club has improved in that it now has a spring like effect (even though the rules do not permit this) which has allowed the ball to go about 10 yards longer than it did 50 years ago this increase is due to the resultant increase ball velocity and improved ball launch conditions. This increase has almost all happened in the last in the last six years.
• The average increase in driving distance on the US Tour has increased from 255 in 1968 to 278.5 in 2001 (which is 23 yards in 33 years)
• Even though equipment has improved the best golfers have only managed to get about 23 yards from this technologically improved equipment in the last 33 years. This assumes that none of this increase in distance comes from improvement in skill or improved technique.

There are certain laws of physics, by which we must abide.

In the case of the ball we are reasonably sure that we have almost reached the limit of aerodynamic efficiency. But can expect about another five yards from this in the future. We can also expect when clubs are allowed to reach the limit (which nature has established with regard to Spring Like Effect which is the same limit The R&A have placed on clubs i.e. no limit) that the average on the US tour may increase another 7-10 yards. This limit is includes whatever the ball can add to the increase in velocity it may have. Therefore the maximum that we can expect under ideal launch conditions in the future assuming no advance in technique is 12 - 15 yards more than today. This is not as some fear to be limitless.

If for some reason we can be convinced that the ball must be reduced in the distance that it can be hit by the pros then lets start by enforcing the existing rules and make sure that all clubs do not have a spring like effect. This will reduce the ball distance by at least 15 yards which is 8 yards less than they have gained in the last 30 years. We may also consider reducing the number of clubs the pros use to ten.

AT THE GOLF EUROPE 2001 TRADE SHOW IN MUNICH, FRANK DEBATED THE DISTANCE THE BALL IS TRAVELLING AND TWO SETS OF RULES WITH JAIME ORTIZ PATINO, PRESIDENT OF THE PGA OF EUROPE AND OWNER OF VALDERAMMA. FOR MORE ON THIS DEBATE, CLICK HERE
The Great Golf Ball Debate