From Baffy to Bertha… Have We Over-Reacted to the Evolution?
By Mike Stevens
USGTF Level III Member, Tampa, Florida

In the memorial golf room, as my wife aptly describes it, sits on display a Baffing Spoon from the shop of Auchterlonie, circa 1884. It is a relic from a bygone era and one of my most prized possessions. I can only imagine the individual who wielded it and what he would make of our modern game.

Golf has certainly come a long way from all those wooden instruments branded a century ago. Just how far we’ve come led me to conduct a little research on equipment and ball upgrades over the years. Fortunately, as a collector of antiquities, I am able to time travel to just about any era and evaluate the results of a new ball or golf club. All data was generated by me hitting three balls from three different eras and averaging the distance with clubs from my collection spanning the past 120 years.

So, let’s start at the beginning and end in the present. My baseline is a David Anderson Long Nose Play club (1885) and a reproduction gutta percha ball used from 1890 to about 1901. All subsequent evaluations are compared to this combination. Over the years, changes to the driver have produced a 17 to 23 percent increase in distance (Chart #1). So, a person hitting a 200-yard drive in 1885 would hit it 246 with a Big Bertha.

Golf ball technology has produced a similar effect. From the gutty to a Pro V1, there has been a 15 to 19 percent increase in yardage (Chart #2). Combine the technology of driver improvement and ball upgrades, and the results are an astounding 35 percent increase in overall distance (Chart #3). Now, that 200-yard hitter can knock a Pro V1 out there 270 yards. Is it any wonder why tour professionals can reach distances of 350 and beyond?

The real question is, has the game improved? Mr. Ely Callaway laid his claim to fame by saying more distance means more fun. And that’s one thing that Callaway's founder knew about – what was good for the game and how to sell golf clubs.

In my opinion, the governing bodies and course architects are doing the most damage. Rather than letting people enjoy the fruits of longer shots, their response has been longer and harder courses. Where I grew up, the average course was around 6,200 yards. It was rare to take more than 31⁄2 hours to complete a round. Now, 41⁄2 to 5 hours is considered normal with 7,000+ yardage. The number one reason people give for not playing golf regularly is that it takes up to much time.

If we want to grow the game, we can’t keep making it longer, harder, and more expensive and time consuming. Ninety-five percent of people play golf for social reasons. Let the professionals and serious golfers have their game but don’t force it on everyone else. Let the average Joe play in whatever manner makes him or her happy.

Bobby Jones said there was golf and then there was tournament golf. It is time to separate the two. If it
were up to me I would regulate golf course length. Did they move the fences back in baseball when players started hitting more home runs? Let’s start with the premise that a round of golf should be under four hours walking and go from there. The average course should not be more than 6,400 yards. Length does not make a course better. Some of the best holes in the world are the shortest, such as the Postage Stamp at Troon. One of my favorite courses in the entire world, in the village of Brora, Scotland, is 5,900 yards but a joy to play. If the Tour needs longer courses, fine, set up the 50 or so layouts they use for their needs when they are in town, then close those tees off for daily play.

The time has come to recognize that in this modern era, there are two levels of golf – the professional game and everyone else. To the USGA, I say, implement Mr. Callaway’s Rule 35 – have fun. Regulate those who need or want to be regulated but let the vast majority of golfers play however they wish, but only if it takes 31⁄2 hours.

Mike Stevens is a Level III member of the USGTF and golf pro at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida. He is the 2005 National Hickory Champion and the 2004 US Golf Teachers Senior Champion. He also owns and operates the Guaranteed Golf School in Tampa and Sarasota.

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