Most club golfers are playing courses that are simply too long for them. It could be the biggest reason they’re not enjoying their golf as much as they could be.
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Do you feel as though you are hitting a fairway wood as your second shot into virtually every par four? You’re not alone.
Instead of being able to strategically plot their way around a golf course and utilise their shot making skills, golfers are being left with a relentless slog of lengthy second shots.
Speaking on the NCG Top 100s Podcast, Dan Murphy and Tom Irwin made a case for why most golfers would enjoy the game far more by having the tees further forward.
“I have realised what makes me happy is getting as much out of the golf courses as I can,” said Murphy. “That involves not finding that my tee shot barely reaches the fairway or that I have consistently got 220 yards into a long par four.
“I don’t like just hitting driver all the way around. I really like using different clubs off the tee. I love the strategy of golf.”
Golf courses have lost their strategic element from being stretched beyond a player’s realistic distance, Murphy believes.
“The strongest argument I can give listeners to why they should play further forward is that I think it brings back so much more strategy and, therefore, so much more fun,” he added.
“Golf is at its best when you are choosing to do different things. So I love playing further forward for that reason and I find I just get more out of the golf courses.”
“There’s nothing more frustrating than going to a golf course and hitting across angles or hitting over hazards that you know you’re supposed to be embroiled with,” Irwin said.
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“Some golf courses, particularly new ones, are built to varying different lengths,” he added.
“There are enormous lengths between front tees and back tees. They are trying to accommodate a tour professional and a beginner.
“I can think of any number of places we have been where the back tees have butchered the intended experience. If you walk to the front tee, often the view you get of the hole is what was intended.
“It is also much better routing. They flow better.”
Irwin pointed to some USGA research suggesting what length golf courses club golfers should be playing.
“USGA data suggests the average golfer, someone who hits their 7-iron 148 yards, should be playing a golf course around 500 yards less,” he said.
“For a par 70, the USGA are advising a course to be less than 6,000 yards long.”
Listen to the NCG Top 100s Podcast
HAVE YOUR SAY ON GOLF COURSE LENGTH
What do you think is the ideal length of golf course for the average golfer? Are golf courses getting too long? Is golf loosing its sense of strategy because of their length? Let us know by leaving a comment or post on X!
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