8,000 yard golf courses in the future?

I hope not. Unfortunately this one already exits.....

They don't need to be that long to play tough. Just look at the Old Course, at 6721 yards it is not exactly a pushover for the pros when the Open is played there. Impossible rough, hard fast greens, and wind can more than make up for length.

Isn't there a course in China that is like 7800 yards?

If the golf course designers focused a little more on shot shaping and having to think your way around the course instead of "tee it high and let it fly" design. Using doglegs and bunkering to encourage hitting to the landing areas but keep it fair for the average Joe golfer with different tee box setups that could cut the doglegs.

I also thing some sort of furrowing in the bunkers (green side) could add a challenge. Most golfers would rather miss a green in the sand than the long grass. Make it tougher to get up and down from a near miss and you would see more strategic layups.

With the rule change about the wedge groves for next year, playing out of the rough just got a little more difficult. The sand should be less inviting.

caddy13

The PGA always seems to be making golf courses longer.  Does anyone think that in the future a golf course could reach 8,000 yards.  I don't think that will ever happen but with technolgy advancing it could happen I guess.

 

Caddy13

I could see an 8,000 yard course.  10 par 4s at 485 = 4850, 4 par 5s at 625 yards = 2500 and 4 par 3s at 205 yards = 820, total = 8170.  Obviously some will be longer, some will be shorter, but in general I could see that course developed.  I would like to play one like that.  The par 4s are not unreachable and the 5s will be actual par 5s instead of short par 5s anymore. 

I can see it happening in the next 10 years.

caddy13

The PGA always seems to be making golf courses longer.  Does anyone think that in the future a golf course could reach 8,000 yards.  I don't think that will ever happen but with technolgy advancing it could happen I guess.

 

Caddy13

Before the Groove Rule was established I would have to say without a doubt.  Now, that they are rolling back the grooves, I am sure it is going to take a little longer to reach 8,000.  The length of the course is not the issue.  They are not making it harder for the long hitter, they are simply making it near impossible for the shorter hitter, although Corey Pavin had no trouble yesterday at Hazeltine.

They need to shorten the courses, shrink down the fairways, and grow the rough.  That coupled with V Grooves will make for a challenging golf course.

Tim

Might be fun to watch the pros tackle a course that long, but I don't think it's a good idea.  Much rather have a course that forces you to hit golf shots rather than blasting long balls.  I would never want to play a course that is 8,000 yards.  

The new Pete Dye course at French Lick Indiana is 8,100 yards.  Narrow fairways, lots of bunkers, and small greens, tough stuff

memphisunited

Might be fun to watch the pros tackle a course that long, but I don't think it's a good idea.  Much rather have a course that forces you to hit golf shots rather than blasting long balls.  I would never want to play a course that is 8,000 yards.  

I honestly don't think it would be too tough for pro's to tackle a 8,000 yarder.  They hit the ball so far...

An 8,000 yarder would take a guy like me out of the competition.  My course is 7,400 from the tips and it's more that I can handle.

They do hit it quite a bit further. I think that with the groove change you will see much more of a premium with being in the fairway. The "bomb and gouge" players will have a lot more trouble.

I think that golf should be about shotmaking, not just how far you can hit it. Give me 6900 yards to groom and I bet I can make a great test even for the longest players out there. It is amazing what you can do with trees, water, rough, narrow fairways and small hard greens.

19hole

They do hit it quite a bit further. I think that with the groove change you will see much more of a premium with being in the fairway. The "bomb and gouge" players will have a lot more trouble.

I think that golf should be about shotmaking, not just how far you can hit it. Give me 6900 yards to groom and I bet I can make a great test even for the longest players out there. It is amazing what you can do with trees, water, rough, narrow fairways and small hard greens.

I agree there 19hole.  You put some sand on both sides the FW stretching from 290-310 and you won't see too many hitting driver off the tee.  Couple that with a narrow FW and you will see long irons played in on par 4s.  I wish they would go to a more traditional set up.

The new grooves will be a test, but I think they will still spin the ball off the planet.  These guys will just club up and swing harder... with the increased speed the ball will spin just as much as if they took the normal club and swung regularly before the groove change.  Just my opinion, but I will be interested to see what happens.

memphisunited

Might be fun to watch the pros tackle a course that long, but I don't think it's a good idea.  Much rather have a course that forces you to hit golf shots rather than blasting long balls.  I would never want to play a course that is 8,000 yards.  

I agree--while I like hitting it 300 yards as much as the next guy, I really enjoy courses that place a premium on shot-making ability and imagination.  Also, courses with sharp dog-legs that have nice risk-reward opportunities are always fun--much more so than a course where you have to try to blast it on every tee shot just to get a manageable 2nd shot.

That is just plain silly!

I can see it happening but I would much rather see some course designers put more thought in to making you play shots, rather that just leave it open and make it long and see who can hit it the furthest.