John Solheim proposes Golf Ball Distance

Ping Golf isn抰 in the golf ball business, but any time company Chairman John Solheim talks, people need to listen. That includes the U.S. Golf Association and Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, Scotland.

John Solheim, Chairman & CEO of PING, is proposing that golf抯 rule making bodies consider a 揃all Distance Rating?system (BDR) that would replace today抯 single golf ball limit with three different ball distance limits ?one that is the same as today抯 standard, one that is shorter and one that is longer. Solheim抯 揂 Long Term Response to Distance?explains how including a BDR system with a new 揅ondition of Competition?would give professional events and golf courses an efficient way to address future concerns about distance.

For as long as I can remember, golf has been challenged by concerns over driving distance. Unfortunately, over the past dozen or so years, many actions taken in response to that challenge have often been short sighted, costly and/or controversial ?such as altering some of golf抯 most revered courses and adopting restrictive golf club rules. Now, we learn average driving distance on the PGA Tour just had another increase ?it broke through 290 yards for the first time (and with so many dynamic young golfers working toward a Tour card, who knows where it will go from here). So, once again we are hearing the question: 搘hat, if anything, should be done about it??br />
It抯 a must-read for any琤ody inter琫sted in golf balls and golf equip琺ent in general.

Solheim believes his BDR proposal is a better alternative than some recent decisions made in response to the distance question. He writes in his proposal, "Unfortunately, over the past dozen or so years, many actions taken in response to that challenge have often been short sighted, costly and/or controversial--such as altering some of golf's most revered courses and adopting restrictive golf club rules."

揂 BDR Con琩i瑃ion of Com琾e瑃i瑃ion would cre琣te a sim琾ler way to con瑃rol dis瑃ance at the tour level ?and keep the com-pet琲瑃ive design of the world抯 great courses in play,?Sol琱eim said. 揟his con琧ept addresses the unique tal琫nts of the top 0.1 per琧ent of the world抯 golfers with琽ut hurt琲ng the other 99.9 percent.?br />
"All of us, including those in the manufacturing community, have a responsibility to offer new ideas and appropriately work with the rule making bodies to help improve the game. ... I will continue to do what I can, and I believe others will as well. The game has seen many positive changes over its long history, changes that appropriately recognize the relationship between the challenge and the enjoyment of the game at all skill levels. I believe a BDR system would provide a way to continue do just that--for a long time to come."