"The whole situation has gotten out of hand."

I remember the good ole days when I'd suggest distance gains were not good for the game and I'd get funny looks, nasty looks, and in general, suggestions I was a communist-sympathizer.

Even better were the times I'd suggest course setups were rigged to offset/emasculate/cover-up regulatory incompetance and I'd get the look folks used to give to those who suggested the moon landing was actually shot on a San Fernando Valley soundstage.

And now, just when you think it's safe to read online, you go to golf.com and read this discussion about the Canadian Open's laughable attempt to make a 7,100 yard course relevant in the juiced era of clubs and balls, prompting Alan Shipnuck to ask the gang if we've finally "reached the point of bifurcation, where amateurs like us can enjoy all the latest technology, but the pros' equipment needs to be throttled back?"

Gary Van Sickle, senior writer, Sports Illustrated: Bifurcation is already here. Ams can use square grooves, and pros can't. It's temporary, yes, but I think it makes sense. You can take the edge off the pro game and pull back on the controls for the amateurs so the manufacturers can keep doing what they do best — innovating and building better-than-ever clubs for us hacks.

Jim Herre, managing editor, SI Golf Group: Bifurcation seems to be gaining momentum in commercial circles, but not with the governing bodies. The Canadian Open venue was a bit of an anomaly; you don't see that kind of rough much anymore. Most of the people who run events have come around to the point of view that too much rough diminishes a tournament, which is what happened in Vancouver.

So much for the commercial circles always getting what they want!

Michael Bamberger, senior writer, Sports Illustrated: The Canadian Open is further proof that the system really is broken. The courses that we play and the courses that they play can no longer be the same, not if we're all using the same ball. The 7,500-yard course is a joke for Tour play, it's so short. To have several truly long par-4s and one three-shot par five, a course needs to be more than 8,000 yards in ordinary conditions. That's six-plus hours. Or, you can muck up a nice course like they did in Canada. I hope Merion for the '13 U.S. Open wasn't watching too closely.

Oh but think how much fun that's going to be. Merion members kicking USGA Excecutive Committee members off the porch when the first hole plays like a par-3 with players debating between which non-driver to use to drive the green!

Van Sickle: It's funny how the bifurcation of rules in baseball didn't ruin the game. We're still using metal bats through college, but the pros use wood. And the manufacturers haven't gone broke.

Anarchists! All of you!