R&A's Dawson: Distance Explosion Caused By Geezers Going Away, Flatbellies Taking Their Place

I finally worked my way through the R&A media day transcripts and there are the usual insights and occasional comments that Peter Dawson will probably regret. There are some fun comments about Peter Alliss and slow play. But mostly, there's the indefensible discussion of remodeling courses to accommodate regulatory ineptitude, starting with this suggestion as to why the added distance at Lytham is not a big deal.

So the course is two and a half percent longer.  As I always say every year, instead of hitting it 100 yards, you'll have to hit it 102?.  So it's not revolutionary on length, but it does bring the course up closer to many of the others in overall distance.

So if you are only adding 2 yards to an approach shot, and it's not revolutionary, then why set such a bad example or commit to the expense in the first place?

Q.  Is Lytham pushed to the limit in terms of yardage?  I know it's a tight site.

PETER DAWSON:  There's always room to do something, but we're very close to the maximum to be honest.  There are one or two holes you could perhaps get another 20 yards out of, but that would probably spoil the holes, so we're happy at this length.  As you know, we've said that if hitting distances start to increase, we'll have to do something about it to that end.  But this golf course, as many others on The Open‑‑ that we use for The Open are at the distance they're going to be.  We don't envisage lengthening courses going forward.

Ohhh....there's a statement he'll regret!

Here was the inevitable next phase of the spin cycle...

Q.  (Inaudible.)

PETER DAWSON:  Well, what we've seen in the last year is an uptick of four yards I think it is on the PGA Tour but not on the European Tour or elsewhere in the world.  When you analyse that uptick, it's largely caused by new young players coming into the field and replacing older players who are moving on to the Senior Tour rather than individual players hitting the ball further.  That isn't happening.

And while there certainly is truth to a Corey Pavin being replaced by a Keegan Bradley, does he really think such activity is moving the PGA Tour number four yards? More importantly: "that isn't happening." Distance increases.

But we have our eye closely on it, and I think it's still true to say that we have not seen a significant uptick since the joint statement of principles in 2002.  But we've got our eye very closely on it.

Very closely!

And now for the rally killer of the day...

Q.  This will be the third time in four years they've played a par‑70.  Is that a concern?

And our worst question of 2012 goes to the man in the back from the Lytham Light And Shopper.

On Peter Aliss, who ESPN now slips into the Open telecast for about 15 minutes while someone takes a bathroom break.

Q.  I appreciate the BBC's trump card is the fact that the coverage is available to everyone.  How much of a trump card does Peter Alliss remain to you?

PETER DAWSON:  Well, you've still got the odd gem in there.  I know Peter causes quite a lot of polarisation of opinions, and many people I talk to still enjoy him very, very much and a number don't.  I think on balance he's an asset, but he's getting‑‑ not getting any younger.  I don't think so how long he'll carry on for.  But he's been the voice of golf for a long, long time over here.  And very interesting, if you go to America and talk about Peter Alliss, they think he is the God of the profession.

And this on long putters...

The subject is being looked at more from a rules of golf and method of stroke angle than it is from a length of club angle, and the reason for that is that if you thought you were going to do something about long putters by saying the putter may be no more than 40 inches long, that would still allow short people perhaps to belly putt but not tall people. 

That'd have to be someone pretty short!

Jim McArthur of the championship department made an interesting comment in response to the slow play question.

JIM McARTHUR:  Interestingly enough, I think when Bobby Locke won his Open Championship here at Royal Lytham he was reprimanded for slow play, and he took three and a half hours.

PETER DAWSON:  If you go back long enough when people were playing two rounds in a day at the Open, it's an indicator how pace of play has moved.

JIM McARTHUR:  We are very concerned about it, but we're doing everything we possibly can.  It is something where we need cooperation from other organisations, as well, to do anything.

Translation: Until the PGA Tour sets the precedent, the USGA and R&A are handcuffed. And we know the PGA Tour does not believe slow play is a problem. Well, Tim Finchem does not.

And finally, back to messing with golf courses...Dawson says his work is done!

Q.  (Inaudible.)

PETER DAWSON:  Well, usually we, first of all, discuss the need for modifications with the venue, with the club, and if the club is happy to embark on a programme of modifications, it's a process between the club, the R&A and the architect.  Sometimes the club will have architects that are experienced in its course, and other times we have used architects that we have been accustomed to, if you like, and used at Open venues.  That has resulted in a slightly closed process, which has troubled me once or twice, but the work that Martin Hawtrey (SP.) and Martin Ebert have done for us has been of a very high quality, and we're very happy with it.

I think we're coming to the end now of the course adjustment programme that we started ten years ago.  Of the upcoming venues, they have all now had the treatment, as it were, so we've pretty much finished the programme.  But we've been very happy with the work that's been done, and I think all the clubs and venues have, too.

The treatment work, as it were, is done. We shall see!