Langer On Distance Regulation: "They haven't done anything...it's just common sense"

Golf Monthly’s Andy Wright reports on Bernhard Langer’s pre-Senior Open comments regarding distance and rendering venues like this week’s host, Sunningdale, obsolete.

“The R&A and the USGA are making our rules, we try to play by their rules and so far they haven’t done anything really of any great impact to bring the ball back or any of that,” Langer, who is looking to win his 12th senior major this week, said. 

No, they haven’t.

“They’ve obviously put restrictions on the trampolining effect on the driver but people are hitting the ball incredibly far, the young folks. 

“It’s a fascinating part of the game, so it’s a difficult decision and I do get it, because people come out and watch Bryson DeChambeau, right? Because he is the longest guy on tour right now, or one of the longest, and it’s fascinating to watch.

“People came out to watch John Daly because he could hit it really far and if you take that away, then you make the game maybe less attractive.”

Then again, tees can be moved up and depending on the execution of any regulation, a case could be made for real long hitters standing out more, getting a greater advantage for their skill and the thrills of players driving a green or going for a par-5 in two offsetting whatever would be lost in altering today’s version of golf.

“But at the same time, you’re making some golf courses obsolete in terms of the distances that they’re hitting it and golf becomes a little more expensive because you used to have 7,000 yards of golf, now you need 8,000 yards. 

“You need an extra 1,000 yards, more or less that you need to take care of, maintain, rent, buy or whatever you want to call it, water it. It’s just more expensive to do an extra 1,000 yards than not, it’s just common sense.”

Yes it is.