Michigan Golf Journal March 2021

Michigan Golf Journal The Distance Debate As golfers age, there are normally two consequences: distance goes down and scores go up. Tee yardages mastered years ago are now out of range, and even the most forward set can still be formidable, making those birdies and pars less attainable. The golf industry and course architects have made great strides in creating more playable designs, but age and gender factors relevant to yardage haven’t been completely solved, especially where senior women are concerned. Results show up most noticeably in handicaps. Based on 2020 GHIN postings from the GAM, the average men’s score was 87 and the average women’s, 99, with senior women skewing higher. Given the minimum 12-stroke difference, does that signify men are better players than women or perhaps, for decades, women have been playing tees that are considerably too long? Studying course statistics, 5400-5600 was common for women’s forward tees. In listening to all senior golfers, the need is apparent for shorter yardage. The PGA of America recommends 4,000-4,200 yards for players with swing speeds of 65mph (about 140 yard- drives), yet few facilities offer those rated yardages. Furthermore, according to the USGA, the longest par- 4 a 21-26 handicap female can reach in two shots is 280 yards, which to most men, sounds short. However, if the average woman’s drive is 135-140 yards , even that isn’t feasible because her approach shot won’t reach the green. According to the current USGA Handicapping and Course Rating system, all sets of tees are rated from four perspectives initially on driving distance Tee Yardages are Out of Range for Many Seniors By Janina Parrott Jacobs