Establish a Multi-Level Golf Equipment Policy

We the undersigned hereby petition the American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA) and the European Institute of Golf Course Architects (EIGCA) not to design courses in excess of 7,200 and preferably less in the future.

The Golf Preservation Foundation (GPF) and all our petitioners would like to that your organization for your years of commitment and service to the game we all love.  We all know golf is the greatest game on earth.  Unfortunately, the state of the game is troubling.  Courses are closing, participation is down and the number of golfers is in decline.  We feel that that new golf equipment technology has played a negative role in the state of the game and at the same time negatively effects resource conservation. 

New technology in golf equipment allowed by the current rules has required old and new golf course to be lengthened up to 7,500 yards compared to 7,000 yards or less in the past.  The additional length requires more land, water, fertilizer, chemicals, labor and other resources raising costs and time required to play.  Fewer people are playing indicating the time and cost to play as reasons when surveyed by the National Golf Foundation (NGF).

Past greats like Sarazen, Snead, Hogan, Player and Nicklaus all played with relatively the same level of technology and could be fairly compared.  Modern technology has now changed that.  Many say it is fitness and skill that allows the greater distance by today's professionals.  Unfortunately, we will never know because the technology is quite different. 

Only 6% of the golfers break 80 so only a small percentage require the added length to the courses.  Competitive players need competitive equipment and Developmental players can continue to use the new technology that does not require the courses to be lengthened.  What would professional baseball be like if they used aluminum bats?  They would be enlarging every stadium like we are lengthening golf courses.  Baseball was smarter and protected the past as well as the future. 

A Multi-Level Golf Equipment Policy will establish new criteria for % "Competition" equipment that limits the distance for the longer "Competition" players by changing the carry and spin dynamics of the ball as well as the clubs, especially woods.  This policy will promote the use of this "Competition" equipment during practice by the "competitive" players whose length is endangering the game and shorter courses.