If you measure any classic persimmon driver… the face is 3 inches wide, and 1.5 inches deep. The deep face drivers were 2 inches deep. But history shows us that the deep face drivers with the extra 1/2 inch were not overly popular. The shallower drivers had a lower center of gravity and would get the ball up a bit more with the same lofts. Not a big deal.
What has happened with the drivers is total insanity. It makes no sense to render the greatest courses in the world obsolete. And regardless of the arguments from the naysayers that “its all good” it simply is not. The courses do not play as they were intended, and it’s not about "progress "it’s about ignorance and disrespect for those that laid the framework and foundation for the great game of golf. Anyone that is pandering to it in anyway is partly responsible. Obviously some more than others. The worst offenders are those who “blame the ball”. It’s not the ball.
Go play a round with a 14 to 16 ounce persimmon driver and notice how you are NOT hitting the ball the same distance as your frying pan driver.
Last year I played a persimmon game with Louis Brown who is the current USGA Senior Amateur Champion. Louis said he was hitting the ball at least 30 yards less in distance with the persimmon than his modern driver. Is he lying?
Is he a “flat earther?” Not likely.
He said he actually enjoyed playing persimmon more because now the classic course we were playing Richmond CC was being played correctly, and all the driving areas and angles into greens and shapes of the greens based upon likely incoming trajectories all made perfect sense. We talked a lot about it after the round and he agreed 100% that the game was better when the clubs and courses were in harmony.
That being said, there is a place for the modern clubs and courses. Frying pan drivers that move the ball 350 yards off the tee work well on 8000 yard courses. Pick your game.
You won’t find me there however.
Too much history and great designs already proliferated before this madness happened. I see no reason why I would enjoy playing an 8000 yard course while driving the ball so far I can no longer see it land with the naked eye. Again another thing no one talks about.
Solution is simple. New Tour and Ruling Organization arises and gives credibility to the classic game, all the history, courses, traditions etc, that made the game great in the first place.
I’m also tired of the “let’s go back to hickory etc (sarcasm)” because hickory game does still exist… so it is fine, and there are courses that were built in that era that play correctly and there are events. However the courses built in the persimmon era have no proper regulation at the professional level and are being disrespected and overrun by all the modern gear that has no place upon them.
The worst offense I have seen at the pro game was the US Open at Los Angeles Country Club. In the persimmon era, it would have been one of the toughest and potentially greatest US Opens in history. Instead it was a total mockery of the course with not one… but TWO players shooting 62 in the opening round.
Shame on the USGA.