English legend Sir Nick Faldo supports the premise that there should separate sets of equipment rules for professionals and amateurs.
“Pros should have their own rules. If we brought the size of the driver head down, that would just make it more difficult … and more rewarding if you are a really good striker of the ball,” said the six-time Major winner.
“Back in the Persimmon days, there was only a handful of us who really struck a Persimmon well and so you had a real advantage. You had to hit a Persimmon out of the middle, and then you had blades which looked like fish knives, so you had to strike it. I’m sure the sweet spot is double the size now and that’s made an enormous difference,” Faldo added.
Faldo also proposed a maximum wedge loft of 60 degrees for the pros.
“Me and Seve [Ballesteros] only had a pitching wedge and a 56/57-degree sand wedge. Now they go from 50 to 54 to 60 degrees … maybe we should stop and say 60 is the max. Why not? I think the pros might like that. For the ones who know they have better ball striking, it might thin out the field a little,” he stressed.
“If you hit it tee to green really well, you should be rewarded … and some weeks you’re not.”
Faldo made the comments while speaking to media during the grand final of the Faldo Series Asia in Laguna Lang Co, central Vietnam, earlier this year.
Laguna Lang Co
Laguna Lang Co is a 280-hectare leisure and holiday development created by the Banyan Tree Group. Located near Lang Co Bay in the Chan May region, the beachside development has a 3km coastline and is close to a number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as the Imperial City of Hue to the north and Hoi An Ancient Town to the south.
The development includes Banyan Tree and Angsana-branded hotels and spas, private villas and residences, convention facilities and a plethora of recreational activities. For golfers, the jewel in the crown is the award-winning golf course crafted by Sir Nick Faldo.
Opened for play in early 2013, the Laguna Golf Lang Co course is a par-71 championship layout that straddles a stunning site between the waters of the East Sea and the inland mountains. Measuring just under 7,100 yards from the championship tees and a beginner-friendly 5,263 yards from the front tees, the course stands out with its links-like characteristics and traditional out-and-back routing.
