By Robin All
I spent a lot of time watching the final two rounds at Quail Hollow Golf Club in Charlotte this past weekend. Having played tournaments there years ago, I wanted to see how the course would hold up against today’s top players and modern, high-tech equipment.
What struck me most was club selection. Watching pros use a 6-iron on a 212-yard par 3 and land it softly on the green is remarkable. For most of us seniors, using a 6-iron from that distance might leave us 50 yards short—and that’s on a good day.
Or how about watching someone tap in for an eagle 2 on a driveable par 4? That’s a whole different level. Even reaching the green in two shots on a 600-yard par 5 is common for these elite athletes. Add to that bunker shots that seem effortless and putts holed from all corners on lightning-fast greens with undulations like mountain roads—it’s no wonder Bobby Jones once said, “They are playing a game with which I am not familiar.”
