Average drives according to a survey by Frank Thomas, former technical director of the U.S.Golf Association.

The average drive of a 90s-shooting male golfer is 192 yards. He thinks he hits the ball 30 yards farther than that, according to a survey of more than 18,000 golfers completed three years ago by Frank Thomas, the former technical director for the U.S. Golf Association. In fact, the survey found that 41% of men estimate they hit their drives 250-plus yards, which hard data from club manufacturers expose as total balderdash; in reality, maybe only one in 50 golfers routinely hits drives 250 yards. Senior men are lucky to coax 170 to 180 yards out of their tee shots. Typical female golfers drive about 135 yards.

[Source: The Golf Journal section of the Wall Street Journal, February 16-17, 2008, in an article written by John Paul Newport entitled "A Tee Too Far."]

The Little Green Book of Golf Law

Published by the American Bar Association, this is a terrific book (click on image to enlarge) written by John "Jack" H. Minan, an avid golfer and legal scholar who is on the faculty of San Diego State University. It illustrates how violating "the law" of golf - as opposed to the rules that govern the game - can have serious consequences. You don't have to be a lawyer to enjoy this book, which combines two great passions: law and golf. It is written with great humor.

Of particular interest to local golfers are legal cases which involved two Rancho Bernardo courses: Oaks North and Bernardo Heights. The Oaks North case arose when Stanley Kurash, Ed Brown, Bob Steele, and Alexander Sirpis were playing the 9th hole on the North Course. As Kurash approached his ball in the trees on the right side of the fairway near the driving range, a large tree limb (estimated to weigh 750 pounds) snappped unexpectedly and fell on him. He sustained injuries. He and his wife sued J. C. Resorts. He was awarded $55,000 to compensate for his injuries, and his wife was awarded $5,000. You might wonder on what theory was the wife able to make a legal claim against J. C. Resorts? READ THE BOOK AND FIND OUT! It can be purchased from Amazon.com.

Amazon.com has invited me to write a review of the book. I plan to do that soon. I would welcome comments from any of you who have read the book.

John Ellis