What golf's distance problem can tell us about the future of platforms

I've been an avid golfer for decades. I may not have been around during the sepia-toned days of hickory shafts and persimmon balls, but I can still remember when a drive of 250 yards was deemed pretty impressive.  At least at the pinnacle of the sport, that era is long gone. The length of the average tee shot on the US PGA Tour is now in the region of 300 yards, with the biggest-hitting professionals often topping 330. This spectacular progress has relatively little to do with an improvement in skills. It's technology that has really made a difference. Clubs are nowadays designed to h...