Norman calls for return to pre-1996 golf ball

When the man many rate as Australia’s greatest-ever golfer speaks, well, the golf world tends to listen.

And with much of his time spent designing golf courses rather than playing them now that he is in his 60s, Greg Norman aka The Great White Shark has always been well-known – and respected – for his views on the game.

Greg Norman (Credit: YouTube)

Now Norman has put out a message on his Instagram account (@shark_gregnorman), which is followed by a conservative 145,000 fans, suggesting it is time to ‘wind back the specifications of the golf ball to pre-1996’.

“[It] costs way too much money to build golf courses and annual maintenance costs that members are on the hook for, for one week a year for professional golf tournaments,” said Norman.

While the Shark has been a consistent advocate for a golf ball that spins more, he has remained consistent on the distance matter – not unlike the great Jack Nicklaus.

And once again the distance the golf ball travels became a hot topic after the recent US PGA event at the famous Medinah course in Illinois where the pros simply tore apart the 7600-yard (695m) metre layout with the winner, American Justin Thomas finishing 25-under par over the four rounds.