The ruling bodies of golf have released their annual report on driving distance, claiming that driving distance remains relatively steady since 2003.

R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers said: “In the interests of good governance and transparency it is important that we continue to provide reliable data and facts about driving distance in golf. Driving distance remains a topic of discussion within the game and the review provides accurate data to help inform the debate.”

Some have criticised the distance that the golf ball travels as rendering old course designs obsolete, costing millions in redevelopment of golf courses to meet modern standards and increasing the amount of land needed for golf across the world. Without this upgrade, many professionals can fly their drives over the intended challenges and traps provided for golfers.

The gains over a 20-year period from 1996 to 2016 on the PGA Tour are incredible, as evidenced in the graph below. In 1996, no player hit the ball over 290 yards, last season 92 players did, making it just above the average driving mark.

Indeed, rather than focusing on the remarkable feats of long hitting by the biggest hitters, it is better to look further down the list of distances, going back as far as a 280 yard average to see how things have changed.

In 2003, Hank Kuehne put in one of the longest driving seasons of all-time, averaging over 321 yards, while John Daly was typically long, well over 310 yards. In 2004, two players hit over 310 yards as well, that has not changed too much over the past ten years, with four players exceeding that mark last year.

However, when you go past the true bombers, you see the differences in the average player since 2004, despite the ruling bodies claiming that it is not a major concern of theirs.

In 2004, 33 players hit the ball over 295 yards, comparing to 55 in 2016. In 2004, 72 players hit the ball over 290 yards, comparing to 92 in 2016.

This season, although inflated by the distances hit in Hawaii at the start of the season, see 38 players hitting over 300 yards, compared to 13 in 2008, 70 players hitting it over 295 yards, and 122 players hitting it over 290 yards.

Could we get to a stage where 290 yards average is considered below average? It does not feel too far away. If 2002 Tiger Woods was on Tour in 2017 using the same equipment, he would be tied 88th in driving distance alongside Kevin Na at 293 yard average.