Distance vs. Sea Level

[ezra76]

Just Curious

I was messing around on Google Earth and realized that you can see how far above sea level you are. I was checking to see approximate distances at the range I go to and I realized it's 14ft. above sea level. Then I went to the course down the road I play at all the time, that one gets down as low as 4ft. above sea level. I don't feel so bad about hitting Driver, 5W, 7iron in on the 635yd. par 5, it's only +5ft. !! :russian_roulette:

So what differences are there at higher levels of elevation? Is there some sort of scale?

[wkuo3]

We play at 50-500 feet above sea level around here and have 60% to 100% humidity year round. Mostly in the 80% range.
My buddy just went to New Mexico in Spetember for golf, he hits his 9 iron 135 ish carried around here, he hit one 9 iron at elevation 6,000 ft plus, carried over 200 yards.

[Spumoni]

I'm at about a mile high here. When I go down to sea level it's about a club difference.

[beachgrovejunior]

how do you figure that out on google earth? do you need the newest version?
My home course is less than a mile from the ocean, and last year we had a freak storm and the waves flooded houses about a minute away from the course, so im guessing im pretty much at sea level

[ezra76]

[quote name='kkjp1' post='841364' date='Dec 29 2007, 06:41 PM']I'm at about a mile high here. When I go down to sea level it's about a club difference.[/quote]

Dangit, I'll never hit it 300, without a space suit on anyway.


[quote name='beachgrovejunior' post='841368' date='Dec 29 2007, 06:48 PM']how do you figure that out on google earth? do you need the newest version?
My home course is less than a mile from the ocean, and last year we had a freak storm and the waves flooded houses about a minute away from the course, so im guessing im pretty much at sea level[/quote]

The version I use had it down the bottom next to the longitude and latitude. I'm assuming that's what "elevation" meant anyway.

[mhinderaker]

It's a fairly big difference.

I can hit a 7-Iron 170 no problems where I live (Salt Lake City, Utah), but put me down at sea level (such as when I play on vacation in South Carolina) and I have issues getting 160 out of it.

With driver the difference is even more pronounced. It changes from about 280 to about 250-260.

[wkuo3]

Go play a high desert golf course, same guy hits his drive carried around 260-270 around here, he almost hit a green 398 yards away ( slightly down grade ) at the Paa-Ko Ridge.
You'l have lots of 300 yards drive.

[quote name='ezra76' post='841400' date='Dec 29 2007, 07:11 PM'][quote name='kkjp1' post='841364' date='Dec 29 2007, 06:41 PM']I'm at about a mile high here. When I go down to sea level it's about a club difference.[/quote]

Dangit, I'll never hit it 300, without a space suit on anyway.

[/quote]

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

I live in Cincinnati, maybe 600-700 above sea level, but when I golf at sea level I usually notice a whole club difference. It takes 3 days just to admit I am shorter, heck I am short enough already!

[nightwalker]

I've personally found a distance gain of 5% every 2500 feet of elevation. I've played all over the country and the reason for some of the huge driving distances at altitude have a lot to do with drier conditions. When I go back to Denver to visit, I just add 10% and I have had no problems. I hit 7 Iron 160ish at sea level, and 175ish in Denver.

[PurePursuit]

Add 10% when playing in Denver huh? a 187 yard 7 iron would be impressive. Nightwalker, I'm originally from Fairfield CT. How you handling the cold (I live in South Florida now)

[oregongolf]

Altitude is great.

I love dry heat though!

Pair the two together and you'll be mashing the ball.

[TEConnor]

I'd love to see some robot testing at different conditions. I've noticed that any altitude you can have a massive fluctuation in carry distance depending on temperatures and humidity. I keep track of my stats throughout the year and I've concluded that the old rule of thumb -- 1 yard for every 3 deg F -- does not work very well. (The old rule of thumb that I learned 20 years ago was that for every 3 degrees below 75 deg, the ball went 1 yard shorter...anything above 75 was a wash). In the summer, average playing temps in my area are around 80 - 85 deg. In the fall/winter/spring, average playing temps are consistently in the mid 50s. Using the 1 for 3 formula, you'd be expecting to hit the ball about 10 yards further at 80 deg over 50. Works out that statistically, you hit it about 20 yards farther with the driver (7 - 8 %). BUT, things go totally wacky when you get up in the 90+ temps. Driving distance goes up 30 - 35 yards farther (12 - 14 %) when temps are in the mid 90s over the mid 50s. Using the old formula you would expect consistent yardages from 80 to 100 deg, but you are seeing a 10 to 15 yard jump on average for a 10 to 15 deg temp increase. Crazy. At that's just at sea level. Note, these are carry distances.

Cheers,
Tim

[hattrick3518]

i play up in Colorado, went to play some in california and didnt notice too much of a difference, maybe 3-5 yards, but i didnt need to club up/ down at all. so i say that it matters for some more than others i guess

[TEConnor]

[quote name='hattrick3518' post='845618' date='Jan 2 2008, 11:35 AM']i play up in Colorado, went to play some in california and didnt notice too much of a difference, maybe 3-5 yards, but i didnt need to club up/ down at all. so i say that it matters for some more than others i guess[/quote]

Physics is physics. Is it possible that you were playing in CO in cool temps then went to CA for warmer weather? Where in CA were you, coastal or mountains?

Tim