That time I knocked a helicopter out of the sky

Fun facts for golf nerds: On a par 3, how long in distance do you think it needs to be before an average PGA field starts starts to play it over par?

The answer is 166 yards.

Consider that the average PGA 8-iron travels 160 yards. The average PGA 7-iron travels 172 yards. So 166 requires adding or subtracting speed to hit it exactly the right distance (setting aside draws, cuts, high and low shots).

Here’s the punchline. PGA stats show you will ALWAYS be much more accurate hitting your clubs your stock distance rather than trying to “take a little off” or “add a little” to hit a few yards shorter or longer.

Now, I don’t know about you but for me this is just fun information. I don’t worry about it because I’m so bad the other day I hit a TV station traffic helicopter with my wedge and it crashed into a nearby swimming pool along the ninth hole fairway.