The international tyre company Pirelli celebrated 25 years of its ‘power is nothing without control’ slogan in 2019 – and it seems golf may be picking up the mantle in 2020.

I was delighted to learn both The R&A and USGA were giving serious consideration to curtailing distances for balls and modern equipment, particularly at the professional level. But other steps can be taken, too, to improve the sport as a spectacle at the top level, as some, but not all, golf courses have become far too forgiving for the top players.

I’m not suggesting manufacturers should curtail development completely, because such advantages are welcomed by amateurs. But too many professionals are bombing the ball 400 yards off the tee, to much applause, yet sacrificing accuracy.

The course setup for professional tournaments needs to be more challenging to reward accuracy and skill, not just raw power – if they go off-line, they should be punished, as opposed to still having a reasonably comfortable shot back in.

If professionals can thump a ball 375 yards down the middle of a tight fairway to leave a mere wedge into a green, then fair play to them. And that’s the choice they should be presented with: go for distance and be penalised for errant shots, or compromise on distance for a second shot off the short stuff.

I hope the R&A and USGA have the courage of their convictions and don’t leave this topic where a 400-yard drive should end up… in the long grass.