Bryson Dechambeau inspired the entire golf world.

Lou Miller, a close friend and golf visionary, said this last week during a short visit ‘I believe golf has changed’.

I do agree. In the lead up to The Masters, such changes will be a fun topic to address. The biggest change in my opinion is in fitness and club speed. Just as the 4-minute mile barrier was broken in track in 1954 by Roger Bannister, the 400-yard drive is now the new standard.

The big focus during the post-US Open reviews were speed and power. What some did acknowledge or notice was the deafening touch that went along with both Dechambeau and Matthew Wolff’s mammoth drives.

Before recognizing some local golfer, consider a few facts. There are literally hundreds plus-long drive specialists, who have figured out golf club speed. Golf club speed is still quite mysterious.

Power and strength is not necessarily club speed. Raw club speed does not mean long shots or drives.

Now some questions. How does a 5-foot 3, 145-pound player hit the driver 50 yards like a 6-foot 4, 230 lb. player of equal skill?

This happens frequently in golf.

Want more club speed? Look up the definition of speed and power and be ready for next week.

The Lexington HS girls golf team is ready for the 2020 fall golf season and this is a fact.

Isabella Rawl paced her team to a 6-shot victory over Hilton Head in the Women’s South Carolina Golf Associations Junior Golf Foundation’s High School Invitational at the Country Club of South Carolina in Florence.

Rawl continued her great come back after a year on the injured reserve with a dominating individual score of 69-68, 137 (7-under par) to win individual honors. Teammates, Karlee Vardas and Molly Hardwick, were 5th and 10th, respectively.

Gilbert placed 5th in the event led by Kennedy Gooding who placed 22nd individually.

In local club golf, Robbie Randall beat Rex Johnson by 1 shot and is the 2020 Charwood Club champion.

And other local golf announcements, John “E” Rutherford of Chapin, who is the general manager of LinRick Golf Club through Richland County Recreation is ushering in brand new programs centered around the entire family.

“Golf can be a lifetime family recreational option where all can have fun together,” commented the 1981 Irmo HS graduate.

His mother, the late Peggy Rutherford, was quite a golf enthusiast. Not only got great into the game of golf, but influenced the writer of this column in a major way as well.

More next week, so tune in.

The Lexington County Recreation and Aging Commission Family Junior Fall season registration is underway. This program features the entire family participating in golf.

All learn together. The program is constructed to look a bit like youth T-ball, Coaches Pitch baseball and the introductory youth soccer programs.

The parents are actually “on the field”. They can serve as “Golf Guides”, caddies, or even playerpartners. This is a brand-new Grow Golf Now curriculum that offers both fundamental methods based on skill along with strategies if playing the game.

For more go to the LCRAC website, find Athletics, then click here in the last paragraph of the description to find Family Junior Golf program.

This Family Junior program is now looking for community volunteers to serve much like youth league baseball, soccer, basketball, and football coaches. This golf program’s roots actually go back to 1992 with the LCRAC. There is no golf experience or background necessary, just an interest in being involved in recreational youth sports.

Email BJ Belville for LCRAC at bj@lcrac.com .