It takes more than a 400 yard carry to make a golf story.

A while back, I read a breathless article on the Golf Digest website. The subject was one of wonderment: Was it possible that Tim Tebow has a swing speed of 141 MPH?

If it really matters, it turns out that he doesn't...not even close.

But, the real point of the article was that we all better be ready for real athleticism to come to golf. Apparently, there are a bunch of elite athletes with swing speeds that make J.B. Holmes' swing look downright languid.

The author wonders if this news is scary, but I think he has mistaken fear for boredom. When was the last time any of you really watched any of the long drive competitions?

Quick: Name the current RE/MAX Long Drive Champion.

The reason you can't is because hitting it further is interesting only within the context of something interesting like actually playing golf. Hitting it far, for the sake of far, just isn't compelling.

That's why the guys who make a living cracking the club faces on their drivers and smashing the ball over 0.25568182 of a mile are largely anonymous. Let's face it: You could take all the long drive guys together and put them up against a lowly, out of shape, 40 something tour pro like Billy Mayfair (no rap on Billy) and Mayfair would take all their money.

I have no doubt the raw athleticism of the average professional golfer will do nothing but increase. And, while I don't view that athleticism with fear, I do have a concern that too much in golf has become aligned in favor of stronger and more athletic players. The USGA has decided to let the ball get away from them more and more while attempting to distract us with relatively meaningless regulations on grooves. As Jack Nicklaus said long ago, "It's the ball!"

The fact is that swing speeds are only numbers. What makes golf and some players compelling are the stories only great golf can produce.

It takes more than a 400 yard carry to make a golf story.