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A growing list of players, led by US Open champion Michael Campbell, are beginning to revolt at the longer and longer golf courses they are being forced to play.
The brutal 650-yard par-five 17th at Baltursol during the USPGA championship raised the question of how long can a golf hole be stretched.
This week at the WGC NEC Invitational the players get another look at the infamous Firestone Country Club's 667-yard 16th, one of the longest holes on the US Tour, and players are expecting to see 700-yard holes in the near future.
Campbell makes no secret of the fact he dislikes the trend towards longer and longer courses to try and protect them against today's massive big hitters.
"Maybe you need to build the greens more undulating, tighter and smaller rather than having a 230-yard par three," suggested the New Zealander.
"That's one thing I am disappointed about with the designs most of the time. They're trying to extend the golf course but they should toughen it up by adding more bunkers, adding more swales to the green.
"It's not the length, it's the design of the hole that's tougher than anything else.
"One prime example for me is Royal Melbourne in Australia, a par three, 140 yards long. You've got a wedge in your hand and you're freaking because it's such a tough shot. Not this slogging a three-iron to a flat green," he added.
When told that Augusta are adding more length for 2006, Campbell shook his head in disbelief.
"It never stops does it? It's no fun there. It's just a smash, a slog. It's a power game. There is no finesse.
"I've had a lot of discussions with myself and a lot of mates of mine who play the game and we all feel the same, every single one, about how they are trying to toughen up the courses.
"It's shame really.
"Look at 14 at St Andrews. Instead of putting it back 40 yards, put two bunkers very close together 300 out and let them try and feed it through the gap.
"It's going the wrong way by toughening the golf courses up through length," said Campbell.
The Kiwi insists that changes must be made to the modern hi-tech equipment.
"They should put a stop to something because it's getting ridiculous now. There's no controlled shot now. Technology has really helped players with a lot of clubhead speed, Ernie (Els), Tiger (Woods), John (Daly), rather than the average guy like myself.
"I played with Tiger in the first two rounds at PGA and he's hitting it so far it's frightening. He's 40, 50 yards past me. He's that much longer than me," said Campbell.
England's Luke Donald is also opposed to the longer and longer courses.
"Courses are made harder by long rough and firm sloping greens, not really by making it long," he said.
Darren Clarke, who won the NEC two years ago, was not impressed by the 17th at Baltursol.
At Firestone, Clarke would like to see the tee moved forward.
"It would be more exciting for the people watching if they did move the tee up a little bit.
"If you want a tough hole, then fair enough. But if you want an exciting hole then move the tee up," said the Ulsterman.
Fred Funk, one of the Tour's shorter hitters - he is ranked 197th on the tour with an average 269.4 yards - is one of the few players who reckons he will be better off when the 700-yard holes make their first appearance.
"It's not a big deal. I like holes that nobody can reach in two.
If I'm hitting wedge and a long-hitter's hitting a wedge I feel pretty comfortable I can match them. They can break them out and go for 800 if they want," said Funk.
For golf legend Gary Player, the future looks bleak if something is not done about the equipment.
"I'm 70, I hit a drive 280 yards the other day. I never hit a ball 280 in my life. I don't know where we're going," said Player.
"They're going to hit balls over 400 yards. We are only 20 or 30 years out.
"The guy in the long driving competition on the Golf Channel the other day said if you don't hit it 390 yards you don't even qualify. You don't qualify for the drive-off if you don't hit 390 yards!!. Those are the kind of guys coming into golf.
"The only defence we have today is to have high rough. Then you give a man like Fred Funk a chance to win a tournament. He has a good as chance as anybody then because he can hit it down the fairway.
"They have got to start putting heavy rough. If you drive it straight you're rewarded. If you dive it badly, you're penalized," he added.
