Driving distance on four of the major golf tours around the world increased by approximately one per cent between 2003 and 2015, according to a report published by the Royal & Ancient and the United States Golf Association.
And during the same period, average driving distance on the three other tours analysed by golf's governing bodies reportedly decreased by a similar amount.
"I believe it is important in terms of good governance and healthy for the sport to achieve greater transparency on key issues such as driving distance," R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers said.
"We have decided to publish this report on distance data and will do so each year in the future. This is clearly a frequently debated topic in golf which elicits strong views. By publishing the data we can help to inform the debate and ensure reliable information is available."
USGA executive director Mike Davis added: "Hitting distance is, and has long been, a constant subject of healthy and spirited debate in golf.
"We want everyone in the game to have access to the facts, to better understand the decision-making process and the research we use to ensure that our game is both enjoyable and sustainable for future generations."
The results will come as a surprise to many observers of the game, with the European Tour coincidentally revealing shortly after the report's publication that France's Sebastien Gros averaged 326 yards on the holes used to measure driving distance in his opening 67 in the Nordea Masters.
Asked about proposals to lengthen the 13th hole at Augusta National, 18-time major winner Jack Nicklaus said in April: "I tell you, the simplest solution is change the fr***ing golf ball."
According to the report, average driving distance on the PGA Tour, European Tour, Web.com Tour and Champions Tour increased by approximately one per cent since 2003 until the end of the 2015 season, equivalent to around 0.2 yards per year.
The average driving distances on the Japan Golf Tour, LPGA Tour and Ladies European Tour decreased by a similar amount.
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