Ok guys..... bear with me on this one. The soon-to-be in-laws are in town for the weekend from California, its currently -8 degrees with 6" of snow on the way and I'm holed up in my golf room killing time. I broke out the laptop so this will probably be longer than a usual post from the phone or reactionary gif. Also, I have to say, the site looks awesome on the laptop, since I think it's my first time actually using a computer for this site. Full disclosure, If this gets too long and boring, which it may, I'll be sure to add a TLDR at the end. But here we go.
The USGA and R&A have reared their heads and on 2/2/21 have released an updated version of their "Additional Distance Research & Areas of Interest Proposed". Now we all know that distance has been a hot button topic that has been debated ad nauseam for years now, but these additional areas of interest I think are what makes this update on their report interesting. Numbers 1 & 2 are directly from the "Areas of Interest"
The "Local Rule Option"
- We will assess the potential use of a Local Rule option that would specify use of clubs and/or balls
intended to result in shorter hitting distances. The concept is that equipment meeting a particular set of
reduced-distance specifications – for example, a ball that does not travel as far or a club that will not hit a
ball as far – might be a defined subset of the overall category of conforming equipment. This could allow
committees that conduct golf competitions or oversee individual courses to choose, by Local Rule
authorized under the Rules of Golf, whether and when to require that such equipment be used. Such a
Local Rule option could be available for use at all levels of play, and golfers playing outside of a competition
could also have the option to make this choice for themselves.
-- Many people have said that this may be bifurcation under a different name. This may be the case, but Local Rule is such a general term, which can be applied in so many different ways that it's impossible to tell which way they are going to go with this. IF it is bifurcation where would be the appropriate delineation to draw the line in the sand? PGA tour only? Doubtful. Professional golfers and elite amateurs? How do you define elite amateur? Another notable omission is that no one is talking about how the average driving distance of the LPGA tour is 260(ish). Will this rollback affect them? No one is elaborating because, no one really knows at this point. The USGA stated after this report broke, that they will continue evaluating and assessing for the rest of this year, before any determination is made.
-- Personally, I think this will be led with a rollback of the golf ball itself. Not that I know anything, but it would be easier for most golfers to buy a dozen golf balls and play with them using the currently owned equipment, rather than have people buy a whole new set of conforming clubs. Rumor has it that major manufacturers have been working on a "rolled back" ball in the neighborhood of 15-18%. 300yds------> 245-255ish.
- We will also review the overall conformance specifications for both clubs and balls, including
specifications that both directly and indirectly affect hitting distances. The intended purpose of this review
is to consider whether any existing specifications should be adjusted or any new specifications should be
created to help mitigate the continuing distance increases. It is not currently intended to consider revising
the overall specifications in a way that would produce substantial reductions in hitting distances at all
levels of the game.
-- "not currently intended" are the words I keyed on, as even though their intention isn't to adversely affect the weekend golfer, and non competitive amateur, the tour level marketing that drives the train of golf sales will, without a doubt, have some amateurs hitting the new "TOUR" clubs, even if it results in them hitting it shorter in their weekend foursomes. We all know that guy that plays blades, even though he has no business (guilty🙋) playing them. In all honesty, there would be a benefit for those people who now only hit its 250 yards offline instead of 300 yards offline.
Overall, this report is more of the same from the USGA and R&A, who are saying their looking into it without actually committing to doing something, but it appears that something is coming, but no one really knows what. BOLD prediction here, but I am calling it now, there will be an 18% rollback in the golf ball for elite AM events, and Pro players (to include collegiate events) and eventually a rollback in driver head size to about 380cc.
What do you guys think? Which direction is this going to take the game of golf? and will it change for the better?
TLDR USGA and R&A are looking at rolling back distance but are still "evaluating".
To keep the ball rolling (no pun intended) if anyone in the warmer states that still has courses open wants to play a round with a limited distance ball (ie. limited flight range ball or old school wound ball) I'd love to hear how different your course plays from a new perspective. I plan on doing it this year, but its just too cold.
