Simply James

On Tuesday (March 14), golf’s governing bodies announced significant changes to be made to the golf ball. The proposed rule, which is targeting professionals, would reduce the distance the golf ball can travel, intended to be implemented in 2026. The Local Rule wouldn’t effect amateurs, and the player-type that would be most effected are the longest hitters on tour. Here is the reasoning the USGA and R&A gave:

“Hitting distances at the elite level of the game have consistently increased over the past 20, 40 and 60 years,” said Mike Wahn, the CEO of the USGA. “It’s been two decades since we last revisited our testing standards for ball distances. Predictable, continued increases will become a significant issue for the next generation if not addressed soon. The [rule] we are proposing is simple to implement, forward-looking and does so without any impact on the recreational game.”

According to a release, the aim of the rule is to: “reduce hitting distance by 14-15 yards on average for the longest hitters with the highest clubhead speeds.”

For elite players, hitting it long didn’t just happen overnight. It takes years of gym work, endless exercises to increase club head speed, and should this rule be implemented, what was the point?

There is certainly a problem within golf that the courses just aren’t long enough anymore to truly challenge the top players. From the governing bodies point of view, they can’t keep extending holes on golf courses to keep up with the length of players. From the golfers perspective, they are being punished for changing the way the game is played game and developing for the better.

I thought this tweet summed it up perfectly:

But, who am I, or that guy Joel, to speak. It won’t even effect us. Here are the opinions of professionals since the proposed rule was announced (48 hours ago):

Padraig Harrington:

“There’s so many winners by rolling back the ball, or rolling back the equipment,”

“In terms of cost – the cost of building a golf course, the cost of maintaining a golf course, the speed of play is going to be incredibly improved by reducing the distance, by reducing the size of the golf course and also reducing the amount of waiting time on par-fives and par-fours.

“There’s so many benefits to rolling it back. Old golf courses come back into play, great golf courses come back into play. Environmentally, reducing the footprint. So many reasons to roll it back.”

Justin Thomas:

“My reaction was disappointed and also not surprised, to be honest. I think the USGA over the years has, in my eyes, it’s harsh, but made some pretty selfish decisions. They definitely, in my mind, have done a lot of things that aren’t for the betterment of the game, although they claim it. I had conversations with some USGA members and it just, to me, I don’t understand how it’s growing the game. For them to say in the same sentence that golf is in the best place it’s ever been, everything is great, but…

“And I’m like, well, there shouldn’t be a but. You’re trying to create a solution for a problem that doesn’t exist. To me, it’s just, it’s so bad for the game of golf. … I mean, some of the great things to me is the fact that you can play the exact same golf ball that I play. I mean, that’s cool. For an everyday amateur golfer, it’s very unique that we are able to play the exact same equipment. Yeah, I understand that I may have a different grind on a wedge, whatever you want to call it, but you can go to the pro shop and buy the same golf ball that I play or Scottie Scheffler plays or whatever.

“Like, try to explain to me how that’s better for the game of golf. And they’re basing it off the top 0.1 percent of all golfers.

“So I know I went on a rant a little bit, but it irritates me because it’s consistent with, I feel like, decisions and things that the USGA has done in the past when it comes to rules or whatnot and data. I mean, what is it, using 127-mile-an-hour clubhead speed? Like, if you can swing 127 miles an hour, like, power to you. I mean, people are running faster, so, what, are they just going to make the length of a mile longer so that the fastest mile time doesn’t change, or are they going to put the NBA hoop at 13 feet because people can jump higher now?

“Like, no. It’s evolution. We’re athletes now. Like, we’re training to hit the ball further and faster and if you can do it, so good for you. So yeah, as you can tell, I’m clearly against it.”

Bryson DeChambeau:

“If you could say I’m the complete opposite times 1,000, that’s what I would be.

“It’s a great handicap for us guys that have worked really hard to learn how to hit it farther. Look, if they do it in a way where it only affects the top end, I see the rationale. But I think it’s the most atrocious thing that you could possibly do to the game of golf. It’s not about rolling golf balls back. It’s about making golf courses more difficult.

“I think it’s the most unimaginative, uninspiring, game-cutting thing you could do. Everybody wants to see people hit it farther. That’s part of the reason why a lot of people like what I do. It’s part of the reason a lot of people don’t like what I do.

“But again, it creates more conversation in a positive way than cutting it back and trying to make everybody equal. I’m all about equality. I’m not about equity on this front.”

Matt Fitzpatrick:

“I’ll be honest, I don’t really have an opinion on it.”

“If they want to do it, fine. Just got to get on with it. The only thing I would say is … if they’re going to do it, everyone should play that style of ball, amateurs as well. You either do it fully or it just becomes too confusing. … Juniors growing up, they want to play the same ball as Tiger Woods or Rory McIlroy.”