Better Late Than Never?

Finally, some action on distance by USGA and R&A

Of all the utterances in the wake of today’s announcement by the USGA and R&A that they are at least going to do something about how far the golf ball goes, three words jumped out to me.

“Governance is hard,” said Mike Whan, CEO of the USGA.

It certainly has been hard for the sport’s governing bodies, who are a couple of decades late in acting on technological developments that changed how the game was played at the highest level of men’s professional game. The inaction by those in charge years ago should not be forgotten. Golf writ large has always been beholden to the companies who make the balls and sticks. This wasn’t a huge problem until the manufacturers out-scienced the regulators who, wary of litigation, didn’t really do anything about the combination of hotter golf balls and hotter drivers for the best in the world.

Finally, the governing bodies are acting.

They announced new testing conditions for ball conformance: 125 mph clubhead speed (equivalent to 183 mph ball speed), spin rate of 2200 rpm and launch angle of 11 degrees. The current conditions, in place since 2004, are set at 120 mph (176 mph ball speed), 2520 rpm at 10 degrees launch angle.

The regulations will go in effect at the start of 2028, with recreational players having until January 2030 “to give golfers, manufacturers and retailers additional time to adjust” according to the USGA and R&A.

According to the governing bodies, the longest hitters are expected to see as much as a reduction of 13 to 15 yards in drive distance; average male professionals and elite amateurs a reduction of 9 to 11 yards; a 5- to 7-yard reduction for women professionals; 5 yards or less for most recreational golfers.

Today’s announcement might well have been one of bifurcation, of new regulations affecting only elite players. But when the USGA and R&A in March proposed a Model Local Rule intended for elite competition, there was such a hue and cry—from the PGA Tour, the PGA of America and some of those highly skilled golfers and the manufacturers who pay them handsomely to play their equipment—that the governing bodies decided to make the change for everybody. It has been five years since the “Distance Insights” project was launched to gather data and feedback on the topic.

“The measure we are taking,” said Martin Slumbers, CEO of the R&A, “has been carefully considered and calibrated while maintaining the ‘one game’ ethos deemed to be so important to the golf industry.”

Of course, recreational golfers don’t play the same game as tour pros. But it is much more of a myth now—when fast-swinging elite players get exponential benefits from all the technology that is available to them—than before the tech explosion of multi-layer solid balls, spring oversize driver heads and lightweight shafts.

Somewhat encouraging to those who believe the elite game could stand for further revisions to restore some balance to skills at the highest level were two promises in the USGA/R&A announcement. The governing bodies said they will expand the testing approach to better detect ‘driver creep,’ which can result in clubs exceeding equipment limits. And more to the point for those who believe that massive driver heads have diminished skill needed off the tee, the governing bodies “will research the forgiveness of drivers and how they perform with off-center hits.”

It was heartening to see at least some of the big equipment manufacturers react to announcement rationally, complimenting the USGA and R&A for their thoroughness and inclusion.

“In the end, we believe the game will best served by us all aligning behind a common set of rules and standards,” said Chip Brewer, president and CEO of Topgolf Callaway Brands. “Therefore, while we will always participate actively in the debate, when a final decision is made we will align behind it.”

Dan Murphy, president and CEO of Bridgestone Golf, said, “While we would prefer that any new rules did not impact recreational players, we believe further commentary is no longer productive. At this point, we need to concentrate on creating conforming products that allow both professionals and amateurs to play their best golf.”

The PGA Tour has plenty of fish to fry in other areas and ought to endorse the USGA/R&A announcement whole heartedly, although it didn’t do that today. Going rogue on this would be about as short-sided as anything it could do and would play to the worst stereotype of spoiled, coddled athlete.

There are plenty of hyperbolic reactions on social media, as if folks were going to have to start playing golf with wooden sticks and stones, but I appreciated the post on X, formerly Twitter, by Kevin C. Moore.

“Take note of how many anti-rollback people, especially the vocal ones, make money off your consumption and attention. Take a second note if their tone is one of stoking and dramatization.”

This action is overdue and necessary, a small step of doing the right thing, the hard thing.