PGA State Of The Game Round-Up, 2013
Jason Sobel reports on the PGA of America's "State of the Game" panel discussion and it sounds like the topics were relevant. That is, if bifurcation is your thing.
Tim Finchem continues to make some intriguing comments suggesting he and the PGA Tour see no problem with situational rules for the pro game and amateur play.
"As I said the other day in San Diego, generally it's nice to think that the Rules of Golf can be the same for everybody," PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem said. "You like to think that the participants in the sport can appreciate when they look at the elite players, because they are playing by the same rules; they have an affinity to the elite players. But I don't think that gets eroded from time to time if you were to bifurcate in certain situations.
"College football is the same. Even though you only have to have one foot in, it's still the same game."
Taylor Made CEO Mark King reiterated his belief that we already have bifurcation, so why not expand it in the name of growing the game, but as several prominent voices are quoted as saying in this week's Golf World, there is no data suggesting technology has grown the game.
"It's not coming; it's here," TaylorMade CEO Mark King reiterated. "We already live in bifurcation. We already do. Nobody plays by the exact Rules of Golf on Friday afternoon with their buddies. So I think it's about time that we realize what we have, we have elite players that need a set of rules and we need to create an environment where people want to come in and enjoy this great game, whether it's one foot in the end zone or two feet, we need to create that environment for people."
Dottie Pepper wins the prize for bringing up the topic that gets most people thinking about certain equipment restrictions for professionals.
" I think one of the saddest things I've seen in the time that I've been at this level," said newly appointed PGA of America board member Dottie Pepper, "is that we are seeing places like Merion become really in the rearview mirror of championship golf and places where the game has been born and where American golf and golf worldwide have such great tradition and such great history really become that history."
Saturday, January 26, 2013 at 01:11 PM
Reader Comments (24)
Pace of play is slow because ordinary golfers play at the pace they see on TV. Finchem doesn't mind slow pros so it will not change.
Unless Golf Clubs give each group an alarm clock that rings after 4 hours and at that sound, the group must walk in.
For me bifurcation means 3 sets of rules (trifurcation?)
A- Current USGA/R&A Rules of Golf for amateur competitions and for USGA handicap and whenever a group decides to play "Rules of Golf".
B- Professional rules (already they have their own, called local rules- no change there)
C- Casual or Social Golf Rules, this is the new set we need for S-Golf
Like perhaps (comments please):
1 Place don’t drop. (Amend rule 20 and all the decisions.)
2 When a ball is unplayable for any reason or lost, use the present Lateral Water Hazard Rule. (Drop a ball near where it went and add one more shot) (Amend rules 26,27,28- one rule only needed)
3 Make Hazards through the green so the club may be grounded and any stuff may be moved. (or better delete all rules on hazards.) (Delete rule 26)
4 No flagstick rule. (Delete Rule 17)
5 No advice rule but be quick. (Delete Rule 8)
6 Play when ready. (Amend rule 10)
7 Plugged, dirty or embedded balls may be cleaned and placed, anywhere on the course. (Amend rule 25)
8 Putts inside a putter length are given, as is the third putt. (Optional)
9 Use Strokeplay rules even when you are playing matchplay. (Delete Rule 2)
10 Penalty for moving your ball only if you moved it. (Simplify Rule 18)
11 Stuff can be moved. (Delete obstructions and loose impediments Rules 23&24.)
Any more?
Equipment rules can follow the marketplace. If purists or serious competitors, the USGA, or the USDA insist on approved gear only, so be it.
tib is right. Slow play is the anchor holding the game back at the "common folk" level. Course owners don't have the stones to speed things up while not realizing they're driving other fee players away. I was a member at a local muni for 9 years. I played 50-75 times per year. When the rounds approached 5-6 hours and a I got strangled by the even SLOWER leagues during the week I decided it wasn't a good investment of time or money. Last year I played 6 rounds to include 4 charity scrambles for causes I support. Haven't bought a club since 2009. And... I'm not alone.
People don't want to flop their fat ass on a cart, drink $6 beers and eat hot dogs. (Well they do, but they don't want ppl to know they do ;)).
Seriously tho, I stopped golfing because nobody wants to walk. I don't have 6 free hours outside to make myself fat and unhealthy but that's what the sport represents now.
I especially liked and agreed with BrainS's points.
First and only rule difference---Local rule Requiring ball thet meet an Overall Distance Standard, includng manufacturing tolerance,of 275 yards.
Test to be administered using Tiger Woods swing speed,and whatever Tiger hasin his bag for a driver today.
All balls optimized for shaft and clubhead.
ODS testing methodology to to be updated every four years.
Anybody can use the local rule.
Reactions please? would love to hear Taylor Mades reaction to this.
The last page of the rule book should read - Tournament players follow the rules as stated. Recreational golfers, play any way you want.
2 When a ball is unplayable for any reason or lost, use the present Lateral Water Hazard Rule. (Drop a ball near where it went and add one more shot) (Amend rules 26,27,28- one rule only needed)
-If a ball is lost...how do you know where it went? I've seen many players look for a ball for 5 min and find it 50-75 yards behind where they were looking. They thought is was much farther forward then it really was. So someone stripes a ball down the middle, it trickles into a hazard...their opponent hits a wild shot, doesn't find it, and drops it well ahead of where it actaully was...giving them an advantage. Not exactly fair.
8 Putts inside a putter length are given, as is the third putt. (Optional)
-inside each player's putter length? So we could have identical 4 foot putts but you are given the put becasue your putter is 4 feet, but mine is 3'10"? Also what constitues a putt? If I putt it from off the green, does that count? Or does it have to be on the surface? What happens if I putt off the surface and have to chip back on the green...am I back to my first putt or does the first one count?
7 Plugged, dirty or embedded balls may be cleaned and placed, anywhere on the course. (Amend rule 25)
-Even in a hazard? this may give an advantage to someone whose ball plugs in a hazard (as they can clean and place it) compared a a shot to the same hazard that didn't plug, but is an a bad lie. You would have players rooting for plugged lies.
I favour making the rules simpler but nearly every problem you think you've solved causes another one!Not as easy as people think.I think if casual golfers want to ignore the rules-then let them.Competitive golf should be properly regulated though.
I think the golf "industry" is missing the boat by not marketing the game as exercise. I dropped membership in a small 9- hole club in large part because I was one of only a very few that ever walked.
I think Ted Bishop's comments regarding anchoring show the same short-sightedness.
2 When a ball is unplayable for any reason or lost, use the present Lateral Water Hazard Rule. (Drop a ball near where it went and add one more shot) (Amend rules 26,27,28- one rule only needed)
Your Q-If a ball is lost...how do you know where it went?
My A-Nobody knows where a ball went into a lateral water hazard but the Rule exists. Life is uncertain- golf is life in miniature.
8 Putts inside a putter length are given, as is the third putt. (Optional)
Your Q -inside each player's putter length?
My A- Okay change putter length to club length. Or better still have a mark on the flagstick.
7 Plugged, dirty or embedded balls may be cleaned and placed, anywhere on the course. (Amend rule 25)
Your Q-Even in a hazard?
My A- Hazards as defined entities in the rules cease to exist. A bunker is simply a sandy area, a player can ground the club anywhere, a pond or stream is a water course. There are no red or yellow lines.
The rule for when the ball has gone, as in "Oh that's gone!" is what a new player would expect.
Keep those queries rolling in.
Chico you are too pessimistic- imagine inventing golf tomorrow, what rules would you invent?
The game of cricket has 3 forms, same bats and stumps etc but different rules. It works and makes more people play cricket.
And, would someone please tell King that it's anchoring that's been banned and not long putters!
Oh don't worry we do! I've not played in a comp for years- just weekday morning social golf. But the issue still remains- an easy intuitive set of rules for all casual players.
I've actually discovered on line the USGA Rules in Brief 2,100 words- a good start but still there's that daft stroke and distance rule.
(I do realise that my efforts are a complete waste of time and will not happen.)
Cheers