Homework Assignment: Brush Up On 2002's Joint Statement Of Principles In Preparation For Tuesday's Distance Report

This blog started shortly after the USGA and R&A issued their Joint Statement of Principles. That was in 2002 and while I know most of you have memorized the key lines, I’m suggesting there could be a pop quiz on it Tuesday when the governing bodies release their Distance Insights findings.

For the fun of it, I’d suggest giving it a read and ponder what’s happened since the issuing in 2002.

Of course there are those pesky key paragraphs. Will they somehow ignore them again?

The R&A and the USGA believe, however, that any further significant increases in hitting distances at the highest level are undesirable. Whether these increases in distance emanate from advancing equipment technology, greater athleticism of players, improved player coaching, golf course conditioning or a combination of these or other factors, they will have the impact of seriously reducing the challenge of the game. The consequential lengthening or toughening of courses would be costly or impossible and would have a negative effect on increasingly important environmental and ecological issues. Pace of play would be slowed and playing costs would increase.

The R&A and the USGA will consider all of these factors contributing to distance on a regular basis. Should such a situation of meaningful increases in distances arise, the R&A and the USGA would feel it immediately necessary to seek ways of protecting the game.