USGA and R&A are Prepared to Formally Ruin Golf with their Rollback

News that breaks late on Friday night rarely gets talked about. It often gets lost in the ever evolving media landscape and, more often than not, replaced with Saturday morning’s news. But not this time.

Late last night, golf social media blew up with the newest rumor: the USGA and R&A are preparing to formally announce the golf ball rollback.

 

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Golf Digest (@golfdigest)

After soliciting comments for nearly three years and the PGA of America issuing a tongue lashing against the proposal, the rumor stands that the USGA and R&A are about to announce that every golf ball currently in play—on both the professional and amateur levels—will be rendered non-conforming.

If this holds true, you can expect an immediate panic in the near future. Panic about when the rule takes effect. Panic about how local clubs and courses will handle events. Panic about how your handicap will be affected now that you hit nearly every club 15-20 yards less. Panic about how golf amateurs—you know, those people who pay for everything from golf equipment to tee times—are about to be screwed by manufacturer R&D costs being passed onto them.

With respect to that last point, every one loves unwrapping some fresh pearls. But nothing hurts more than rinsing a fresh ball or sending one OB. It’s like you can hear the cash register ringing you up as you watch $5 just disappear.

And perhaps that what the USGA and R&A should’ve been listening for when making this boneheaded decision. You see, after golf experienced its greatest revitalization from the COVID pandemic, this rule change stands to make golf even more difficult (see “unenjoyable”) for amateurs, who already struggle enough with this game. And it’s not hard to see when the game is made even more difficult AND expensive to anticipate that golf could be entering another recession.

Yes, I am very aware and considerate of the counter opinion that we’re running out of real estate to contain professional and tournament players. But the reality of the situation is that this potential change is targeted at responding to a problem that affects, at best, 1% of the players, but will, undoubtedly, have a negative effect on 100% of the golfing community.

And if you couldn’t tell yet, yes, I am very much against roll back. 

Cover Image via Golf Digest