TaylorMade Surveys Customers and Weighs in on Bifurcation

For those who haven’t been following – ‘bifurcation’ in the golfing spheres means the division of something into two branches or parts – or in this case –  the top professionals play with a different ball from amateurs.

This has been part of a USGA approved ‘rollback’ set to arrive in 2026 to the game, and has been subject to criticism across the golfing world.

TaylorMade have had a chance to respond, and today released their message.

“We believe a large part of golf’s appeal is this underlying sense of: “I can do that, too.” And using the same equipment as the pros gives us a more accurate feel for how talented these players are”

They compared the ability in golf to walk in the shoes of the professionals and those who came before us. We can go and play these incredible courses like Pebble Beach or St. Andrews, and we can experience the exact shots that the pros had to play – if we so desire.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by TaylorMade Golf (@taylormadegolf)

TaylorMade want to direct all conversations back to the golfer. Their survey includes a series of ‘Yes/No’ questions that ask whether the rollback will affect your interest in the game, as well as likelihood of playing more or less.

The message is that bifurcation removes the “I can do that, too” – aspect, something that several professionals cited after seeing Tiger Woods win The Masters, or watching Rory storm to his first major in 2011. The ability to replicate those that came before us is unique to the sport at an amateur level.

Before we submit our feedback to the USGA and R&A, we want to hear from you, the golfers.

Take this short survey and let us know where you stand on the proposed new rule and let your voice be heard: https://t.co/fWF5QxBr9v pic.twitter.com/ckt94KZsUO

— TaylorMade Golf (@TaylorMadeGolf) March 21, 2023

Jack Nicklaus has weighed in in the topic several times:

“Augusta is the only course that I know in the world that’s been able to keep up with the changes in equipment. But nobody else has the land or really has the ability to afford to do that. They have to make some changes, otherwise all the old courses, all the strategy and everything else that you’ve had on golf courses is gone”.

If the narrative switches from ‘reducing the driving distance’ to ‘protecting the legacy’ then in line with the PGA Tour’s message since LIV Golf came about, it would seem a much more popular stance to take.

I don’t think the rollback will affect whether we diehard golf fans continue to watch the professionals do their thing, but it just seems an unnecessary executive oversight when there are plenty more things that could be done to combat increased driving distance in the game. It will certainly affect the manufacturing companies like Titleist and TaylorMade for the foreseeable future, if the advertising focus is taken away from driving distance.

To be a decision maker in the USGA – you must think with the future in mind, while avoiding the stereotype that golf is failing to keep up with modern requirements. And is further division what is needed in the sport at this time?

It is a very difficult position to be in.

Cover Image via Twitter