The USGA and R&A might be singing from the songbook of the late, great Sam Cooke, “A Change is Gonna Come.”
Well, maybe… if the USGA and R&A have their way. Golf Digest is reporting that golf’s two self-appointed Ruling Bodies next week are expected to announce they will change the rules to roll back distance in golf balls for elite players and the rank and file. Golf Digest’s Mike Stachura said the decision “would make nearly every popular golf ball played both professionally and recreationally non-conforming.”
Stachura cited “multiple industry sources” with direct knowledge of the plans of golf’s governing bodies, speaking on background.
Stachura is one of the golf media’s top reporters, so there is no reason to doubt the accuracy of his information, meaning the ball (pardon the pun) on the greens of the game’s golf ball companies regarding giving in or potentially fighting the decision in court. The PGA Tour and the PGA of America each have said they are against any kind of ball rollback.
The possibility of a ball rollback has ongoing for more than 20 years – actually since the Acushnet Company introduced the multi-component Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x in 2000. Other ball manufacturers followed suit with their own versions, but Titleist Pro V1 franchise has alwas beeen the golf standard. So, it would figure that the Acushnet Company might be the first to challenge the rollback, which wil repottedly be implemented in 2028.
On the record, most executives at the leading ball companies have supported – some more stronger than others – the Ruling Bodies’ decisions on golf ball distance Behind the scenes, however, more than one company has questioned the need for a rollback. And for their parts, the USGA and R&A have been relunctant to order a rollback – the general consensus among industry observers being that a rollback could lead to liigtion and threaten the coffers of all concerned.
That day now seems to on the horizon.
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