Saying the day of reckoning is upon us might be over the top. Still, it is expected that the United States Golf Association and its regulation-making partner, the R&A, will announce changes to the Rules of Golf in the days or weeks ahead that could have significant repercussions for our sport.
Two years ago, shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic began, golf’s governing bodies announced that after significant study, they believed the trend in distance and the lengthening of golf courses was harming the game. Left unchecked, they stated, golf’s environmental footprint would grow too large, and the increasing costs of water and maintenance would damage many facilities. Many people also stated that as elite golfers hit the ball farther and farther, historically significant golf courses that can not be lengthened or changed become obsolete.
The USGA and R&A requested input and feedback from several sources after releasing their 2020 report, and they commissioned studies to learn more about distance from various points of view. Last October they announced the creation of a new Model Local Rule that can be instituted at elite events that would reduce the maximum allowable club-length limit on non-putters from 48 inches to 46.
Now, equipment companies are waiting to learn what, exactly, the USGA and R&A are planning to announce next. Will the rules that govern clubs be changed? Will the regulations regarding golf ball performance be tweaked? If there are changes, will the USGA and R&A only create Model Local Rules to be adopted at the elite level, essentially creating bifurcation in reality but not in name?
Golfweek asked several engineers at major manufacturers – people who actually design clubs – to answer questions about the effects that widely speculated equipment changes might have on pros and recreational golfers. Four agreed to answer anonymously, while others declined. Below are their answers Golfweek received, edited only for clarity.