Golf’s governing bodies have reengaged with the golf industry on the Distance Insights project to help mitigate continuing distance increases. Yesterday, The R&A and USGA sent a research topics/areas of interest notice to golf equipment manufacturers and have also mooted three proposed changes to the Equipment Rules to ensure their effectiveness in relation to distance limits.
The research topics/areas of interest are derived from the conclusions of the Distance Insights Report delivered last February. It is the first step of the established Equipment Rulemaking Procedures adopted in 2011 by The R&A, the USGA and equipment manufacturers, which provide an open process of dialogue and afford golf’s stakeholders the opportunity to share research and perspectives on topics that might lead to changes. The R&A and USGA noted that the delivery of the research topics was delayed in 2020 to allow the golf industry to focus on the impact of the global Covid-19 pandemic.
In addition, three proposals related to equipment standards were also sent to the manufacturers and have been published – two to modernise equipment testing protocols and the other to consider the adoption of a Model Local Rule that would provide flexibility for committees to reduce the maximum length for clubs other than putters from 48 to 46 inches.
Research Topics/Areas of Interest
The Areas of Interest notice addresses two specific topics, with stakeholders given util November 2, 2021 to share their views and related data:
1. The potential use of a Local Rule that would specify the use of clubs and/or balls intended to result in shorter hitting distances. This would enable committees conducting competitions to stipulate whether such equipment should be used. It could be available at all levels of play and would also allow golfers playing outside of competition to choose for themselves.
2. A review of the overall conformance specifications for both clubs and balls, including specifications that both directly and indirectly affect hitting distances. This review would consider whether any existing specifications should be adjusted or any new specifications created to help mitigate continuing distance increases. It would not consider revising the overall specifications to produce substantial reductions in hitting distances at all levels of the sport.
The two governing bodies noted that the topics are purely areas for research and that no solutions or decisions are being proposed at this stage. Any proposals for Rule changes that might result from this research will be communicated in accordance with the Equipment Rulemaking Procedures.
Proposed Equipment Standards changes
The R&A and the USGA are addressing the effectiveness of current equipment testing processes, protocols and standards with respect to distance limits, and are seeking comment from equipment manufacturers on three proposed Equipment Standards changes:
Proposal 1: Club length – reduction to 46 inches available as Model Local Rule (MLR) (original proposal delivered in 2016 and paused in 2017 due to the Distance Insights project). Comment period ends on March 4, 2021.
Proposal 2: Update on testing method for golf balls. Comment period ends on August 2, 2021.
Proposal 3: Change to testing tolerance – Characteristic Time. Comment period ends on August 2, 2021.
“We are now able to progress with the work on this critical topic and are beginning the next phase as expeditiously as possible. The research topics and the proposed changes we have announced will be the focus of our attention in the coming months and we look forward to gaining insights from the golf industry and fully understanding their perspectives on these key areas. We remain fully committed to conducting this hugely important exercise for the sport thoroughly, efficiently and collaboratively,” said Martin Slumbers, chief executive of The R&A.
Mike Davis, chief executive officer of the USGA, noted: “The research conducted through Distance Insights clearly shows that hitting distances have consistently increased through time and, if left unchecked, could threaten the long-term future of our game at every level and every golf course on which it is played. This is the first forward step in a journey and a responsibility the USGA and The R&A share with the worldwide golf community, to ensure that golf continues to thrive for the next hundred years and beyond.”
The R&A and the USGA further stressed that the proposals were the outcome of their regular review of equipment testing processes, protocols and standards, and are not intended to be solutions to the issues identified in the Distance Insights Report. The report highlighted the impact of long-term hitting distance increases on some of golf’s essential elements, including changing its strategic challenge, altering the variety of skills needed to be successful and risking courses becoming less challenging or obsolete. Further, the report states that the overall trend of golf courses becoming longer has adverse consequences that ultimately affect golfers at all levels of the game.
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