Dual Emirates Australian Open champion Greg Chalmers is “begging and pleading” for golf’s governing bodies to become proactive on key matters affecting the sport.
Chalmers, whose most recent Stonehaven Cup win came at this week’s venue The Lakes in 2011, said he had spent much time pondering issues that have dominated discussions since that time, with a distance explosion chief among them.
With next-wave players Cameron Champ and Luke List averaging in excess of 330 yards on drives this young PGA Tour season, Chalmers said he’d love any decisions on the impact of such length to be made proactively.
“I’m begging and pleading for the USGA and the R&A to do a better job, I really am,” Chalmers said.
“They always seem to be behind and I would love for them at some point, and it’s probably going to happen in about 10 years, they’re going to go, ‘Hmmm, I think the ball goes too far, or the clubs help to hit the ball too far’.
“So that is something that I am frustrated about because we always seem to be unwinding the clock.
“We always have to – it started with the wedges, the change in grooves, then we went long putter.
“They keep unwinding things. Why can’t we get in front of things? That’s the only thing I wish would happen, they would do a better job sometimes.”
Chalmers, while measured in response to questions about the PGA Tour schedule’s impact on the global game, sympathised with both Golf Australia and Australian PGA in ongoing scheduling concerns against other international events.
But he conceded financial imperatives in the American behemoth were often unhelpful to other nations’ scheduling decisions.
“It seems to be always finding that balance between what is best for them versus (a global aspect),” he said.
“They’ve got to a point where they can help others and also impact others. I don’t know what the answer is. Should they be concerned about (it), of course they should.
“They are, I’m sure, but they’re also very concerned about the business side as well.”
