Golf’s powerbrokers react to R&A and USGA’s golf ball rollback announcement

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Overnight, the R&A and USGA made official what Golf Digest first reported last week, that they will enact a change to their golf ball testing protocols to make the ball travel shorter.

The rollback would be implemented for golfers of all levels in 2030 – different than the bifurcated proposal those governing bodies put forward earlier this year. The R&A and USGA predict a 10-15 yards decrease for golf’s longest hitters, down to one to five yards for amateurs.

Naturally, the rule change caused an eruption from golfers on all sides. Let’s break down some of the most noteworthy reactions.

Golf Australia

The national body here supports the rollback decision, issuing this statement:

The R&A and United States Golf Association have announced overnight the decision to revise golf ball testing conditions that determine conformity to the Rules of Golf, with the update to come into effect from January 1, 2028.

Aiming to reduce the impact increased hitting distances have on golf’s long-term sustainability, while minimising the impact on the recreational game, this decision falls under the Overall Distance Standard (ODS) and Golf Australia stands behind the decision of the game’s global governing bodies.

Our organisation supports this decision for all the detailed reasoning throughout the joint announcement, and especially for the stated goal to protect the integrity of golf courses and the required variety of skills needed to play them.

These two core elements of the game have been greatly impacted by increased hitting distances, with further, and more significant impacts likely, if not addressed now.

Primarily driven by the increases in hitting distances at the elite level, the revision of conforming golf ball testing will come into effect for club golfers at January 1, 2030, with the longest hitters in the professional game expected to see a reduction of as much as 12-14 metres in driving distance compared with one to five metres for most recreational golfers.

PGA of Australia

The peak body for professional golf in this country was wary at first about any rollback talk, but today endorsed the decision:

The R&A and United States Golf Association (USGA) last night announced the revision of testing for conforming golf balls, with the change to come into effect January 1, 2028.

As a member of the PGA World Alliance that brings together leading vocational Professional Golf Associations around the globe, the PGA of Australia initially raised concerns over some of the proposed changes, and we are pleased that the R&A and USGA continue to take our views into consideration that will cover the entirety of the game with a view towards protecting the courses and skills required that are the fabric of our great game.

The PGA of Australia are also encouraged that while changes will come into effect at the elite level in 2028, the changes for recreational golfers become active at January 1, 2030, allowing our PGA members, both vocational and tournament, time to plan and adjust.

As one of the many organisations working for the betterment of the game of golf globally, the PGA of Australia has great respect for the R&A and USGA as the rule makers of golf and appreciates the opportunity for involvement in this process following the Distance Insights Project that has ultimately resulted in this decision.

Bridgestone Golf

Golf-ball maker Bridgestone Golf issued a statement effectively saying they don’t like the change, but they accept it and are moving on.

Rory McIlroy

McIlroy has been outspoken in support of his rollback. After a tweet over the weekend, McIlroy joined Sky Sports to support the official proposal, saying that it’ll lead to a more “skilled” game.

TaylorMade Golf

McIlroy’s sponsor, TaylorMade Golf, released a statement on the rollback, expressing opposition but acceptance. On Golf Channel, the company’s chief executive David Abeles said: “This decision has been made, and we will move forward.”

https://www.golfdigest.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2022/GArDF-_XoAA_b7Y.jpg PGA Tour

The PGA Tour, with a vast majority of players being against the decision, released a statement questioning the specifics of the new testing protocols, saying they aren’t representative of on-course speeds.

https://www.golfdigest.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2022/Screenshot 2023-12-06 at 8.50.28 AM.png Callaway Golf

Callaway Golf carved out a unique position, expressing disappointment that the R&A and USGA moved away from a bifurcated proposal.

https://www.golfdigest.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2022/GArLmHzWkAAejH7.jpg PGA of America

The PGA of America released a statement praising the delayed timeline of implementing the new rule, but expressing concerns over a “greater reduction of distance than we would advise” for recreational players.

We appreciate that the USGA and R&A ran a collaborative and patient process over the past several years. We are particularly gratified that they heard our concerns regarding the significant operational challenges bifurcation would have presented and are no longer considering a local rule regarding the ball for elite players. We are also pleased that the proposed change to the ball has been delayed until 2028 for elite players and 2030 for recreational golfers. Given the important role our nearly 30,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals play in the recreational game, having more time to adjust to the new rule is helpful. We remain opposed to any change that may potentially lessen the enjoyment of the game for recreational golfers or diminish the unprecedented momentum the game is enjoying. It appears recreational golfers will see a greater reduction in distance than we would advise. While this decrease has been lessened, we continue to recommend being more moderate on the swing speed change for the golf ball conformance test. At this time, we continue to have concerns and look forward to continuing this important conversation and finding resolution with all of our golf industry partners.

R&A and USGA CEOs Martin Slumbers and Mike Whan

Defending their own proposal on Golf Channel, Slumbers said that the move was designed to “protect the long term health and sustainability of the game… with the environmental concerns”, while Whan punched back against some of the proposal’s critics:

“There’s gonna be a lot of ambulance chasers and alarmists that are gonna make this thing seem so much worse than it really is… I don’t want a few loud voices that are trying to get more clicks and more viewers and more phone calls to drive a frenzy that quite frankly isn’t based in fact.”