A Wall Street Bailout?
Frank Thomas has taken on the USGA again in his weekly Frankly Golf e-newsletter.
A reader writes to ask Frank about the square groove rule change announced by the USGA last August.
The reader is dead certain that the USGA is manufacturing rule changes on equipment simply to line the pockets of the club manufacturers, a "bail-out" that he likens to the TARP program and Wall Street.
Thomas quickly pooh-poohs this but does say the governing body is way off the mark in implementing a rule change aimed at "150 to 300 of the best golfers in the world", as he puts it, but that forces every one of us who enjoys playing in a competitive, organized tournament every now and then to conform as well.
Frank Thomas is as passionate about fair rules as he is about golf itself. But he does argue that perhaps there's a place for a "bifurcation" of the rules, in other words, one rule for the pros and one rule for the amateurs.
Indeed, the USGA seems to recognize this issue since it is phasing in the new groove ruling in steps. Here's the press release from last August.
But Thomas also acknowledges that there should be one rule book for all golfers.
It's the principle of the thing, after all.
Yet how many of us who are recreational golfers will be greatly troubled by the new rule change and forced to replace our irons with new, conforming equipment?
Not many. The majority of recreational players do not belong to clubs but are "pay-as-you-play" golfers. So our rounds are informal and fun.
Why do we need to worry about conforming equipment then?
What really shanks Frank's ball is that, in his view, the USGA has been secretive about its research on square grooves and has refused to share its data with any organization other than the club makers themselves.
Tinker with the rules when necessary is Frank's view, in its essence.
Perhaps President Obama's commitment to transparency in governance will spread widely and envelop the USGA as well.
What the people who say this is a a ploy to make more money don’t realize, is that these rules will take YEARS to come into effect for the average golfer.
Good point, Tony. None of us really needs to worry for years – if at all in the end…I’m in no rush to replace anything in my bag, frankly.