USGA has one less ally on its side. Another original equipment manufacturer blasts the golf ball rollback introduced by the R&A and USGA. After TaylorMade Golf expressed their disappointment, the LA Golf CEO laces into the USGA for coming up with an absurd rule that will make the game “more difficult and less fun”, while turning off the amateur crowd as well that once enjoyed playing. 

The golf ball rollback policy is aimed at curbing the distance the golf ball travels. As per the two rule-making bodies, driving distance has increased due to high-tech equipment coming into play. This has resulted in golf courses lengthening their holes, which they deem is unsustainable in the long run. However, Reed Dickens, the LA Golf CEO, lambasts the claim as misleading and inaccurate.

No warm welcome for USGA

NuclrGolf tweeted the LA Golf CEO’s official statement on its X (formerly Twitter) profile. The 47-year-old CEO criticized USGA for creating difficult rules. “I have said for years that the USGA wakes up every morning and tries to find new ways to make golf more difficult and less fun for amateurs & they have truly outdone themselves with the ball rollback.”

Reed Dickens feels this will make the game harder for amateurs. The CEO claims that over 80% of amateurs have never gone over the 100mph driving speed. As per the data shared by him, average male golfers can hit only 200 yards. “Over 80% amateurs have never broken 100 and the average male can only drive the ball just over 200 yards.”

Reed fails to see any logic behind the golf ball rollback policy as it “flies in the face of any rational view of the data.” He further adds, “Swing speed has remained flat for several years and golf courses have actually gotten shorter, in spite of their statements to the contrary.”

There has been a noticeable increase in the shorter par-3 courses. R&A acknowledges that too, while making changes to handicap rules. However, for them, it was not germane to the golf ball rollback policy. Contrarily, the governing bodies feel this will make it more accessible and appealing to the amateurs.

Are amateurs hit too hard by the golf ball rollback policy?

The latest announcement does away with the Model Local Rule (MLR). MLR allowed local governing bodies to decide whether they were going to implement the policy or not. There was a chance this could have created bifurcation between amateurs and pros, where the former might have to play with low-flight balls, while the top 1% continued to play with the same balls.

Read More: Will USGA and R&A’s Rollback Policy Affect LIV Golfers?

Notably, the golf ball rollback policy does not come into effect till 2028. Even then, only top amateurs will tee off with the low-flight balls in 2028. For recreational golfers, the rule will take effect in 2030. As per officials, the average amateur will witness a reduction of only 5-7 yards in their driving distance.

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