Tour Pros Say The Funniest Things: "Proposed Equipment Standards Changes" Edition

Some genuine beauties here.

Not that it’s a surprise, but the first two submissions to this week’s edition of Tour Pros Say The Funniest Things happen to wear Titleist hats. Not sure if you know, but the Tour editions come with industry-leading moisture and common sense wicking. I cannot confirm, however that the lids contain a small frontal lobe zapper every time a player wonders if there might be something to this whole distance thing.

Webb Simpson, defending Waste Management Open champion with that amazing dry wit.

Wait you said there is video evidence? Oh.

Brace for Onionesque tree planting ideas…

Q. Today the USGA and R&A released some proposals regarding distance down the road, maybe limiting driver shaft lengths, maybe some ball testing things. Just wondering where you stand on the whole distance debate, and also how big a player should the PGA TOUR be in this whole discussion?

WEBB SIMPSON: Yeah, it's a great question. My first problem I have with the driver length is if a 6'10" really good golfer comes out, like are we really going to tell him he can't use anything longer than 46? So that's my only problem with the length of the driver.

Somewhere a seven-footer is thanking you for saving him from a career in basketball.

But I've been kind of saying for the last few years, I don't think equipment is the problem. I do think -- Jack Nicklaus hit it a lot further than Bobby Jones, and then the guys after Jack are going to hit it further than Jack. Distance was never really that big of an issue when Jack was playing and hitting it 300 yards.

I just think the issue comes down to golf course architecture. We need more doglegs. We need tighter fairways. We need longer rough. We need smaller greens. We need more firm greens. All those things I just named save money, saves water, saves land that you have to build a golf course.

To my superintendent readers, I’m sorry I didn’t give you a warning that you’d be subjected to first-year green committee-level ignorance. I’ll do better.

We know that 8,000-yard golf courses are not the answer. Books Koepka shot 16-under at Erin Hills. I believe that's what he shot. Lengthening courses is not the issue. Bunker placements, dog begs, tree placements. I even think at Augusta on 13 we don't need that tee 40 yards back. What they need is a mid-sized tree 20 yards in front of the tee box and five feet left of the tee box because the issue right now is guys can tee it up on the right and they can even cut it, some of these guys, over the tree. Well, if you put a tree there guys can't do that.

See, this is where Clifford Roberts would actually follow that advice and put a $200,000 bill in Webb’s locker this year. Kind of miss those dictators on days like this.

It's just like the 4th hole this year at Winged Foot; it's a dogleg left par-4 but there's a tree there with branches so the bombers can't hit their cut over that bunker, so a lot of the bombers just hit 3-wood.

Now, attaching branches, trickier task. Great golf architectural ploy though. Yikes.

So I really think the attention does not need to be on equipment or the golf ball. Billy Horschel had a great comment a couple years ago.

There’s something you almost never hear.

He said the golf ball is not an issue; I hit a 7-iron in college 180 yards and now I hit it 180 yards, so it can't really be the golf ball is the problem.

Can’t be the golf ball, says another Titleist guy!

Now, the driver, the face is a lot thinner. They're bigger. I understand that. But I don't think an equipment rollback does anybody any good when we can change the way golf courses are designed and it's better for amateurs, it's better for pros, and there are plenty of golf courses on the PGA TOUR that have stood the test of time because of the way they're designed.

Yeah amateurs love rough, trees and tiny greens that are bumpy because they can’t handle the traffic.

Equipment advances don't really pay off or pay a dividend on those courses, and I just feel like these tweaks we could make are really not that hard and they're cost effective.

He’s run the numbers has he?

Your last point about the PGA TOUR, I think their voice should be very loud. I respect the USGA and R&A a great deal, and I know that their intentions are great, but I don't think an equipment rollback is what we need. I think we need different -- I think we need to tweak our golf courses.

And you have, and other than the TPC’s, you send the bill to others. Such consideration!

Justin Thomas returned from a few weeks off to gather his thoughts after microphones caught him uttering a homophobic slur and not to worry Wally, he appreciated the Acushnet support through trying times and stuck to the party line.

Q. I'm sure you've probably heard the USGA and the R&A today announced some proposals regarding distance, things like possibility of limited driver lengths or maybe regulations on the ball. Just curious your kind of overall thoughts on distance and the whole distance debate and maybe where you stand there.

JUSTIN THOMAS: Yeah, I didn't know that. I mean, I think that they -- I think distance is what it is right now because of us, and I think because of a lot of the players are taking the training and becoming more athletes and becoming stronger and more optimal in their distance. It is what it is.

It sure is.

I mean, if you give us different stuff we're still going to try to find a way to hit it as far as we possibly can. I don't think there's any reason or it's not necessary at all to change the golf ball.

Why of course not!

I am fine with them maybe not going any farther with it, but I think Tiger said it a while ago that they missed that opportunity probably 20 or so years ago.

Yes back when Uncle Wally and friends were totally open to the idea! Damn, those missed openings.

Strap in, it’s about to get silly.

Companies have put billions of dollars I would say -- I mean, I don't know that, so I'll say millions of dollars into the construction of golf balls and equipment, and to be perfectly honest, I think it would be extremely selfish of the USGA and the R&A to do that because of all the hard work that they've put in to make their equipment and golf balls as great as they possibly can and maybe just take a step back and realize that we're doing some pretty awesome things with the golf ball and the golf clubs, and also look at your everyday golfer and go up to him and tell him that you want him to hit it shorter because just the top .001 percent of all golfers are hitting it too far, if you will.

So much in one sentence but we’ll just go with “extremely selfish” for non-profit organizations to make people obey their totally voluntary rules.

I think it's not a very good decision, but you know, I'm not sitting in the boardrooms and making those decisions. But hopefully the right thing will be done.

Agreed. Roll it back!

Kind of all makes this Tweet from Wesley Bryan look dignified if it too wasn’t so 1998.

More sustainable...help mitigate....interesting word choices. Sounds like a bunch of conservative, traditional, average golfers, with average skill sets, hitting it average lengths off the tee all got in a room together trying to figure out a way to make golf less fun https://t.co/TD7bphcMoU

— Wesley Bryan (@wesleybryangolf) February 2, 2021

Proposed Equipment Changes: Is Everything On The Table?

I think so.

Granted, this may just be the USGA and R&A sending manufacturers down various paths just for the fun of it, but I’m still wrapping my head around this section of the “Topics of Interest” presented today:

In order to progress these matters, The R&A and the USGA will assess potential changes to both club and ball specifications over a wide range of skill levels and swing speeds that could lead to a reduction in driving distance, lead to a reduction of the distance for other clubs in the bag and lead to an enhancement in the balance between hitting distance and other skills, while at the same time conducting research in other areas beyond those directly associated with equipment specifications.

Regarding club and ball specifications we will evaluate the following:

•Reduction in the limit within the overall distance standard

•Modification in the limitation of ball efficiency (update to IV)

•Other ball specifications (size, mass)

•Reduction in the performance of drivers: club length and clubhead dimensions (including volume)

•Changes in the clubhead specifications on spring-like effect and moment of inertia, also considering the utilization of radius of gyration limitations

•Production of spin from all clubs from all areas of the course.

We will also evaluate the potential use of a Local Rule option to specify use of a defined subset of conforming clubs and/or balls intended to result in shorter hitting distances and/or an enhancement in the balance between distance and other skills. The concept is that a Committee or golf facility would have the option of requiring the use of equipment meeting these specifications or a subset of them. We are seeking feedback from manufacturers and stakeholders on this concept and how any of the above listed research topics could potentially be considered for use as a Local Rule.

Sure sounds like driver head size, the ball, grooves and most everything is a possible target.

Though it still seems most likely, based on the Distance Insights conclusion, that ball aerodynamics and the driver face will be what ends up changing.

Thoughts?

"The USGA and R&A Announce Golf Equipment Research Topics and Proposed Equipment Standards Changes"

We have a lot to get to! For now, the press release says a lot. With, admittedly, a fun buried lede.

The USGA and R&A Announce Golf Equipment Research Topics and Proposed Equipment Standards Changes 

Research topics include potential Local Rule and review of club and ball specifications 
to help mitigate continuing distance increases

Proposed changes to current Equipment Standards on club length, test conditions for golf ball testing and tolerances for club spring-like effect to ensure effectiveness in relation to distance limits 

LIBERTY CORNER, N.J., USA and ST. ANDREWS, Scotland (Feb. 2, 2021) – The USGA and The R&A are re-engaging with the golf industry on the Distance Insights project, which aims to help achieve a more sustainable long-term future for golf.

Strong lede.

The governing bodies are issuing specific Areas of Interest to help mitigate continuing distance increases and three proposed changes to the Equipment Rules to ensure their effectiveness in relation to distance limits.    

Areas of Interest=Person of Interest.

The delivery of research topics related to hitting distances and golf’s sustainability was delayed in 2020 to allow the golf industry to focus on the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic.   

The Areas of Interest notice, sent on Monday to golf equipment manufacturers, follows the conclusions of the Distance Insights Report delivered last February. It is the first step of the established Equipment Rulemaking Procedures, which give the opportunity for golf’s stakeholders to provide research and perspectives on topics that might lead to equipment Rules changes.  

 In addition, three proposals related to Equipment Standards were also sent to the manufacturers yesterday and have been published – two to modernize equipment testing protocols and the other to consider the adoption of a Model Local Rule that would provide flexibility for committees, if they so choose, to limit the maximum length for clubs other than putters from 48 to 46 inches. Notice and comment periods have begun immediately to invite feedback on each of the three proposals from golf industry stakeholders.  

The Model Local Rule. Also none as, a gift to Augusta National’s stately 13th tee pines that will live to see many more Masters and allow Bryson DeChambeau to say he’s been unfairly targeted. Maybe.

It’s a little too targeted and personal. Which might be the goal given that I see early reports by those who had the embargoed version of this leading with DeChambeau targeting in their headlines. Could backfire. Or could be a brilliant bait and switch to protect the big ticket changes.

Research Topics/Areas of Interest 
Document link:  Official USGA/R&A Document 
(Research due by Nov. 2, 2021) 

The Areas of Interest notice addresses two specific Areas of Interest:   

• 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.

That is bifurcation whether they will call it such or not. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

• 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 game. A list of club and ball specifications to be reviewed can be found in the official notice.

Stakeholders are invited to participate in the process by sharing any data or perspectives they might have on these topics by Nov. 2, 2021.  

Oh so much time to rack up billable hours!

The topics are purely areas for research. 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 USGA and The R&A are addressing the effectiveness of current equipment-testing processes, protocols and standards with respect to distance limits. As a result, the governing bodies are seeking comment from equipment manufacturers on three proposed Equipment Standards changes, as follows:  

Proposal #1: Club length – reduction to 46 inches available as a 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. 

And on March 5th…sorry, go on.

Proposal #2: Update on testing method for golf balls. Comment period ends on Aug. 2, 2021. 

Proposal #3: Change to testing tolerance – Characteristic Time. Comment period ends on Aug. 2, 2021. 

These items were telegraphed in the Distance Insights report, so should come as little surprise to manufacturers.

The 2020 Annual Driving Distance Report 

The USGA and The R&A also today released the 2020 Annual Driving Distance Report. The full report can be found here: Report Link  

Key quotes 

Mike Davis, Chief Executive Officer of the USGA, said, “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.” 

Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive of The R&A, said, “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.” 

Strongest quotes yet. They’ve made up their minds. Let the whining begin!

And now for your buried lede.

Updates Since February 2020 

During the pause in distance-related research caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the USGA and The R&A completed their regular review of equipment-testing processes, protocols and standards to ensure their effectiveness in relation to distance limits. The proposals detailed above are the outcome of this regular review of equipment-testing processes, protocols and standards to ensure their effectiveness.  

As such, these proposals were not conceived and are not intended to be solutions to the distance issues identified in the Distance Insights Report.  

But we did add the 46-inch driver rule based on what we were seeing.

The summary below of the issue at hand is also quite well said.

All notices related to golf equipment follow the Equipment Rulemaking Procedures adopted in 2011 by the USGA, The R&A and golf equipment manufacturers, which provide an open process of dialogue for all involved. The procedures can be reviewed here.  

The Distance Insights Report released last year highlighted the impact of long-term hitting distance increases on some of golf’s essential elements, including changing the strategic challenge of the game, 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. The governing bodies are working with the key stakeholders in golf to address these issues in a way that brings the game together and which ensures it will continue to thrive for many years to come. 

Work is also currently being conducted to develop industry-wide recommendations and best management practices on course design, setup and course conditions related to distance for all golf courses and golfers, as detailed among next steps in the Distance Insights conclusions document delivered last year. The USGA is currently conducting field testing and research, with outcomes to be delivered throughout 2021.  

And there you go. Easily the most confident statements we’ve ever seen from the governing bodies. 

Reed Mess Highlights The PGA Tour's Complicated Relationship With Golf

So many forces and so many strange things happened down at Torrey Pines this weekend. There were winners, losers and warning signs.

I tried to put them together and what this means for the game, the rules and the rulemakers (who also run majors…The Quadrilateral’s focus).

This one is for paid subscribers only.

But the membership committee is not opposed to new subscribers.

Patrick Reed Continues To Bulldoze The Spirit Of The Rules

Apparently no one told Patrick Reed to not touch the ball unless absolutely necessary. Golf’s like soccer that way.

And you certainly don’t do anything around the ball that could look like you are improving your lie. At least, in the old days before the PGA Tour transitioned to a players-first culture when Tim Finchem retired and marketers took over the executive ranks.

So even with an image-killing incident at the 2019 Hero World Challenge and other run-ins with lie improvement, Captain America has resumed his assault on the most important rule of all: playing the ball as it lies.

Sadly, his 2021 Farmers Insurance Open third round actions were not denounced by the PGA Tour in any way. Official Ken Tackett, who has stood down Bryson DeChambeau’s more absurd relief requests, was debuting in a new role for CBS that will see multiple rules staffers sit in to explain situations. Just a half hour into the new role he was put to a test and mopped up for Reed, sadly. In his defense, Tackett’s paycheck comes from the players. He technically works for Patrick Reed and a cult of personality based in Florida that believes PGA Tour golfers are above golf’s rules. Still, that Tackett could not call out Reed’s premature touching of his ball despite the incredulous reactions of CBS’s broadcast team, has a nefarious aging very poorly.

If you were not watching or following on social media this all sounds a tad silly so we’ll review the facts below for posterity. But there has been a great deal of focus placed on the way Reed’s ball bounced and then purportedly embedded. It is very true that it was almost impossible to embed and therefore need relief. However, Reed was clearly told by a volunteer that she did not see the ball bounce. Fine.

But any elite golfer does not engage in what Reed proceeded to do next: pick up the ball and drop it aside while declaring it embedded, but wanting a second opinion too. If it’s even possibly embedded, you mark and slightly lift up, holding the ball with two fingers to replace it as it sat, and do this preferably under the supervision of a playing partner or official.

Instead, this is what happened:

It took Reed less than 10 seconds after he got there to pick up the ball and palm it.

— Andrew H (@andyhart4444) January 31, 2021

A careful or proper approach did not happen because Patrick Reed has a complicated relationship with playing the ball as it lies. Especially since after an incident like Saturday’s where he’s (reportedly) told his actions were “textbook,” as he claimed in post round interviews. (A follow-up interview of PGA Tour rules official John Mutch confirmed this to Golf Channel.)

Let’s review some of the evidence, starting with the tape of Reed approaching his ball and starting off ok by yelling to his playing partners he was checking for an embedded lie—but then spiraling from there.

⬇️ Patrick Reed on 10 ⬇️pic.twitter.com/AqxPgJdOMU

— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) January 30, 2021

The volunteer was wrong, the ball did bounce and while that was an unfortunate mistake, Reed picking up the ball as quickly as he could AND discarding it, instead of holding it in his fingers to replicate the lie should it not be embedded, suggested he had no intention of ever playing from that lie.

By the time rules official Brad Fabel arrived, there was nothing much for him to look at but the “lip” of the embed he apparently detected under finger after having asked where the ball had gone.

Then there is the bounce issue. The PGA Tour was supposed to have a rules official monitoring telecasts and this would have been a fine moment for that official to radio in that the tee shot bounced. This would signal that Reed’s ball probably did not embed. However, everything transpired quickly and with Reed having moved the ball, it may have all been moot.

The bounce shows an embed was highly unlikely:

This is Reed’s ball ON THE BOUNCE! And he got embedded ball relief! pic.twitter.com/NPN5GfpmSM

— No Laying Up (@NoLayingUp) January 30, 2021

No way that ball was imbedded pic.twitter.com/VgAxLUKwZ4

— Pete Benedetti (@Benedetti346) January 30, 2021

Here's Reed on #10 from the time he hit his approach. Decide for yourself. pic.twitter.com/pHQSF3ly9T

— Rick Gehman (@RickRunGood) January 30, 2021

@NoLayingUp here’s the convo with the rules official, twice telling him it didnt bounce. Use at you will. pic.twitter.com/1ohSXYnYKv

— James Else (@Elsey6) January 30, 2021

After the round CBS stayed on many minutes past their allotted time to break down the situation and wait out Reed, who was busy on his cell phone. The entire time the CBS on-air was skeptical of the story and claims, including lead announcer Jim Nantz who interviewed Tackett after hearing Reed’s case. Tackett made an even less compelling case that Reed had conducted himself professionally the second time around.

Jay Rigdon at Awful Announcing covered the first effort just 35 minutes into the telecast, which was also did not inspire confidence.

Twitter was also not kind to the on-air official.

Standing ovation for CBS. They absolutely did not let Tackett off the hook, revisited the video, asked probing questions, and questioned him when the answers were clearly ridiculous. Nantz, Faldo, all exceptional. Amanda's questions to Reed were the right questions. Wild stuff.

— No Laying Up (@NoLayingUp) January 30, 2021

Nantz's face listening to Tackett. lmao pic.twitter.com/Yl1p22CF6X

— CYC (@chrisycram) January 30, 2021

The quibbling will continue and Reed will have to live with the consequences. But make no mistake: he has openly exhibited a contempt for the spirit of the rules. The PGA Tour has not given any indication this is a problem.

In the good ole days this would have just been one of those “silly rules of golf” things that people could have mocked. However, with legalized betting and the PGA Tour’s hard push of that new revenue source, a cavalier approach to the rules and the players who bend them will ultimately prove disastrous.

WSJ: "For Golf, Covid Is Even Better Than Tiger"

There were some odd lines in this Jinjoo Lee and Spencer Jakab WSJ piece and it’s always uncomfortable to read about golf’s spike in play given the pandemic’s toll. (Thanks reader John for sending.)

After noting the stock price gains for Dick’s, Acushnet and Callaway, they write:

Sports-apparel and equipment giant Nike shocked many by exiting the golf business in 2016 and competitor Adidas sold off some brands the following year. Retailer Golfsmith declared bankruptcy in 2016. Between 2003 and 2017 the number of U.S. on-course players fell to fewer than 24 million, from nearly 31 million. Part of that was a “negative hangover” following the financial crisis that led to less business golf, says Randy Konik, an analyst at Jefferies.

But equipment sales began to rebound soon after. In 2019 the number of first-time U.S. players hit 2.5 million, exceeding the previous high of 2.4 million in 2000 when Tiger Woods was racking up trophies and inspiring young players. One reason is that more baby boomers have started taking up golf.

“People aren’t giving enough thought to how much of America is getting older,” says Mr. Konik. “Golf is the perfect sport for that part of the population.”

This was odd given, well Tiger’s back surgery last month but we get it.

A more recent boost for the sport comes from younger professionals now working remotely. Fitting in 18 holes on a weekday was once an expensive and time-consuming way to cultivate business contacts. More flexible schedules make hitting the links closer to home easier.

What could make golf’s recent upswing even better? The sort of excitement that Tiger Woods created in the late 1990s could be rekindled by some of the young players now on the scene, such as Dustin Johnson and Jon Rahm. Tiger himself is showing flashes of his old brilliance.

Cleeve Hill Saved! New 125-Year Lease Awarded

Robin Hiseman calls Cleeve Hill “the links in the clouds”, and as one of the historic courses biggest advocates ,the golf architect is one of many who deserves credit for highlighting the importance of Old Tom Morris’s design.

And now its uncertain future has been resolved.

MASHIE golf managing director Nick Hovey and local businessman Sam Foyle have agreed to a 125-year lease at Cleeve Hill after winning a bid conducted by the Tewkesbury Borough Council.

Cookie Jar Golf’s Sam Williams broke the news and recorded a podcast with the new lessees.

A podcast snippet is below followed by the original Cookie Jar video that highlighted the importance of Cleeve Hill, prompting calls from all of the world and the likes of Nick Faldo to save this gem.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Joe McDonnell (@joemcd_golf)

Bryson Sets Launch Plan For Bay Hill's 6th Green

We’ve long past the farcical nature of launch angle golf. Still, it should be fun to hear about drivable par-5’s around the time governing bodies are slated to update us on their distance insights.

Given that John Daly took his share of practice round cracks at Bay Hill’s sixth green, it’s only fitting to hear Bryson DeChambeau wants to try in the upcoming Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Luke Kerr-Dineen kindly did the transcribing from this Sean Zak chat with DeChambeau:

“If I play this year I will definitely do it,” Bryson told GOLF.com’s Sean Zak during a one-on-one interview last week, sponsored by CDW. “Number six at Bay Hill is one of those I’ve been eyeing. I think I can do some pretty cool things on it.”

Bryson added that the only thing that could throw a wrench in his plans is if the wind swirls unexpectedly. He won’t try it if the wind gusts into him, obviously, but if it’s a little downwind as usual, it’s a “100 percent go.”

R&A Turns To Niall Horan "To Support Fresh Drive To Get More Young People Into Golf"

Another day, another governing body reaching out to the kids.

At least (A) we know Niall Horan really does love golf and isn’t doing this just as an “influencer” (B) I don’t have a B.

For Immediately Painful Release:

THE R&A APPOINTS MODEST! GOLF TO SUPPORT FRESH DRIVE TO GET MORE YOUNG PEOPLE INTO GOLF

27 January 2021, St Andrews, Scotland: The R&A has appointed Modest! Golf to work on designing and developing a series of future grassroots programmes aimed at inspiring more young people into golf and retain them within the sport.

The new programmes will be launched later this year and provide more opportunities for young people to be introduced to golf through offering fun and accessible formats of the sport that are more in tune with how today’s generation uses its leisure time.

The arrangement will see focus on increasing the appeal of golf for young people by leveraging the power of influencers from the sports and entertainment world to present the sport in a more positive light to new audiences and challenge some of the more unhelpful perceptions that exist about golf.

Oh, how 2019 of you.

Phil Anderton, Chief Development Offer at The R&A, said, “Modest! Golf has a wealth of expertise and insight from the entertainment and sports industries that will be combined with our experience of developing golf around the world to establish exciting new initiatives aimed at reaching new audiences and inspiring more young people into playing golf with their family and friends.

“Our relationship with Modest! Golf is built on a shared ambition for golf to be viewed as a fun, friendly and accessible sport that is inclusive of all people no matter their age, gender, ability or background. We look forward to working together to broaden its appeal through our networks in golf and encourage young people to enjoy its many social and health benefits.”

Niall Horan, founder of Modest! Golf, said, “I am so proud to work alongside The R&A in developing programmes to encourage and inspire more young people to play the game of golf. It is something my company Modest! Golf is hugely passionate about and I am honoured that the chief executive Martin Slumbers, Phil Anderton and The R&A are entrusting my agency to help drive the game forward.

“The R&A has a long legacy within the game and I look forward to helping to create new and modern initiatives to showcase to the younger generation just what a great sport golf is.”

Modest! Golf evolved from entertainment agency Modest! Management and was founded by Niall Horan and Mark McDonnell in 2016. It is responsible for the management of professional golfers including Tyrrell Hatton, Leona Maguire, Connor Syme, Olivia Cowan and Guido Migliozzi as well as world top 5 disability golfer Brendan Lawlor.

It also aims to promote inclusivity and opportunity through renowned events like the ISPS Handa World Invitational and the Horan & Rose charity tournament which has raised over £2 million for children’s charities across the world.

The campaign kick off…

A sport that you can play for the rest of your life 🏌️‍♀️🏌️‍♂️@miaellax spoke to @modestgolf founder @NiallOfficial about his passion for golf and why he wants to encourage more young people into the game ⛳️

Watch the full video here 👉 https://t.co/0mQqkzAKpp ⛳️ pic.twitter.com/a9NsYwR5AA

— The R&A (@RandA) January 28, 2021

Final 2020 Numbers: Rounds Up 13.9%, Equipment Sales Up 10.1%

A few things are especially astounding regarding the pandemic’s role in spiking 2020 rounds played: the number of days courses were closed as safety restrictions were put in place along the policies restricting guest play at so many clubs.

And, all of this happened without a single significant distance-gaining technology breakthrough we’ve been told must be preserved by the rulemakers to grow the game.

For Immediate Release:

Golf Datatech Releases 2020 U.S. Golf Retail Performance Report and Annual Rounds Played Data; Exclusive Insights Indicate Record Breaking Year—Golf Rounds Up 13.9%, Equipment Sales Jump 10.1%  

Rounds Growth is Largest Full Year Increase in the History of Golf Datatech’s Data; Golf Equipment Sales Eclipsed $2.81 Billion at Green Grass Golf Shops & Off Course Specialty Stores; Apparel Sales Drop 14.2% 

Kissimmee, Fla., January 25, 2021 – Golf Datatech, LLC, the golf industry’s leading independent market research firm for retail sales, consumer and trade trends, today unveiled the 2020 National Golf Performance Report, a first-of-its kind annual report analyzing rounds played and retail equipment sales in the U.S. Golf Datatech’s report indicates rounds soared by 13.9% and equipment sales increased by 10.1% over 2019. The year-over-year surge in rounds and retail sales are primarily a result of golf being positioned as a near ideal socially distanced activity during a pandemic. The 13.9% increase in rounds is the largest total year increase since Golf Datatech began collecting and projecting rounds played in 1998, topping the previous largest increase of 5.7% in 2012. The 10.1% improvement in retail sales bettered the previous all time high percentage gain of 10.0% in 2005.  

Fueled by a combination of avid players, newcomers and infrequent golfers, 2020 demand for all things golf surged during the second half of the year. In fact, 2020 spending reached near record levels, as overall golf equipment sales eclipsed $2.81 billion, the third highest annual total of all-time, trailing behind only 2008 ($2.91 billion) and 2007 ($2.87 billion).

“While the global pandemic wreaked havoc on many segments of our economy, the golf industry experienced a significant boost in rounds played and equipment sales,” said John Krzynowek, Partner, Golf Datatech. “On the equipment side, sales increased by low single digits in both 2018 and 2019, but the double-digit gains in 2020 can only be attributed to the pandemic and golf being a respite for so many.”

While rounds played and equipment sales experienced sharp increases in 2020, apparel sales went the other direction and dropped by 14.2%. Golf apparel is predominantly sold thru on-course golf shops, but due to COVID-19 restrictions, many pro shops were not fully operational for several months. Additionally, a lack of international travel and lockdowns during the critical spring season in warm weather markets had a detrimental impact on many resorts, which sell a significant amount of logoed golf apparel. Added together, these factors all weighed heavily on the Green Grass Golf Apparel business.

While on-course sales declined, apparel sales at off-course specialty outlets, particularly those with a strong online presence, enjoyed significant growth in 2020. Moreover, the last two months of the year saw total apparel sales up 11%, a hopeful sign heading into 2021.  

Added Krzynowek, “Combining equipment and apparel sales thru the on and off-course channels, total consumer demand in dollars for golf product was 3.2% higher than in 2019. Given the state of the golf economy in late spring, anything in positive territory had to be considered a big win, and December data continues to impress and suggest the business may still have room to run in early 2021.”

2020 December Equipment Sales Increase 58%

Your monthly reminder that more rounds and more people hitting balls is growing the equipment business, not the promise of more distance…

U.S. GOLF MARKET CONTINUES RECORD BREAKING MONTHLY GROWTH - DECEMBER EQUIPMENT SALES INCREASE 58% COMPARED WITH 2019 

Golf Datatech Reports All-Time Best December Equipment Sales Numbers;

2020 National Golf Performance Report for Rounds Played and Retail Equipment Sales Set to be Released on January 25   

Kissimmee, Fla., January 20, 2021 – Golf Datatech, LLC, the golf industry’s leading independent market research firm for retail sales, consumer and trade trends, has announced that U.S. golf equipment sales for December 2020 were up 58% over the same period in 2019, while exceeding December’s previous all-time high, set in 2006, by 16%.  

These record-breaking sales are being released just days before the full 2020 National Golf Performance Report for Rounds Played and Retail Equipment Sales, which is set to be released on Monday, January 25. 

“December sales are consistent with the golf industry momentum we’ve seen over the past seven months of 2020,” said John Krzynowek, Partner, Golf Datatech, LLC. “As we all continue to deal with the pandemic in our everyday life, golf equipment sales continue to surge, up over 40% for the June-December time frame.”

Categories leading the way for the total year were golf bags and wedges, which increased by 29% and 26% respectively. Overall equipment sales at Green Grass pro shops were up 1% while Off Course sales grew by 16%. 

Krzynowek adds, “Green Grass pro shop sales were more heavily impacted by government mandated closures and restrictions on businesses, so even though courses may have been open to play the game, shopping and buying products inside a golf shop did not explode like the Off Course Specialty channel, which benefitted from a significant expansion in online sales.”

International Golf Federation President Annika Sorenstam Has Some Explaining To Do

Much has been made of Justin Thomas regrettably invoking a homophobic slur at the 2021 Sentry TOC. Even more was made—almost embarrassingly so given world events—of Thomas’s plight after Ralph Lauren suspended their relationship with the star golfer late Friday.

“RLX” is the golf clothing component among Ralph Lauren’s family of brands. They have created a faux lifestyle via shrewd marketing. The private company pay models and even golfers to conjure up a perception and ideal life. Their goal is to move merchandise to a large audience. They have every right to end a deal if someone they pay puts them in a bad light.

Fans will decide what they think of him and cynics will question the passion of RLX in dropping him at 7 pm ET on a Friday night, the dumpiest of news dump hours. Given RLX’s advertising in the major golf publications, you won’t hear much criticism of their timid timing or wishy-washy language.

For his part, Thomas apologized and has likely wiped the term from his repertoire. There are plenty of other companies—Citi, Titleist, Footjoy, Netjets, Woodford Reserve, etc…—willing to stand by the world No. 3. He’s also assuredly paid a handsome PGA Tour fine for his language and will find a new clothier for this week’s European Tour stop in Abu Dhabi and beyond. He will make his next mortgage payment.

A far more complicated case golf and negative attention surrounds Annika Sorenstam.

The all-time golf great and ambassador of the women’s game recently was elected president of the International Golf Federation and is also one of four deciding votes for entry into the World Golf Hall of Fame (alongside Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Nancy Lopez).

The IGF is an amalgamated organization fronting all of golf’s major families—the R&A, USGA, Augusta National Golf Club, PGA Tour, European Tour, LPGA Tour—to represent golf on the world stage and grow the game.

Just hours after January 6th’s insurrection and riots at the Capitol resulting in five deaths, Sorenstam went ahead with an appearance at the White House to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom from outgoing President Donald Trump. She is an admirer, golf partner and longtime supporter of Trump but was apparently unmoved to cancel on the 7th, unlike New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick a few days later. There has been widespread condemnation of Sorenstam and Player for accepting the medal.

Trump will award Presidential Medals of Freedom to golfers Annika Sorenstam and Gary Player today -- after Trump inspired a mob to ransack the capitol, leaving four dead. Principled Trump staffers resigning. Annika, Gary, what are you doing?

— Thomas L. Friedman (@tomfriedman) January 7, 2021

There are many more opinion pieces out there but I found this from Swedish writer Martin Hardenberger to be a powerful summation of Sorenstam’s decision making and responsibility to the game. The English translation:

And here, by distancing himself and the entire Gulf from Trump and what he stands for, they could also have struck a blow for democracy and everyone's equal rights.

But they did not.

Of course, Annika and Gary had nothing to do with Wednesday's invasion of Congress, but when the rest of the United States was in mourning, they had Thursday coffee with the man and instead linked up with Trump and one of the biggest shame spots in the country's history.

For a person who not only dominated competitive golf but also crowned a senseless career by playing against the men, reducing gender gaps and working for golf as a more inclusive sport, it is nothing short of remarkable.

When we did not even talk about Trump being accused of sexual harassment by no less than 26 different women.

After the medal ceremony, I was commissioned to call for reactions. Among other things, I got hold of Helen Alfredsson.

“When you have a voice, it is important to stand up for things that are more important than yourself, such as democracy. Many young people look up to sports stars. If a sports star stands for something positive, it is easier for that young person to be influenced in the right direction.”

With the events of January 6th aging ever more poorly as more evidence surfaces and major corporations flee from anyone supporting the insurrection, Sorenstam has been silent. Active on social media until recently, she has shared nothing about receiving the medal or explained her view of Trump’s role inciting the riot. As a longtime follower, I can see that Sorenstam appears has deleted numerous re-Tweets demonstrating her support of Trump leading up to and after the election.

Her last Tweet features 554 replies and the reaction to her acceptance of the medal is overwhelmingly negative.

Her husband, Mike McGee, deleted his Twitter account entirely after the January 7th visit to Washington. It would have taken days to scrub @JMikeMcGee of the various conspiracy nonsense and hydroxychloroquine peddling. Given the role Sorenstam plays as IGF President, it was the only move for McGee to make.

Sorenstam appears to be hoping the entire thing will go away even as she is leading golf’s top organizations? Even though the mission of the IGF is to improve the game’s image with the world and the job is of some importance given the planned Tokyo Olympics this summer.

Sorenstam is scheduled to play this week as a celebrity in the LPGA Tour’s 2021 Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions in an event featuring celebrities, athletes and LPGA winners from 2018-2020. She is an ambassador of the event and will hopefully address her positions. This Mike Bianchi profile in the January 16th Orlando Sentinel quotes Sorenstam on a few topics and mentions the medal ceremon, but does not appear to address the topic with her.

I reached out to the IGF about Sorenstam receiving the medal on January 7th. This statement from a spokesperson was already posted on the blog in coverage of the Player/Sorenstam medal ceremony (an that remains hidden from public reporting with no official photographs or releases documenting what happened at the White House).

Here is the initial IGF statement:

The International Golf Federation is extremely proud that Annika Sorenstam has received the Presidential Medal of Freedom along with Gary Player and the late Babe Zaharias, each of whom not only excelled at golf but transcended our sport as role models, mentors and philanthropists.  

As noted when she was named as the IGF’s new President in December, Annika is universally respected as a generational talent in women’s golf who, since retiring from competition, has dedicated herself to promoting women’s golf at all levels through her foundation. We are extremely proud of Annika and all that she has accomplished. 

Following the groundswell of outrage over the rights and subsequent impeachment of President Trump, I asked the IGF for comment. I received this statement on January 15th:

As an International Federation, the IGF recognises the importance of the autonomy of sport from politics and that the IGF must always remain politically neutral. That said, the IGF does not condone any forms of violence or illegal acts, including those committed by individuals that were viewed by the world during the breaching of the US Capitol Building on 6 January 2021. 

The spokesperson was also asked about the Twitter account scrubbing. It was made clear the IGF “absolutely did not urge Annika to delete any Twitter posts.”

I also reached out to the World Golf Hall of Fame spokesperson on January 7th and Callaway, longtime sponsor of Sorenstam, and have not heard back.

In scrubbing Tweets and hunkering out of the limelight, Sorenstam may have recognized the error of her ways in accepting the medal only hours after the attempted insurrection. As an American citizen now, Sorenstam is more than entitled to her views under the First Amendment. But if she is to continue on voting for Hall of Fame members and representing golf to the world as IGF President, Sorenstam needs to clarify where she stands on the events of January 6th. Otherwise, it is hard to imagine how she can adequately represent golf and its leading organizations on an international stage.

State Of The Game 109 With Phil Blackmar

Longtime pro golfer-turned-television commentator Phil Blackmar penned this blog post looking at the enlargement of the game.

For better or worse, the biggest version of golf is here. Everything about the game is bigger. Bigger heads, longer shafts, longer drives, wider and longer holes, bigger courses. Even the professional players are bigger. In the ongoing, and often contentious distance debate, equipment advances bear the brunt of causation. “Romanticists”, as they are often called, long for the older game which valued curve, angles, accuracy and distance (yes distance), risk reward, and more. The game they relish was a smaller game founded in the equipment and golf course architecture of year’s past.

Guilty!

So Rod Morri, Mike Clayton and yours truly had him on State of the Game to discuss the ongoing matter of whether bigger is better.

As always, you can find State of the Game at your favorite podcast players or listen here:

Is The Golf Industry Ready To Build On Its Unexpected Boost?

Former PGA of America President Ted Bishop isn’t sure as a course operator and in part one of his look offers some super thoughts.

From his Morning Read piece quoting Barney Adams:

Adams added: “The question now becomes, How can the industry keep these people? Frankly, I don’t know. I think cheapening the game with gimmicks is short-sighted and will not work. Whatever can be done to establish the purity and essence of golf will keep a significant percentage. When the bars open, normalcy returns. Industry people need to be extremely vigilant and see what works.”

As a golf professional and an operator, I need help in figuring out how to capitalize on this unprecedented surge in golf, and right now the industry is not providing it.

Your local golf pro is on the front line. In my conversations with many around the country, the sentiment is the same: 2020 was a bizarre year. It caught everyone off guard. COVID-19 protocols forced operations to change on the fly. Tee-time pressure and course access became huge challenges at public and private facilities. Outings, weddings, parties and large gatherings were lost, leaving courses to replace those revenues with membership sales, green/guest fees and golf car rentals. Golf became a business built on volume in 2020, and no one saw that coming.

While the volume idea sounds amazing given declines in play, Bishop goes on to touch on the issues that raises for courses and those built to survive on a variety of revenue sources. Check out the piece and part two when it arrives.

Slowing Down Golf Courses Is Not A Distance Debate Solution

Several sent along Dr. Chamblee’s latest distance elixir, his 43rd pivot on a topic Golf Channel’s lead analyst has adopted to the detriment of his otherwise compelling analysis work. And it hasn’t even brought a certain Massachusetts advertiser back into the fold.

I won’t waste much time highlighting his view that you slow down home runs by raising the infield grass, but that is the case being made to deal with today’s absurd carry distances. But remember, these are back to back sentences as they appeared on GolfChannel.com:

But there is also a graph which shows, quite clearly, players’ increased visits to the fitness van plots the line of the increased yardage gained over the last 40 years. I’d argue that one could also make a graph where the increased driving distance, to some extent, corresponds to the decreased fairway heights, which over the last 30 years have come down from being cut at 3/4 of an inch, to now being cut at 3/16 of an inch.

Yes, you read correctly: he went from players going to fitness vans to get their distance gains “to some extent” corresponding with lowering mowing heights.

Actually, no extent.

There was also a whopper of a misrepresentation that might have been fact-checked if they hadn’t fired most of the editors. Chamblee’s claim of most fairways getting cut at 3/16th of an inch was refuted by the USGA’s Championship Agronomist on Twitter:

Vast, vast majority of courses are not routinely cutting fairways below 1/4 inch, not even close. Not even at the Tour courses.

— Darin Bevard (@DarinBevard) January 6, 2021

This was all really a roundabout way to point out that last weekend’s Sentry Tournament Of Some Champions was hard to watch. The views and whale shots were as spectacular as ever, but Kapalua’s Plantation course was a sponge.

A Coore-Crenshaw design to played on the ground with the ball running had taken on a lot of rain leading up to the tournament, hasn’t played faster after the renovation designed to help it do so, and therefore called on little creativity or shotmaking. It played longer, yes, but it was also tough to find remotely compelling.

Every course plays better firmer and faster. Harvesting rough, slowing down fairways and attempting to mute technology-fueled gains via agronomy is not only a woeful idea, it goes against the very soul of a game built on firm ground.

Does anyone want to sacrifice a core principle of golf to avoid taking 10% of carry away from 1000 golf pros? Trying to watch lush and lifeless Kapalua should give you the answer.