Bryson Initiates Call With USGA Over Coming Changes And Sounds Convinced Rule Changes Will Protect "Human Element"

Too bad more players are not this grounded when it comes to the distance and skill discussion.

Of course this was said in Saudi Arabia where Bryson DeChambeau is headlining the European Tour’s stop there, but we’ll set that aside for now:

Q. I don't know if you had a chance to see the fact that the USGA and the R&A -- you have, good. You seem to be the only one that's literate coming into this thing. Anyways, what's your thoughts on it, and do you think that distance is an issue?

BRYSON DeCHAMBEAU: Well, look, I had a great conversation with John Bodenheimer and Jason Gore yesterday when it came out, pretty much right when it came out. That was my doing. I wanted to talk to them and get their piece on it. I totally understand what they are about. They are trying not to take the human element out of it, which I think is the most important factor in this whole conversation.

When it comes to the equipment aspect, they are trying to make it more of a -- I guess you could say same or fair playing field where you can't just put a 48-inch driver and it works for this person, you could gain six, seven miles an hour where somebody couldn't because the driver just doesn't work for them or whatever.

I think the most important factor in this whole discussion is that they are focused on keeping the integrity of the game and trying to make it more of a fair playing field while not taking out the human element.

I’m just stopping here to let you go back and read that last graph again. This is Bryson DeChambeau. Yeah he’s definitely cut back on the bacon.

From my perspective, I think it suits me really well because as of right now, I'm still playing the 45-and-a-half-inch driver, and it's suiting me perfectly well, and I'm not going to the 48. So if someone was trying to go to the 48 for them they could gain six, seven miles an hour pretty quickly and now it's not a possibility. And I think it's going to be more difficult for people to gain speed easily. They are going to have to work really hard, just like I have.

For me right now, I feel like it's a pretty good advantage from the way I look at it.

Q. Did you initiate the conversation?

BRYSON DeCHAMBEAU: I did.

Q. All that being said, would you not have a problem if they decided not to make adjustments into the rules?

BRYSON DeCHAMBEAU: No, I welcome it as long as they don't change the human element. Again, I'm going to play with whatever they gave me. I'm not worried about it. I'm going to do what that they say is legal and I'll just go from there and find the best way to play for me under The Rules of Golf.

There's no issues -- it's funny, I'm sure there's a lot of excitement about me having a potentially controversial thought on it but I don't. I think it's a really cool thought process. It's a little flattering in a sense, because I did talk about that 48-inch driver for so long, and it just didn't work for me the way I wanted it to.

As it's played out, I think it's really cool to see that there's some change off of the conversations that I've had, and it's just pretty interesting to me.

Human element. I’m borrowing that. So should the USGA and R&A.

Headline Writers Seize on Rory Slamming USGA/R&A Report, Less Impressed With His Endorsement Of Local Rule

Rory McIlroy spoke at Wednesday’s Waste Management Open press center and made an inconsistent set of comments about the distance issue.

Headline writers loved his comments slamming the USGA and R&A distance report proposals for consideration, but the real takeaway should have been McIlroy’s endorsement (again) of bifurcation and the local rule concept floated as a result of the study. A position also inconsistent with the views of his partners at Taylormade.

Which is why you do such a study so that such companies see the decision was made on data and research, not opinions.

From Adam Schupak at Golfweek:

Asked if he would be in favor of a local rule or different rules for the pros, McIlroy said: “I would be all for that. If they want to try to make the game more difficult for us or more – try to incorporate more skill to the game, yeah, I would be all for that, because I think it only benefits the better play, which I feel like I am.

The waste of money remarks from Ryan Lavner at GolfChannel.com:

“So I think the authorities, the R&A and USGA, are looking at the game through such a tiny little lens, that what they're trying to do is change something that pertains to 0.1 percent of the golfing community, while 99.9 percent of the people play this game play for enjoyment, for entertainment,” McIlroy said. “

Of course, the manufacturers have the option to make anything they’d like to help people enjoy the game. Following the USGA/R&A rules are 100% optional.

For those keeping score at home, that’s a huge endorsement for a local rule picked up by the governing bodies.

NLU Podcast: Unpacking The USGA/R&A Announcement

A chat with No Laying Up’s Chris Solomon not long after the USGA and R&A announced serious efforts to address the distance issue.

-@GeoffShac joins the pod to help us unpack the latest press release from the USGA/R&A. Change is coming! Geoff explains what all of this means, and responds to common criticisms of any kind of rollback/bifurcation.

Apple: https://t.co/XEaKCCVBBL
Spotify: https://t.co/2v88BQtiOn pic.twitter.com/v1mvki7rnX

— No Laying Up (@NoLayingUp) February 3, 2021

Shocking Equipment Proposal Sets Up Major(s) Skirmish

My latest in The Quadrilateral takes a look at the surprising aggressiveness of the governing bodies proposing equipment rule changes and how the men’s majors will get caught in the middle.

One follow-up note since this paid subscriber-only piece was posted: the PGA of America offered a statement in response to my request for comment.

"We look forward to providing feedback once we have the opportunity to review the areas of interest."

Augusta National Golf Club has not responded to a request regarding Tuesday’s rollout and what it might mean for The Masters.

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. 

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.”

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.”

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:

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.

Bryson Hopes To Reach 210 MPH Ball Speed In Competition

The ratings! The buzz! The kids!

I haven’t a clue what seeing a player cross 200 mph in swing speed and 210 mph ball speed does for folks, but it’ll be entertaining to watch in sort of a freak show way.

From Brentley Romine’s story on Bryson DeChambeau hoping to

“I haven’t given up the pursuit of trying to get faster,” DeChambeau told Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis on Tuesday at Kapalua, where after a year hiatus he will open his season at the Sentry Tournament of Champions.

How fast? DeChambeau said that once he reaches between 207 and 210 mph average ball speed with his driver (he currently leads the PGA Tour at 192.80 mph and has yet to break the 200-mph mark in competition), he will finally be satisfied with his distance quest.

“At that point, I’ll probably be like, ‘OK, that’s good enough,’” DeChambeau said.

Noted!

Prepare for goose bumps…or an eye roll depending on how you feel about the whole Long Drive move:

On Monday, DeChambeau said that after hitting 211 mph ball speed on the range, he reached 201 mph on the final hole of his practice round. He also said he hit an 8-iron 205 yards.

By the way, this is my friendly New Year’s reminder that the World Long Drive remains available for sale. Contact operators in Stamford, CT.

Bob Charles: “Shorten the tees, shorten the golf courses and shorten the performance of the ball’’

What a fabulous rant this is by Bob Charles on the absurd situation that is regulators having ignored doing their job.

Stuff’s Tony Smith talked to Charles about his biography and pointed thoughts in it on what a mess things have become.

As always I suggest hitting the link to enjoy it all, including his views on the new approach to U.S. Open golf. However, the 70-time winner and former Open champion’s view on the time rounds take and the women’s game was especially good:

The answer, Charles believes, would be to limit the power of the golf ball. He noted tennis and cricket balls had not “changed over the years’’, although cricket bat improvements had allowed the ball to be hit further.

“It’s a combination, in golf, of technology in clubs and balls, which are not doing anything for the good of the game.

“What people must know is that technology helps the fitter, stronger golfer much more so than it helps someone with a slow swing speed, the club golfer who only hits it 200 yards or less.’’

Charles, who still enjoys watching golf’s Majors on television “and events on courses I know and enjoy’’, is concerned that longer courses are leading to longer rounds, which could, potentially, put people off golf.

“When I first went to St Andrews, the course measured 6500 yards. Every tee was beside the green. The playing time for the members was between three to three-and-a-half hours. That was how I grew up – a round of golf took three to three-and-a-half hours.

“Now it’s taking four to four and a half hours. Watching those ladies play [in a LPGA event], they take five and a half hours. Now, what’s that doing for the game?”

I know! Nothing.

The Economist On Launch Angle Golf

Thanks to reader T for The Economist’s look at launch angle golf as carried out by Bryson DeChambeau to impressive effect.

There is this explanation of how he’s defying trends by launching.

The model’s lessons are intuitive. To thump the ball as far as possible, maximise clubhead speed and launch angle while minimising spin (which causes the ball to soar higher, rather than racing forward). However, most players face a trade-off between these goals, explains Paul Wood of Ping, a club manufacturer. Harder impacts usually mean flatter trajectories. Although the average male player swings faster and produces less spin than in 2007, launch angles have declined since then.

One golfer, however, has escaped this constraint. Bryson DeChambeau, a physics graduate with oddly designed clubs and a voracious appetite for data, is nicknamed the “Mad Scientist”. While the PGA Tour was suspended because of covid-19, he added 18kg (40lbs) of bulk. This has allowed him to swing faster than anyone else. But he has also managed to smash the ball with a high launch angle, rather than a low one—an unprecedented combination that might owe something to his unusually stiff wrists and robotic technique.

Putting Shotlink data to good use, The Economist put together a stunning chart showing DeChambeau’s outlier (for now) status in the launch/speed world:

Also, The Economist’s Editor’s Pick podcast discussed their research at the 14:56 mark.