Ed Mitchell, PGA
EditorI fully expected to be inundated with responses about my last blog, Is It time To Check For Non-Conforming Clubs On The 1st Tee? I am astonished that it appears no one cares about the integrity of the game, or at least wanted to share an opinion.

The Rules of Golf are dear to me, having been recognized as achieving the highest level of rating at a PGA/USGA Rules Workshop years ago. I also served on the Rules Committees at a couple of major PGA championships. I always made playing by the Rules a priority at the clubs I served as golf professional by holding Rules clinics and preparing quizzes to enhance my members’ knowledge of the Rules. After all, during our club tournaments and everyday casual play, as golf professional, I was expected to be the Rules authority when situations arose that determined results of matches or for a friendly bet.
 
Since my last blog, the Cleveland Golf HiBore XL 10.5 degree right hand driver has been added to the USGA non-conforming list. Cleveland announced that a limited amount of drivers might not conform to the USGA Characteristic Time test. Again, it was stated that a variance in the manufacturing process caused the problem.

How many of these non-conforming drivers does it take to get industry professionals up in arms about the way manufacturers are pushing the envelop on the C.O.R. limits. Lets face it, if you set a limit, then that is the number manufacturers will shoot for to be competitive.

But that is not the whole problem. The problem is also enforcement. Who is supposed to enforce the Rules? The USGA states that it is the responsibility of the player to carry clubs that conform to the Rules of Golf. Really? Do you think Joe Golfer is checking the non-conforming list on the USGA website every Monday morning when it is updated?

The proliferation of so many clubs being available globally makes it almost impossible for golfers to know if their clubs conform to the Rules of Golf. When golfers buy new clubs they rightfully expect them to be conforming. The only way to enforce equipment Rules is to have individual clubs tested and then marked in some fashion as conforming. Yes, that would be a monumental task. So don’t expect it to be done any time soon.

That brings me to the real point of equipment Rules. Why is the USGA setting limits on club performance knowing full well that the enforcement of the Rules of Golf will not happen? By the very rules they create, they are damaging the integrity of the game.

It is no different then the speed limit on highways. Ask police officers today about enforcing speed limits and they will tell you generally they let cars travel 10 to 15 miles per hour over the limit. So what is the purpose of the limit in the first place? The same thing has happened to golf. The USGA has set limits but no one is checking what golfers use during everyday rounds of golf (scores that are posted for handicaps) and tournament play.

The situation is now compounding itself. With the new groove proposal, that appears to be headed for implementation by the USGA, old wedges will be grandfathered 10 years for everyday and tournament play. Ten years?? Either it is legal or illegal. Why grandfather it and then 10 years later just let it slip off the first tee in golfers’ bags, who not knowingly are playing with an illegal club. Does the USGA think these old wedges will just disappear in 10 years? And if no one is checking the wedges on the 1st tee, then they will be in play. You cannot expect golfers to remember which clubs are conforming and which ones are not.

The USGA has created this non-enforceable process, which has been with us for some time. It is time golf professionals started checking clubs to see if they conform. I know, you think some golf professionals could lose their job if they tell their club president he is playing with an illegal club. There are diplomatic ways to handle this. It first starts with education. I believe most golfers want to play by the Rules. Golf professionals are not going to lose their jobs over this.

The Rules of Golf clearly states in Rule 4, 1a, that the player must play with clubs which conform to the Rules and that failure to do so will result in disqualification. At the same time, the USGA makes it the responsibility of the player to ensure that his clubs conform. But how is the player to know?

As I stated earlier, the problem is enforcement. The USGA has not given the industry a real way of enforcing equipment Rules. They have a written “Field Procedures” as a guide to Rules Officials concerning questions on the conformity of clubs at competitions, but this only covers situations when the player, fellow-competitor, opponent or third party is questioning a club. In the conclusion of this guide, it says officials in doubt should err towards deeming clubs to conform because the USGA believes it is a more serious error to disqualify a player for carrying a club that later is deemed to be conforming than allowing use of a club which is later deemed non-conforming. I am not sure I understand that reasoning. Either the club is legal or illegal. If it is illegal, it should not be in play. This solidifies my justification for checking clubs on the 1st tee before play begins.

So how do equipment Rules get enforced? It must be done at the club level. That requires the golf professional to be the equipment Rules authority.

I believe the USGA should consider implementing an education program and procedure for checking golf clubs. That procedure should provide instant access to data about golf clubs that have been deemed conforming or non-conforming. I hate to say it, but most golf professionals know very little about Rule 4 and Appendix II of The Rules of Golf. The USGA and The PGA of America should consider conducting seminars specifically for golf professionals on these Rules. Call it a “check and balance” that golf professionals provide to assist the USGA in keeping club manufacturers in line with manufacturing policies and the Rules.

Golf courses should embrace such a USGA procedure by making golfers aware of the Rules and encouraging them to have their clubs checked by their golf professional. This USGA procedure could also be used at PGA  & LPGA Tour events.

Golf professionals are perceived to be equipment experts. If golf professionals have the opportunity to check their golfers’ clubs, it reinforces that perception and it generates equipment discussions that could lead to new club sales, club performance upgrades and lessons. This certainly could be a win-win situation for golf professionals.

So how about it golf professional, do you want to be a keeper of the game and an equipment Rules authority at your club? Or do you just want to rely on a broken system that ignores the Rules of Golf and expect your members to accept the responsibility to tee it up with conforming clubs?

It’s your choice. I would expect that some of you might have an opinion you want to share this time. I hope to hear from you.

Respond to Editor’s Blog here.