Written by Adam Schwartz
Rules are constraints. In a sports context, they constrain what you are allowed to do, and as such, they define the game. Change the rule and it will change the game, sometimes in small ways, other times in big ways, sometimes for better, and sometimes for worse. But, who gets to decide what’s better and what’s worse?
There are very unique characteristics that set golf apart from most sports.
Equipment can determine and have an impact on the outcome of the competition, and each competitor selects or buys their own equipment. In the absence of constraints/rules, it is possible to build better-performing equipment. In most cases of improved performance, the equipment carries a high price tag due to real costs of technology, manufacturing challenges, or due to competitive “product differentiation.”
After being part of this great game being a dues-paying member of the USGA and PGA, I expect them to protect my interest in fair competition without an excess of pocketbook power. In other words, golf tournaments (whether you’re playing in a league, city champs, state open, or on a professional tour) should be contests of individual skill. It should not be possible to buy an advantage by spending more money than your competitors.
This goal is obvious to me. But equally as obvious, it conflicts with the goals of someone who is responsible for selling golf equipment. The Rules of Golf have always stated that “the club face must not be designed and manufactured to have the effect at impact of a spring which would unduly influence the movement of the ball.” The original rules committee was not foolish; they understood the coefficient of restitution, the potential of future technology, and what it would do to the game.
Let’s not underestimate the dishonesty of current or future club manufacturers. Certain companies have been caught breaking the rules, but they point at the USGA for being anti-golfer, saying, “You’re taking away the toys that your members (golfers) love so much.” Companies fail to mention that they knowingly sold illegal toys, nor that they sold the illegal toys for more than the legal toys.
After the new status quo, here are my predictions moving forward for the industry.
Distances will increase the most for the best players, which is mostly due to the fact that it’s hard to design a spring face that isn’t more effective if you hit the ball in the middle of the club face. So, the professional tour players who are already pushing the limits are the ones who will push the limits the fastest and farthest. This seems a high price to pay for the weekly Sunday golfer.
Prices will increase with the certain manufacturers that promote, improve, and utilize technology. Unlike the production process in the past, companies that demand unilateral short-term margins will introduce clubs at a staggering rate due to vast changes in technology.
There are upsides to this as a retailer, but overall, I think these are uniformly bad changes to the game and the amateur golfers who enjoy this game.
