Thank you for taking the time to express your opinions regarding the groove rule change. In response, I have some comments that I would like to offer that hopefully will give you a better idea of why the USGA made this rule change. I noted your concern that the new groove rule would "change golf". Actually, golf has already undergone a significant change due to groove evolution. We are attempting to undo the change that has already happened. We believe that this is in the best interest of the game.



At its simplest, golf is a series of artificial impediments to achievement of a goal that we place before ourselves. We do this to create a challenge so that overcoming the challenge rewards us with the satisfaction of accomplishment. As a low handicap golfer, you no doubt appreciate the opportunities to overcome the challenges of the game. If there were no obstacles, such as distance, hazards, trees, undulating greens, weather, skill requirements, etc., golf would be rather boring and would probably have long ago ceased to exist. One of the key missions of the equipment rules is to maintain the challenge of the game by regulating equipment. We strive to do this in a balanced manner because we recognize that the history of the game includes a history of golf club and ball evolution. That's why we have allowed such things as clubs with spring effect and clubs as large as 460 cc. In both cases, a fair amount -but not an unlimited amount - of club evolution has been permitted. We believe that this practice serves the game well.



The groove rule change resulted from substantial research work done by the USGA. The USGA research staff includes six engineers, three of whom are PhD mechanical engineers. We take our research very seriously and conduct it with the best test equipment we can obtain along with the use of Tour players and amateurs as well. This research work was begun after some Tour players - including Arnold Palmer - told us that the game at their level had changed too much because of the ease that golfers escaped from the rough. That allowed them to be far less concerned about driving accurately. Our lengthy research confirmed Mr. Palmer's belief. If you are interested, the technical research reports on grooves that the USGA published during 2006-2007 are available to anyone with internet access on the Equipment section of the USGA Web site at the following location: http://www.usga.org/Content.aspx?id=24246. We believe that this is the most comprehensive research ever conducted on grooves.



Not surprisingly, opinions of Tour players vary on this topic. One significant opinion recently came from Tiger Woods who said of the rule change: "It's great. We've known for over a couple years now what this decision was going to be and we've had plenty of time to make our adjustments". In addition to the support of the PGA Tour, the PGA of America, Augusta National, the LPGA, and all top professional Tours around the world have endorsed the groove rule change. The R&A is implementing the rule change at the same time as the USGA.



This is a rule change intended to bring back more challenge to playing from the rough- especially for the best players. There should be little affect on shots from the fairway. In this way, driving accuracy should be rewarded more than it is today.



Our research told us that a groove rule change would be an equipment rule change that would have a minimal effect on the play of typical golfers while having a significant effect on golfers at the highest skill level. The reason why this won't have much effect on average golfers is twofold:

1) Most golfers don't hit greens from the rough very often, and this change only effect balls hit from the rough to the green;

2) Groove designs have virtually no effect on Surlyn covered balls. Since two-thirds of the golf balls sold are Surlyn covered, and those less expensive balls are usually played by typical golfers, the effect of the new groove will be small for the play of most golfers.



I think that is an excellent combination for a rule change and much preferred to other types of rule changes that would strongly affect all golfers (for example, ball distance). This is a change that will be virtually unnoticed by most golfers, and most amateurs won't be giving up much of anything.



The vast majority of average golfers will be able to continue to play with their current clubs for many years to come. For most golfers, this rule will not go into effect until at least 2024 – 15 years from now. That date was not pulled out of the air, it was chosen based on data we obtained from the Darrell Survey of Consumer Golf Equipment, a nationally recognized golf club market research company whose information about club usage is probably the most widely respected and used in the club industry. Their survey of typical golfers from all around the country shows that only 2% of clubs in use are more than 15 years old. This data tells us that the natural replacement cycle of golf clubs will result in virtually no adverse financial effect for most golfers. Additionally, the USGA has stated that the 15-year implementation period will be the minimum length of time. This question will be reviewed again in 2020 to determine whether or not the 2024 date remains an appropriate final implementation date. While the date will not be made any sooner than 2024, it is possible that a later date could be chosen. This implementation plan, as with the rule itself, has been created specifically to minimize the impact on average golfers.



In 2010 the PGA Tour will be implementing a Condition of Competition which mandates the use of clubs with grooves conforming to the new groove rules. The USGA will also implement this beginning in 2010 for the three USGA open events, including the U.S. Open. All USGA amateur events will implement the Condition beginning in 2014.



You indicated that you believe that your course and others will incur additional expense because needing to change course conditioning. In particular you said that your course's fast greens would need to change. I assume that you mean that they would need to be made slower. That change is one that usually results in less maintenance costs and healthier greens. We do not expect that golf courses will incur additional maintenance expenses as a result of this rule being implemented. And unless your club is hosting a Tour event, there is no need for even any consideration of changing course conditioning for years to come.



It is also worth noting that when the USGA makes an equipment rule change, we first propose it to manufacturers and other stakeholders in the game. At the same time, we publicize the proposed change to the general public via press release. The groove rule change was first proposed in February 2007 and received widespread press coverage. We received many comments regarding the proposed change from the manufacturers and from golfers. The final rule change decision announced in August 2008 was substantially modified from the original proposal as a result of the comments we received from both manufacturers and from golfers. We have an inclusive process.



Thank you again for expressing your opinions. If you are ever in the New York metropolitan area I hope you can find the time to visit the USGA Museum and particularly the Test Center at Far Hills, N.J.; we're about 45 minutes away from Manhattan. During the week, all visitors to the museum have an opportunity to get at tour of the Test Center. One of our technical staff members (which could be me because we all take turns) would be happy to show you around and explain how the USGA conducts testing, and I think you might find it to be interesting.



Sincerely



Dick Rugge

Senior Technical Director

United States Golf Association

Good post. I think that sums up the grooves issue in a nutshell.
Personally, I think a lot of fuss has been made over nothing, mainly from those who the new rule will not even affect in 15 years time. I defy anyone to have the same wedge in 15 years anyway!
Also, the introduction of rule changes regarding hot faced drivers passed without much fuss - so why the big issue with wedges, which are a fraction of the cost of a driver?
Manufacturers must be smiling from ear to ear, however. New conforming equipment awaits those who need it or not - just like when the HcR driver was dropped in favour of the new conforming model.

That was a very thoughtful and intelligent response, even if it probably is a stock letter. I appreciate that they take the time and respond to people's concerns one on one.

I was surprised that he replyed as well. This really does make sense except the part were he admits this rule was made to harm the elite golfers. This game comes down to the person that can get the ball in the hole the fewest strokes. That has more to do with your mindset than you driving accuracy.

We finally had grooves that made the game fairer, flyers are nothing but luck as for how much if at all they jump.

Trust me for you kids who do not know what a flyer is no amount of skill controls them.

Some lies jump ten twenty even thirty yards some not at all its a crap shoot. But there is no skill involved. Actually the best way to handle a flyer is take a shorter club and hit it hard once again the stronger player gets the advantage.

So the u grooves probably made the game easier it made it fairer. I thought that was the point of rules for a game to give everyone a level playing field.

My opinion of the USGA has never been lower than with this rules change.


Whats next lob wedges??????????? Hybrids ??????????

I can see how U grooves make the game easier....but more fair?

Can't everyone take more club and swing harder (relative to their normal swing)?

But not everyone can hit the fairway....

The advantage of accuracy was reduced with the u grooves....now it's back.....shouldn't a 280+yrd drive in the fairway be rewaded vs. a 280+ in the rough?

Good change IMOP

I don't have any problem with the rule changes. I just wish people would stop pretending that the "15 years" thing is a reality. How long before this filters down to things like club championships, simply because anyone who's bought clubs in the past 5 years will have a different set than everyone else? It will be a de facto reality in 4-5 years even if it's not "technically" being enforced until 2024.

No, you had grooves that made the game easier, not fairer. Do you really think it is "fair" for someone in the rough to have as easy a shot into the green as someone who is in the fairway?

Being in the rough should have some level of penalty, just as being in a bunker has a level of penalty. Somehow golfers now feel they are "entitled" to be able to stop the ball on the green from the rough.

Do you feel entitled to always be able to get up and down from a greenside bunker? Of course not. It's hard to get up and down from the sand.

So why do you feel that you should always be able to stop the ball on the green from the rough? Your ball isn't supposed to BE THERE, just not the same degree as a bunker, and as such there should be some level of penalty and the new groove rule restores that to the game. Now you have more incentive to be in the "short grass" since that is where you were supposed to be in the first place and if you are in the fairway, this rule change means virtually nothing as spin performance is not adversely affected from the fairway.

You know to stay out of bunkers, now it time to also care about staying out the rough... (again)

Just yesterday I had four balls over the back of greens from flyer lies with my ugrooves now trust me when I say these shots were more difficult than out of the fairway. I am sixty years old and do not posess the strength of my youth.

Ugrooves did not do away with the flyer they just made them more manageable. Nobody that plays the game can tell how much they will jump.

I was watching Sam and Jack in and old shell match on tv no way these guys could hold todays greens. You see in the fast greens were way slower than now. I wonder how these guys would have scored playing those clubs with todays hard and fast greens.

Trust me guys you will loose spin from the fairway as well with v grooves.

I personally do not see the point of changing the rule. Should the rules of the game be judged by Tigers standards of play?

The ball will be next they will shorten it hey mother nature is already shortening me.

Nice reply......

and in the link under the myths section....

7. The average distance for 5-irons on Tour is more than 200 yards.

False. The PGA Tour Shotlink system, which records virtually all shots throughout the season, shows that the average 5-iron shot from fairway to green is approximately 185 yards. From the tee on par threes, the average 5-iron distance is about 197 yards.


Coops

Nice stock letter. Great that they care to respond.

I find Reason #2 absolutely funny.

Sorry, but I disagree. In all but the thickest rough, you rarely get a flyer anymore with the modern U groove.



I also disagree. My backup set of irons that I keep at my brother's house in SoCal are the 1992 Hogan Apex irons with the matching sandwedge and a Ram Tom Watson Troon Grind 60* LW. I still get plenty of backspin with both wedges from the fairway, however, I do get jumpers from even moderate rough.

Bottom line, the rule is going to change, so deal with it. If you are 60 you probably don't play top-tier competitive golf anymore so what does it matter? You can use your wedges until 2024. If you think you are going to play so much that you will wear them out, buy some extras before the end of 2011.

I believe the entire point of the change was to discourage "bomb and gouge" type play. Some are tired of seeing guys blast driver and leave themselves a mid-iron into par 5's.

By changing the way irons play out of the rought, they're forcing the players to think more about ball placement off the tee and taking a little away from the guys whose games are all about the long ball.

Am I for it? I honestly wouldn't mind see how much it actually affects the guys out there first before making a decision.

IMHO, this is the problem with the USGA. It has lost focus on WHO the game is really about.

Golf is an amateur sport. 99%+ of those that play regularly are amateurs. The industry (and sport) only survives because of support by amatuers. Every golf course, pro-shop, golf store, equipment company, and ball maker exists for one reason: amateurs.

The USGA though, is focused on elite, pro players. If the USGA wants to "Tiger proof" equipment, then let them establish additonal equipment rules for pros.

Last I read, more amateurs were abandoning golf every year than were taking it up. The reason most give: golf is too hard. I can hear the self-righteous now "Golf is supposed to be hard, they should quit crying about it." When your local course or favorite golf shop closes due to lack of business, you'll be the one crying.

Again,

The Professionals don't care. They don't have to pay for new equipment. The people that get hosed on this deal are amateurs who now have to buy new wedges and irons.

Again why do you need to buy new clubs? How does this impact you at all? If you are good enough to make it into an event on the PGA Tour you aren't paying for clubs.

Which is exactly the point. Anyone that is an amateur that wants to even have a chance to compete or qualify now has to shell out for new irons and wedges. The pros don't care. Their sh!t is free. So this does nothing to a pro.

But the first kid trying to compete in a tournament that wants to adopt the "conditions for competition" is now SOL because their clubs are illegal for play. How does this grow the game? How does this do anything but hurt amateurs?

Kids who are good enough don't pay for clubs either. College golfers and the kids in the top 100 of the AJGA rankings get whatever they want for free. Titliest is also the most played clubs at high level amatuer golf, they give them away, and all their irons are conforming so people playing Titleist don't have to change anything but wedges. Nobody at that level pays for clubs anymore so its a non factor

I don't really care either way, but this rule is tough on people trying to qualify for high level tourney's.

Are the groove rules going to be in effect for us am qualifiers? That's alot of people who need new clubs next year

So apparently the real problem is that the USGA needs to go back and address the amateur status. If nobody cares because all their stuff is free, then this is a colossal squeeze job put on the consumer. Whether you put it into place tomorrow or 14 years from now, they will get their 30 pieces of silver.

But I understand that it's okay now. It's all free....

This is a very untrue statement! I know plenty of top level amateurs that pay for their golf clubs. Maybe not in your area but please do not generalize your information.

Then they do it by choice. If you are good enough to qualify for USGA events and good enough to Monday Qualify for Tour events you don't have to pay for anything. Please define top level. Are they nationally ranked? If they are, one call and faxing their resume to the major OEMs would get the free stuff or at worst they'd get PUD which would make most iron sets in the $400 range. Again I don't understand the outrage from people this doesn't affect. If it doesn't personally affect you why do you care. If people at a level well enough to qualify for a professional event on a major tour, golf is a huge priority and paying PUD for irons would be worth the sacrifice.

Find one junior/ am in the top 100 (not just "top level") that pays for his own clubs... I play with a couple on occasion...everything is free...clubs, balls, shoes, bags....the big companies are buying "lottery tickets" looking for the next big name....

I appreciate the guy's candor. They wanted to make a change to dial things back, affect the least players they could, and not mess with the balls. Changing the grooves has caused the pros to go with a more spin-friendly ball in many cases. Doing so will shorten drives due to higher spin rates, and accuracy being a premium, now even more, will cause a "dialing down" of yardages without affecting most average golfers. If the 15 years thing is bothering people, imagine how dull your u-grooves will be after 7!...let alone 15 years. 98% OF ALL GEAR WILL BE REPLACED IN 15 YEARS.