The R&A and USGA are proposing a Model Local Rule (MLR) that gives organisers the option to require the use of balls which are tested under modified launch conditions; the MLR is intended for use only in elite competitions and will have no impact on recreational golf
Wednesday 15 March 2023 08:41, UK
Golf's governing bodies have proposed a new local rule to give tournament organisers the option to require the use of a distance-reducing ball.
Advances in fitness and golf equipment technology have seen players hit the ball further and further in recent years, leading to golf courses being lengthened in an effort to continue to test the world's best.
The R&A and USGA said in February 2020 that they intended to "break the ever-increasing cycle of hitting distance" but admitted it could take years before solutions were found.
Since then they have been consulting with equipment manufacturers about the issue and on Tuesday announced the proposal of a Model Local Rule (MLR) that gives organisers the option to require the use of balls which are tested under modified launch conditions.
Speaking in 2021, Masters chairman Fred Ridley said a specific "Masters ball" would be a last resort in the battle to limit hitting distances.
The fifth hole at Augusta National was lengthened by 40 yards ahead of the 2019 Masters and the par-five 13th has now also been extended by 35 yards.
The MLR is intended for use only in elite competitions and, if adopted, will have no impact on recreational golf.
The proposal was sent to equipment manufacturers on Monday and they can provide feedback until August 14. If adopted, it would take effect in January 2026.
Under the proposals, a ball struck at a laboratory-controlled swing speed of 127mph - up from 120mph - must not travel more than 320 yards.
The change is expected to reduce hitting distance by 14-15 yards on average for the longest hitters with the highest clubhead speeds.
R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers said: "We have worked closely with the golf industry throughout this process and taken time to listen carefully to their perspectives and reflect on the helpful and constructive feedback they have provided.
"At the core of our proposal is a desire to minimise the impact on a flourishing recreational game.
"We believe the proposed Model Local Rule will help us move forward in a way that protects the inherent qualities of the sport and reduces the pressure to lengthen courses.
"This is an important issue for golf and one which needs to be addressed if the sport is to retain its unique challenge and appeal."
Acushnet, the manufacturing company best known for its Titleist brand, responded by claiming the change would increase the divide between amateur players and the elite.
"One of golf's unifying appeals is that everyone in the game plays by the same set of rules, can play the same courses and with the same equipment," Acushnet said in a statement.
"Golfers can watch professionals and compare themselves to the world's best, aspiring to hit the same shots.
"This bifurcation would divide golf between elite and recreational play, add confusion, and break the linkage that is part of the game's enduring fabric."
Acushnet Company CEO David Maher added: "Golf is an aspirational sport, and we believe at its very best when equipment and playing regulations are unified."
Sky Sports News' Jamie Weir:
"The long-term trend of increased distances threatens golf's long-term sustainability. It means lengthening courses, watering them even more.
"It means increasing the time to play and we know how much of a bugbear people have with slow play and it also undermines the core principle of golf being a game of skill.
"Martin Slumbers, of the R&A, says we have crossed the Rubicon in terms of distance and where it is trending. Mike Whan, of the USGA, says it would be borderline irresponsible not to make these changes.
"It is worth stressing that it is only a local rule and that it is up to tournament organisers to decide whether to implement it. The R&A and USGA will clearly implement it in their own flagship tournaments - the Open Championship and US Open respectively - and you imagine others will fall in line.
"But it will divide opinion. Whan has said he will get a lot of feedback with 50 per cent saying, 'is that all you are doing?' And the other 50 per cent saying, 'why are you doing this?'
"One pro told a colleague of mine in the United States: 'Fans don't want this, pros don't want this, TV doesn't want it, manufacturers don't want it, who is this for?' So, it's not going to be popular with everybody!
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