More Ball Fallout***

The Golf Channel reported Tuesday that Acushnet chairman and CEO Wally Uihlein was "strongly opposed" to the USGA’s letter asking for golf ball research assistance. And in this mess from Golfserv’s Jack O’Leary , he complains about Jack Nicklaus’s annual rant on the golf ball and claims that any change in the ball would be counteracted by better shafts.

Veteran clubmaker Ray Hess tells O’ Leary that "the shaft can regain the distance for those guys. In fact, there really isn't anything that these guys can't overcome equipment-wise. If the Masters really wants to slow them down, they can do it with the lawnmower. Grow some real rough."

Oh good one. Why not just eliminate the fairway so that the game revolves around the needs of all manufacturers? O’Leary offers this gem on top of Hess's comment.

“Or, they could do what they did a few years ago and cut the grass with the grain growing back to the tee. It actually worked. Besides, if they have a uniform ball, it sets a nasty precedent. What's next? Uniform drivers? Uniform putters? Where does it stop, or does it?”

O’Leary then poses this question, which I’m sure Hootie Johnson will lose about 3 minutes of sleep over.

”What happens to the endorsement contracts players have to play a certain ball? You can believe the players will put up with anything but having their money withheld. “

Isn’t this a free market society? The players have the option of skipping the Masters if they chose not to play by the club's rules, correct?

O’Leary ends by saying, “Unfortunately, this year was probably the last time this Passion play will be played out. Nicklaus has strongly hinted that he's done playing at the Masters and thus we'll be spared another issue of Jack's Plea.”

Presumably he meant “fortunately,” or maybe not.

***Update: Reader Glyn wonders if O’ Leary would also have us believe that the pros are not using the best equipment and shafts now but if a “standard” ball is introduced, that they would then go and use the best shafts. Then and only then? Good question Glyn.