"I can't believe the R&A and USGA can't get together with the manufacturers and come up with something that is for the betterment and protection of the game."

So much great stuff in John Huggan's profile of Tom Weiskopf, and I'm quite sure where to begin (though it's worth reading for all of the stuff beyond distance rants):

"The problem stems from the fact that the USGA lost a lawsuit with Ping over the grooves on clubs all those years ago. Now the authorities are scared to get involved in another. But they are smart people. I don't see why they can't come up with a 'tournament specification' for the ball. That wouldn't mean that the amateur couldn't play or buy that ball. It would be just like it was over here when you guys had to change from the small ball to the big ball. Or they could roll the ball back over a period of time until they reach a predetermined point.

"The saddest thing is that the ball has taken so many wonderful courses out of play for the professionals. Look at what is being done here at the Old Course, with all these tees that are not even on the premises. I don't know what the solution is, but I can't believe the R&A and USGA can't get together with the manufacturers and come up with something that is for the betterment and protection of the game and those who play it at the highest level. Maybe they should have stopped the ball as soon as it became clear that they were going to have to mess with the Old Course.

Comments

[F. X. Flinn]

Is there anyone in the next generation of R&A or USGA leadership likely to lead on this issue? Can golf afford to wait for that leadership to emerge?

[Joel]

There has been on going discussions between the USGA and the ball manufactures for many years. The problem is neither wants to comprimise.

[Clubby]

Joel-Where did you get your information on this? Where can we find that fact? Is this hearsay on your part, or is it fact? If it is fact, then please tell us what you know.

[Media driven]

The USGA settled and got Karsten to change his grooves. The PGA Tour even claimed victory in its "settlement'' with Ping, but Weiskopf has a point. Will it ever change? Only if those put in charge are more concerned with doing what's right than with raking in the money and preserving their cushy positions.

[Chuck]

If Tom Weiskopf can be taken literally, and is completely correct, then let's consider the implications...

First, the relevant part of what Weiskopf said:
"At the Champions dinner the other night, the R&A asked us what one thing we would change about the game today... The answer was unanimous, of course: the golf ball, which goes way too far."

I have no reason to disbelieve Weiskopf. But taken literally, it means that the list of players who think that the ball "goes way too far," includes these names among the list of Past Champions:
Stewart Cink
Padraig Harrington
Tiger Woods
Todd Hamilton
Ben Curtis
Ernie Els
David Duval
Paul Lawrie
Mark O'Meara
Justin Leonard
Tom Lehman
John Daly
Nick Price
Greg Norman
Nick Faldo
Ian Baker-Finch
Mark Calcavecchia

It would be interesting to follow up on this with O'Meara, Lehman, Faldo, IBF, Price and Ben Curtis, among the others. O'Meara and Curtis are Titleist-contract players. Woods and Els have already hinted their disapproval as to the state of affairs allowed by the USGA and the R&A. Norman's protests are old news.

IBF and Faldo would be interesting interview subjects, given their high profiles on television.

[Media driven]

Good point, maybe not everyone spoke on the subject tho...I think Weiskopf was speaking in broad strokes. Kinda poignant part of the article where he speaks of his own career as being less than it should have been due to his own inner demons.

Always liked his voice on TV.

[Chuck]

I shall never, ever forget what I think might have been a Masters that was stolen from Weiskopf. When leading on Sunday, he hit a drive that barely found its way into the woods on the left of Number 10. And instead of finding it, chipping out to the fairway and then and up-and-down for par, the ball was not found, and was declared lost, forcing a devastated Weiskopf to re-tee. I've always been convinced that someone grabbed the ball, thinking it was a neat souveneir, and then was too scared to fess up when the players and officials came looking for it. Weiskopf, being Weiskopf, proceeded to melt down on the remainder of the back nine. It cannot be a happy story for ANGC and is therefore not often repeated.

[Erik]

It would be easy to fix the golf ball, really. They don't even have to "roll the ball back" per se: Take the average launch stats of the top 50 drivers (club and man combo) on the pga tour and add 1,000 to 1,500 rpm to the ball off the driver as a benchmark minimum. Still room for the ball manufacturers to innovate. But for these guys on the front lines it would be far more of a game changer than v-grooves. Some of the guys doing well today wouldn't be able to keep the ball on the planet: hook, slice, balloon in the wind, and better yet shaped shots! What a hoot!

It would only seriously affect the high clubhead speed guys. The casual golfer would more than likely be helped.

I doubt it will ever happen though, which is a shame.

Cheers,

[Billy]

Chuck,
You may not declare a ball lot!