Instant Poll: When Should Anchoring Ban Start In Light Of Keegan Heckling?
Many have asked about the timing of the anchoring ban start should the Rules of Golf change become effective January 1, 2016 as the governing bodies expect. ;)
There may be no better example as to why this could be too long to wait. Keegan Bradley said he was heckled Saturday at the World Challenge (Bob Harig reports) and common sense even before Keegan's claim says that belly putterers will now be treated differently if they continue to use a method headed for a ban.
Even before the incident, this poll question was in the works for Monday based on the most frequent reaction to the ban: why wait so long?
When should the anchoring ban start? (Note: the October 7, 2013 option is the first event of the 2013-14 PGA Tour schedule. There is certainly the possibility that Commissioner Image Over Substance may consider expediting the ban to avoid having some of his players branded as cheaters.)
Full disclosure, I voted January 1, 2014 because (A) the Rules of Golf should not revolve around the PGA Tour, especially its product diluting year-round madness, and (B) this gives all golfers a year to adjust.
Geoff
**The USGA saw fit to address the incident. For Immediate Release...
STATEMENT FROM USGA ON SPECTATOR INCIDENT AT WORLD CHALLENGE
Far Hills, N.J. (December 2, 2012) – The United States Golf Association (USGA) today issued the following statement regarding yesterday’s incident at the World Challenge in which a spectator called Keegan Bradley’s use of an anchored stroke as “cheating.” The incident follows the Nov. 28 announcement by the USGA and The R&A proposing changes to the Rules of Golf that would prohibit anchoring the club in making a stroke. The proposed Rule change would take effect on January 1, 2016, in accordance with the regular four-year cycle for changes to the Rules of Golf.
“This is a deplorable incident, and there is no place in our game for this kind of behavior. As we noted when announcing proposed Rule 14-1b, it has been and remains entirely within the Rules of Golf for players to anchor the club while making a stroke. There should not be a shred of criticism of such players or any qualification or doubt about their achievements, and we think that it is inappropriate even to suggest anything to the contrary. Rule changes address the future and not the past. Up until now and until such time as a Rule change were to be implemented, golfers using an anchored stroke will have been playing by the Rules of Golf.”
“We are sorry that Keegan had to experience this unfounded criticism from an obviously uneducated spectator. Instead, Keegan and other PGA Tour professionals should be commended for their maturity and grace in managing through a proposed change to the Rules of Golf.”
“While we understand that the proposed Rules change would cause some short-term angst, we believe the new Rule would serve the long-term best interest of the game.”
Reader Comments (30)
A blight on golf officials who have been sucked in by traditionalists. Any golf fan labelling Keegan a cheat should give themselves an uppercut.
That said, I see no reason to delay institution of the rule, and in consideration of Hawkeye's comment, immediate enforcement may prevent heckling and undue adverse commentary if an anchorer wins during an ''adjustment'' period.
moving the date because of a heckler makes less sense than banning it in the first place
Hawkeye - All this will seem minor in a few weeks when we have to start soaking the Lutefisk!
Until somebody can tell me why it is a bad idea, I still like my "reverse bifurcation" rule. Ban anchored putting for juniors, moving up to NCAA and amateur golf later, and to the tours after that. In other words, let the rule follow the upcoming generation of competitive golfers. My rule would give Keegan Bradley something like 8 years to use his current method. But eventually, it would be a fading non-issue, since we'd be building a generation free of anchored putting.
It isn't such a curious formulation on my part, particularly in light of the USGA's own statement on the subject, wherein they were concerned about anchored putting being a learned technique among the youngest competitive golfers.
Mike Davis:
"Everyone who has followed the game of golf, particularly those who anchor their putter, are wondering why it has taken so long to make this proposal. For many years, it seemed as though the only players who anchored their putters were those who did so for health reasons or nerve reasons and the people who did were older players who sought to continue playing golf. Over time, younger players began anchoring their putters not for health reasons but instead because they felt that it was an easier way to make putts. The USGA and the R&A are looking to the future of the game and they do not feel that it is good for the game if younger players are being taught either through observing the world’s best or through lessons that it is better to anchor your putter than putt conventionally. No one can predict the future and looking back, it is quite possible that this proposal would have happened earlier if they knew how the use of anchoring would evolve."
Mike Davis stated on his Morning Drive appearance last week, that The USGA ruled ‘’the club’’ legal ‘’in 1989’’, this around the 52nd minute of the broadcast.
I am trying to get current quotes from involved parties to support the contention I have long held that the USGA did NOT outlaw the anchoring/long putter, and in fact stated it ‘’legal’’, in 1989 due to not wanting to have a POTUS accused of ‘’cheating’’. Again I state, this was NOT a GOP or DEM situation, though it must have also crossed the USGA’s ‘’mind’’ that the ‘’Walker-Bush’’ name has a long history in the USGA.
This is not information from my long quoted references to the SI/Van Sickle article- this is all fresh references, some from articles in 1989 ( the Van Sickle article was in 1991)
Anyway..heckling is childish in golf. Too bad. I say make the change ASAP. As soon as mid year 2013.
And yes Keegan, it might hurt a bit at first, but you'll be fine. I say try putting with a wedge to get the hang of it at first, it's like a chipping stroke but you aim for the ball's forehead...and we know you can chip pretty good...major winners usually are.
Keegan will have the short stick in the bag by Kapalua.
I think we are going to see quite a bit more heckling of the 'cheaters' (oh, no he didn't). That said, why don't we see heckling of all the other 'cheaters' using 460cc drivers and pro v's?
Del, it's time you answer the question...... ''WHY NOW?''
You must have an opinion- we all want to know what you think,
My answer- It was not outlawed in 1989 when it was being considered being ruled out- the fact that it was ruled ''ok'' is proof that the question was being asked...and my reason it was ''oked'' remains the same-- the POTUS was using a broomstick, and to have outlawed it (as was the desired ruling) would have been an embarassment to the most powerful man on earth- not a good thing. And so why now..... because so many young players are beginning the game using the long putter- it is no longer in the 'fad'' category, and as anyone who is honest will admit- it is not a ''stroke''.
So Del, what are your thoughts on ''why now?''?
dig
Read a fluff piece published a couple months ago where that POTUS was interviewed at home. Turns out, he hasn't had anything to do with politics since his term ended, never offered his boy(s) any poli advice, and isnt involved in the family business(es). He just likes to watch a little tv, and teach the grand- and great grand kids how to tie flies. Besides, his old lady is the outspoken one with all the opinions. Thinks his legacy is one of honesty and that the people of the world have greater love and compassion for each other because of his leadership.
Yep, we are so lucky to be enjoying that legacy, and also the legacy of using a dishonest, anchored stroke. Wait, doesn't that negate the honesty legacy? Let's just call it a legacy*.
I do not want to steer this thread into any political discussion, as I have a pretty reasonable overview of several from both sides of the aisle....and while he wanted to stay out of his boys bidnes, and his wife is the pants of the family....the story is more than that- and so a ''fluff' piece seems to be a perfect description of the article.
While he was also a future HOFer, he also had a remarkable family tie to the USGA.
For the sake of the regulars who are sick of hearing me rant on about this, I'll end with this: I feel like I am in position to have some very good support for my contention, and I am working on having first person verification, and *man would that be a long time coming*.
Simply, "they" don't like the way it looks.......matter of aesthetics. Been the case all along, nobody in a position of power has had the balls to say so.
Hope you are feeling ok my man!
Yes- you have the correct answer, and I have provided the answer that they use to buffer, and the one which allows it to be ''beyond looks'' that is-te young uns are doing it (and it don't look right)
Is there already an "interpretation" being considered for "chinning" ? Just kinda heard that through the grapevine.
Also, with a "standard" length putter the "claw grip" is legal, as are anchoring elbows and/or forearms to the body....but what if I use reg length putter, the claw grip, anchor the elbow and/or forearm, and happen to have a little follow-thru/wrist-break as a part of the stroke?
I think this is gonna get ugly....
PPS...Phil the Author, are the mounds around the green on current #8 of BP Green similar to the "within the green" contours that are being restored within #12 at GCGC? Both D.E. courses....similar looking mounds, but not as extreme at Lenox Hills as is the case at GC...but danged if that postage stamp doesn't look like it was about 8-10 yards wider about all the way around the green!!
Many amateurs still use square groove wedges,I bought a whole bunch of the old Vokey square grooves, and according to the ROG I can use them for another decade. Am I cheating? No.
@D.Maculata: I'll pass on the lutefisk, but I did spend Sunday afternoon making rice porridge and meatballs!
Now there's a provocative assertion. How do long putters speed up play? My purely unscientific and anecdotal observation is that guys who use broomsticks are usually slow players. You don't have to agree with me but could you please supply the evidence that they speed up play?
Tends to slow things down!!
Your post about hooking and chunking w/ the belly putter the other day were great BTW. I had a similar experience on anything longer than 30 feet about 8 yrs ago when I had an open mind about anchoring...it lasted about 30min tops.