King is a quality guy and a great businessman, but I think he's off-base here, because the USGA has been nothing if not a valuable partner to the growth of his business in the past dozen years or so. Why, you might ask? Because in the past dozen years or so, the evidence about the impact of ball and club technology on existing golf course design has been very well documented. In response, the USGA has done virtually nothing in the way of rulemaking. The drivers get bigger, with better clubface technology while the balls go longer, with less harmful spin. Hybrid clubs have made a mockery of what used to be difficult long iron shots for professionals. One could go on and on, but it is undeniable that the effects of technology have caused golf course owners, operators and architects to try to "compete" by making courses longer and more difficult. This effect is more pronounced if the course in question is interested in hosting professional competitions. Along the way, during this period of deafening silence, the TaylorMades of the world have profited greatly by selling the clubs that allow the pros to reduce courses like Firestone to driver, nine-iron instead of driver, three-iron. The technological improvements have had a beneficial effect on the retail golfer while having an inimical effect on the professional game. But there's no doubting that club and ball makers have done quite well during the deafening silence.
Now, all of a sudden, the manufacturers want to rail against the USGA because it implemented a rule against five foot putters and anchoring, fearing, I suppose, that this is the first step of the association going for bigger and more meaningful reforms, maybe even to bifurcation. These verbal bromides are usually the sort of hoary, pre-litigation exhortations that don't amount to much of anything, especially if the USGA winds up doing nothing to the ball, to club specs or nothing in the way of bifurcation. In the meantime, King and his comrades would do well to shut up and silently thank their enabling partner, the USGA, which has allowed them to reap great profits.