[David Bartman]

"MARANA, Ariz. — The PGA Tour could soon join the PGA of America in opposition to the proposed ban on anchoring.

A majority of the 12 members of the PGA Tour Player Advisory Council who were on a conference call with Commissioner Tim Finchem on Monday oppose the ban, according to a player with knowledge of the call."


A battle is shaping up between PGA Tour power and USGA ... discuss

[Nigel Islam]

It's a potential disaster on the lines of the IRL/CART split in auto racing a decade ago. USGA should have gotten PGA and Tour on the same page before going public. Can you imagine 40 tournaments that allow anchored putting and 2 that don't? (the Opens).

[David Ober]

I'm guessing the USGA and R&A elect to not go through with the ban. Professional golf is too important to the business of golf.

[David Bartman]

Nigel , I hear you.  I think the USGA will feel great pressure to reverse itself with the PGA of America ( golf clubs ) and PGA Tour ( Golf Heros and roll models ) both against the ban. 

However, I know how stubborn and strong willed the USGA can be.  I once had a discussion about course ratings and how the " Scratch"
golfer hits it 250 yards off the tee, the same as 40+ years ago.  I suggested that USGA might want to update its length of drive  for a scratch golfer to determine course ratings.  I was told I didn't know anything about scratch golfers even though I had been one for 20 years.  LOL


I agree Mr. Ober

[Garland Bayley]

OK. Now to update my boycott list.

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[Mark Steffey]

well the pga tour and pga of america is made up it's members who want to use the equipment..  seems silly that they would support a ban of something their members want to use. 

[JESII]

This just may prove that the Masters of the Universe really are the Masters of the Universe.

Is there any chance in the world that Augusta cares what the PGA Tour players think of the anchoring ban?

If three of the four majors ban anchoring, is there any chance Tim Finchem allows it?

[Mike_Young]

This just may prove that the Masters of the Universe really are the Masters of the Universe.

Is there any chance in the world that Augusta cares what the PGA Tour players think of the anchoring ban?

If three of the four majors ban anchoring, is there any chance Tim Finchem allows it?

Jim,
Just the opposite, The USGA will not matter in 10 years.....for most it isn't a factor today....they screwed up....

[JESII]

MIke,

When I asked you a couple weeks ago about tis position you didn't have much to back it up. You're certainly entitled to your opinion but blaming the USGA for whatever ails you is so not you buddy.


By the way...my "Masters of the Universe" line was referring to ANGC. I think they're the lever even though we'll never hear about it.

[Mike_Young]

MIke,

When I asked you a couple weeks ago about tis position you didn't have much to back it up. You're certainly entitled to your opinion but blaming the USGA for whatever ails you is so not you buddy.


By the way...my "Masters of the Universe" line was referring to ANGC. I think they're the lever even though we'll never hear about it.

Jim,
Yes, I do think the USGA has really hurt golf lately but I hear from more than a few in the business that this thing is out of hand and the USGA screwed up.  If AGNC were to rule I would think they would go with the no ban group....JMO

[William_G]

I hope golf does not suffer more because of the PGA Tour, the PGA, and it's members

[Garland Bayley]

Mike,

The economy hamstrung by the tea party is what is hurting golf in America. Not the USGA. IMO the average buy who doesn't keep a handicap, but shows up at public courses to thump down some of his money to play 18 holes really doesn't care what the USGA says the rules of the game are. He is just going to go out and play as suits him best.

[Mike_Young]

Mike,

The economy hamstrung by the tea party is what is hurting golf in America. Not the USGA. IMO the average buy who doesn't keep a handicap, but shows up at public courses to thump down some of his money to play 18 holes really doesn't care what the USGA says the rules of the game are. He is just going to go out and play as suits him best.

Garland,
Whoever messed up the economy messed up golf rounds but the USGA does not help when they outlaw a putter that the guy who doesn't care what they think is using it to help his game just a little.  The game is too hard....owners just want players and greenfees.

[William_G]

Mike,

The economy hamstrung by the tea party is what is hurting golf in America. Not the USGA. IMO the average buy who doesn't keep a handicap, but shows up at public courses to thump down some of his money to play 18 holes really doesn't care what the USGA says the rules of the game are. He is just going to go out and play as suits him best.

Garland,
Whoever messed up the economy messed up golf rounds but the USGA does not help when they outlaw a putter that the guy who doesn't care what they think is using it to help his game just a little.  The game is too hard....owners just want players and greenfees.

Mike, the USGA is banning anchoring, not a putter. 

[Garland Bayley]

Mike,

The economy hamstrung by the tea party is what is hurting golf in America. Not the USGA. IMO the average buy who doesn't keep a handicap, but shows up at public courses to thump down some of his money to play 18 holes really doesn't care what the USGA says the rules of the game are. He is just going to go out and play as suits him best.

Garland,
Whoever messed up the economy messed up golf rounds but the USGA does not help when they outlaw a putter that the guy who doesn't care what they think is using it to help his game just a little.  The game is too hard....owners just want players and greenfees.

Golf has always been hard. That didn't inhibit its popularity in the past. This claim that equipment helps the golfer so he can play better is just a big pile of horse you know what. If you love the game, it doesn't matter what you play with. Besides all these equipment gurus cannot prove that they have improved anyone's game. All they can say is that their measurements with mechanized hitters and computerized measurement is that they get a "better" result. I have discussed it with them and they admit they have no scientific result showing they improve anyone's game and get real testy about suggestions that dulling the feedback from the tool is actually hurting peoples games.

[Peter Pallotta]

Hmm. It does seem that, unless the USGA has a Don Corleone-like trick up its sleeve, they have seriously miscalculated. In the immortal words of Moe Green (you're all smart fellows, you'll make the connection):

"Yeah: let's talk business, Mike. First of all, you're all done. The Corleone Family don't even have that kind of muscle anymore. The Godfather's sick, right? You're getting chased out of New York by Barzini and the other Families. What do you think is going on here? You think you can come to my hotel and take over? I talked to Barzini: I can make a deal with him, and still keep my hotel!"

Peter

[Mike_Young]

Mike,

The economy hamstrung by the tea party is what is hurting golf in America. Not the USGA. IMO the average buy who doesn't keep a handicap, but shows up at public courses to thump down some of his money to play 18 holes really doesn't care what the USGA says the rules of the game are. He is just going to go out and play as suits him best.

Garland,
Whoever messed up the economy messed up golf rounds but the USGA does not help when they outlaw a putter that the guy who doesn't care what they think is using it to help his game just a little.  The game is too hard....owners just want players and greenfees.

Mike, the USGA is banning anchoring, not a putter. 

Sorry.  I knew that....stand corrected...

[Mike_Young]

Hmm. It does seem that, unless the USGA has a Don Corleone-like trick up its sleeve, they have seriously miscalculated. In the immortal words of Moe Green (you're all smart fellows, you'll make the connection):

"Yeah: let's talk business, Mike. First of all, you're all done. The Corleone Family don't even have that kind of muscle anymore. The Godfather's sick, right? You're getting chased out of New York by Barzini and the other Families. What do you think is going on here? You think you can come to my hotel and take over? I talked to Barzini: I can make a deal with him, and still keep my hotel!"

Peter

Peter,
I think the USGA is like the Republican party...They miscalculated their popularity....23.75 million of the 24 million golfers just want to play and have no reason to worry with the USGA...

[ChipRoyce]

OK. Now to update my boycott list.

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Amen Brother - be sure to modify Taylor Made to "TMaG" (to include Addias)

[Mark Bourgeois]

Wait, the PGA and PGAT use the Rules of Golf to govern their game of flog? Somebody help me out, I'm confused. 

[Jason Thurman]

Mike Davis and Peter Dawson must have turned off Season 5 when McNulty started faking the serial killer, and missed the part about how eventually the guy who owns all the territory figures out how to set up his connections without the co-op's help. Once that happens, it's just a matter of time before Chris or Snoop shows up.

My guess is that Davis and Dawson back down and Tim Finchem has Chris and Snoop stand down for the moment. But this won't be the last time the co-op talks about digging into Finchem's pockets or compromising his product/constituency. It's just a matter of time before Chris and Snoop get the call. I'm betting that Chris takes Davis and Snoop takes Dawson (which will be almost as funny as the Home Depot scene), and it'll probably happen in about two years. The co-op will fall, and Finchem will be running Baltimore.

After all, white tees and foreclosed clubhouses are full of boys that wore the crown.

[Paul Carey]

Mike,

The economy hamstrung by the tea party is what is hurting golf in America. Not the USGA. IMO the average buy who doesn't keep a handicap, but shows up at public courses to thump down some of his money to play 18 holes really doesn't care what the USGA says the rules of the game are. He is just going to go out and play as suits him best.

This may be the dumbest post here ever.  Not only is it out of context on a good discussion about golf it says 5 senators an d 25 congressman have screwed up our economy.   It's like saying 4 munis have ruined golf course architecture.....

[Sam Morrow]

I'm guessing the USGA and R&A elect to not go through with the ban. Professional golf is too important to the business of golf.

Agreed, I think the USGA and R&A will release a joint statement talking about what a tough choice it was but for the good of the game they believe anchoring is not the real problem. My prediction is that they will go after adjustable clubs next.

[Garland Bayley]

Mike,

The economy hamstrung by the tea party is what is hurting golf in America. Not the USGA. IMO the average buy who doesn't keep a handicap, but shows up at public courses to thump down some of his money to play 18 holes really doesn't care what the USGA says the rules of the game are. He is just going to go out and play as suits him best.

This may be the dumbest post here ever.  Not only is it out of context on a good discussion about golf it says 5 senators an d 25 congressman have screwed up our economy.   It's like saying 4 munis have ruined golf course architecture.....

Well if it was, then you topped it. Need counting lessons? 

The point is that it is not the USGA that is screwing up business at golf courses. I'm not the first one to call Mike out on that one. The guys at work that just go out to play golf for fun from where I work have no idea how the get a handicap, or that anchoring a putter makes a difference in a handicap. When they have time and money, they go out and have fun on the course. If they can get on the course quickly, and get back to work quickly, then they are happy.

[Mark Pearce]

If the R&A/USGA back down and lose this battle we can pretty much give up hope for any realistic length restrictions in the next couple of decades.

Entirely seperately, I'm fed up to the back teeth of people justifying modern equipment with the "golf's too hard" line.  Golf used to be a whole lot harder and more people played.  What loses players to golf isn't the fact that the game is hard (in fact that's part of the attraction), it's 5 hour rounds, the absurd price of playing (both green fees/membership and equipment) and ridiculous snobbery.  Make it quicker, cheaper and more welcoming and go back to hickories and the number of players goes up, not down.  Long handled putters are part of the problem (in so far as the are absurdly expensive) not the solution.  I am yet to see any convincing evidence that a single player has stayed in the game when they would otherwise have quit because of a long putter, the Pro-V1 or a 460cc titanium driver.

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