Thanks Pete, I would think that would make him a bit peeved at the equipment. So he is saying hey USGA change the ball so I (GCA's) don't have to keep making expensive changes.
JN doesn't have to make expensive changes. He is a smart guy who learned through the school of hard knocks that real estate development is best done with other people's money. I suspect that there is no shortage of well-off golfers in Columbus who are happy to rub shoulders with the great man and fund his attempts at perfection. If this ups the ante to the Joneses, that is the latter's problem.
Ironic that a man of government is now paraphrasing Shaw
("It is harder by far to write a good law than to write a good play, and there are not a hundred men alive that can write a good play." ......"And that to me is the problem with Nicklaus bleating about the USGA and the ball. Forget the idea of a "roll back"; there is nothing to roll back TO that doesn't disproportionately penalize the recreational golfer, and that can't be good for the game.It's either bifurcation or leave it alone, period."It has taken me awhile to get here, but I agree 100%. JN in his heyday had a huge competitive advantage with his extraordinary power. No doubt that ball and equipment enhancements have contributed to democratizing this advantage, but I would not underestimate the effects of more money bringing better athletes into the game who further developed their skills through specialized instruction and a team approach to maximize fitness, diet, equipment, course knowledge and planning, travel, etc.
Nevertheless, I would enjoy a tournament or two where the sponsor would dictate a specific ball. Any 30 year-old ball design would suit me, but I would recommend the Acushnet "Club Special" of the late 1960s era. It was a cheap ball that felt good off the face and traveled decent distances. My guess is that the pros would lose some distance, but with some practice, would still go low.
BTW, I won a club championship on a very tight course with the first generation of the Pinnacle. It was circa 1981 and I got through the tournament with one sleeve of balls and never made more than bogey on a hole. They went far and felt good even around the greens. I think that the ball "problem" is greatly overstated and, perhaps, more of a Rorschach than anything else.