Who do we contact??? Need website or phone number or address.
Pat-On Target Golf LLC
Turnersville, NJ
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
----- Original Message -----
From: Tom Wishon
To: ShopTalk@mail.msen.com
Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2007 1:55 PM
Subject: RE: ShopTalk: rules change
I completely echo the words that George initiated here and strongly urge you
all to write to the USGA to protest this latest rule proposal to change
scoreline configuration.
I suspect that many of you and most all golfers do not really understand the
ramifications of this rule proposal should it be enacted. Thus I would like to
list some of the things that are going to create problems for all of us in the
clubmaking side, whether we do it full time or part time as a passion. And the
problems are not just for we in the business, but for all golfers as well who
love the game.
1.. The USGA has no clear decision yet made in this proposal for what to do
with all of the current models of clubheads in play and being offered now for
sale. They have only talked about maybe "grandfathering" all current clubheads
for some undecided period of time so these clubs could be used in play for
HANDICAP purposes. But at the same time, they are saying that if this rule
goes into effect, it will be a decision of EACH CLUB or each organization that
controls competitions at every golf course as to whether they want to enact the
rule as a condition for their local competition. That means golfers could be a
situation where they can play regular golf and post scores with their current
clubs, but when the club championship or even weekend sweeps are conducted,
each course committee can say NO YOU CAN'T PLAY TODAY WITH THOSE CLUBS.
That's BS.
2.. It has not been made that clear that the USGA's big expensive research
study they conducted on the effect of scorelines on shotmaking did say that the
current U grooves ONLY INCREASED SPIN WHEN USED WITH URETHANE COVERED BALLS.
They do nothing different than a V groove for Surlyn covered balls. And it so
happens that 75% of all balls sold in the industry today have a surlyn cover.
So that means if you have golfers who feel compelled to play by ALL the rules,
they'll have to change clubs for no reason whatsoever other than because the
USGA included them in this fiasco of them being worried about the "bomb and
gouge" style of play on the tour today.
3.. There is a much easier solution to the USGA's concern over bomb and
gouge on the tours. Grow the rough longer and players will automatically learn
not to hit driver everywhere. Primary rough on the tour has not changed for
several decades. It was 4" as a maximum 30-40 yrs ago and it's that way today,
despite the fact the average swing speed on tour is +10mph higher than it was
20-30 yrs ago. Try to hit a shot on the green from 4" rough with an 80mph iron
swing speed and you can't do it very well - do it with a 90mph iron swing speed
and you can. But the USGA wants to blame current U grooves for this "problem",
yet they already admitted the U grooves' effect on spin only happens with
urethane covered balls, which is what all the tour players use and only 25% of
us regular golfers use.
When this all was starting to brew, I wrote the USGA to suggest the longer
rough solution. They responded and said they did not think this was best
because, 1) it cost more to groom longer rough on the courses, 2) members of
tour event course would be more greatly inconvenienced to have to play their
course under such conditions in the weeks leading up to the tournament. Are
you kidding??? Mowing the rough fewer times is more expensive than mowing it
more? And as far as the members go, 98% of them can't play from even 2 or 3"
rough because they don't have the swing speed and strength to hit the ball from
rough of that length. Besides, every course that hosts a tour event or USGA
major gets MONEY and STATUS for their "trouble." If they don't like the
inconvenience, the members can vote to not host the event.
We golfers and Clubmakers cannot VOTE to say no we do not think this rule is
good for the game or for golfers in general because the USGA does not allow
golfers to vote on the rules. So all we can do is protest, and that is
precisely what we all need to do.
TOM WISHON
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of GEORGE HUSON
Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2007 10:44 AM
To: ShopTalk@mail.msen.com
Subject: ShopTalk: rules change
I wish everyone would take a moment to contact the USGA on the proposed rule
change on the groove design. This is one bad idea! I don't think it will
change one thing with the pro's scoring. Since old clubs will be outlawed for
USGA competition in Jan 2009, what are we supposed to sell next year? I highly
doubt that our suppliers will have "legal" heads out next year. Does the USGA
really believe that customers will want to buy clubs next year that will be
non-conforming in 2009? What are they going to do, list every club made for
the last 10 years as non-conforming on their web site Jan. 1, 2009.
The really bad part of this is most of the experts think it will not change
the average score on tour, which is what the rule is for. I hope all the major
companies get together and sue the crap out of them. I know if I just paid
$1,000.00 for a set of irons that are not legal in less then 2 years, I would
want my money back.
George Huson
ByGeorge Custom Clubs
