Saying that golf has seen plenty of change in the last few years would be a major understatement.
It is hard to imagine how someone would have reacted had they been told in 2020 just what golf at the highest level would look like five years later.
LIV Golf have established themselves as one of the top tours in the world. Meanwhile, the PGA Tour look set to go in a very different direction in the coming years, with Brian Rolapp at the helm as the new CEO.
But the changes do not stop there.
Jaime Diaz anticipates ‘chaos’ in the game as golf prepares for a big change
It was announced in 2023 that the USGA and The R&A plan to roll back the golf ball. As things stand, the changes are set to take effect in the professional game from 2028.
Meanwhile, amateur golfers will be able to continue to play the current golf balls until 2030.
What is the one golf rule you would change if you had the opportunity?
However, there is not widespread support for the change. As noted by the Guardian, neither the PGA of America nor the PGA Tour approve of the decision to ensure that the golf ball does not travel as far. Meanwhile, manufacturers are also unhappy – though that is less of a surprise.
And speaking on 5 Clubs, writer Jaime Diaz suggested that the division could lead to some big problems.
“I’m very interested to see what’s going to happen with the rollback. Is anybody going to follow it? Is the PGA Tour going to follow it? The PGA of America going to follow it? It appears that The Masters, the USGA and The R&A will follow it. What will the manufacturers do? It seems like it’s unsettled when it should have been settled,” he said.
“And I just think it says a lot about the state of golf what’s going to happen with that. Because I think you need a regulatory body and I think you need people who care about the game, who you trust, and have them be listened to and respected and followed. And if they don’t, if they aren’t followed, that’s chaos.
“So I think it’s an open question right now and I want to see how that gets resolved and who the dynamic people are who take leadership in that so that it’s settled.”
What Rory McIlroy has said about the golf ball roll back
It is clearly an issue that is going to divide those invested in the game. But someone who definitely does support the plans is Rory McIlroy.
McIlroy argued on X that the average golfer will notice no difference. Meanwhile, he insisted that it was important for the sustainability of the game.
In hindsight, it would have arguably been a lot better for the sport if there were not so many golf courses that were designed to encourage the longest hitters.
The majority of the most interesting golf courses in the world still use bunkers, hazards and thick rough to nullify distance off the tee.
Unfortunately, it appears that the opportunity to replicate that a lot more has now gone.
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