It's now official; anchoring the putter is BANNED beginning January of 2016. I watched the presentation by the USGA executives just minutes ago and I believe they got it right. Logistically it was messy, but the reasoning was sound and the integrity of the game has been maintained, unlike so many other sports.
I can only hope that the PGA will 'do the right thing' and go along. They have always played by the Rules of Golf and need to continue to do so. Going their own way would tear the game to pieces. Golf is unique in its rules and reliance on player integrity. The PGA would seriously undermine that if they go their own way. The touring pros are a small group, but the most visible. They are leaders in technique, equipment and behavior. We emulate them. Just think how many of us still hitch up our pants because Arnie did it.
Some will say the rule is unfair, but fairness is always in the eye of the beholder. Golf is not about individuals, it's about something must bigger; a set of rules that golfers are expected to implement whoever they are and wherever they play. If your ball is out-of-bounds you are expected to take the penalty whether your fellow players see it or not. Without that integrity, golf would lose most of it's attraction. It's one of the few institutions today that implore us to be our best selves.
All of the controversy you hear in the coming days and weeks will come primarily from the need of news organizations to fill 24 hour reporting. 'Issues' are their life blood and they will try and milk every drop out of this they can – until something else bigger comes along. Then they'll drop it like a hot potato.
Keep in mind that very few golfers actually use an anchored putting stroke – 2-4% of all golfers and 16% of the PGA Tour. How many long putters do you see at your own course? Some won't like it and they'll complain, forgetting that golf is bigger than any of us. How many of us older players lost a stroke because a ball fell of a tee after we took our stance and prior to swinging at it? We didn't like it, but those were the rules at the time.
Then there will be the self serving manufacturers who will complain because they put their own financial interests ahead of the integrity of the game. They'll talk about it keeping people from taking up golf, but that's all marketing speak for 'we only care about our bottom line'. Shame on them for trying to influence the rules.
I'm glad this issue has been decided, though it's not behind us yet. Personally I'm looking forward to trying to improve my own game and watching the last three Majors. I have a sneaking suspicion that they're going to be very memorable.
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
Via: Roura: "illusion makes us reach 100 points, we will try to get it"
No comments:
Post a Comment