On Tuesday, the USGA and R&A proposed a Model Local Rule that would roll back the golf ball for players at the elite level. The two governing bodies hope this will end courses having to extend tee boxes to outrageous yardages and return some of the most iconic venues in the game to the way they’re supposed to be played.
As you’d expect, the potential change created quite a conversation on social media. Some believe this is the right move while others think it will take one of the best aspects away from golf: the long ball.
Here are some of Golf Twitter’s responses to the news.
Titleist, Bridgestone and PGA Tour respond
Titleist
The response from @Titleist to the @USGA and @RandA's proposed Model Local Rule that would require distance-reducing golf balls be used in elite competitions. pic.twitter.com/EYSdtT6L1G
— David Dusek (@Golfweek_Dusek) March 14, 2023
Bridgestone
The response from @bridgestonegolf to the @USGA and @RandA's proposed Model Local Rule that would require distance-reducing golf balls be used in elite competitions. pic.twitter.com/FG0HE69dzZ
— David Dusek (@Golfweek_Dusek) March 14, 2023
PGA Tour
The response from @PGATOUR to the @USGA and @RandA's proposed Model Local Rule that would require distance-reducing golf balls be used in elite competitions. pic.twitter.com/50B797F6J9
— David Dusek (@Golfweek_Dusek) March 14, 2023
Kyle Porter, CBS Sports
Golf: Let's make the game simpler and more accessible for all!
Also golf: pic.twitter.com/u7zUKw2nfl
— Kyle Porter (@KylePorterCBS) March 14, 2023
D.J Pie, No Laying Up, on Mike Whan (USGA CEO)
We've obviously known this for a while, but I'm not sure it can be overstated how great of a hire Mike Whan was for the USGA. Plenty of people will disagree with the rollback stuff, but impossible to listen to him lay it out and think intentions are in the wrong place.
— D.J. Piehowski (@DJPie) March 14, 2023
The Fried Egg
A modest rollback is only going to make the professional game more interesting and protect courses from becoming obsolete.
Distance and swing speed will remain a skill and be rewarded in the same way they are today. This is the right move for the elite level of the game
— The Fried Egg (@the_fried_egg) March 14, 2023
Andy Johnson, The Fried Egg
If the PGA Tour chooses to not accept the USGA rules on the golf ball it will continue to widen the gap between the significance of the majors and PGA Tour events.
The majors will have significantly better venues, history, competition and rules.
— Andy Johnson 🍳 (@AndyTFE) March 14, 2023
John Peterson, former PGA Tour player
Here come the fun police cancelling golf because it’s too fun.
The brilliant trust fund dinosaurs at the @USGA at it again!! https://t.co/OK7hCR0B68
— John Peterson (@JohnPetersonFW) March 14, 2023
David Dusek, Golfweek
The USGA and R&A will go to their graves saying this isn't bifurcation, but you or I play Shinnecock Hills in July of 2026 and can legally use a ball that Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas or Jon Rahm can't legally play at the U.S. Open, then we'll have bifurcation.
— David Dusek (@Golfweek_Dusek) March 14, 2023
Dan Rapaport, Barstool Sports
I 100% get the pro-rollback argument. But I have a hard time with the principle of sports moving backward. Golf is in a tremendous place right now and these types of moves, at least symbolically, give the impression that golf yearns for a bygone era.https://t.co/pUijupworK
— Dan Rapaport (@Daniel_Rapaport) March 14, 2023
Kevin Van Valkenburg, No Laying Up
“The USGA is going to make my uncle, who I love playing with, hit it shorter!”
No. Your uncle is a 7 handicap who hits it 230 yards with a 140 mph ball speed. He is not the reason The Old Course and Marion have to build championship tees outside of boundaries of the course.
— Kevin Van Valkenburg (@KVanValkenburg) March 14, 2023
Greg Norman Jr
Do not roll back the golf ball!
Smashing it 350 is fun for fans to watch.
Skinny up the fairway, deepen the rough. Make so they have to find the fairway.
Good god, this alleged move is so out of touch with today's culture.
— Greg Norman Jr (@GregJrNorman) March 14, 2023
No Laying Up
USGA: "Here's our rollback proposal."
R&A: "We are aligned with the USGA."
PGA Tour: "We're gonna do our own research."
Augusta: "We're gonna stay quiet for now."
PGA of America: "👆🏻 What they said."LIV: "These are now legal:" pic.twitter.com/39JU3TMXx8
— No Laying Up (@NoLayingUp) March 14, 2023
PGA Tour player Michael Kim
Don’t quite understand costing golf companies millions of dollars to change the rules on .0001% of the golfing population. Tournaments won’t go to a few courses, big deal. Would the usga make these changes if it were them cutting the checks? Going back to the 90s seem overboard
— Michael S. Kim (@Mike_kim714) March 14, 2023
