Groove Rule says what now?: Bomb & Gouge: Golf Digest

Groove Rule says what now?

Thursday, June 18, 2009 Comments

GOUGE: Rain delays are for pansies. But then I guess the USGA is all about being kinder and gentler these days. Heck, they even sound like they’re backing down on the implementation of the groove rule. Here’s what Jim Vernon, USGA President, said yesterday in the organization’s annual pre-Open press conference: “The PGA Tour will make its decision at some point as to whether they will implement that condition of competition for 2010. It is likely that if they were not to adopt it for 2010, we certainly would not adopt it for the U.S. Open either.”

What?! Twitter me this, my friend: Is the USGA afraid of hurting somebody’s (read: “the manufacturers’”) feelings? Are the crying baby tour players like Joe Ogilvie ruling the day, instead of the ruling bodies ruling the day? I’ve read every page of the USGA’s research. The case against sharp-edged voluminous wedge and iron grooves was well made. You can argue all day long whether the USGA’s intentions will be achieved by this rule, but you can’t argue that everybody was on board with the change. The USGA and (according to its Aug. 5, 2008 press release) all other organizations in golf and (according to their relatively tacit but clearly implied approval of the decisions) all manufacturers were clearly (OK, reluctantly in some cases) or at least were willing to make the necessary adjustments in their engineering to develop grooves that conform to the new stipulations.

Now, when we’re actually within shouting distance of the implementation date, the spoiled brat factor seems to be taking over. And the USGA and the PGA Tour seem on the verge of caving to it. They seem as steadfast as bunker sand, the dry stuff, not what they’ve got at Bethpage right now.

In the great scheme of things, it really doesn’t matter when the rule is implemented. It matters if it is implemented, of course. And I’m sure that would never change, right? The USGA is pretty sure about that, aren’t they? But then again, they were pretty sure about a lot of things on Aug. 5, 2008. If the rule and the timing were good then, they should still be good now. Then again, maybe it wasn’t such a good idea Aug. 5, 2008. Say it ain’t so, partner…

BOMB: First, I think it is complete b.s. that I’m here swimming at Bethpage while you enjoy all the creature comforts of the home office digs in Wilton, Conn. On the plus side, with all this rain coming down we have lots of guys fighting for power cords, so the opportunity to blog gives me squatters rights over someone who wants to update their Facebook page or go on Twitter.

I certainly understand where you’re coming from in that if the USGA backs off, then what credibility will they have as a rulemaking body for equipment? What they should do is say, “The tours can do anything they want, but if you’re playing for the national championship next year you’re using these grooves. Period.” If they said that do you really think the PGA Tour would even consider not going with the new groove condition of competition? Not a chance, in my opinion.

That said, the measurement and manufacturing of these grooves is not exactly so simple a caveman can do it. No manufacturer has unveiled their new duller groove 2010 wedge as of yet, and many say that getting the groove to meet a more precise test is doubly difficult because the finishing process is more skill than science. But if manufacturers are claiming difficulty in making these clubs, I lay the blame on them. They have known for a long time this day was coming, and they are smart people. A year should be enough time to figure it out. As for the players, the time to voice a concern was then, not now. Did they think the USGA was lying when they said it would reduce effectiveness about 50 percent?

But all this hullabaloo and angst you are putting forth buddy is moot. I honestly can’t see how the tour goes back on this. When the new groove statute was announced they said they were all in. Are they going to leave the USGA hanging out to dry? I just can’t see it.

You mentioned August 5, 2008. For the record, here is what appeared as part of a story on pgatour.com: "The PGA Tour supports the decision of the United States Golf Association and The R&A regarding new groove specifications, and we plan to implement the rule change as a condition of competition for our events across the three Tours beginning January 1, 2010," PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem said in a statement. "We do so with full confidence that the testing and analytical procedure was extensive and thorough, including significant data provided by the tour’s ShotLink scoring system and the support from our members for various types of field testing," Finchem added.

So, the tour supported it and did so with “full confidence” based on their own ShotLink data. Tell me, my friend. Has ANYTHING changed other than players and manufacturers whining during that time? Does the tour no longer have confidence in its ShotLink data?
If I were a betting man, bank on the new grooves being used next year at Pebble Beach for the 2010 U.S. Open. And every other tour event, too. And if it’s not, some people in high places have an awful lot of explaining to do.