"Making a change of this precedential significance requires that the conversion process be conducted in a thorough, deliberate manner taking the interests of all constituencies into account. Regardless of how much research and thought went into the development of the rule change, as with any significant change, there are unforeseen issues and complexity, particularly at the point of implementation and adoption. There is no way to predict many of these issues and they only surface during the actual conversion process. While no one is to blame for these circumstances, the major logistical issues of implementation still need to be taken into account."
Others in the industry see no cause for alarm, however.
"We're very happy they took the decision to move forward," said Benoit Vincent, chief technical officer at TaylorMade. "The USGA had a pretty set schedule, and we have been working to develop solutions within the new rule, so there was no rational reason for us to want to postpone implementation for a year."
"Now we will not always have the personal relationship with all the people that are trying to qualify for a PGA Tour event. Those people will have to rely on the publications from the USGA and our own internal communication about our new products. But we've done that in the past through every new product and rule change, and you know what? People are doing their homework in this area. I think the system works pretty well."
Toward that end, the USGA is nearly finished developing a system for testing grooves in the field that is similar in time, expense and simplicity to its field test for determining the spring-like effect in drivers.
"We're using it right now," said Dick Rugge, senior technical director at the USGA. "We're working with the tour, and we are getting ready to finalize the software."
Rugge said he expected a list of wedges and irons that already conform to the new rule would be published by mid-August.
While the groove issue had developed a fair amount of intensity in recent weeks as players voiced their concern over its implementation, there seemed little doubt after Tuesday who was in charge.
"The way the PGA Tour works is the commissioner is authorized to manage competitions, and that includes the use of a condition of competition that's in the Rules of Golf," Finchem said.
"The board had a thorough discussion of the issue and did not take action, which by default means that it is left up to the commissioner and staff to make the decision," Finchem said. "I had come to a conclusion as to that decision, and I made that clear to the board, and they nevertheless left it up to me to move forward, and that's what I am relating to players today.
"We do think there are some challenges here. We are comfortable that we can meet the challenges, and we have great faith in our players. We just felt that generally speaking, or I concluded, that delaying at this point in time probably was not in our overall best interests. But the good news is that there continues to be wide support for the rule itself."
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