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Varied, strong reaction to the ban on anchored strokes

Steve Hennessey — Tue, 21 May 2013 16:24:00 GMT

By Stephen Hennessey Almost six months after golf's ruling bodies announced their proposed rule change, it's official: Anchored strokes are now prohibited by the Rules of Golf, per Rule 14-1b, announced by the USGA and...

In Europe, anchor ban met with little more than a shrug

Tue, 21 May 2013 16:24:00 GMT

By John Huggan

VIRGINIA WATER, England -- There were, as expected, no surprises. Almost six months on from their original announcement on the now notorious Rule 14-1b, the R&A today joined (simultaneously) with the USGA in confirming that the so-called "anchoring" of putters to any part of the body during a stroke will be deemed illegal starting January 1, 2016.

"We know that not everyone will agree with our final decision," said chief executive Peter Dawson at a press conference held in the Ryder Cup room of the Wentworth clubhouse. "But we do hope that the care and love for the game that all have expressed through their participation in this process will facilitate acceptance of Rule 14-1b when it takes effect."

Peter Dawson talks at Tuesday's press conference. (Photo: Getty Images)

In that respect, Dawson was on much firmer ground than his USGA counterpart, Mike Davis. Opposition and/or dissension during this whole process have largely been confined to the western end of the Atlantic Ocean.

"We had no feedback from people saying they would give up golf if long or belly putters were banned," commented Sandy Jones, chief executive of the British PGA. "Plus, we are fully supportive of the R&A as the rule-making body. We like this rule. It will do no harm to the game at any level. I just don't see anyone using them.

"It does seem to be more of an American problem, one that has a lot to do with the speed of the greens over there. Eliminating variables in the stroke is much more helpful when the greens are slick.

"Plus, less than one percent of putter sales worldwide are long putters. So where is this big problem? (PGA of America president) Ted Bishop's comments were nonsense really. There is no evidence to support his view. I played with Ted last week at Sawgrass. I use a 32-inch putter and made some good ones with him watching. I told him he was going the wrong way with this thing. Maybe he should be banning the short putter."

Most European Tour players, it is safe to say, feel similarly.

"I agree with what the R&A are doing," said Italian Ryder Cup player, Francesco Molinari, nicely summing up the mood of the majority. "I think it's important that we swing all 14 clubs in the bag and not just 13 of them. I have never liked that guys could anchor their putters to any part of their bodies.

"What the R&A has done is a good compromise. If they had legislated on the clubs themselves, I'm not sure it would have worked. Even with a short putter it is possible to anchor it. So what they have done makes sense to me. Some may argue that they are a bit late in doing what they are doing, but I say it is never too late to do the right thing."

Which is not to say that absolutely everyone on the European Tour is 100 percent behind what Dawson called "the most controversial rule change for a long time."

"After 30 years, I'm not sure it is right to be having such a drastic effect on players who have used it their whole careers," contended leading coach Denis Pugh. "It's an arbitrary call. Having said, that, if we were starting tomorrow I'd rule that the putter has to be the shortest club in the bag and also have the lease loft. Then go play.

"So I can see that long and belly putters are 'wrong.' But they have been wrong for too long. Plus, I think they have overcomplicated things. I can see guys finding ways round this rule."

As for those charged with policing will invariably be, in practice, the tiniest of adjustments, European Tour chief referee John Paramor was broadly optimistic about both the immediate future and the brave new putting world post-2016.

"With the all the information that has been forthcoming from the R&A, it isn't going to be too difficult for us to pass it on to the players," he said. "I think the vast majority of players currently using anchored strokes will end up using a method that does not require any judgment calls on our part. We have more than two years to iron out any problems before we get to that stage. So it won't be a problem.

"I can see a small number asking us if their adjustments are OK, but not many. It won't be a problem though. There are many other rules where we rely on the integrity of the players to guide us. I am always asking guys what they were trying to do or intending to do in certain situations. This rule is no different in that respect. Besides, if anyone is close to anchoring after making any adjustments, we have more than two years to have a word with them about it."

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Anchor ban reax: Acushnet

Mike Stachura — Tue, 21 May 2013 14:43:00 GMT

The Acushnet Company, parent company of the Titleist, Footjoy and Pinnacle brands, released the following statement regarding today's decision by golf's ruling bodies to ban anchored putting beginning in 2016:"The rule change regarding anchoring, as...

The End of an Era: USGA/R&A ban anchored putting

Mike Stachura — Tue, 21 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT

By Mike Stachura Golf's ruling bodies announced this morning that the anchored stroke, the method typically employed by players using long and belly putters and the method that has been used by the most recent winners...

Anchoring update: Fay says "no edits," USGA mum

Mike Stachura — Tue, 07 May 2013 21:50:00 GMT

By Mike StachuraFormer U.S. Golf Association Executive Director David Fay appeared on Golf Channel's pre-tournament coverage of the Players this afternoon and suggested the proposed ban on anchored strokes is likely to go through unchanged from...

With Muirfield on the horizon, the debate over all-male golf clubs rages on

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 18:26:00 GMT

By Alex Myers

Augusta National Golf Club waited until it was ready to have its first female members. Apparently, it will be up to the three all-male clubs in the British Open's rota of courses to do the same.

At a Tuesday press conference, the R&A's chief executive, Peter Dawson, made it clear that the governing body of golf for most of the world won't "bully" clubs into taking women members. In fact, he said he doesn't think it's the R&A's place to get involved.

All-male clubs are once again a hot topic with this year's Open Championship being held at Muirfield, one of three courses used for golf's oldest major that still adheres to an all-male membership policy. The other two courses are Royal St. George's and Royal Troon.

Dawson noted that, "There is nothing wrong under UK legislation with a single-sex club as long as they behave under the equality act as far as guest access is concerned, which Muirfield certainly does."

Dawson went on to say, "Muirfield has a huge history when it comes to the Open Championship and this will be the 16th time that is has been played there, and who are we to say what they should do as they are behaving perfectly legally."

This conversation has also come to the forefront once again on the heels of the first Masters since Condoleezza Rice and Darla Moore were invited to be the first women members of Augusta National, something that club chairman Billy Payne addressed in his pre-tournament press conference:

"I hope the experience for Condi and Darla, as members of our club, has been every bit as rewarding and enjoyable for them over the last eight months as it has been for their fellow members," Payne said. "It's just awesome."

It took 80 years for Augusta National to change its policy regarding women members, but it seems, at least, ostensibly, to be happy with the decision. Should Muirfield, Royal St. George's and Royal Troon follow suit?

And that's just one question this conversation raises. If golf wants to continue to grow, does having one of its most prestigious events being played at a site that isn't inclusive of women send the right message? Just because it's legal, does that mean it's the right thing to do? Does the R&A, perhaps the sport's most powerful organization, deserve a say in the situation? And if so, should it intervene?

For now, it appears as if those questions will remain unanswered. As this year's Open approaches, though, don't expect them to go away.

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R&A golf ball engineer job: 'Just part of our governance role'

Mike Stachura — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 23:24:00 GMT

By Mike StachuraThe discussion of a golf ball rollback got another injection of adrenaline when the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews placed a job advertisement seeking a "golf ball engineer," but the R&A's...

Giving Bifurcation Its Due

Jaime Diaz — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 05:00:00 GMT

A large portion of recreational golfers are -- with every mulligan, improper drop and raked four-footer -- de facto bifurcators.

Putting the heckling of Keegan Bradley at the Tiger Woods Challenge in perspective

Steve Hennessey — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 23:22:00 GMT

Photo: Keegan Bradley was on the receiving end of some heckling from fans this week at Sherwood C.C. Courtesy of Stephen Dunn/Getty Images. By Stephen Hennessey It seems like we've entered another era of...

USGA/R&A propose ban on anchored putting

Mike Stachura — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 13:28:00 GMT

By Mike StachuraGolf's ruling bodies are ready to put an end to the style of putting that has been used by the winners of three of the last five major championships.Less than a year after announcing...