CDBplc Said on 03/25/2009, at 6:22 PM EST
“I further think it is unfortunate that we are where we are in terms of golf equipment technology, with classic courses being increasingly obsoleted by elite competitors, due to a few decisions made by Mr. Thomas himself when he was the Technical Director of the USGA. I put it to Mr. Thomas -- didn't you once assert that the volume of driver head sizes would rapidly reach a state of diminishing returns above something like 360cc? And so you saw no need to limit the head size of drivers? And weren't you badly mistaken about that assertion, Mr. Thomas? We do need a very serious reappraisal of golf equipment technology. An overhual of golf ball testing protocols would be a good place to start. And a reduction on the limit of driver head sizes, to about 380 cc (something that at least looks like a golf club) would be another positive, in my view. Those things got away from the USGA technical staff. It is time to fix them.”
CDBplc Said on 03/25/2009, at 6:15 PM EST
“I also think it is unfortunate that Frank Thomas seems to have picked the wrong side of this issue. I find it exceedingly odd that Frank would advocate something like the reduction of the number of clubs to 10 (a rule that dates back to the beginning of the modern steel-shaft era), but Frank is opposed to a groove configuration on lofted clubs when that groove configuration has been with us a much shorter period of time. Frank ought to know that as it will be put into practical application, the new groove rule will have virtually no impact on the 99.9% of all golfers who wish to continue playing with their current clubs, even in local or club competitions.”
CDBplc Said on 03/25/2009, at 6:11 PM EST
“I think it is unfortnate that there seems to be so much misunderstanding about the new groove rule. Frank Thomas hasn't explained it very well, as seen in "DopeyOkie's" mistaken comment. The new groove rules apply to clubs built after 2010, only. And only in Tour-level events (Open Championships + profesional tour events) will there be a condition of play requiring the use of the newer, newly-conforming, groove configurations. Then in 2014, that condition of play will be applied to elite amateur-level events; US Am, USAPL, NCAA (probably), etc. Guys at local clubs will not need to buy new irons, and won't get DQ'd. "DopeyOkie" has it wrong. Check out the USGA website. And learn.”
DopeyOkie Said on 03/20/2009, at 11:35 AM EST
“Seems to me on the grooves one thing the USGA really missed was local club tournaments. Almost all tournaments at your local club say, USGA Rules Apply. So now unless your club for each tournament specifically adopts a local nonconforming groove rule, everyone will have to buy a new set of irons. I know it sounds silly but we all know that one guy who will buy a new set and than want everyone else DQ'ed because their clubs are illegal according to the USGA.”
SI 1 Said on 03/18/2009, at 8:42 PM EST
“One reason guys want to play from the back tees is that they can get a higher handicap that way so when theyplay in tournaments they have a better chance of winning. Sandbagging is the term.”
