the ball launch angle and spin rate. The aim is to test with conditions more closely modeling those elite players are achieving, and the test results could then be applied to the standard for ball initial velocity. The ruling bodies’ premise is, since some players are hitting tee shots farther, older courses are being made obsolete, necessitating additional land and other resources to retain the integrity of the game. Both the facts and their interpretation have been challenged and though dissenters may have been heard, the USGA and The R&A do not seem to be listening. The rules split may benefit recreational players due to the removal of the allowable limit on the amount of rebound, or MOI to a club face. Dropping the present MOI restrictions gives average players the potential to generate more distance without swinging faster. This is being seen as a good thing, although the gain will be minimal. No one will complain of a few extra yards of driving distance. It seems safe to assume the decision has been made to split the Rules of Golf. Although the word bifurcation is unpleasant, it appears the game will be divided into an us-and-them scenario. If that is the case, several important questions remain to be answered. Will weekend warriors be forced to play with restricted lower-performance clubs? No one wants to hit it shorter. How will the level of skill, or elite-ness be measured? How will the classes of players, elite and nonelite, be determined? Will there be the handicap divisions? Will average driving distance determine what clubs a player can use? Type of competition? Will this apply to tour professionals only? What about collegiate, high school, or top junior players? The USGA and The R&A have made several controversial rulings over the past decade, but it appears they will be wading into a minefield of regulation red tape that will discourage golfers, rather than make the game more appealing. Will the restricted equipment rules apply only to males? Women have been hitting the ball farther too, but the USGA and The R&A’s focus seems only to be on men. Women usually play from tees more forward, so female long drivers may be causing a problem, as well. Segregating the Rules of Golf by sex would be a first. That has the ring of a sexual lawsuit to it. Club manufacturers will need to reassess club marketing. Drivers will no longer be “just like the ones played on Tour.” An undeniable charm for golfers is comparing our meager efforts with the stars. If the rollback in distance is 10%, Rory’s 330-yard blast will be reduced to 297-yards, but
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