We’re here to help. I’ve been scratch-ish—sometimes worse, sometimes better—since I was 16 years old. My current index is a +1.2, although that’s sure to bite me once the weather warms and I have to play to my late-season handicap despite early-season rust. I have played dozens of rounds with men and women who’ve told me I’m the best player they’ve ever played with. And, once they shake off the nerves, these have often blossomed into some of my favourite days on the golf course. The key is knowing what to do, and more crucially, what not to.

Here are the dos and don’ts of playing with a scratch-level player.

Don’t insist on playing the same tees

Warren Little

You’re coming from a good place—you don’t want to be a burden, and you figure having everyone in the group play from the same tees will speed up play. Only it’ll have the opposite effect: You’ll be looking for balls and hitting so many extra shots. Always be ready to step right up to the tee when it’s your turn, and any added time will be minimal.

Be very careful with your “Good shot!” shouts

Your standards for a good shot are very, very different than the scratch players. You might be thrilled every time you make solid contact with an iron from the fairway, but I can tell you from experience that hearing “Great shot!” when a ball is flying right to a bunker gets very old, very quickly.

Don’t ask him if he’s ever thought of turning pro

The difference between a scratch golfer and a touring pro is, functionally speaking, wider than the difference between you and the scratch golfer. Unless this scratch golfer is 14 years old or younger, or a highly delusional person, there is very little chance he or she will ever turn professional.

Don’t be afraid to get some action going

laflor

There’s a reason the handicap system exists, and it’s to mitigate differences between players—even if those differences are huge. Theoretically speaking you have a 50 percent chance of winning the match. Don’t be intimidated.

Do give gimmes

Some mid-handicappers I’ve played with have assumed that I’m keeping score as though I were playing a tournament, so they’ll hesitate to pick up the 18-inch par putts after a missed birdie attempt. Unless your playing partner explicitly says, “I’m going to putt everything out today,” you should absolutely kick away anything that’s within the leather. If it’s longer than that, simply look at them. Their reply will tell you how he feels about putting that one out.

Don’t offer swing advice

You might think this goes without saying but you’d be surprised. My tempo is quick, and I’ve had legitimate 15-handicaps tell me after a bad shot to “slow down” or “that looked pretty quick.” There is nothing more infuriating than hearing advice from a non-PGA professional who is significantly worse at golf than you.

Don’t ask for swing advice

Unless they’re a teaching pro, the last thing they want to do is spend an afternoon trying to help you stink less.

Play fast, but don’t rush

Andrew Redington

I’ve had playing partners visibly rush because they’re so worried about slowing everyone down—that just makes the good player in the group feel guilty. That’s not to say you shouldn’t pick up when you’re clearly headed for a quadruple bogey or worse, because you absolutely should. But take your time when you’re in the hole.

Don’t apologize for your game

You have nothing to apologize for, so hold off on the sorrys after you slice one into the trees. It doesn’t make your bad shots any less bad, and it only contributes to a sense of imbalance that you’re trying to avoid. Do you. Play your game.

Be yourself

A scratch player is good at a game—they’re not some sort of freakshow. So don’t treat them as such. Be you. Don’t be afraid to talk and shoot the breeze as you would in your normal foursome. This golfer just happens to swing a club better than your buddies do. Nothing more, nothing less.

Main Image: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

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Harrington, now 52, is often used as the prime example of a player who has benefitted most from the modern golf ball going so far. The Irishman ranked first on the PGA Tour Champions last season with an average driving distance of 302.4 yards. Twenty years ago, in the prime of his career, Harrington averaged just 290.8.

While the ball, and modern clubs, certainly play a role in his incredible gains, Harrington has also worked tirelessly with Golf Digest 50 Best Teacher Michael Jacobs to gain maximum speed. I wondered if Harrington took offense to the narrative that he hits it so much farther now at 52 just because of the ball and not because of the hours he’s put in to get to where he is now. An opportunity arose on Wednesday at the PNC Championship to ask him that very question.

In the most on-brand move ever, Harrington then proceeded to rant for seven consecutive minutes, and I’m not sure if he ever answered the original question.

“The one thing about the rollback is it’s distinctly different—the attitude in the United States than the attitude, certainly in Ireland and the rest of Europe,” Harrington said. “You guys hate the USGA. We actually love the R&A. Golf isn’t an exclusive game in Europe. Some golf courses, we have the whole gambit. The majority of golf courses in Ireland are just regular member’s golfer courses. Yes, you need to be rich to play golf — rich in time. The people who play golf in Ireland are people who have time. Taxi drivers, policemen, anybody on shift work, and obviously people who are wealthy enough that they can make some spare time, but everybody plays in Ireland. And we all know a golf course that we grew up on that has had to change its golf holes, move part of the course, actually move the whole golf course at times because the ball is just going too far.

“And it’s not 98 percent of golfers. It’s the one percent of amateurs, the young adults that we want to play the game, they can hit it,” he continued. “And when they miss, they miss big. It goes off the golf course, it pitches in the middle of other fairways. It’s dangerous. They can’t get insurance, they have to change the holes. So, I know there is a bit of pain involved for the majority, but it’s for the greater good of the game. And to be honest, five percent was soft. Ten percent would have been a fair hit, but five percent is really drawing a line in the sand. It’s just saying, in five year’s time, we’ll have eaten that five percent up anyway. It’s a line in the sand that says if it starts creeping again, we’re going to roll it back again.”

Harrington then proceeded to make the sustainability argument, saying that in the U.S. we have far more land to work with than in countries like Ireland. His local course in Dublin, Grange Golf Club, opens with a par 3 that once took a 3-wood to find the green. Now, Harrington says, it’s a sand wedge.

“That’s a constant theme, so it’s very important for the rest of the world to roll it back. I’m sorry you guys in the U.S. feel that way. There is that attitude in the U.S. that the USGA is representing the very exclusive, old school courses. That’s not the case,” he said. “They are representing everybody, and I guarantee you the R&A, people have a much better view of them. They’re just trying to make the game grow for everyone.”

As for taking offense to folks saying Harrington hits it so long at 52 now because of the golf ball, he believes they are wrong to use him as an example.

“I don’t worry about me,” Harrington said. “I’m actually in the same place — I was a long hitter, but not as long as the biggest hitters. The biggest hitters didn’t play when I played. Now they do, and I’m still in the same place, I’m a long hitter but I’m not quite as long as the really long guys. Some of those really long guys are better players now, and I think there’s more of them too.

“The problem the game has is what’s coming. Everyone says, ‘oh, look at Cameron Champ, it’s amazing.’ There’s loads of these guys, and faster, in college. They’re all over, and I’m not saying they’re players, but eventually we’re going to get a guy with 210-mph ball speed who is able to play. Up to now anybody who has got to that speed just can’t play golf, but that doesn’t mean we’re not going to get one. Like Tiger, he came out and he was a 190-mph ball speed guy — not that we hadn’t seen 190 ball speed before, we just hadn’t seen a 190 ball speed who could play golf.”

As another example, Harrington used Hank Kuehne, who averaged 321 yards off the tee all the way back in 2003. Harrington believes the world convinced Kuehne that he was wrong, that if he hit it in trouble as a long hitter it was because he hit driver. Then, Harrington says, a player named Rory McIlroy came along and changed everyone’s way of thinking.

“He [McIlroy] just hit driver, and all of a sudden the other long hitters, I’m talking DJ [Dustin Johnson], I’m talking Bubba [Bubba Watson], J.B. Holmes, they were big hitters at the time, Gary Woodland. They all changed their style of golf once they saw Rory change. I played with DJ his first ever [Players Championship] at TPC Sawgrass. He got in as a late alternate, and we’re on the tee and this kid, I had no idea who he was and he had an iron in his hand and we’re kind of like ‘oh, look at this lad, he’s nervous isn’t he.’ And then you see this iron coming out and you go, woah, that’s a bit different. There’s not a chance in the world that DJ would tee it up with an iron at TPC Sawgrass now, he’s hitting driver. That’s how much the game has changed.”

Ultimately, Harrington says, we’re going to see a player who is cruising between 135 and 140-mph clubhead speed who will be able to play. The rollback should be able to hold everything in place as is, but it won’t be able to stop the young guys coming. Harrington believes we haven’t even come close to the maximum physical capability, hence why the rollback is necessary.

He then closed with an unbelievably bold prediction.

“You know what the biggest change is going to be?” he asked. “I’m going to say it here — it’s going to be the ladies game. They hit too many fairways now, so there is a huge advantage going forward for somebody who comes out there with 175-mph ball speed. There is going to be a lady coming out with 175 ball speed who can be a real competitor, and guess what? She’s going to be able to play with the men, and compete.”

To hear Harrington’s full take, watch the video below:

I asked @padraig_h for his ‘quick’ rollback take. He then spoke for 7 consecutive minutes without coming up for air.

I promise it’s worth your time, especially if you stick around for the very end when he makes an incredibly bold prediction for the future of golf pic.twitter.com/czH17T6i85

— Christopher Powers (@CPowers14) December 14, 2023

Main Image: Sam Greenwood

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Tiger Woods, as he is with many things, has a few different options to choose from. His Old Course 3-wood jumps to mind, as does the 3-iron fairway bunker shot at the 2002 PGA Championship.

But for me, it’s the bunker shot on the 72nd hole of the 2000 Canadian Open. 218 yards from a fairway bunker over water to a tucked pin, which won him the tournament.

Back in 2001, Golf Digest asked him about that shot, and what golfers can learn from it. Turns out, quite a lot.

“It seemed like a miracle shot, but believe me, it was more dramatic than it was difficult,” he said.

That’s because of a few simple keys that the rest of us would do well to remember:

1. Ball in the middle of your stance

“Solid contact is crucial when playing a fairway bunker shot,” Tiger writes. So all the tweaks he makes involve ensuring solid contact.

The first of those is moving the ball back in your stance slightly, which will help the club hit the ball first, before the sand.

2. Raise your chin

The only swing thought golfers should have through the ball, Tiger says, is to “stay tall through impact.” A simple way of doing this, Tiger writes, is to “raise your chin slightly just before starting your backswing.”

3. Club up

Tiger also makes clear that you should take at least one more club from fairway bunkers than you ordinarily would. Probably more like two. For reasons we’re about to find out…

4. Dig in

One of the hardest things about swinging off sand is that it’s an extremely unstable surface. Your feet are prone to sliding around. So, to prevent this, dig your feet into the sand.

5. Choke down

Once you’ve dug your feet into the sand, it’s time to choke down on the grip. Tiger uses a pretty simple formula for this:

“I choke down on [the club] in direct proportion to how much I dig my feet into the sand—usually about half an inch.”

6. Slow down

Both those things alone are enough to make taking some extra club the right move, as is Tiger’s final tip:

“I decrease my swing speed by about 30 per cent,” he writes. “This not only increases accuracy but also allows me to keep my balance.”

The combination of all of these things can upgrade your fairway bunker game, and provide the foundation for one of the best shots of Tiger’s career.

Main image: Supplied

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As Golf Digest reported last week, there is a golf ball rollback, in some form, coming.

“We have been very clear, as has [CEO] Mike Whan at the USGA,” R&A head Martin Slumbers told Golf Digest last month. “There are only three options: We can bifurcate; you change the whole game; or you do nothing. And doing nothing is not an option. We stand by that.”

The golf ball rollback, if you’re unfamiliar, is a proposed rule change by the USGA and R&A, golf’s rule-making bodies, to address the continued increase in the distance professional golfers are hitting the ball. Proponents of the rollback say it protects historic golf courses from becoming obsolete, among other things. Opponents of the rollback say these are golf’s old-school elitists trying to hamper progress.

Personally, I’m a sceptic on the rollback, but wherever you land, it’s increasingly clear that something is going to happen, and probably soon with a rule that will apply eventually to all golfers, not just elite players. So let’s do a quick runthrough of a few potential outcomes, ranked from least to most severe.

Rollback fails, status quo remains

Given all the efforts in recent years to study the issue, then take a stance that distance is a matter that needs to be addressed, and with the pending rule set to be announced, it’s hard to see the governing bodies announcing a full-on retreat anytime soon. However, there’s a potential case they may be forced into one. Perhaps it’s via a lawsuit from equipment manufacturers, or blowback from the public that’s so heated they get spooked. Or maybe the game’s other power players, like the various tours, simply refuse to abide by the new rule, which pulls the governing bodies back from their plans.

Again, it’s unclear how or if the governing bodies could land in a “let’s just forget about it” position, but the result would be the least drastic of all: Golf takes the scenic route to everything staying the same.

Forty years ago, in the December 1983 edition of the magazine, Golf Digest was exploring the possibility that the distance golf balls were travelling might require action from golf’s governing bodies.

Tournament-specific golf balls

Of course, everything above would require the powers that be to back away from their own idea of a rollback. But if the response to impacting average golfers with a rollback is harsh enough, it could be that the governing bodies return to their original proposal of a model local rule. The fight to get here though might be so heated that potentially they only enact that rule sparingly, on specific courses. The Open Championship at the Old Course, for instance, or the U.S. Open at Merion, etc.

Week in, week out, things will basically stay the same. But when the championship goes to a legacy course that can’t or won’t be changed, then the rolled back ball comes out.

Competitive-recreational golfer split

Turn the temperature one notch further up, and you’ve got something similar to the previous proposal being adopted (aka, a local rule that can be enacted at-will by tournaments), but one that isn’t used sparingly. Rather, it’s adopted on a wider scale as a new normal.

Every USGA or R&A tournament adopts the rolled-back ball, for instance, or every NCAA tournament. This would, I would guess, end up dividing down competitive-recreational golfer lines. If you’re playing in non-handicap stroke play tournaments, there’s a good chance you’re using the rolled back ball.

Of course, this gets messy if the major tours, like the PGA Tour, doesn’t adopt the rule (which officials have said is their current stance), but we’ll get to that …

Rollback for everyone

Perhaps it’s posturing, perhaps it’s hinting at what’s ahead. But there were inklings in Slumbers’ comments that it may be cleaner to adopt a rollback across all of golf. And that is what sources tell Golf Digest is coming soon from the USGA and R&A.

This is one of the scenarios in which the proposed rule would likely affect you, the golfer. The rolled back ball is designed to chop 20 yards off the drives of golf’s best players. What would it mean for you? Without knowing the ball, it’s hard to know. Probably something slightly less but similar.

Some golfers would say they would simply refuse to adopt the rolled back ball, as they’ve indicated in a recent Golf Digest poll in which more than 60 per cent of respondents said they wouldn’t honour a new rule that restricted distance.

Breakaway chaos

And then there’s the most severe outcome of them all: Some kind of standoff that doesn’t get resolved, and instead escalates the divide.

What do I mean? Let’s say the USGA and R&A announce a rollback of some sort, whether for some or all. But then, the PGA Tour and LIV refuse to adopt it, and many of the major equipment manufacturers simply refuse to make a new golf ball model. Perhaps there’s even a threat to form a breakaway governing body to compete with the others.

Who knows how it’ll all turn out, all that’s clear is that in this scenario, it gets messy. Very messy.

Main image: Eóin Noonan

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The rollback would be implemented for golfers of all levels in 2030—different than the bifurcated proposal those governing bodies put forward earlier this year. The USGA and R&A predict a 10-15 yards decrease for golf’s longest hitters, down to 1-5 yards for amateurs.

We have finalized the next step in our years-long effort to address consistent increases in hitting distance and golf’s sustainability.

These changes to the Overall Distance Standard will take effect in January 2028.

— USGA (@USGA) December 6, 2023

Naturally, the rule change caused an eruption from golfers on all sides. Let’s break down some of the most noteworthy reactions.

Bridgestone Golf

Golf ball maker Bridgestone Golf issued a statement effectively saying they don’t like it, but they accept it and are moving on.

Bridgestone Golf statement regarding USGA/R&A distance roll back announcement: pic.twitter.com/L290S6nJtX

— Bridgestone Golf (@bridgestonegolf) December 6, 2023

Rory McIlroy

McIlroy has been outspoken in support of his rollback. After a tweet over the weekend, McIlroy joined Sky Sports on Wednesday morning to support the official proposal, saying that it’ll lead to a more “skilled” game.

"I think this change will make the game more skilful again" ?

World number two golfer Rory McIlroy has backed the new changes to rules regarding golf ball specifications which will see a reduce in distance they travel ?️? pic.twitter.com/XamHvgVhBA

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) December 6, 2023

TaylorMade Golf

McIlroy’s sponsor, TaylorMade Golf, released a statement on the rollback, expressing opposition but acceptance. On Golf Channel, the company’s CEO David Abeles said: “This decision has been made, and we will move forward.”

PGA Tour

The PGA Tour, with a vast majority of players being against the decision, released a statement questioning the specifics of the new testing protocols, saying they aren’t representative of on-course speeds.

Callaway Golf

Callaway Golf carved out a unique position, expressing disappointment that the USGA moved away from a bifurcated proposal.

PGA of America

The PGA of America released a statement praising the delayed timeline of implementing the new rule, but expressing concerns over a “greater reduction of distance than we would advise” for recreational players.

We appreciate that the USGA and R&A ran a collaborative and patient process over the past several years. We are particularly gratified that they heard our concerns regarding the significant operational challenges bifurcation would have presented and are no longer considering a local rule regarding the ball for elite players. We are also pleased that the proposed change to the ball has been delayed until 2028 for elite players and 2030 for recreational golfers. Given the important role our nearly 30,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals play in the recreational game, having more time to adjust to the new rule is helpful. We remain opposed to any change that may potentially lessen the enjoyment of the game for recreational golfers or diminish the unprecedented momentum the game is enjoying. It appears recreational golfers will see a greater reduction in distance than we would advise. While this decrease has been lessened, we continue to recommend being more moderate on the swing speed change for the golf ball conformance test. At this time, we continue to have concerns and look forward to continuing this important conversation and finding resolution with all of our golf industry partners.

USGA and R&A CEOs Mike Whan and Martin Slumbers

Defending their own proposal on Golf Channel, Slumbers said that the move was designed to “protect the long-term health and sustainability of the game…with the environmental concerns,” while Whan punched back against some of the proposal’s critics:

“There’s gonna be a lot of ambulance chasers and alarmists that are gonna make this thing seem so much worse than it really is. … I don’t want a few loud voices that are trying to get more clicks and more viewers and more phone calls to drive a frenzy that quite frankly isn’t based in fact.”

.@RandA and @USGA CEOs Martin Slumbers and Mike Whan detail what the universal golf ball rollback announcement means for players of all levels.

?: @GolfCentral breaking news coverage live now on Golf Channel pic.twitter.com/remf2OX3Q2

— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) December 6, 2023

Main image: Mike Ehrmann

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The USGA and the R&A formally announced Wednesday their intention to roll back the distance golf balls can travel. The rollback goes into effect January 2028 for elite competitions and for everybody come January 2030. The decision, part of the governing bodies’ Distance Insights Project, comes after some three years of “Notice and Comment” in which the USGA and R&A accepted feedback from golf’s stakeholders.

“Governance is hard. And while thousands will claim that we did too much, there will be just as many who said we didn’t do enough to protect the game long-term,” said Mike Whan, CEO of the USGA. “But from the very beginning, we’ve been driven to do what is right for the game, without bias. As we’ve said, doing nothing is not an option—and we would be failing in our responsibility to protect the game’s future if we didn’t take appropriate action now.”

The specifics, first reported by Golf Digest, involve the test for the Overall Distance Standard. The governing bodies are increasing the swing speed at which golf balls are tested from the current standard of 120 mph to 125 mph without changing the distance limit of 317 yards (plus a three-yard tolerance) with a launch angle of 11 degrees and 2,200 rpm of spin. In layman’s terms, according to the USGA and R&A, the effect could be a distance loss of nine to 11 yards at the PGA Tour or DP World Tour level, five to seven yards for the LPGA/LET and between five yards or less for everyday players.

All golf balls submitted to the USGA for conformance during or after October 2027 will be evaluated using the new protocol. In other words, if everyday golfers want to continue using longer golf balls in 2028 and 2029, they will be older-model balls. There was no mention in the Notice of Decision how one would be able to tell what is an old conforming ball and what is a new conforming ball other than comparing it to the conforming list. However, John Spitzer, the USGA’s managing director of equipment standards, said approximately one-third of balls currently on the conforming list would still be conforming under the new protocol, primarily two- and-three-piece balls with ionomer covers.

The change in speed and the fact it affects all golfers are significant departures from the governing bodies previous stance. In 2022, the speed being looked at was 125 mph but that was amended in March 2023 to 127. However, also at that time the proposal was stated as a Model Local Rule impacting elite professional golfers only. Said Whan at the time, “We don’t see recreational golf obsoleting golf courses any time soon.”

So why the change to include everybody? The governing bodies say the move to a universal rollback was the result of feedback during the Notice and Comment period triggered in March after the announcement of the proposed MLR. In a note to all industry stakeholders, the USGA and R&A conveyed that, “While we previously proposed a targeted change to only elite golf, we have incorporated feedback from a broad range of stakeholders/players who stressed the importance of unification in the game of golf, mainly the importance of maintaining a single set of playing rules and a single set of equipment standards. This feedback clearly indicated that an across-the-game solution with deferred implementation is the preferred solution.”

Exactly how much distance regular golfers will lose, however, remains a bit grey since the one to five yards mention on Wednesday by the governing bodies doesn’t quite jibe with a USGA published report in June 2022. Although they stated similar numbers, there also was this on the testing of a shorter ball.

“In testing with the NP-500 … participants reported a perceived distance reduction of about 4.9 percent (210 yards compared to a 221-yard self-reported average). This is consistent with expectations based on laboratory testing.” In other words, not quite one to five yards. Still, Thomas Pagel, the USGA’s chief governance officer, told Golf Digest everyday golfers should rest easy.

“It’s five yards at most and likely limited to your driver,” Pagel said. “I don’t want to minimize people’s feelings or concerns about losing even a yard. We all have those concerns. We all want that extra yard or two. But just put this in the practical senses of this would mean, you know, 222 yards instead of 225. And you do have the ability to move tees up. You do have the ability to play forward tees. I would just say trust in the process. Over the next six years, I think we’ll find that the sky hasn’t fallen, the game is still going to be healthy.”

Perhaps just as important as the decision on golf balls, it appears the governing bodies are not quite done putting a governor on distance. Included in the note to stakeholders were two additional areas being looked at. The first is expanding testing of submitted drivers to keep tabs on “CT Creep,” which is drivers getting springier over time due to use, leading to the possibility of a conforming club becoming non-conforming. This is not a change, per se, and does not impact everyday players.

The next item, however, is to continue its research into the forgiveness of drivers at the elite level, which could lead to reductions in moment of inertia (which mitigates distance loss on mis-hits), driver-head size or both. Although the language was aimed solely at elite players, as we have seen with the ball rollback decision, things have a way of changing.

Image: Supplied

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So the six-time PGA Tour winner already has some practical experience with what the USGA and R&A might be getting ready to do. Citing industry sources, Golf Digest reported Friday that golf’s governing bodies are expected to announce next week a rule change that would universally roll back golf ball distances. The expected rule change comes after a three-year “Notice and Comment” period with equipment manufacturers and other golf organisations, including the PGA Tour.

It is expected that a new standard for testing the conformity of golf balls would be introduced for elite players and competitions in 2028 and then for recreational players in 2030.

“Srixon made whatever the USGA was saying, and it was 40, 50 yards [shorter] with my driver,” Bradley, 37, said Saturday at the Hero World Challenge. “I was a club or two shorter. I think that the USGA … everything that they do is reactionary. They don’t think of a solution. They just think we’re going to affect a hundred percent of the population that plays golf. For the amateur world to hit the ball shorter is monstrous. I can’t think of anything more stupid than that. I don’t think it’s very smart at all, especially when golf’s growing in popularity literally coming out of COVID.”

Among players who were asked about the potential rule change at the Hero World Challenge, no one thought a universal roll back was a good idea. And only tournament host Tiger Woods thinks it would be the right thing to do in the professional game. He and World No. 2 Rory McIlroy have been the biggest proponents of reigning in the ball at the elite level.

“We’ve been hammering the ball needs to slow down,” Woods, 47, said after a third-round one-under 71 at Albany, “but it has kept speeding up my entire time on tour and here we are. I’ve always been for bifurcation. I’ve always said that. Just like wood bats and metal bats [in baseball].”

On Sunday morning, Rory McIlroy took to X (formerly Twitter) with a passionate case for the rollback and against its critics.

I don’t understand the anger about the golf ball roll back. It will make no difference whatsoever to the average golfer and puts golf back on a path of sustainability. It will also help bring back certain skills in the pro game that have been eradicated over the past 2 decades.…

— Rory McIlroy (@McIlroyRory) December 3, 2023

Former U.S. Open champion Justin Rose was surprised to hear that the governing bodies were considering an across-the-board change for amateurs as well as professionals.

“I think the way I saw it going was the tour doing one thing [with a model local rule] and maybe major championships doing another. And that puts a lot of pressure on the tour,” Rose, 43, of England, said. “Now if recreational golf is rolling back, too, it doesn’t make sense for the tour to stay where we were. Because I think if the amateurs were going to continue to stay where they were, the tour, were going to say, ‘OK, we’re going to stay where we are because we want the fan to be able to relate to the tour player.’ That made sense to me. And then obviously if there was a ball for a major championship then so be it, we’d have to learn how to adapt. So that’s the way I would’ve hedged it going. Now it’s even a weirder situation. The amateurs are playing the ball that’s slower than what we’re playing on tour. That doesn’t feel right either.”

Rickie Fowler is not a fan of the ruling bodies making any change to the ball at any level. “There are other ways of going about this,” he said, adding that they are “20 years too late” on the issue.

But he is especially opposed to a shorter ball for recreational players. “To take the game and knock it back when it’s in the best position it’s ever been in, I don’t want to see it as the golf ball being necessarily the right move,” Fowler added. “I don’t see how when we’re at the best place the game has ever been. ‘Oh, you love the game? Yeah. Hey, thanks for joining us over COVID. Now we’re going to make you hit it 20 yards shorter. Have fun.’ I understand both sides. But looking at it as far as the game and everyone talks about growing the game, I think it’s going to be a huge step back.”

Bradley, who already had to adjust his game to a change in equipment rules several years ago when the governing bodies prohibiting an anchored putting stroke, wonders how he and his peers will be forced to adjust their games further.

“I don’t know what the ramifications are going to be with the ball—what they’re going to do, what direction they going to go,” he said. “It would have to be a complete overhaul of the equipment that I use, the shafts that I use. Yeah, I mean the amount of change that’s happened just in the course of my career is insane.

“I think we constantly get penalised for mistakes they [USGA and R&A] make. Whether if they let the ball go too far, that’s not our problem. They [are doing this] to punish not only the professional golfers, but the world of golf for something that they screwed up on. I really think it’s one of the dumbest things I’ve ever heard of.”

Image: David Cannon

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The change involves a revision to the way golf balls are tested to see if they conform to the rules. Specifically, it is expected to be announced that the test for the Overall Distance Standard would increase the swing speed at which golf balls are tested from the current standard of 120 mph to 125 mph. While increasing the swing speed, the test would not change the distance limit of 317 yards.

In simple terms, if a golf ball is currently close to the Overall Distance Standard, as a high majority of golf balls used in elite competition (and popular in the marketplace) are, then raising the speed by 5 mph would make them fly 15 yards farther, or well past the current distance limit. Balls would then have to be made to stay within that 317-yard standard.

The decision by golf’s ruling bodies comes after nearly three years of “Notice and Comment” with equipment manufacturers and other industry stakeholders over several proposals involving clubs, balls and a distance rollback. While the USGA and R&A had originally proposed the change to 125 mph in the spring of 2022 in announcing some preliminary “areas of interest,” they revised that speed upward to 127 mph in an announcement in March. At that time, however, the proposal was to only change the rules for elite professional golfers, instituting what is known as a Model Local Rule.

“The USGA and the R&A were not considering changes that would result in substantial reductions in hitting distances at all levels of the game,” read a statement from the ruling bodies at the time. It was echoed by USGA CEO Mike Whan, who said the then-proposed MLR that would not apply to all golfers. “We don’t see recreational golf obsoleting golf courses any time soon,” he said.

Clearly, the idea of a permanent but separate set of rules for elite golfers didn’t resonate with the industry, as not only manufacturers but the PGA Tour and PGA of America voiced their opposition to the proposed change. The message was clear, R&A CEO Martin Slumbers explained last week to Golf Digest.

“It was a very strong pushback against that,” Slumbers said. “… And our job is to listen. But our responsibility is to the long-term future of the game. …We’re responsible for our period of time, something that has gone on for hundreds of years and will go on for hundreds more. So, we are listening. And we have made a decision about what we are going to do.”

That decision apparently will mean a period of bifurcated rules starting in 2028, when the elite professionals use a shorter golf ball than recreational players. But starting two years later, all balls that conform to the Rules of Golf will apparently be 15 or more yards shorter at the elite level. The effect on distance for recreational players will likely be less, but could be proportional. So that if a tour player loses five percent (or 15 yards on a 300-yard drive), then a recreational player might lose that same five percent on a 225-yard drive (or roughly 11 yards). And the same golfer likely would lose a similar percentage on his or her approach shots.

In a Golf Digest internet survey this week that was open to all golfers, with more than 600 people responding, a significant majority (64.6 percent) said they would not abide by rules that reduce ball distance. They felt nearly the same about distance limitations at the elite level, with 60.4 percent not wanting to see pros and top amateurs have their length pushed back.

Officials from both the USGA and the R&A declined to comment.

Image: Angel Martinez

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Golf Digest Middle East have singled out three of the best that Ireland has to offer, in this once in a lifetime golf trip available for you, the eager golfer!

You might already be looking ahead to that European getaway with your golfing buddies to escape the toasty temperatures in the UAE, so how about a golf tour to Ireland in this failsafe unforgettable experience?

Having lived in Galway, on the west coast of Ireland, I can safely say it’s hard to find a bad golf course anywhere on the island or Ireland! The landscapes, world-famous hospitality and quality of golf planned into this trip is a perfect blend of exceptional golfing with wonderful off-the-course-experiences.

We have you covered with the help of dnata Travel.

After landing into Dublin Airport, yes – your flights are covered. You’ll be met by your VIP private transfer who will whisk you 15 minutes up the coast to The Portmarnock Resort, (your base for the three nights) a hidden gem often described as a high quality 4* hotel, with a 5* feel.

RELATED: Ireland is Treasure Island: Golf Digest Middle East visits the jewels of the Emerald Isle

The Jameson Links

Par 71
Tee blue 6,475 yards
Tee white 6,063 yards
Tee green 5,672 yards
Tee red 5,024 yards

Overlooking Dublin Bay and situated along the ‘Velvet Strand’, this is one of Ireland’s most stunning stretches of uninterrupted coastline. A perfect mix of old-world charm combined with modern facilities. This award-winning links course and spa is the perfect coastal retreat for you.

After you have checked in, there’s time for a quick freshen up before your tee time. And don’t worry you only have about 150 yards to walk to the first tee, as you will be playing the recently rebranded Jameson Golf Links on site at the Portmarnock Resort. Perfect!

This 18-hole championship links course has played host to numerous amateur and professional events including the 2008 and 2009 Ladies Irish Open and the 2021 Irish Challenge, won by now DP World Tour player Daan Huizing.

Overlooked by Irelands Eye, the 203-acre site is on the grounds of the old Jameson Estate of St. Marnocks, hence the new name.

This Bernhard Langer designed course has five new green complexes and four new tee areas which ensures a first-class test while also remaining fair and playable for all levels of golfer.

The Jameson Links makes full use of the dunes and natural terrain to provide a layout that will please even the most experienced of links specialists. With an abundance of elevated tees and greens, blind approaches and doglegs, not to mention the typical links Irish sea breeze, it will keep you thinking throughout the round.

You’re likely to be a touch jaded after the excitement of the opening day on the links, so your first evening is left open to your own devices, but who knows, you are only 15 minutes from Dublin City center, a trip into Temple Bar might be on the cards…

The K Club

Par 72
Tee blue 7,350 yards
Tee white 6,815 yards
Tee green 6,240 yards
Tee red 5,131 yards

Rise and shine it’s time for day two. Time for a quick traditional Irish fry-up for breakfast to set you up for the day and it’s an 8am departure for your next round.

Well, this course oozes in history and is ranked in the top three parkland golf courses in the whole of Ireland, remember there are over 400 in the country! This golfer’s haven is a must-play course that has previously hosted the top golfers in the world, any guesses? It’s The K Club Palmer North. 

After your 45-minute VIP transfer, you’ll arrive at the Arnold Palmer-designed treasure. Previously host to the 2006 Ryder Cup where Team Europe claimed an emotional victory over the USA. This stadium-style resort course, measures over 7,300 yards from the tips, and has many TV commentators describe it as the most difficult inland layout in the country as well as one of the best around Dublin.

You don’t have to look far for even more pedigree on the Palmer North, Rory McIlroy claimed the 2016 DP World Tour Shot of the Year here on the 18th hole on his way to the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open and it also has been venue to eleven European Opens which affirms the importance of the Palmer North to European Golf.

If you do decide to play from the tips, good luck! But don’t be fooled by its charm as challenges still do lurk as the mature trees and water features force players to bring out the very best in their game.

RELATED: Ireland is Treasure Island: Golf Digest Middle East visits the jewels of the Emerald Isle

Having survived the Palmer North, hopefully without too many lost balls, it’s time to jump back in your transfer and head back towards Dublin, but we aren’t going straight back to the hotel just quite yet. It’s time for a quick pitstop in the capital to try some of the culture that Ireland has to offer and experience the history, heart and soul of Ireland’s most iconic beer – Guinness.

At the Guinness Storehouse you’ll be able to savour the sights, sounds, tastes, and aromas of Guinness as this experience goes beyond the gates at the home of the world’s most popular stout. The tour finishes at the Gravity Bar which has breathtaking views over Dublin city where you will enjoy a pint and a photo opportunity.

After sampling your well-earned creamy Guinness, its back on the bus for the short journey up to the Portmarnock Resort where once again you have the evening to yourself, remember if you feel a bit peckish there’s three top dining outlets available at the resort.

County Louth Golf Club

Par 72
Tee blue 7,031 yards
Tee white 6,716 yards
Tee green 6,338 yards
Tee red 5,873 yards

Don’t worry, you’ve got yourself a slight lie in on Saturday morning, as your transfer doesn’t leave until 10:30am. This time you are heading north up Ireland’s east coast to Louth and County Louth Golf Club.

Founded in 1892, the course was redesigned in 1938 by architects, Tom Simpson and Molly Gourlay. Now boasting a par 72 course that measures 7,031 yards from the back tees, this championship links is known for providing one of the purest and fairest tests of links golf in the world.

Surrounded by sand dunes and an unforgettable coastline, along with undulating greens and fairways, professional golfer and former Ryder Cup Europe Captain Paul McGinley remarks on his favourite links course in Ireland, “It’s just a great test. All the holes run in different directions, so you have a different exam paper on each hole”.

Known also as ‘Baltray’ this course is of the highest ranked and previous host to the DP World Tour’s Irish Open in 2004 and 2009, on the latter occasion, the club was etched into Irish golfing history when it famously became the venue where 2019 Open Champion Shane Lowry won the Irish Open as an Amateur.

County Louth also holds the East of Ireland championship each year which is considered a “Major” on the elite Irish amateur golf scene.

Upon returning to the Portmarnock Resort the fun-filled weekend doesn’t stop there, we have one more treat for you lined up. The Jameson Experience.

The long association between the Jameson family and Portmarnock Resort began when John Jameson III, moved to St. Marnocks in 1847. Since then, the resort has taken precious care of the history and legacy of the famous family.

You’ll begin this unique experience with a guided tour of the original Jameson family home and grounds including the final resting place of members of the dynasty. Following this, you’ll head into the cosy Jameson Bar to enjoy a stunning three-course meal, curated by the head chef, surrounded by the artwork and historic articles of the Jameson Family.

Then to top off an unforgettable trip, you’ll finish your evening with a tasting of three of the Jameson family’s famous whiskeys.

When you depart from Dublin airport, make sure you have a seat overlooking the ‘Velvet Strand’ and the Portmarnock Resort as you’ll be dreaming of this memorable weekend all the way back to Dubai.

So next time you’re planning to tee off somewhere (that’s a bit more than) special, I think the island of Ireland should be at the top of your list… I just wish I was going!

Itinerary

Thursday, 16 May 2024
Arrive Dublin airport (12:15pm)
Transfer to hotel
Play Jameson Links (3pm)
Free evening

Friday, 17 May 2024
Depart hotel (8am)
Play The K Club, Palmer North (9:30am)
Guinness Storehouse (4pm)
Return transfer to hotel (5:30pm)
Free evening

Saturday, 18 May 2024
Depart hotel (10:30am)
Play Co. Louth (12:20pm)
Return transfer to hotel (6pm)
Jameson Experience at hotel (8pm)
(Dinner + Whiskey tasting)

Sunday, 19 May 2024
Check out and depart hotel (10:30am)
Depart Dublin airport (2:15pm)

Pricing

From AED11,735
3 nights per person
Double occupancy

From AED13,820
3 nights per person
Single occupancy

Note: Price is subject to the exact travel dates, numbers travelling and the final itinerary

WhatsApp 800 DNATA (800 36282) or email sports.leisure@dnata.com to find out more

Images: Supplied by courses

A Week In Ireland
DAY 1: The K Club
DAY 2: Lahinch Golf Club
DAY 3: Dromoland Castle
DAY 4: Mount Juliet Estate
DAY 5: Druids Heath

The post Ireland’s Ancient East Experience appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Bill could not have said it better and it’s no wonder that every year over 240,000 golfers from all over the world come to the island of Ireland for that very reason.

And yes, we have got your next trip planned down to a tee. This all-in golfing experience will see you not only play the world-class Jameson Golf Links (pictured), The K Club and County Louth Golf Club, but there’s even still time for some of the cultural and historical spots Ireland has to offer at the Guinness Storehouse and the Jameson Experience.

You’ll be staying at the Portmarnock Resort for the entirety of the stay, during this trip to the Emerald Isle which is without doubt a once in a lifetime experience.

Thanks to dnata Travel we can assure you that this four-day golfing extravaganza will be mighty craic! 

Main image: Jameson Golf Links

The post QUICKSHOT: Ireland’s Ultimate Golf Tour appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.