An official statement from the PGA Tour took a wait-and-see approach. “The PGA Tour has received the proposed draft interpretation on greens reading materials announced today by the USGA and R&A, and will collaborate with both organizations in order to get feedback on the proposal from tour players, PGA Tour rules officials and through our governance process,” said Tyler Dennis, vice president of competition for the PGA Tour.

The PGA of America said it would offer its thoughts on the proposed rule next week during the PGA Championship at Bellerive in St. Louis.

RELATED: USGA/R&A set out plan to limit the scope of green-reading materials

Tour players haven’t voiced many opinions on the topic, although there is near universal use of the so-called green books that routinely show contours and slopes well below the proposed minimum of 4 percent and 2.25 degrees described in the proposal. Mark Long, veteran caddie and designer of many of the yardage books used on the PGA Tour and at the U.S. Open, first mapped a green in 2004. He understands the thinking behind the proposal—rules officials say they are concerned that a players’ skill and judgement in reading greens is being minimized by the use of advanced materials—but worries that it might lead to more problems than it solves.

The issue in Long’s mind comes down to two things: First, if the objection to green books is that they create a slow-play problem, then that problem isn’t a green-books problem.

“Technically, green books can’t slow down play because you only have a certain amount of time to hit a shot,” he said. “The only reason it might slow down play is the pace-of-play rules are not enforced. They sped me up a thousand percent. So that fact is questionable. They may in fact speed up play. We don’t really know.”

For Long, the bigger question, however, is about what information you should have available to read a green, and he says restricting a green book creates a potential dichotomy between tour players and amateur golfers. “A tour player always will have better access to more stuff to help him play well than the average Joe does,” Long said. “When he gets on a green he can ask his caddie to read the putt. That doesn’t happen for the amateur. So the amateur is actually playing a more difficult game than the pros do.”

Jim Stracka is CEO of StrackaLine, which designs green-contour books for players on the PGA Tour and LPGA Tour, and 300-plus college golf teams, as well as golf facilities. StrackaLine has produced books for more than 700 courses. According to the company, the process takes five hours, costs $1,500 and includes 100 free guides for resale. Typically, on tour, the books are more customized and more expensive, around $150 a week.

Stracka finds the proposal confusing, not the least of which because he was never approached by the ruling bodies for input prior to the announcement. “This really causes me to have more questions and might cause more problems than it has answers,” Stracka said. “They say they’ve been working on this for a while, but it looks like they just threw this together yesterday.

“Just from an administration standpoint, it’s a nightmare. The pros will get this information, even if it’s just going back to the future with their own hand-drawn maps and notes.”

Courtesy of the USGA
The handwritten notes on the left map are considered acceptable in that they contain general information and swing thoughts, but the ones on the right are not allowed as they replicate the more specific, prohibited slope readings. Only a detailed look at the maps, though, would allow players and officials to notice the differences.

Stracka says his software is completely configureable, so it can adjust to show less information to conform with the USGA and R&A’s new guidelines. And he also knows the proposed rules interpretation does not specifically ban green guides.

“I can see that the USGA is trying to eliminate the ‘exactness’ of putting by limiting slope information,” he said. “[But] very few golfers understand slope … and even fewer know what to do with it. Over the past few years, I have talked to a few professional golfers that think they can calculate the exact break of a putt because they know the slope percent between the ball and the hole … but the reality is that doing that is impossible because of the effects of Stimp [speed], grain, moisture and wind on the putt.

“Green reading is more memory than a map.”

Stracka’s company released a statement saying it “would continue to service golfers with the same highly detailed greens guides for their practice rounds, and once the details of the proposed rule are finalized, StrackaLine will work with the USGA to produce a greens guide that conforms to the new rule so our players can continue to make more putts.” Stracka later added, “The statistics do not show any need for this rule. If they feel that green reading is a necessary skill, they should also eliminate the caddie from green reading.”

He also said the proposal “stunts the growth of the game,” and ultimately, he said, “I could see another black eye coming for [the USGA].”

Statistically, there is no clear indication greens books have changed the landscape of putting performance on the PGA Tour, or in fact had any effect at all. Going back over the last 16 years for which specific distance data on putting is available, there is little difference in the putting statistics from 2003-2015 versus the last three years, when green books became extremely prominent. Players showed a very slight improvement in the current era in three-putt avoidance and putts per round, but are slightly worse now compared to then from four to eight feet, 10 to 15 feet and 20 to 25 feet.

In addition to greens guides, there are digital apps that include green-contour features. Since the proposed rules interpretation restricts not only numbers but arrows and lines, it’s not entirely clear how it might apply in the digital space. Apps such as Golflogix with its Putt Breaks feature and GolfScope with its augmented-reality green-scanning function let users see how a putt might generally break. Said one app developer, “To me, it’s really like having a caddie help you out in reading a green, and most people can’t have a caddie. Seems weird to take us backwards.”

Long has seen the technology curve for green books accelerate, and he appreciates the ruling bodies’ concern for how far it might go. But it’s not an easy thing to lock down knowledge he said, especially since the rule still will allow handwritten notes in yardage books.

“If I write down in my notes the break on the 15th hole, does that mean I now have an illegal yardage book?” Long wondered, suggesting the scoring tent could end up being as confrontational as airport security with rules officials asking caddies and players to “show me your papers.”

“I think they’re in an extremely difficult situation,” he said.

Thomas Pagel, USGA Senior Director, Rules of Golf and Amateur Status, told Golf Digest that the hope is the makers of green-reading materials will submit them to the USGA and R&A to confirm they’re conforming. The materials could then, potentially receive some type of imprint so that tournament officials would know from a distance that they are conforming. However, regarding handwritten notes that players might add, Pagel acknowledge that the governing bodies will “rely on the integrity of the player” to follow the guidelines.

Courtesy of USGA
The sample depicts a green map that includes an allowable level of detail by the standard set with the minimum slope index limit. The shaded areas so contours that are equal to or greater than 4 percent slope.

Finally, there is the issue of growing the game. For as much technology as has come into the game’s clubs and balls, golf’s data-driven and augmented reality potential has been well under-utilized, especially compared to other sports. One could make the argument that taking away the green books hurts a college player’s or even junior golfer’s potential earnings. Leaving green books and green-reading materials technology alone, at the very least, would be a natural attraction for more potential younger golfers, whose world is increasingly driven by instant information processing.

“With the technology for golf apps, they’re pretty good right now, but they’re not nearly as good as they’re going to be,” Long said. “And when they get really good, they’re going to make everybody play a lot faster and have a lot more fun playing golf in my opinion. I don’t think we should discourage that.

“If you want to talk about growing the game and attracting young people, you better just open the door to technology and say, ‘Whatever guys, have fun!’ because everybody young is about How fast can I do something on my device?”

Of course, with the rulemaking bodies closing the comment period on the new proposal in six weeks, what might be moving faster is how quickly green-contour information will be disappearing for players at all levels.

The post By requiring green-reading materials to provide less information, are the USGA and R&A creating more confusion? appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Ryan Herrington
In May 2017, USGA and R&A officials made it known they had potential concerns with the use of green-reading materials that had become an increasingly popular tool for professional and elite-amateur golfers. More than 14 months later, the governing bodies have formally shared their misgivings, jointly announcing plans that would limit the scope of such materials beginning in 2019 in an attempt to “reaffirm” an emphasis on player skill.

Under a proposal unveiled on Tuesday, an interpretation of Rule 4.3 (use of equipment) would allow players to still use the materials but would restrict some of the data the materials can provide as well as the materials size.

Specifically, the proposal calls for a “minimum slope indication limit” that would allow green-reading books to continue to use numbers, lines, arrows or other indications to identify slopes on greens, but only in areas of 4 percent slope (2.29 degrees) or greater. Areas where there is less slope on the green than the minimum would remain blank.

Courtesy of USGA
The sample depicts a green map that includes an allowable level of detail by the standard set with the minimum slope index limit. The shaded areas show contours that are equal to or greater than 4 percent slope, while any other areas remain blank.

The proposal also includes a “maximum scale limit” of 3/8 inch to 5 yards (1:480) to keep the printed material to a pocket-sized publication.

The decision to act, according to Thomas Pagel, USGA Senior Director, Rules of Golf and Amateur Status, stemmed from the governing bodies’ belief that the increasingly granular details found in the more commonly used green-reading books—many of which include dozens of slope indicators for every five yards of green—was compromising the need for players to rely on their own judgement, skill and ability.

“Reading a putting green is a skill that should be part of the game, it’s traditionally been a skill that’s part of the game,” Pagel said. “You think about architects and the subtleties that they sometimes put into greens, it’s part of the challenge of the game. And these materials were just eliminating that challenge and eliminating the need for skill of a player.”

Traditional yardage books that include basic illustrations showing the outline of greens and include information indicating ridges and general slopes will continue to conform to the Rules of Golf. Players and caddies also can still amend any green-reading materials with certain handwritten notes. These notes, however, cannot be a direct copy or replica of the more-detailed green maps currently in use.

Courtesy of USGA
The sample depicts a traditional yardage book or course guide that includes a basic illustration and indicative information such as the top of ridges and general slopes. This would be allowed under the new interpretation from the USGA and R&A on green-reading materials.

In doing their due diligence, Pagel said that USGA and R&A officials spoke with numerous players on the PGA, LPGA and European tours about the matter, along with officials at each of the various international tours. From this input, the governing bodies explored a handful of options before arriving at the current proposal.

Among the alternates discussed was preventing players from using any materials once their ball was on the green. Pagel described this as arguably the easiest solution to administer, but said that it would be taking the game too far back in history. “Players have referenced their hand-written notes in hole-location sheets and yardage books for years, and we’ve never been bothered by that,” Pagel said. “We were really committed to saying, ‘OK, what is the objective here?’ ”

Ultimately, officials gravitated toward the idea of the minimum slope indication limit to address their most specific concerns. The premise behind the minimum, Pagel said, is that holes on greens are generally cut on flatter sections of the putting surfaces where the slope is less than 3.5 percent, or 2 degrees. If the green-reading materials could not show the breaks in these spots as they had been doing, players would have to rely on their own judgement.

“Basically, the books are giving them a recommended line, and that goes too far. It’s removing that skill,” Pagel said. “So that was really the tipping point, where you started to see a reliance of players, especially on short putts [on using the books]. The skill of reading a green was diminishing, quickly going away. And we wanted to make sure it was retained.”

Courtesy of USGA
The sample includes examples of the types of general handwritten notes that are allowed to be included on a green map.

The 4 percent limit equated to roughly the amount of slope that’s readily visible to the naked eye, according to Pagel, allowing players to use the materials to help them strategize how to play their approach shots into greens.

In conjunction with the proposal, the USGA and R&A will begin a six-week feedback period where interested parties can offer suggestions before a final version of the interpretation goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2019, along with the new Rules of Golf.

Related: USGA/R&A officials release final draft of modernised Rules of Golf to debut in 2019

Players and caddies can continue to use the more detailed versions of the green-reading materials during practice rounds of tournaments, just as they are allowed to use distance-measuring devices ahead of playing in events on the various tours, in order to “do their homework” for a tournament.

Courtesy of USGA
The sample includes examples of handwritten notes that are NOT allowed to be included on a green map because they include information that would otherwise not be allowed by the new interpretation.

While the majority of golfers using the green-reading material are professionals competing on tour, some courses have gone ahead and had their greens surveyed by the handful of companies that have surfaced to offers such services. However, the interpretation would prohibit the use of restricted green-reading materials by amateurs playing rounds they intend to post for handicap purposes.

Pagel said that the USGA and R&A intends to work with the makers of the green-reading materials and encourage them to submit materials to confirm they are conforming to the new interpretation. Such books could potentially receive some type of imprint so that tournament officials would know from a distance that they are conforming.

Pagel felt comfortable that the line being drawn on the matter was an appropriate one.

“What we’re saying here is for the best interest in the game moving forward, the skill of reading a putting green should be retained,” Pagel said. “And to have materials that do that for you is just a step too far. This rule is about keeping the game challenging. The challenge of the game is what we as golfers all enjoy. And pretty soon the game can get robotic if we start to eliminate the need for some of the skill and judgement. Frankly that takes away from the overall challenge and the overall enjoyment.”

The post USGA and the R&A announce plan that limits scope of green-reading materials starting in 2019 appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

I’ve learned how to best help players from the famed Harmon family and this has been a thrill as you’d expect. Butch Harmon’s commentary has drawn plaudits due to its clarity, realism and honesty. “If it barks like a dog, smells like a dog, it’s probably a dog,” he would say. I will try to bring you the same dose of honesty and I hope we can also have some fun along the way.

The recent alterations to The Rules of Golf as well as some threats and positioning by The R&A and USGA on other topics seems as good a place as any to start.

I’m happy to report the armchair rules official, the type of person whose “thrilling” dinner conversation is likely to see you nod off before you’ve finished your entree, hit the headlines for possibly the last time in April.

One such busy-body spotted Lexi Thompson improperly re-mark her ball during the ANA Inspiration and pounced. You have to question why s/he found not only the time, but the inclination, to email the LPGA to report the (hardly) horrific crime. Indeed, could it have been a fan, friend or family member of one of Thompson’s nearest rivals?

But setting aside the desire to deride the emailer further, the infraction and resultant email ultimately cost Thompson the first ladies major of the year and once again made golf look unable to police itself. That’s a crime because golfers are, generally, the game’s most noble policemen and women.

In swooped The R&A and the USGA, removing the ability of television viewers to interfere in the game anymore. It was a good call and not before time.

Not long after followed a further statement set to ban green-mapping technology in tournament play. I suspect this will be remembered as the beginning of a move towards a faster game with less outside help.

These decision makers are not professional golfers, nor even professional sports people which is a column for another day. In just about every other multi-million/billion dollar sport, they are and should be.

Ultimately the rulers of our game want us to stand to the side of the ball, club in hand, eyeball the target, hit the ball, find the ball and then hit it again without undue delay. They don’t want us to use lasers, tazers, yardages, GPS trackers, green-maps. Nor do they want us to be lined up or have clubs dangling from our chins (plumb bobbing).

But let’s be honest – golf is too slow at every level and needs to be sped up.

Golf at tour level is particularly snail paced. Like waiting in a waiting room slow. Some will argue the rulers of the game are old-fashioned but I think they might have a vision which makes the game faster and more fun. We talk about the game being athletic, a sport, but maybe we need to play it more like a sport.

On reflection, it is sad that I spend time ‘slowing down’ the really good young players that come through the golf school. I prepare them for the waiting room wait because if they play naturally and quickly, by the time they make the bigger stage they will stall, start thinking too much and fall out of their natural rhythm given the slow pace of tour play.

I hope in time that I will be forced to speed them up again. Finally, slowly, we seem to be heading in the right direction which is a positive step ahead for our great game.

Justin Parsons is the Director of Instruction at the Butch Harmon School of Golf at The Els Club, Dubai. Among his pupils is celebrated Dubai-based Indian amateur No.1 Rayhan Thomas.

The post Butch Harmon School of Golf coach pens exclusive column for GolfDigestME.com appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.