USGA: Crack down on unruly fans
The USGA should be profoundly embarrassed by the spectators at the U.S. Open yelling derogatory comments at any competitor (“Clark’s tenacity glistens under Open pressure,” June 22, GGP).
Whether this is a “localized” (e.g. New York) problem or a wider problem brought on by gambling is open to debate. Nevertheless the USGA, the self-appointed guardian of the game, must adopt the fan behavior standard of the Masters and remove spectators from the course who are behaving badly.
I am sure you have been at the Masters and have read what tournament founder Bobby Jones wrote in the Spectator Guide booklet: “In golf the customs of etiquette and decorum are just as important the rules of play.” Jones goes on to say that “the applauding or cheering of misplays or misfortunes of a player” must be eliminated.
I hope the USGA will act accordingly at future championships.
Tom Bonnie
Wilmette, Illinois
Ban alignment markings
I’d like to circle back to slow play (“Slow-play flashpoint demands change,” Feb. 10, 2025, GGP), especially on the greens. It can be the bane of every fast player out there. It drives me mad to stand on a green waiting to putt while a player sets his ball down, attempts to align it, stands up to look at it, gets back down to tweak the alignment, gets back up to check it and maybe settles into his stance. But wait, once he gets the putter behind the ball and sees something he doesn’t like between the ball and putter he starts over. Just shoot me now.
Here’s a novel idea for the USGA and the R&A: ban all alignment markings on the ball, both manufactured or added by a player. All this nonsense of a dozen alignment machinations would go away and speed up play on the greens. They’ve banned all the Ph.D. level green-reading books. This seems like the next logical step to get players to make a decision and play on.
Too many amateurs way overthink putting. Pick the line you want. Pick a spot in front of the ball on that line. Align the putter perpendicular to the line and roll it.
Bruce Wireman
Georgetown, Texas
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