If the USGA’s motives are to grow the game they have a funny way of showing it, going all the way back to the groove rule. As far as rolling the ball back (“Consensus vital in rollback debate,” June 16, GGP), the vast majority of golfers are against it. The ball doesn’t need to be rolled back, all they have to do is make golf courses “smarter,” e.g. longer rough, shaved banks around the greens, etc.
For the vast majority of tournaments it’s simply bomb and gouge as the rough is negligible and players don’t really care if they find the fairway or not. These types of layouts require no strategic thinking, no real shot making … just hit it as far as you can. I find 20-under winning a tournament to be pretty boring to watch.
As professionals they should find the fairways more often than not, and if they don’t there should be some kind of consequence.
On a side note, a ball rollback brings up a lot of other questions. For example, what ball should the aspiring junior golfer play? What ball would be in play for local and regional tournaments? What about college and the AJGA?
The USGA is looking for a solution in search of a problem.
Sean Foster-Nolan
Weymouth, Massachusetts
As a former president of my Maryland club … excellent description of club life (“Divot: Purity and pain,” June 16, GGP).
Bob Coppersmith
Sarasota, Florida
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