Adobe Stock, Mallika
On the heels of the USGA and R&A’s announced proposal for a “Modified Local Rule” for elite competition that reduces the overall distance a golf ball would travel at extremely high speeds, Golf Datatech, LLC, released results of a survey that provides immediate analysis of where everyday golfers stand on the issue.
“This golf ball rollback is a hot button topic across the professional tours and among the amateur golf community, especially among better players who rely on distance as key part of their game,” Golf Datatech partner John Krzynowek said. “For this reason, we expedited this survey to put a stake in the ground so we can assess how perceptions and opinions shift on this issue over time.”
The USGA and R&A proposed changes to the rules of golf on March 14 to create a ball that flies shorter, which will be used by “elite professional and amateur" events, while maintaining the current ball for “recreation play. Which means, rather than having all golf balls be the same, the elite players would be required to use the shorter golf ball and recreational players would not have to change from what they currently play.
In developing the Golf Ball Rollback Survey, Golf Datatech analyzed data from more than 1,250 respondents in the company’s “serious golfer” database. This is an opt-in group of passionate, avid golfers who play and spend the most on golf equipment.
Among the feedback from the respondents, each who were provided a synopsis of the Modified Local Rule, include:
Opinions on the proposed rule:
- 52 percent don’t like the proposed rule
- 23 percent are in favor of the proposed rule
- 13 percent don’t know enough yet to have an opinion
- 12 percent don’t care
Among those who do not support the Modified Local Rule (647 respondents):
- 72 percent indicate they “like knowing that everyone plays by the same rules”
- 55 percent don’t think it is necessary
- 43 percent believe it “complicates” the rules
- 7 percent indicate they play “high-level competition” and the proposed rule complicates things for them
Open-ended feedback among those who do not support the Modified Local Rule:
- It penalizes elite players for being elite.
- Many like to play the same equipment as the lite players to see how they are the same/different
- Some feel the ball is being held accountable, when the focus should be on clubs
- There is an undercurrent of golfers who are concerned that the expense of designing and making two different balls will ultimately have to be borne by the consumer, and golf ball prices will rise as a result
Among those who support the Modified Local Rule (293 respondents):
- 85 percent don’t want to see classic courses made obsolete
- 45 percent believe technological improvements are ruining the game
- 39 percent feel Tour pros hit the ball “too far”
- 26 percent don’t hit it like a tour pro, so they don’t really care what the elite players use
Open-ended feedback among those who support the Modified Local Rule:
- A shorter ball will bring more skill back to the game for elite players
- Concern that bigger and longer golf courses require more resources to maintain (capital, water, fertilizer, etc.), and ultimately will create a sustainability case against the sport
Respondents were also asked what affect the proposed rule will have on their personal enjoyment of the game:
- 79 percent indicated it will not have any effect on their own enjoyment
- 17 percent said it might make the game less enjoyable
- 4 percent believe it might make the game more enjoyable
- 1 percent indicated they will no longer enjoy the game
“While the majority of golfers polled are opposed to the proposed Modified Local Rule, ultimately most do not think it will have a direct impact on their own personal enjoyment of the game,” Krzynowek said. “What this survey did not evaluate is what are the potential ramifications on interest in the professional game? Will there be less interest in watching elite players compete on some of the world’s biggest stages if they are using a shorter or modified golf ball? That is yet to be determined — but what is certain is that this topic is not going away and we will continue to analyze the issue in the weeks ahead.”
More information on Golf Datatech’s golf ball rollback survey is available by sending an email to info@golf-datatech.comor calling 888-944-4116.