PGA of America opposes the idea to ban the use of long-putters
Last month, golf’s governing bodies, The Royal & Ancient Golf Club and the US Golf Association, proposed a rule, which, if accepted, will ban the use of a specific putter that was used by three of the last five major champions.
According to the R&A and the USGA, players will covert to the long-putters, also known as the belly-putters, to take more advantage, rather than using them as their last resorts.
As a result, the traditional way of playing golf will be greatly influenced by the use of newly designed putters.
The review process on the proposed rule will continue through next February. In case of approval by the golf’s rule makers, the use of long-putters will be banned, effective from January 1, 2016.
In the meantime, the PGA of America has opposed the idea of banning the long-putters, also known as the belly-putters, providing the reason that the proposed rule may leave a negative influence on the players.
The PGA issued a statement, asking the rule-making bodies "to seriously consider the impact this proposed ban may have on people's enjoyment of the game and the overall growth of the game”.
The PGA of America said that the use of long-putters will help in the development of the sport, rather than spoiling it.
The officials from the PGA of America also stated that the organization will also resist the possible move to restrict the distance a ball can move.
There has not been any rule under consideration with the golf’s rule makers. However, the idea is something that the United States Golf Association has always considered of.
According to the PGA of America President Ted Bishop, the idea of forcing the players to restrict their shots will greatly ruin the development of the game, especially among the amateurs.
"If you do anything that's going to cause the rank and file amateur player to not hit the ball as far, there's no way you're going to enhance their enjoyment of the game," Bishop told Reuters.
The USGA officials said that controlling the distance gained by hitting the ball off the tee, will allow the golf course owners to cut their maintenance costs.
In addition to that, the rule will also allow the course developers to acquire less land to design golf courses.
On the contrary, Bishop believes that players cannot enjoy the game until they are allowed to finish the course in fewer hits.
"I'm not so sure that's the greater issue we have to deal with," Bishop said. "This game is a hard game and anything we do to make the golf course play longer, play more difficult, is certainly going to deter from the enjoyment of the game for the average
player”.
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