Yesterday, the USGA and the R&A, golf’s governing bodies, announced that anchoring the club in making a stroke will be banned effective Jan. 1, 2016.
New Rule 14-1b means that players who use a belly putter or long putter will no longer be able to hold the butt end of the club against their bodies while making a stroke, although the clubs will still be allowed — provided they are not anchored.
Ted Bishop, the President of the PGA, has already expressed his feelings about the ruling:
“We are disappointed with this outcome,” Bishop said Tuesday in a statement. “As we have said publicly and repeatedly during the comment period, we do not believe 14‐1b is in the best interest of recreational golfers and we are concerned about the negative impact it may have on both the enjoyment and growth of the game. Growing the game is one of the fundamental purposes of The PGA of America.” (click here for the rest of the article)
PGA Tour Commissioner, Tim Finchem, along with many Tour players have also opposed the ban leading up to this ruling.
In favor of the ban include some well known players like including Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Arnold Palmer, and Graeme McDowell as well as the European Tour and the LPGA.
So where do you stand on this issue?
I am in favor of the ban – mainly because I am traditionalist. However, something Glen Nager, the President of the USGA, resonated with me.
“The playing rules are not based on statistical studies; they are based on judgments that define the game and its intended challenges. One of those challenges is to control the entire club, and anchoring alters that challenge.
I hear in this comment the following – These guys want to uphold the integrity of the game of golf – to make sure that what is being played now is kept in alignment with the original intent of golf.
I like that attitude.
When it comes to sports, we need more of this attitude.
Not just from the ruling bodies of the various sports but from each of us who play, coach, or spectate. This attitude would drive us to ask the question –
“How can we keep or bring our efforts in sports in line with the original intent God had for giving us sports?”
