As golfers familiarize themselves with the details of the USGA and R&A’s proposed Model Local Rule (MLR) that would allow “elite” competitions to compel players to use a ball that goes shorter, there is no shortage of opinions on the matter (as anyone who follows Golf Twitter knows). Compiling those opinions and making sense of them is best left to experts. Golf Datatech a research firm based in Kissimmee, Fla., fits that description and has released the results of its first survey related to the proposed ball rollback.
“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,” said John Krzynowek, a founding partner of Golf Datatech. “For this reason, we expedited this Serious Golfer Survey to put a stake in the ground so we can assess how perceptions and opinions shift on this issue over time.”
The survey was conducted of 1,250 “serious golfers” (an opt-in group identified by company). The group was asked a series of multiple choice and open-ended questions regarding the MLR. While the opinions are predictably varied, those opposed outnumber those in favor by more than two to one.
The results are below:
Opinions on the Proposed Rule:
Among those who DO NOT SUPPORT the Model Local Rule:
Open End Feedback among those who DO NOT SUPPORT the Model Local Rule includes:
Among those who SUPPORT the Model Local Rule:
Open End Feedback among those who SUPPORT the Model Local Rule:
Respondents were also asked what impact the proposed new rule will have on their personal enjoyment of the game, and results were as follows:
The survey did not include questions regarding interest in the professional game, however Krzynowek noted this is merely the beginning of their data collection. “What is certain is that this topic is not going away, and we will continue to analyze the issue in the weeks ahead,” he said.
The best of Golf Digest delivered daily
Sign UpWill be used in accordance with our PRIVACY POLICY