USGA/R&A Distance Report
7 years and I'll be 84...I doubt the distance rule on the golf ball will have an effect on my game. I've noticed a distance decrease in my game for that last several years. It just irritates me that the USGA is so stupid...The plan should be to get more people into the game, not keep them out. I guess they think the popularity of Top Golf and the ball used there should be the standard for "real" golf. Want to keep the Pros from hitting so long off the tee - narrow the fairways for their tournaments. Let's get back to some semblance of needing an accurate shot off the tee, at least for the Pro level...that would only affect the bomb and gouge player...
I think Kelly @LogicalOne has the right idea. "Restrictor" balls on the shorter courses, regular balls on the longer courses. They probably should just make the course have more 'teeth' no matter what though.
Shit, can we get the pros to play a few muni/ public courses that just grow through rough out a couple inches? Don't make the greens faster, or cut the fairways closer, or fluff the bunkers. That might be interesting to see...
Why do they not leave the ball as it is and US starts measuring in metric; that solves the 300+ drives immediatly.
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Typhoon Golf exists because of the amateur everyday golfer.
Exactly. And the out of touch, arrogant blue blazer types that regulate the game don't care. They're all about making decisions with only a very small percentage of golfers in mind.
The overwhelming number of golfers don't have a handicap, don't play by the rules (no one knows all the rules anyway), play for fun (not competitively) and actually need to hit the ball further not shorter.
The mindset that these idiots have is so misguided. Golf was one of the few businesses that saw growth during the pandemic (up 20%).
Before that more people were leaving the game than coming into the game. More courses were closing that opening. The game was in decline.
Anyone who has played sports knows golf in the hardest to play. And it already has three strikes against it. It's too hard, takes too long to play and is too expensive.
Why the powers that be want to make it harder and less enjoyable is beyond me. And for the argument that it won't affect the average hacker (that much) isn't the point.
The point is being a regulatory body and being so out of touch with the 99% of people that play the sport you regulate.
Sneakylong Spot on.
Steve and I are prolly gonna need new equipment. 
Here's an article reminding of when the British ball was ruled out.
https://golf.com/gear/golf-ball-history-101-isnt-first-rollback/
Excerpt:
Finally, in 1974, the R&A mandated use of the 1.68 inch USGA conforming ball in the Open Championship, again unifying professional golf at the highest level. Still, even though the new rules applied to professionals at the highest level, it wasn’t until Jan. 1, 1990, that the smaller British ball was officially deemed nonconforming under the modern rules, thereby ending the last known example of bifurcation between amateurs and professionals.
This change instantly knocked up to 20 yards off of driver distance at the recreational level in the UK and Australia, and even with that change, participation never wavered, which could be a good indication that any forthcoming new rules will have a limited effect on the public as a whole.
Sneakylong Anyone who has played sports knows golf in the hardest to play. And it already has three strikes against it. It's too hard, takes too long to play and is too expensive.
A shorter ball on a shorter course helps on the last two, and makes no difference to the first one unless you are playing the wrong tees.
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LogicalOne This sounds nice.....
**We plan to expand our testing approach to better detect “Driver Creep”,
which can result in drivers exceeding the limits set out in the Equipment
Rules.
- We will continue to monitor drivers and explore possible additional options
related to distance. Specifically, we will research the forgiveness of drivers
and how they perform with off-center hits**
Just bring back hickory and gutta percha, fer chrissakes.
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sdandrea1 yea, I didn't realize they were talking 7 years from now. I'll worry about it then if I'm still alive.
Realistically this rule isn't going to effect many of us hete, we're already too old. By the time you're damn near 80 I think golf will be more about just being in the sun on the right side of the grass then competing
Looks like I should get a large ball order placed, because that’s where the big money will be made. 
Oh crap, I should adjust my golf ball prices immediately! 
LogicalOne Looks like I should get a large ball order placed, because that’s where the big money will be made.
Golfbuzzers who are on the list pay double or get 50% off? 
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"Through our Distance Insights Project, we have been focused on using data to
understand the impact of innovation – including in equipment, golf course maintenance,
launch monitors and fitness - while looking to ensure a healthy and sustainable future
for golf. Through our research and review, as well as our discussions with industry
stakeholders and partners, we have sought to embrace and respect the current
momentum and growth of the game, while also taking a broader, unbiased and longterm view on how continuing increases in hitting distances could impact our sport."
You morons (USGA). The average median driving distance among males across all age groups 15-79 is 225.4 yards. For women it's 177 yards. Saw another article where it was closer to 147 yards. Regardless it's not a problem.
The USGA is in search of a solution where a problem doesn't exist. The overwhelming number of courses do not need to be lengthened because they will never see a USGA of PGA Tour tournament.
Of the ones that do then there's a whole host of things the USGA / PGA Tour can do to 'trick' up the course to make it difficult without lengthening it. We've seen them make it pretty goofy in the past.
This whole thing is beyond ridiculous.
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Sneakylong I think they had a lot of pushback from ball companies. Originally they were discussing 2 balls, and that probably wouldn't have been a good deal for the ball folks. This rule now allows a couple years for the ball companies to sell off any inventory and produce only the 1 type ball.
Golf life will be the same for everyone after 2030.
Except for us dead players.
Just wait til they start finagling with the drivers next year!! Hammer's coming down!!
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The USGA doesn't know their customer. Again, for 99% of golfers they need to hit the ball farther. I play with two guys who are 76 and 84. They were decent players in their day.
The one thing that prevents them from scoring better these days is distance. They simply hit it too short to hit greens in regulation. The 76 year old shot a 78 yesterday only because he was able to play at 4700 yards.
Many of the courses we play there is no tee box short enough that allows them to hit it far enough to be able to hit greens in regulation.
And dollars to donuts there's far many more golfers like them that hit it too short than hit it too long. The USGA is wrongly focused on a small niche market in golf.
It's beyond arrogant.