USGA Executive Director Mike Davis, today at the PGA annual meeting in NY:
(commenting about the proposed anchoring ban fiasco with the PGA back in 2013)
“I will say going back three, four years ago it was a moment in time where our two organizations got sideways with one another. When I looked back, I think both sides have learned a lot of things. Regardless of where you sat on that issue, we all learned from it. I will give you to the extent that we erred as an organization, I apologize to this group. Things got public that should have never gotten public and it didn’t make the game look good."
Reading between the lines: "We really goofed up when we asked your organization's opinion on the matter, because we already had our minds made up and nothing you could've said would've changed it. But out of respect, we at least wanted to portray the appearance that we were openminded and would consider alternative viewpoints despite that. But you guys just had to go and screw that all to hell, talking about how this could impact interest, how this could drive amateurs out of the game, and all of this other bullshit. So my apology today ain't for you all as much as it's for my fellow USGA colleagues who warned me ahead of time that inviting your input wasn't a good idea. And they were right. This got very messy and made us look like the tyrannical organization we've always been. Thanks a lot, PGA."
Davis also commented on the new changes coming soon to the rulebook, changes in wording that make the application of the rules easier and simpler to understand.
"We are assessing how we can make the Rules of Golf easier, plain English, easier to apply. Some of the rules right now are simply too difficult."
Reading between the lines: "It is official - our education system has failed us so badly that we now have to print rules so a 4th grader can understand them. I mean, really... Do you have any idea how much that will cost us? We already have 5 million copies of the 2017 rules in print and ready to ship, but nah - we gotta rewrite these damned words so little Johnny can figure out how he's supposed to mark his damned ball on the green. Why? All because you idiots slept through grammar school. But we're gonna do this, we're gonna suck this up and make it happen because we want every last one of you to believe that we're totally invested in making the game more simple and more enjoyable, and in return you're gonna renew those memberships for $10 so we can send you those goddamned hats made from Vietnam that we paid 2 bucks for."
And last but not least, Davis even made it a point to comment about the Dustin Johnson rules gaffe back in the US Open at Oakmont in July.
"As for the Dustin Johnson ruling, Rule 18-2, that God-forsaken rule, that is going to be getting attention in the near future. We listen and we learn."
Between the lines: "What a load of horse shit. This guy hits the ball 400 yards, and people forget that we gave him a free drop an hour earlier because of a stupid tower that is only in play for guys who hit the ball 400 yards. He could've just as easily hit a damned wedge over it onto the green, but noooo. "Sniffle Sniffle - my ball is sitting down in this tall grass, sniffle sniffle, I can't hit this and hold the green, sniffle sniffle, I need a ruling asap, sniffle sniffle..." Puhlease... so you cause the ball to move because of the wind coming off of your putter during your practice stroke, and now you don't like the consequences? And then made it look like we had it out for you, that we didn't want you to win because you were making our setup look silly? Yeah, we're gonna change that God forsaken rule, you can bet your sweet ass we will. If that ball moves on the green after you replace it, it better be because you intentionally putted it. Otherwise it's a penalty, this situational bullshit is no longer up for debate!"
It's all about the money. They have really pissed off a lot of golfers over the past several years, and that's something they couldn't afford to do with the game in decline. They want those membership renewals, they want those annual bonuses back up there like they were in the mid-2000s.
They can kiss my ass.