William L. Coney Blog: Be Heard: Take the USGA and R&A Distance Survey

Friday, September 21, 2018

Be Heard: Take the USGA and R&A Distance Survey

The USGA wants to know what you think.

You’ve heard the rumblings. The ruling bodies are concerned golf has a distance problem. Tour Pros are hitting it too far. You might be hitting it too far. Classic courses are being rendered obsolete (even if the ones you play aren’t).

Is it the ball? Is it the equipment? Is there even a distance problem to begin with?

Those are the meaty questions in a longer-than-it-needs-to-be survey recently published by the USGA (and R&A). Surviving several pages worth of demographic questions earns you the privilege of telling the USGA what you really think about the current state of the game.

What makes golf worth watching? What aspects of the game are most important? And of course, is distance is an issue and if it is, what’s the cause?

The subtext of the questions focuses on whether or not new rules need to be put in place to roll it back – whatever the particular it or its prove to be.

We’re inviting perspectives and opinions from the global golf community because we recognize the topic of distance is one that potentially impacts us all in some capacity,” said Mike Davis, CEO of the USGA. “This is the best opportunity for people to share their thoughts and data with us. We know a final Distance Insights report that reflects a breadth of perspectives will be critical to deepening an understanding of the complex nature, and far-reaching implications, of this subject matter.”

The USGA and The R&A will also accept relevant original or commissioned data and research directly related to distance via email until Dec. 20, 2018. Individuals or organizations may also request to present their data in person. The Distance Insights email address, as well as terms and conditions regarding the submission of research and data, can be found here.

There’s no guarantee that this is a majority rules situation and the USGA isn’t under any obligation to actually take the feelings of the average/recreational golfers that make up the overwhelming majority of the golfing population to heart. That said, if you don’t speak up, there’s zero chance you’ll be heard.

The survey is open to anyone until October 31, 2018.

Click here to take the survey.