"Fay would have been a worthy candidate for leading a task force to simplify the game, however that might be done."

Jim Achenbach, writing about David Fay's tenure with the USGA.

Fay is a brilliant, articulate man. We should have heard more from him over the years, but those pesky USGA presidents often consumed the spotlight.

There were times when Fay appeared to be biting his tongue, sitting there silently and perhaps reluctantly while another USGA president tried to make sense of a game grown incredibly complex.

Fay would have been a worthy candidate for leading a task force to simplify the game, however that might be done. Now he may take off his bow tie and fade away from the international golf spotlight.

Just because he's leaving doesn't mean Fay still shouldn't lead such a task force! Though I suspect the "simplify golf" blue ribbon panel's advice would gain about as much traction of the recent budget deficit commission.