"Notice Regarding USGA Forum on Equipment Rulemaking"

Here's what the USGA says about its just announced (but no date set) forum on "Equipment Rulemaking."

In keeping with its mission of service to the game of golf, the USGA actively works to improve the operations of all its core functions, from conducting national championships to promoting environmentally sustainable course management practices to implementing and modifying the rules governing golf equipment.

Now that the first rollback of golf equipment in more than 75 years has been initiated, we believe that this is an appropriate time to evaluate the process utilized for formulating equipment rules.

Now that we rolled things back...we want to hear from you.

Was the eye-wink in anyone's version of the release, or did that just get left out of all versions??

In an effort to improve the equipment rulemaking process, the USGA will hold a forum on the process of equipment rulemaking in Fall 2010. The forum will be held at Golf House in Far Hills, N.J., on a specific date to be determined and announced at a later time. We will invite all stakeholders in the game to participate, including manufacturers, players, media, golf organizations and other interested parties. The main purpose of this forum is to allow stakeholders the opportunity to make their views on equipment rulemaking known to the USGA, and to each other. Appropriate protocols will be established to allow an efficient and fair opportunity for those wishing to participate. 

Michael Johnson and Mike Stachura couldn't help but wonder if this announcement coincided with the PGA Tour-PING settlement announced Monday.

According to the notice, the main purpose of the forum is to allow all stakeholders in the game (including manufacturers, players, media, golf organizations and other parties) the opportunity to make their views on equipment rulemaking known to the USGA, and to each other -- something Solheim alluded to in a statement after that meeting with USGA representatives, including new president Jim Hyler, last month.

"I'm encouraged by their willingness to openly discuss some of the challenges the golf industry faces relating to equipment issues," Solheim said. "We left the meeting with an understanding we would continue to seek a solution that benefits golfers and acknowledges the importance innovation plays in the game."

However, Dick Rugge, the USGA's senior technical director, dismissed the notion that there was a correlation between the Ping dispute and the announcement, calling the forum a "standalone event."

"We wouldn't do something like this if we weren't ready to hear these ideas," said Rugge. "Maybe there is a better way to do things, and if we can, we will. If people have ideas on our process, we want to hear those ideas. Even if it's Joe Golfer who has some thoughts -- this is the time to hear it."

Steve Elling talked to USGA Executive Director David Fay, who seemed to be saying that the PING issue was directly or indirectly the reason for the forum.

As part of the compromise with Ping for waiving the confusing loophole, the USGA agreed to hold a “town-hall meeting” in the fall, as USGA executive director David Fay described it. Open to pretty much anybody interested in rules and the equipment industry, the USGA will for the first time pull back the curtain on its regulation processes.

As for whether Mickelson’s entreaties for more transparency in that regard played a part in the establishment of the forum, Fay didn’t mince words. Mickelson made the little-known Eye 2 loophole a hot-button issue.

“That’s an element of it, yeah,” Fay said. “I’m not in the habit of liking to see my nose grow.”