Taylor CEO Calls For Bifurcating Pro And Amateur Rules

Friday we learned that Taylor Made's Mark King, who just eight years ago couldn't see the makings of trouble down the road now wants a re-write of the rules because the game is not growing.

Now in an online video interview posted Saturday at Golfweek.com he goes further, calling for all-out bifurcation that manufacturers have steadfastly refused to even consider as an alternative best suiting the game (skip to the two minute mark unless you want to hear him hump the new white driver).

"I think it's time," said King of bifurcating the rules for pros and amateurs in light of the precedent-setting groove rule change. King notes that in the past he has "not been a proponent" of such a change because "we use tour professionals as the main reason aspirational golfers will buy our products."

King says the game needs to "do something pretty quick" to make golf "a little easier, a little more fun" with two sets of rules as the driving force behind his revelatory thinking.

He suggests that this should be done "in a way to sell golf clubs," perhaps with rules that allow for clubs that "you can adjust all the time."

(I know when I'm standing on a tee for fifteen minutes waiting for play to pick up, I often think, if I could just have an adjustable club I would do this more often!)

Anyway, King stressed this all must be done pronto, a far cry from his stance a few years ago that all was peachy and those of us barking out for things like bifurcation or a ball rollback should pipe down.

So here's my suggestion to Mr. King and any other manufacturers who are unhappy with the state of golf, golf courses and rulemaking: build your vision. What is it the motivational speakers say? Make it your own?

If you feel that golf courses have gotten it wrong for building around the distance chase and that USGA rules are no good, then build your own course and create your own rules. Then get back to us with your findings.