2012: "The Equipment Power Struggle Will Come To A Head"

My colleagues at GolfDigest.com have put together a worthwhile 2012 predictions slideshow (and you know how I love slideshows!).

Two items stood out.

I think these two will conspire to cause major upheaval in Far Hills, and as with so many things USGA-related, a pro-active approach would prevent the inevitable pain.

E. Michael Johnson predicts "2012 may be Armageddon between the USGA and manufacturers on the distance front should this increase continue." However, I believe the USGA will table the 2011 jump in driving distance and suggest another year is needed to see if in fact we just saw the "significant" leap needed to act.

And then there is this prediction from Mike Stachura on the belly putter:

"Belly putters are going to have the single largest effect on the equipment industry," Golf Digest Senior Equipment Editor Mike Stachura said. "I see a legitimate chance that there will be for the first time in recorded history as many belly putters bought by golfers as there are belly putters made by manufacturers. At which point, the USGA will have to step in and take another hard look at whether this is the type of stroke that should be allowed in the game. If you thought the groove rule was a mess, you'll love this one."

Because this issue has been put off for too long, they can't win on the subject of bracing belly putters against the torso. Average golfers who've embraced them will only hate the USGA more, while professionals and manufacturers will gripe (or maybe even sue) too.

Either way, the sense from manufacturers that distance regulation is inevitable, when brewed with the potential chaos in the long/belly putter world, will only increase the inevitable move toward the sale and marketing of non-conforming equipment. We've already got one ready and willing to flaunt the rules.

I believe manufacturers will go this route as a way to sell more gear and perhaps to intentionally force the governing bodies into bifurcating equipment rules, something the R&A and USGA remain steadfastly against but which seems to be the only way to protect the game at the highest levels while still throwing manufacturers and skill-deficient golfers a bone.