2011 USGA Annual Meeting Report

The dandruff encrusted bluecoat and grey slacks crowd gathered at the Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort for their annual meeting just miles and seemingly world's away from the rowdy Waste Management Open in Scottsdale. The recent scorecard DQ's spiced up the cocktail reception banter, and based on the guarded remarks from the the rules experts, on a practical level it's going to be incredibly fun watching the USGA, R&A and pro tours try to come to a resolution in time for the looming 2012 rule book finalization.

Highlights and lowlights in no particular order:

--A small press gathering included announcements on new U.S. Open qualifying rules that sadly gives the official world golf ranking even more credibility. That said, the use of money lists wasn't really cutting it either. Mike Davis assured the small media gathering that the Open field will remain at least a 50/50 split of exemptions and qualifiers. Ryan Herrington covers the amateur perspective from this special USGA Saturday news dump, and also explains the U.S. Open changes here.

--There is little progress anyone will admit to on the Executive Director search. Several insiders have applied and several outsiders who've bounced around various C-level golf jobs were present to make their presence felt. Considering that David Fay just barely made the end of Jim Hyler's second term speech and otherwise seems to be a distant memory already, the search can probably go on for a while (Hyler estimates 45-60 days before they reach a verdict).

--Flogton, the new scheme from Silicon Valley's finest to highlight all of the evil the USGA has inflicted on the world for not letting golfers buy whatever they want (even though playing by USGA rules is entirely optional), barely registered a blip with the USGA. President Hyler has been too busy with meetings this week to give it his attention while equipment guru Dick Rugge noted that the Flogton approach reads like a Silicon Valley approach to a business: what can we do to make things faster and more efficient. I asked Rugge about the Flogton folks' surprisingly commercial approach to solving the game's problems and their overall philosophy of cutting corners to make the game more appealing. Rugge calls it a Rosie Ruiz approach to the game. I like the analogy. Hit the link.

--The 4:30 annual meeting--when lights are dimmed, protocol is followed, former presidents are applauded and retired Executive Committee members act like they are thrilled to have been given their walking papers--featured a few highlights but none more so than Fred Ridley's introduction followed by...total, complete and deafening silence! And this is a crowd that will applaud most anything.

--Tom O'Toole, vice president and head of the championship committee, noted that with the awarding of Erin Hills and Pebble Beach in 2017/19 respectively, that will make 11 times in a 21 year span that the USGA will have visited a facility open to public play.

--Outgoing Treasurer John Kim announced that the USGA had its "very best" financial year with a $14.5 million surplus that prompted a telling ovation from the Berkshire Hathaway followers audience. Glad those staff cuts were good for something...a brief ovation. In other news, USGA stock rose 33 cents in after hours trading.

--Rugge stepped in for outgoing equipment standards chair Jay Rains (who was at a wedding) and reported that 1,171 golf balls were submitted for testing in 2010, a 14% increase and a sign said that the manufacturers "are sure not sitting back and not trying." Rugge also talked briefly about the new "Joint Equipment Standards Committee" that may streamline efforts between the two governing bodies.

--Hyler kicked off his second term talking about last year's quest to push for firm and fast golf and while noting that the year saw more "course managers go to more sustainable" practices, he noted this is "simply the beginning" and that there are "far too many golfers who want their courses to be as lush and green as what they see on television." 

--Hyler concluded his remarks by stepping away from the podium and reiterating the importance of the USGA sticking with its core mission of rules, equipment testing, course ratings, the Green Section/environment and its championships. While it might sound a little haughty to an outside world eager to blame equipment regulation and the dandruff-plagued for the game's malaise, his remarks appeared to leave the devoted (and noticeably ancient!) gathering inspired about the state of the USGA.

--Lorena Ochoa accepted the Bobby Jones Award after a lengthy film presentation. She arrived at the podium already emotional and apologized, but proved why she won the award by delivering a classy, heartfelt and personal speech. Not only is she a sensational public speaker, but she writes good speech too. Sadly for golf fans, she also sounds quite happy in retirement.