"Oldies but goodies."
The phrase means the old ways are better. Looking at two hot-button issues in the golf world these days, this saying — often translated in Korean as "the old official is the wise official" — comes to mind. The topics are golf ball performance regulation and the U.S. PGA Tour's move toward a two-track classification of its events.
Plan to Regulate Golf Ball Distance Performance
The rollback, which refers to golf ball performance regulation, is an attempt to establish equipment rules that prevent golf balls used in tournaments from increasing further in distance performance, or that reduce it. The United States Golf Association (USGA) and the R&A, which govern the rules of golf worldwide, recently issued a joint statement saying they had "decided to delay the implementation of golf ball distance limits to 2030." The two organizations had already created a regulatory provision stating that "a ball must not travel more than 317 yards when struck by a driver at a head speed of 125 mph and a launch angle of 11 degrees," and had planned to implement the new rule in professional tournaments from 2028 (with amateurs adopting it sequentially from 2030).
The intent was good. It was meant to prevent the natural damage that comes with lengthening courses, and to guard against the essence of the golf game shifting into a competition of long drives.
But after backlash from the players who use the balls and the manufacturers who must make balls conforming to the new rule, the implementation was pushed back. USGA Chief Executive Officer Mike Whan said, "There was concern that the change we had pursued was not sufficient to bring about an actual change in distance. We will continue to review ideas that have a greater impact on the game while causing less disruption."
PGA Tour's Two-Track Event Classification Plan
The PGA Tour's two-track plan, which could potentially be implemented from 2028, is also stirring controversy. The two-track system divides the tournaments held in a season into upper and lower tiers. Track 1 consists of 23 top tournaments, including the major championships and playoffs, with a maximum of 120 participating players. Track 2 consists of 20 tournaments with 140 participating players. It is obvious that tournaments with large prize money will fall under Track 1, while those with ordinary prize money will fall under Track 2. As a result, questions are being raised about which tournaments will be designated as Track 1 events and thus draw top-tier players, and which will be designated as Track 2 events that inevitably attract less interest.
Are New Attempts Truly Beneficial to the Golf Game?
It is said that increased shot distance could turn golf into a game of long-drive competition, but might ball performance limits instead shake the essence of the game? Ever since the old days when shepherds struck stones with wooden sticks, golf has developed alongside efforts to increase shot distance. The sight of conquering a course with a magnificent driver shot, and conversely the sight of a short hitter defeating a long hitter with precision, is the essence and highlight of golf. There must be other ways to raise difficulty besides limiting ball performance and lengthening courses — such as reducing fairway firmness to shorten how far a ball rolls after landing, or increasing the firmness and undulation of greens. The fact that Cameron Young won March's Players Championship using a ball that passed the performance test also raises doubts about its effectiveness.
In the case of the two-track system, it effectively means dividing tournaments into A-grade and B-grade events. It is read as an intent to increase Track 1 tournaments to secure at least 23 events in which stars compete in large numbers. But there are concerns about side effects, such as a decline in the status of Track 2 tournaments. Rory McIlroy, who has achieved the career Grand Slam, expressed a negative view of the implementation plan at a U.S. Open press conference. "Track 2 tournaments will be nothing more than a slightly fancier version of the second-tier (Korn Ferry) Tour events," he said, adding, "The PGA Tour is adjusting in a way similar to LIV Golf (which offers enormous prize money), but now LIV no longer seems to be a threatening presence."
McIlroy continued, "The funny thing is that, going through this recent process (the two-track discussion), you realize the PGA Tour's way before LIV Golf emerged was actually pretty good. The old way wasn't bad, and everything worked well."
Attempts and innovation for the sake of progress are clearly good things. But when it comes to matters of change that could shake the foundations, one must review and study carefully and precisely whether there is a possibility of confusion and regression. The saying "Oldies but goodies" is also worth savoring.
They say that being so much fun that it is easy to get addicted is almost golf's only flaw. I hope to share with you the pleasure of "reading golf," which is yet another thing apart from playing golf and watching golf.
