Will This Be Legal?

[frankiegia]

So I just purchased a Smithfield high spin wedge. My question, is it ok to use this at my Clubs member guest or Club championship. It says that it is not legal for USGA specific events I don't think that would include club events.

[DaveP043]

16 minutes ago, frankiegia said:

So I just purchased a Smithfield high spin wedge. My question, is it ok to use this at my Clubs member guest or Club championship. It says that it is not legal for USGA specific events I don't think that would include club events.

Assuming that your club plays by the Rules of Golf, its not legal to use it.  If you want to know for sure, ask the Committee whether you are allowed to use non-conforming clubs.

[iacas]

1 hour ago, DaveP043 said:

Assuming that your club plays by the Rules of Golf, its not legal to use it.  If you want to know for sure, ask the Committee whether you are allowed to use non-conforming clubs.

Not much more to say than that. Dave is correct.

Heck, even if you bet $5 against your buddies, they may not want you to use a non-conforming club.

[Elmer]

I had to replace my Vokey spin mill wedges because they no longer conformed.
Stinks, but rules is rules!

[DaveP043]

18 minutes ago, Elmer said:

I had to replace my Vokey spin mill wedges because they no longer conformed.
Stinks, but rules is rules!

For most situations, the older clubs will remain conforming until Jan 1 2024.  Higher-level competitions use Model Local Rule G-2 to require clubs to conform to the 2010 groove specifications.

[frankiegia]

I hope that Smithworks will take it back and send me the conforming model 

[Vinsk]

16 minutes ago, frankiegia said:

I hope that Smithworks will take it back and send me the conforming model 

Maybe they’ll send you this!

[Elmer]

1 hour ago, DaveP043 said:

For most situations, the older clubs will remain conforming until Jan 1 2024.  Higher-level competitions use Model Local Rule G-2 to require clubs to conform to the 2010 groove specifications.

Back in the bag it goes!

[jlbos83]

I am not sure those would have ever complied, so I don't think they would be grandfathered in as "older" clubs.  That might take some research.

[woodzie264]

[SG11118]

On 4/12/2023 at 12:52 PM, DaveP043 said:

For most situations, the older clubs will remain conforming until Jan 1 2024.  Higher-level competitions use Model Local Rule G-2 to require clubs to conform to the 2010 groove specifications.

I was doing a little research on the internet this morning, and it seems like Jan 1, 2024 wasn't really the deadline.  It seems that 1/1/24 was the earliest that it could have been mandated as a permanent rule for all golfers, but that the USGA/R&A let that date slip, so Model Local Rule G-2 is still the only thing preventing clubs that were legal before 2010 from still being used.  I found recent letters from both Shannon Kane of the USGA and Ian Scott of the R&A (Posted on GolFWRX) confirming that the groove rule is still only a model local rule.

Grooves-Rule-Explanation.pdf (cybergolf.com)

[iacas]

Yeah, they didn't provide enough notice. But also, good luck using a previous club. They had to stop manufacturing the old grooves, too, so any still conforming club that's built to the old specs has either been super preserved… or is just really old at this point.

[SG11118]

Yeah.  I've got two pre 2010s in my bag right now and have a tournament this weekend.  That was why I was looking at it.  One of the two is something I can trust for 85-110 yards.  The other one is a 60 that I am comfortable with for the 1-2 times a round I need to lob ovet something.  Everything else between 5 yards and 85 yards is a 2024 wedge.