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One way would be when Finchem was asked if the USGA did go thru with the ban and instead and answering with a we will deal with that when it happens, he could have unequivocally stated that, while the PGA disagree with the ban, the USGA and the R&A; are the bodies that define the rules of golf and the PGA will abide by their decisions. Instead he went on his diatribe of how this is a disagreement among friends ... blah blah blah.

With Finchem throwing down the gauntlet and essentially demanding the USGA and R&A; to back off the ban just because it would affect 20% of his players we now will see who is really in charge of setting the rules, the professional tour associations or the USGA and R&A.; I for one would be very sad if the PGA Tour ends up winning. The PGA game looks nothing like my game. My best drive is at least 100 yards less than their average drive. The pros can hit a 7 iron 200 plus yards. I would be happy to hit my 140 yards. The fairways they play on will run faster than my greens. Their sand traps are perfectly raked and are consistent from trap to trap. If my fellow playing partners adopted their pre shot routines our rounds would regularly exceed 5 hours. They have a caddie to talk them out of the miracle shot .... my playing partners will goat me into it. For the good of the game, I really hope the USGA and the R&A; don't back down.

My only comment / observation / question is - Why does making golf easier equate to more fun and participants? I am a crappy golfer (my current handicap factor is 13.8) but it is the challenge to improve that keeps me coming back to the game. I am the golf instructors' worst nightmare. People at my level should not be trying to hit draws or fades. Yet that is what I try to do everytime I practice. I know deep down inside that I will never be a scratch or even reach single digits yet I keep on trying because of the challenge. Would I ever play a course where the hole is 12 inches across and therefore it will be easier to shot a lower score? Of course not.

At my club we have the no cargo shorts rule, the no non golf advertisement on any attire (including hats) rule, the no long socks rule, the no short shorts rule, etc etc. It is usually the old long term members that joined years ago when the initiation rates were reasonable that bitch and complain. Had to tell a guest of mine that his Tommy Bahama shorts were not allowed and ended up purchasing a pair of shorts for him from the pro shop. His Bahama shorts were three times the price of the shorts from the pro shop. There is a dress shirt and jacket rule for the dining room. Ironically it is the same old crowd that proudly bring out their 30 year old crappy jackets that they stuff in their lockers out for dinner. No one does anything about that.

First axiom of participating in a forum - "Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience." - Mark Twain

Well put. Based on the talk around my club yesterday the vast MAJORITY of the members agree with the change. In fact the majority of the golfers that I play with always felt that a putting stroke where one anchors to a part of the body is cheating regardless of the existing rules.

Wow don't let the door hit you in the ass on your way out!

I assumed that since Bradley used his long putter to measure it would be the longest club in his bag. Obviously you seem to know that this his putter is not longer than his driver so I will take your word on it. Still haven't answered my question as to your assertion that a 18 inch difference in relief is not important. I am a supporter of banning both the long and belly putter. But I'm asserting that if they have to take some time to ban the long putter at least level the playing field immediately by banning the use of the long putter to measure relief.

I belong to a private club that allows fivesomes even on the weekends. My regular Saturday group is a fivesome with a 2, 8, 9, 12 and 18 handicaps (I'm the 18). We are often the first group off and we can get around in under 3:45. This is even counting at least 10 mins at the turn getting food and flirting with the server. Yesterday we were followed by a threesome and they were at least 1 and 1/2 holes behind by the time we finished. The pros keep track of the times of the first few groups in order to keep the pace of play going for the day. We know that we are one of the few fivesomes allowed so early in the morning. We don't feel like we are rushing. 1. We don't walk around in a mass waiting for each other to decide on the distance, grab a club etc. We walk directly to our own balls and often we will walk ahead (to the side) as far as possible to our balls. 2. We usually continue putting thru instead of marking and waiting. 3. We play ready golf. 4. The first player to hole out will go to the next tee box and tee off. 5. We don't have all five of us looking for the same lost ball. Now it does help that I belong to a mature old style golf course where the holes are close to each other, the greens are tiny and there is not a lot of deep grass between the holes. Rather the hole are separated by mature stands of trees so it is easy to find errand balls.

I thought this is a discussion about the banning of "anchored and belly putters" ie both the long putter and the belly putter. Of course the belly putter would not be an issue for measurement but the long putter definitely is. 2 or 3 inches can make the diffference between someone having to go back to the place of the original shot vs. getting a two club drop as relief from an unplayable lie. Are you really suggesting that this would not make a difference?????? My point is that even if the R&A; and USGA don't have the balls to ban the long and belly putter they need to address the use of the long putter for measurement.

I'm confused. Are you saying that one player having a 18" advantage in terms of where they can drop a ball is NOT something to be concerned with? Clearly there will be cases whereby an additional 18" will grant one player a better lie. Just look at Bradley's drop on the first day. The use of his long putter allowed him a drop out of the hay (he did not take this option) whereas it would have not be available to a player without a long putter. How fair is that?

+1 Tiger has 14 majors and 73 more tournament wins than Chamblee. Tiger has 2 more wins in 2012 than Chamblee has in his whole career. The Golf Channel really needs to dump this clown and get Holly Sonders more air time.

What about the long putter? I was watching the Open and I'm pretty sure Adam Scott's long putter is longer than his driver. Please tell me how using long putter to measure out a club length's relief is not an advantage?

I know this has already been mentioned in this thread but to me the rules MUST be changed to at least ban the use of the long putter as the club used to determine a "club length" when taking relief. I was watching Bradley at the Open measure out his two club length drop point for an unplayable lie drop and he used his long putter to allow him to get out of the hay. I don't think using the driver would have afforded him the same relief. There is CLEARLY an advantage over anyone that doesn't use a long putter. They could simply define the max club length to be that of the driver. I simply do not know why the R&A; / USGA has not addressed this. I am also one that is very much in favour of banning the belly/long putters.