TaylorMade CEO Suggests Rollback Would Prompt Introduction Of Non-Conforming Equipment To Market

The Guardian’s Ewan Murray talks to TaylorMade CEO David Abeles about the possibility of equipment regulation. Abeles’ “what if” scenarios floated fall a tad flat given recreational golf’s recent resurgence that have not a thing to do with distance gains via club purchases or golfers running out to buy what the pros are playing. They’re spending on soft goods, balls, bags and other essentials because they have time and golf is safe.

Most interesting is Abeles’ suggestion that should some sort of rollback occur, he would consider bringing non-conforming equipment “to market”. This is something the company could do today since there is no law requiring manufacturers comply with USGA and R&A rules.

“As a governing body you can choose to modify your rules in any way you feel acceptable,” Abeles says. “That’s ultimately their decision. The question is who is going to follow it? Right now, we can design and develop whatever we want as an authentic company. We play by the construct of the rules that have been created around the sport as relates to equipment and ball development. We believe that’s the right space to be in, in the spirit of the traditions of the game.

“But there is nobody prohibiting us from going and building a ball that goes further or a driver that does the same. We are working on advanced technologies all the time to do that. We have chosen not to do that [bring such products for sale] because we want to unify the sport and apply the same rules. If there was a rollback, we would have to draw real consideration as it relates to what we choose to bring to market.”

So if game improvement is sacred, and they have developed things that would make the sport easier, why not sell those clubs?

“I believe if there was to be a rollback considered, at any level, we run the risk of alienating millions. If we do that, we want to provide golfers who might look at things in a different way if it gets more difficult with products that will suit their game. That could lead us down the road of a couple of different equipment lines. We hope that is not the case because it gets very complicated.”

It’s only complicated because companies who have defied the USGA/R&A equipment rules suffered with golfers. The only documented cases of alienation suggest golfers value the rules over purchasing freedom. That the governing bodies have not had the courage to enact rule changes targeting the upper 1%, even after these past episodes of manufacturer hostility toward the rules, remains so strange.

Abeles at least is using the right tone and respect for the rules, unlike the often outlandish anti-governing body stances (here and here) and greed-driven decisions of former Taylor Made CEO Mark King.