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?
