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The Village Voice — June 2013
The Golf Column
By Pete Russell As many of you know by now, I use a long putter, also called the “broomstick,” only one of a few which I see on the OHCC golf course. Others in that category include the “belly putter.” I have kept you abreast of the long term controversy about the legality of, and the use of, both types of putters. Recently we have received the final word from the USGA and the R&A on the use of these types of putters. Following is a brief precise of the new Rule 141b which will apply beginning in January 2016. “Last November, after an extensive review, the USGA and the R&A proposed Rule 14-1b, a new entry to the Rules of Golf that prohibits anchoring the club in making a stroke. This morning, together with the R&A, we are announcing the adoption of Rule 14-1b for players at all levels of the game, effective January 1, 2016.” Final approval of Rule 14-1b follows a comprehensive and unprecedented process for playing Rules in which comments and suggestions from across the golf community were collected and considered. In our best judgment and having considered all of the input that we received, both before and after the proposed Rule was announced, we concluded that Rule 14-1b was necessary to protect the essential nature of the traditional method of stroke and eliminate potential advantages that anchoring the club provides. Throughout the game’s 600 year history, the essence of the traditional method of golf stroke has involved swinging the club with
Permitted strokes.
both the club and gripping hands held away from the body, requiring the player to direct and control the movement of the entire club. Anchoring one end of the club against the body, and creating a point of physical attachment around which the club is swung, is a substantial departure from the traditional swing. Our judgment, based on tradition, observation and experience, is that anchoring creates an unacceptable risk of changing and reducing the challenge of making a golf stroke. The new rule does not alter current equipment standards and allows for the use of all conforming golf clubs, including mid-