Golf Clubs and Grooves - The New Rules

From 1st January 2010 professional golf will be subject to new rules about groove depth and edge sharpness in the design of golf clubs. Rounded groove edges and reduced volume will make a significant difference especially when playing out of the rough.

The makers of this controversial rule change have the future well-being of the game at heart. They want to see a greater emphasis on accuracy rather than sheer power. Inaccurate tee shots into the rough will not always be as easy to recover from as they have in the past. They want to roll back a situation in which technology has to some degree taken over from skill.

Many players think that this is a step in the right direction, even though it means that their equipment will lose a degree of technological sophistication. Others are less convinced.

The UK golf magazine Golf Monthly for January carries a 10-page discussion of the pros and cons of this change. They bring together views from the Royal & Ancient, from 30 players on the European Tour and from club manufacturers.

Their conclusion, after testing clubs with groove configurations compliant with the new rules, and after surveying Golf Monthly readers, is that although top players on tour will in future have to pay more attention to accuracy as against power, the average player will in all probability notice little difference. In any case the rules will not apply to the amateur and club game for several years.

For a detailed look at the facts and the arguments for and against why not subscribe to Golf Monthly? There’s much more in this January issue, and you’ll also have the confidence that you won’t miss an issue in coming months. You’ll be up to date with news, get great training tips and be kept abreast of developments in equipment, as well as being generally well-informed about the world of your favourite sport. What’s more, you get more than 30% discount over buying it from month to month.

Pebble Beach - History of a Golf Course

It is more than twentyfive years since I was staying in the Monterey area on the California coast with members of my family who were privileged to live there in that beautiful area for several years.

One afternoon I was driven out along the coast and admired the spectacular scenery in the are of the Pebble Beach golf course. I have never played golf there, but the memory of the surroundings of this course have often made me think what a marvellous place in which to hit some balls.

Now, Pebble Beach: The Official Golf History by Neal Hotelling has been published, and Amazon have it available at a very substantial reduction. This would make an excellent gift for a golfing enthusiast family member or friend, especially anyone who has played on the California coast..

Click on the image above to buy from Amazon.com, or for an extended view of what to expect why not take a look at the following article from a recent issue of the The Herald of Monterey County.

Historical links: Pebble Beach golf book released

Editor’s note: Triumph Books has released “Pebble Beach: The Official Golf History,” written by historian Neal Hotelling with photography by Joann Dost.

For more golf books click on one of these two links:
Golf Books (UK)
Golf Books (USA)