In February, I wrote that the “PGA Tour Chief Digs In On “Belly Putters” and contended that when it was all over and done with, the "Belly Putter" would prevail because it flew in the face of players who embraced it. Then there were the manufacturer’s interests, and let's face it, the players make plenty from endorsements.
On July 1st, the slowest day of the week for golf news, the PGA Tour Commissioner Timmy Finshem surreptitiously announced that they would, without the vote of their membership, completely reverse themselves and now embrace the ban the USGA and The Royal & Ancient.
The “drop dead” date is the 1st of January, 2016.
That means that there is plenty of time for the Tour to do the right thing and conduct a vote of the membership, before some of them embrace the only other entity left to them - The Courts as ViJay Singh has on another topic.
What Timmy Finchem originally did was a show of gumption, nerve, and wherewithal. It was also shrewd and observed what makes the PGA Tour go around - Money. The money generated by the Tour provides for everything they do for the charities they embrace in each and every stop the Tour makes. The money comes from happy fans, manufacturers, and those fans who buy what the manufacturers have to sell. One of them is the stroke-busting "Belly Putter."
Now, when it comes down to the basics, I agree with The Royal & Ancient. Everything in golf is based on an independent (of the body) stroke.
I quote only The R&A because I believe that the USGA is nothing more than a subordinate, knee-jerk association “across the pond” who is desperately jealous of it’s big brother.
My problem is not with the decision, one way or the other. My problem is that it was made arbitrarily and capriciously, like the oligarchs they see themselves as. Had they made the decision after a vote of all playing members, then I would have no reason to write this.
I am particularly aghast that the PGA Tour, who is comprised of all “private contractors,” essentially made a decision without the official input of the membership who hires them to administer the organization.
The proper Oxford defines “administer” as: “... manage and be responsible for running a business or organization, etc.” So, by that very definition, the PGA Tour is not a Representative Republic like the United States.
That means that Timmy Finchem is not, nor ought not to be, empowered to make the rules of play that affect the conditions under which the membership work. So, to that, I simply say that the final position of the PGA Tour ought to be based on a vote of the playing membership, not Finchem’s fear of “bifurcation” - a term he conjured to camouflage his conscience.
The last thing I want is to see the membership torn asunder by the litigation of players, who were not consulted. They ought not have the conditions under which they compete, adversely affected by the people they hired to “administer” their organization.
If the membership votes to ban the "Belly Putter," then so be it. They will be doing so in compliance with the R&A's verdict. The issue will come down to if the players wish to follow The R&A’s decision, or continue to use what has been so beneficial to some players. Oh, and there might just be a few players who vote their manufacturer’s mindset.
That’s capitalism ... the very capitalism that the PGA Tour depends on to facilitate those charities they constantly remind us they support. Less, unfortunately in this case, will not mean more.