Golf balls headed for reduced speed by 2028

Golf’s rulemakers are aiming to roll back the distance that balls fly on the courses, so they announced new standards Wednesday starting in 2028.

The longest hitters should expect to lose as much as 13-15 yards in drive distance, said the U.S. Golf Association and the R&A, the rule makers for amateurs and pros worldwide.

Golf balls are tested for compliance, with an overall distance standard of 317 yards with a 3-yard margin of tolerance by a robot swinging a titanium club. The figure represents the maximum length achieved by the game’s top hitters.

Men playing professional tour golf or other elite-level competitions should expect a loss of 9-11 yards, while women playing at golf’s highest echelons should lose 5-7 yards, the organizations said.

As more players exceed the current 120 mph clubhead testing standard, drives have gone farther, thereby requiring longer courses. The rule makers contend that the trend is unsustainable.

“Longer golf courses require additional resources such as water, the cost of renovating or moving elements like tees and bunkers continues to rise, and other long-term impacts have been identified as a result of increased distance. … These economic and environmental impacts have to be kept under control,” the USGA and R&A said in their announcement.

Reaction to the move from manufacturers, players and golf tour organizations has been mixed.

Pro golfer Rory McIlroy pinned the blame for the outrage on those who lobbied against separating the rules for professional and recreational players.

“The people who are upset about this decision shouldn’t be mad at the governing bodies; they should be mad at elite pros and club/ball manufacturers because they didn’t want bifurcation. The governing bodies presented us with that option earlier this year,” McIlroy wrote on X.

Fellow pro golfer Keegan Bradley said a ball made by manufacturer Srixon under the new rules went 40 to 50 yards shorter than before. He opposed the new testing regulations.

“I think that the USGA … everything that they do is reactionary,” Bradley said. “They just think we’re going to affect 100% of the population that plays golf. For the amateur world to hit the ball shorter is monstrous. I can’t think of anything more stupid than that.”

This article is based in part on wire service reports.