R&A Chief: Local rules could be introduced as alternative to the golf ball rollback

The answer to professional golf's much-decried distance problem has been a contentious one for some time.

For now, the status quo remains that the golf ball rollback, which will see the universal introduction of golf balls designed designed to curb speed and distance, will begin in earnest in 2030.

Now, R&A chief executive Mark Darbon has confirmed that both the R&A and the USGA are examining alternatives to the rollback to bring the professional game back into balance, indicating that Model Local Rules may emerge as the preferred route forward rather than a universal ball rollback.

What is a Model Local Rule?

A model local rule is effectively a ruling that the USGA and R&A can agree on mutually to place special conditions on tournament play. The professional tours can then choose to adopt these MLRs when and where they see fit. 

Some, like the 46" driver length limit introduced in 2022, are sweeping and enforced at all tournaments. Others are specific to certain venues, such as those determining the use of preferred lies, out-of-bounds stakes and temporary conditions.

What rules could be introduced to kerb distance?

Darbon, alongside USGA CEO Mike Whan, has suggested that Model Local Rules could be used to enforce the use of distance-limiting equipment on certain, or potentially all, courses on the PGA Tour roster. 

Specifically, such MLRs would mandate the use of distance-limited balls that are specific to tournament play, leaving retail golf balls unchanged from what's currently on the market. 

Per a report from Golfweek, this means that "...Equipment trucks would carry competition-ball inventories. Tour reps would spend weeks, probably months, helping players dial in launch windows, spin rates and yardages with the new gear."

Has this been suggested before?

Yes. The introduction of MLRs was discussed by the USGA, R&A and PGA Tour leadership bodies in 2023. However Phan said that distance-related MLRs would not be implemented at a tour level, leading the governing bodies to turn to the a universal rollback.

Now, however, it appears opposition to distance-related MLRs from the professional tours and its players is softening, leaving the sport at a similar crossroads to that it faced a few years ago. Phan was quoted at the U.S. Open as saying that there's a new "collective willingness" to reconsider ideas that had been shelved.

Why is this being re-examined now?

The idea of a universal ball rollback has been one of golf's most controversial flashpoints in recent years.

While some players argue that the rollback is vital for preserving the difficulty and playing qualities of shorter historic courses, many have expressed skepticism that the plan will work as intended (if at all) while keeping golf a fundamentally entertaining sport to watch. 

Already, it has emerged that many balls currently being used on tour, including Cameron Young's Titleist Pro V1 Left-dash, would likely fall under the new guidelines anyway, despite Young being one of the professional game's longest hitters.

What is the argument against it?

There will still likely be much resistance to the introduction of MLRs around equipment, most notably from equipment manufacturers. 

While the upside is that current equipment will remain legal for everyday golfers, the introduction of MLRs around equipment will force manufacturers to develop and produce equipment at great expense, much of which won't be able to be sold at a retail level.

There also remains the sticky topic of bifurcation, with many critics arguing that this would represent a departure from the sport's key tenet of pros using broadly the same equipment as amateurs. The USGA, however, doesn't view it as such, and some players, including Rory McIlroy, have argued that bifurcation has already largely taken place anyway.