Gary Player once urged the USGA to ban two ‘illegal’ golf clubs forever and demanded rule change
Photo by Kenny Smith/Getty Images Gary Player is certainly no shrinking violet when it comes to offering his opinions on the current state of the professional game. Player has often been outspoken on various issues including certain rules and the lack of genuine winners in the modern game. The 90-year-old is unquestionably one of the most successful golfers to have ever played the game and, as a result, his opinions are more often than not taken on board.
Player regularly calls for certain rules to be changed by golf’s governing bodies. It was only a few years ago when Gary Player vented his anger at professionals leaving the flagstick in the hole when putting. Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images The man with 159 professional victories worldwide is of the belief that the game of golf was harder in his day, and there is undoubtedly some truth to that.
And 21 years ago, Player called upon the USGA and the R&A to ban two specific golf clubs due to the fact that they were ‘ruining the game’. Gary Player once wanted two specific ‘illegal’ clubs to be banned Back in 2005, the nine-time major champion was adamant that golf club technology had already gone too far. “There’s not even a debate.
There must be a premium on driving. New equipment is ruining the game of golf,” Player insisted. “I play on the Champions Tour now, and there are guys on it who are shooting scores that they could never shoot when they were young men.
It just doesn’t make sense, and it’s ruining golf. ” The diminutive South African then took aim at deep grooves on irons and driver faces with trampoline-face technology. “ I just hate to see what’s happening today with golf clubs that I consider to be illegal, “ Player exclaimed.