FuZion MLGT Grooves Postion

We will provide players at least 90 days notice when we implement the new condition of competition

Monday, September 06, 2010

The revisions to the Rules of Golf, which placed new restrictions on golf club grooves for expert players, went into effect as a condition of competition starting Jan. 1, 2010 on the PGA, Nationwide, Champions, European, and LPGA tours.

The regulations control the cross-sectional area of grooves on all clubs, with the exception of drivers and putters, and limit groove edge sharpness on clubs with lofts equal to or greater than 25 degrees, usually a 4 or 5-iron.

Our 3 main issues regarding implementation of this expert condition are:

1. Cost and availability of conforming equipment to our members

2. Reduction of field sizes due to lack of conforming equipment if we implement too early

3. Enforcement

We have been surveying players at our events to determine what percentage own a set of conforming grooved clubs. Based upon the information available at this time The FuZion Minor League Golf Tour will not make a decision to add the groove condition of competition until at least 75% of our fields own conforming clubs OR at a time when we deem it to be beneficial for the MAJORITY of our players.

We will provide players with at least 90 days notice when we decide on the proper time to implement this change.

The new (currently optional) rule, may be adopted as a condition of the competition starting January 1, 2010, just like in 2006 when the USGA decided to allow distance measuring devices as a condition of the competition. It is recommended that this condition of competition be adopted only for competitions involving the highest level of expert player.

By 2014 the USGA and R&A have announced they will implement this condition of competition at expert amateur competitions. At the earliest this condition of competition will become a permanent equipment specification in the Rules of Golf in 2024.

All new clubs submitted to USGA for approval after 2009 must conform to the new specifications. Manufacturers can produce existing clubs and exhaust inventory until the end of 2010.