Moving to "end some of the controversy," the USGA is
"expected today to set new guidelines curtailing certain
fast-growing golf technology," at a press conference at the
Olympic Club in San Francisco, according to Frederick Rose
of the WALL STREET JOURNAL. The 16-member executive
committee "may declare a moratorium on its approval of
titanium drivers," and may "reduce" the length of club
shafts and even the number of clubs that players may carry.
There is "also talk of limiting the speed that the ball can
come off the face of the club -- a concept that also could
affect ball designs" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 6/17). In
Atlanta, Glenn Sheeley, writes that the industry should
"expect" some "long-term" guidelines restraining technology,
"but don't presume anything immediate." Sheeley reports it
is "unlikely" that the USGA "would unload a blockbuster
announcement to cause panic in the golf industry," adding
that the timing of the organization's possible decree "is
puzzling," given that golf "is enjoying its biggest boom
since the 1960s" (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 6/17). In St. Paul,
Gregg Wong reports that the USGA "is expected to announce it
will not make any proposals to alter" the use of titanium
clubs. Wong calls the furor regarding a potential change:
"Much ado about nothing" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 6/17).
MATT NOT MAKING FRIENDS WITH ELY: Among Father's Day
gift suggestions offered by Men's Journal Deputy Editor Mark
Jannot on NBC's "Today" were an 8-ounce, 28-inch tennis
racquet made by Head and a Titleist titanium driver. NBC's
Matt Lauer: "Let's be real honest here. Big Bertha is a
name a lot of people hear about with golf drivers all the
time. According to a lot of people on Tour and a lot of
average golfers, this [Titleist] is really the club that is
starting to move that club to the side" ("Today," 6/17).
