Course owners tell USGA not to oppose anchoring

Mike Davis

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NGCOA letter to USGA's Mike Davis

The National Golf Course Owners Association has added its voice to the growing cry in the industry to oppose the ban on anchoring proposed by the U.S. Golf Association and R&A.

A day after the PGA Tour met to discuss the proposed ban, the NGCOA, which claims membership of 3,258 golf courses and 1,900 owners, made public Feb. 19 a letter submitted during the proposal's 90-day comment period, which ends Feb. 28.

In the statement addressed to USGA executive director Mike Davis and signed by NGCOA chief executive Michael Hughes, the association said it is uniting with the PGA against the proposed ban, citing a possible "negative impact on participation in the game of golf now and in the future.”

Further, the NGCOA asked for the USGA to reconsider the ban on anchoring, which would take effect with the next publication of the Rules of Golf, in 2016.

The PGA of America and PGA Tour are expected to draft similar calls for the USGA and R&A to reconsider their push to ban the anchored stroke commonly associated with long and belly putters.