The PGA Tour’s best players will have to rely on their caddies to give them assistance reading greens after the Player Advisory Council agreed to ban green-reading books that show the slopes golfers face.
According to reports, the Player Advisory Council voted two weeks ago to ban the books in a decision that had significant support from all 16 players who sit on the board.
What does this mean?
The books have been blamed for everything from making the game too easy to slowing down play. Bryson DeChambeau is known for his heavy reliance on the books, and has often been criticized for his slow play. Augusta National, home of the Masters, doesn’t allow green-reading books, and perhaps not surprisingly, DeChambeau has not performed well at Georgia’s hallowed ground. DeChambeau is not alone; in fact, most PGA Tour pros have come to rely on the books in recent years. The Player Advisory Council includes some of the game’s biggest names, including Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, and Justin Thomas.
What’s next? Interestingly, as books that show the slope of greens are on the way out, laser rangefinders are finding their way into the pro game. While rangefinders have long been used in practice rounds, they are now creeping into many pro tours, and were allowed at the recent PGA Championship. The PGA of America thought the rangefinders would speed up play, while green-reading books likely slow down play. The pace of professional sports—from baseball to golf—is a significant concern for many, including the television networks that broadcast the most notable championships.
Why don’t they just try playing the game like the rest of us? No caddie. No books. Just pull their own carts, pull out a club and hit the ball, then move on. Not sure why they need tutoring after playing thousands of rounds?
It’s not tutoring… it’s high-stakes moneyball
That extended research and attention to detail is a big reason why they are pro’s and we are not. That said in terms of speeding pace of play etc it make sense to eliminate anything that slows the game down
At last some common sense. These are world elate players now they will have to use their skills at reading greens. Perfect. Next step is to ban use of range finders as they will do is slow down play. Bad example for the average golfer and public pay as play courses!
I believe allowing range finders to be used, as long as there is a clock from the time the player reached the ball, will speed up play.
You have the yardage, you know the wind, pick a club and hit it. At one time or another all players will be disadvantaged with a gust of wind, rub of the game.
As for green books, I am glad to see them taken out of play.
Cheers,
Ken Wright
St.Thomas G&CC
I am also of the opinion that rangefinders will expedite speed of play as they provide information better than any green book. Having caddied on the nationwide tour, every caddy had a rangefinder and just used the greenbook to catalogue what the player hit and distances based of his rangefinder.
WOW! Interesting decision. I find that for amateurs using the portable binocular rangefinder, it does slow up play. Too many actions required to use it! Pre-practice rounds before the actual tournament should be able to help these professional players I would think. Weather conditions change, but nothing Professionals are not used to.
It’s about time!!!
I think they should also ban the Caddies from helping to read the greens. Let the player do it themselves. They are supposed to be the best in the world and make big bucks. You never saw anyone helping Michael Jordan shoot his shots. I think its very lame that caddies help them.