News

USGA, R&A to target green-reading books

Published

8 years ago

Jul 20, 2018

Green-reading books are about to get a tough edit. Per a report by Geoff Shackelford, the USGA and R&A are going to “severely restrict” the information players can have at their disposal in the books, beginning Jan. 1, 2019.

According to Shackelford, “the move will effectively render the books impractical to players who have increasingly leaned on them for reading putts.”

Several sources have confirmed the decision is coming.

“We announced last year that we were reviewing green-reading materials and expect to be able to give a further update in the coming weeks,” an R&A spokesman said. “We believe that the ability to read greens is an integral part of the skill of putting and remain concerned about the rapid development of increasingly detailed materials that players are using to help with reading greens during a round.”

For its part, the USGA had this to say.

“We haven’t made any public announcements on Green Reading Materials since our joint announcement with The R&A last year, but we do plan an update on our review process in the coming weeks. It’s simply too premature to discuss, but we promise to keep everyone informed as we move forward.”

The books, particularly the green-mapping portion, have come under scrutiny in recent years, particularly as they have become popular at the college level. Opponents of the books believe they slow down play and/or remove an element of skill in the playing of the game.

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Ben Alberstadt

Ben Alberstadt is the Editor-in-Chief at GolfWRX, where he’s led editorial direction and gear coverage since 2018. He first joined the site as a freelance writer in 2012 after years spent working in pro shops and bag rooms at both public and private golf courses, experiences that laid the foundation for his deep knowledge of equipment and all facets of this maddening game. Based in Philadelphia, Ben’s byline has also appeared on PGATour.com, Bleacher Report...and across numerous PGA DFS and fantasy golf platforms. Off the course, Ben is a committed cat rescuer and, of course, a passionate Philadelphia sports fan. Follow him on Instagram @benalberstadt.

16 Comments

Square

Jul 25, 2018 at 4:46 am

The USGA is soooo much fun. I can’t wait for next year’s US Open.

Reply Report comment
Mike Thompson

Jul 24, 2018 at 10:55 am

So Geoff Shackelford is now a source for an article that he wrote with no sources? Where’s HIS source? Jordan Spieth asked a question-didn’t make a statement.

This is the kind of #fakenews that is the problem. Go back to the days of getting an actual source to go in record before publishing false stories.

Reply Report comment
Bob Parson Jr.

Jul 22, 2018 at 10:35 pm

Sure, the USGA and the R&A are afraid if enfircing the rules fir slow play, so they create a non Issue to tackle their own cowardice. This another reason the USGA mafia will never get my money.

Reply Report comment
Rich

Jul 21, 2018 at 8:09 pm

Yea, it’s about time this is addressed.It’s getting to be a robot golfer-ish game… Go back to no books period !! It’s the best player from his decisions without books…
Even stop the walk off distance measurements also.This would speed up the game!!!

Reply Report comment
G.W

Jul 21, 2018 at 6:34 pm

Another stupid idea.Just enforce the rules for slow play and its a non issue.

Reply Report comment
Travis

Jul 21, 2018 at 8:44 am

“It’s simply too premature to discuss”… dear god… how long is this process going to take? Do they need to “mobilize the committee” again? Have a meeting to have a meeting to discuss having a meeting about thinking about meeting for this topic? If the USGA can make this decision within the 2018 calendar year I’ll be shocked.

Reply Report comment
acew/7iron

Jul 21, 2018 at 8:26 am

Its about time…

Anchoring a putter never help as many putts go down as these cheat sheets used by the best in the world.

How many more putts could you sink over the course of a year with a caddie & his cheat sheet?

Reply Report comment
Adrian

Jul 21, 2018 at 5:16 am

This is silly…even if you know the break without a doubt you are still going to miss most putts outside of about 6 feet.

Reply Report comment
Raj lp

Jul 21, 2018 at 2:00 am

Finally. The green reading books were getting out of hand. Reading greens and judging the subtle breaks is an art. Pros using cliffs notes in tournaments is ridiculous. Let em have it for practice rounds.

Reply Report comment
Wiger Toods

Jul 20, 2018 at 8:12 pm

The major complaint about this is the topographical information. It’s the main part where the ball rolls. The catch is that technology is always going to be an issue. They’ve been mapped. These maps exist. Banning them without banning yardage books means it’s going to always be there.

If you want to “ban” the advantage, stop publishing the damned pin sheets!

Reply Report comment
Tom

Jul 20, 2018 at 5:21 pm

USGA let the golf ball get totally out of control (spin rates/ distance)….but they are worried about books showing contours of greens??? lol! If the USGA was ruling body of major league baseball, outfield fences would have to be 600ft!

Reply Report comment
DB

Jul 20, 2018 at 2:31 pm

Hey, finally the USGA is doing something productive. Credit where credit is due. These books are out of control, and they definitely are slowing down play. Plus it’s just not interesting to see a bunch of guys standing around a green staring down at their books. There’s no art, no soul… they should be looking around and trying to read the green like everyone else. It’s part of the game.

Reply Report comment
- Phil D. Snuts
  
  Jul 20, 2018 at 3:02 pm
  
  I disagree that they hold up play because now these guys are gonna read it from 360* then they’ll stand over the putt and second guess and go through the whole routine again. Probably a “wash” time wise. But I 100% agree it’s a step in bringing the game back to a traditional level. Next up wound balls, wooden woods, steel shafts and max loft of 56*. Come on USGA stop catering to the manufacturers. Pro golfers should be held to a different set of rules and standards. Let fat mike and his 87 year old dad play 48” 50 gram antenna whips and a sack full of wedges.
  
  Reply Report comment
B

Jul 20, 2018 at 12:38 pm

What course/hole is this? That green is nuts.

Reply Report comment
- alas
  
  Jul 24, 2018 at 12:15 am
  
  It’s the green on the Moon when Buzz Aldrin swung his 7 iron….
  
  Reply Report comment

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News

GolfWRX’s Father’s Day Gift Guide (2026)

Published

2 days ago

Jun 9, 2026

GolfWRX Staff

A reminder from your friends at GolfWRX: Father’s Day is June 21. And as we do every year, we’re rounding up the best gifts for dad.

As we say every year, there’s no better golf-related Father’s Day gift than a round of golf with pops. Be it a country club or your favorite muni, take the time to get together to play 18 if you can.

Let’s get to the gifts.

Ghost Golf Qualifier Diamond Polo

We like the new polos that Ghost is offering, as the fabric and fit are so good. These new Qualifier Collection polos breathe well, are lightweight, stretch with your swing, and of course look great. You can wear them on the course, in the office, or just out at a casual event and they will fit right in.

Buy here.

STR8-Strip Grip Tape Remover

If your dad is an equipment aficionado and tinkers with his clubs, this tool works wonders. Removing grip tape has never been easier, just put a little head on the tape and the STR8-Strip peals it right off the shaft without any damage.

Buy here.

Why Golf: Putting Thing

When it comes to practice, it is good to have a purpose. This “Putting Thing” sure does it. We know from personal experience how challenging it can be and how rewarding it is on the practice green. This also provides some competition for your kiddo to see who will unload the dishwasher or do the next chore around the house.

Buy here.

OluKai Lae‘ahi Men’s Breathable Slip-On Shoes

Riding to and from the course in style and comfort is always a good thing. If you’re in a hurry, it’s a nice feature to slide into your shoes and get to the tee time. For the post-game shoe, at your locker or while putting your clubs away in the car. Nice to slide into a shoe that looks good anywhere. Pair that with meeting the family for dinner, no need to change!

Buy here.

Therabody Theragun Relief

A little wellness goes a long way. Keeping loose is a good way to go when it comes to the weekend game or treatment during the week. If there is a little ache or pain, the Theragun is there to help out. Help loosen up the back for a pre-game warm-up or cool-down.

Buy here.

World Cup golf apparel

Something for the soccer dads. Embrace the World Cup fever this summer on the course with custom gear to support the nation of your choice.

Buy here.

FootJoy Pro SL spikeless golf shoes

Give the old man a break and save his feet with the Footjoy Pro SL Men’s Spikeless Golf Shoes for some added comfort on the course.

Buy here.

Bushnell Wingman 2 GPS speaker

Combine all the hits as well as some game improvement with the Wingman 2 Golf GPS Speaker by getting audible distance readings from 38,000+ courses worldwide through the Wingman 2 remote or speaker.

Buy here.

Personalized Titleist Pro V1 golf balls

The No. 1 ball in golf is a safe bet, and the Pro V1 fits the largest chunk of the bell curve if you don’t know what ball pops plays. Add personalization for a, well, personal touch!

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Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2026 OccuNet Classic

Published

2 days ago

Jun 9, 2026

GolfWRX Staff

With the PGA Tour across the border in Canada this week, GolfWRX Tour Photographer Greg Moore stayed stateside and headed to the OccuNet Classic presented by Amarillo National Bank in Amarillo, Texas.

It’s always interesting to see what the guys are playing on the KFT, and this week certainly hasn’t disappointed so far, with some incredible wedge stamping on display.

Check out links to all our albums below.

General Albums

2026 OccuNet Classic (KFT) – Monday #1

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Luke Potter’s custom Cameron putter – 2026 OccuNet Classic (KFT)

News

From the GolfWRX Classifieds: Scotty Cameron GOLO 6 with BGT Stability Tour2 2022 M Edition

Published

2 days ago

Jun 9, 2026

Will Schube

At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals who all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.

It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.

Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, @HuskerFlyer is sharing a Scotty Cameron GOLO with a BGT Stability Tour2 2022 M Edition shaft. While the putter is certainly enviable, the Augusta-inspired shaft is equally noteworthy.

From the listing:

Scotty Cameron Golo 6 with BGT Stability Tour2 2022 M Edition Scotty Headcover 34″ $375

To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules.