As might be expected, several golf equipment manufacturers expressed their displeasure with the joint decision by the USGA and R&A to enact an anchoring ban as of Jan. 1, 2016.
Cobra Puma Golf head Bob Philion released a statement saying, "Golf lost today. This is not the direction we should be going; it will only continue to alienate people from golf. Cobra Puma Golf has been stressing the importance of game enjoyment since we formed in 2010; game enjoyment is how we are going to bring people back to golf. This decision is a giant leap back on that front. With this decision, bifurcation needs to be front and center in golf's conversations and we should be focusing on adapting the rules and the game to be inclusive and fun."
John Solheim, head of PING Golf, said, "I appreciate this was an open process. I also recognize the importance of a single rule book. However, I believe the rulemaking bodies need to better address how we need to make the game more welcoming. I will continue to focus my efforts on that goal.”
The manufacturers seems to maintain that allowing more types of equipment will encourage more players to take up the game, or continue playing it. However, with only 2-4 percent of players using an anchored stroke, according to the governing bodies' research, that seems unlikely.
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