Has banning the anchor made a difference?

[Lagerlover]

And the bunker rakes too. Hazards should be hazards, and not an artificially manicured surface to play off.

And ladies markers

[Steve57]

And trees. If that tree wasn't there on the playoff hole, Spieth would have been OOB!

[3oneday]

One could say he was bifurking lucky?

[aussieashley]

Isn't the ball already limited?
Appendix III - The Ball
5. Initial Velocity
6. Overall Distance Standard

I'm struggling to find the exact specs for this but its something like a ball hit by Iron Byron (or whatever the approved apparatus is) can't exceed an initial velocity of 250 feet per second, and can't go more than 320yds in carry and roll.

[TheNuclearOne]

http://www.usga.org/videos/2015/03/0...088465001.html

[Jazz18]

And the bunker rakes too.

Hazards should be hazards, and not an artificially manicured surface to play off.

Can't agree with you on this one Dotty. If bunkers aren't raked, the playing conditions for the back of the field is different to the front of the field. Would seem unfair to me at any level.

[3Puttpete]

Can't agree with you on this one Dotty. If bunkers aren't raked, the playing conditions for the back of the field is different to the front of the field. Would seem unfair to me at any level.

But it's a hazard. What if they're not raked at the start?

[Johnny Canuck]

But it's a hazard. What if they're not raked at the start?

I'm sure you'd end up with some knobs in the field intentionally stuffing up bunkers for everyone.

You get big footprints in a pot bunker and you'll never get out, and they'll call you GK.

[Jazz18]

But it's a hazard. What if they're not raked at the start?

I get what you mean but I think they would need to be maintained some what. At some stage, they would be smooth and would disadvantage the later field. Maybe more grass bunkers are the go.

[Johnny Canuck]

I get what you mean but I think they would need to be maintained some what. At some stage, they would be smooth and would disadvantage the later field. Maybe more grass bunkers are the go.

I think the grass bunker is the most underutilised option on a golf course.

[Jazz18]

I think the grass bunker is the most underutilised option on a golf course.

I agree. I'd be more scared of a grass bunker than a sand bunker to be honest. Encountered a couple at Mt Broughton a few weeks back and I thought they were a really good feature.

[Johnny Canuck]

I agree. I'd be more scared of a grass bunker than a sand bunker to be honest. Encountered a couple at Mt Broughton a few weeks back and I thought they were a really good feature.

My course has just filled in quite a few bunkers and they'll eventually become grass bunkers.

A couple weeks ago, I had the option of playing off the GUR, flat, filled in bunker, on an upslope, or taking it to the shaggy drop zone.

Easy up and down from the GUR, no idea where it would have gone had I dropped it in the drop zone.

Good luck spinning anything from the long grass.

[Jazz18]

My course has just filled in quite a few bunkers and they'll eventually become grass bunkers.

A couple weeks ago, I had the option of playing off the GUR, flat, filled in bunker, on an upslope, or taking it to the shaggy drop zone.

Easy up and down from the GUR, no idea where it would have gone had I dropped it in the drop zone.

Good luck spinning anything from the long grass.

Initially they probably make things a bit easier I guess but once they bed in a bit and they leave them a bit unkept, they can become a real hazard with only a fraction of the maintenance of a sand bunker and they will present much the same throughout the field which means course conditions throughout a day's play is fair for all players.

[wazamac]

What would be more penalising adjacent the green. Grass bunkers with long grass or a really tight lie?

Personally I would have long for fairway bunkers and maybe a combination adjacent greens.

I have advocated grass bunkers for a few years now, especially for courses that cannot afford the upkeep.

[thecollective]

grass bunkers are awesome + you can cut them so its a tight lie or let em go for a stogy chunk

The grass bunkers I saw on tele @ Castle Stuart GC (Scottish Open) were the best I have ever seen - love the little sodded faces preventing the putter from being used

[PerryGroves]

People may not like Brandel Chamblee but he says what he thinks, here is his take on Langer and McCarron.

http://www.golf.com/tour-news/2017/0...tour-appalling

Faxon has also said its a hot topic amongst the players. Apparently Langer was approached by the USGA after a Fox replay showed him clearly anchoring.

[3Puttpete]

People may not like Brandel Chamblee but he says what he thinks, here is his take on Langer and McCarron.

http://www.golf.com/tour-news/2017/0...tour-appalling

Faxon has also said its a hot topic amongst the players. Apparently Langer was approached by the USGA after a Fox replay showed him clearly anchoring.

"Chamblee did not specifically mention any player by name."

Where is his take on anyone?

[wazamac]

Talked about if Langer was anchoring with his putting on the weekend with the Pro at our club.

he says yes and apparently Butch harmon has had a few things to say about it as well.

Can't find anything relating to Harmon's comments on the cybernet.

[Jazz18]

I don't believe for one second that if Langer or McCarron were actually anchoring that someone wouldn't say something. The players are extremely competitive on that tour and there's no way every single player on that tour is going to stand by and watch Langer win regularly without saying something if he's breaking the rules every time he's has played an event for the last 18 months. There is just no way.

[Yossarian]

https://twitter.com/gurngunja/status/881069379353366529

[benno_r]

https://twitter.com/gurngunja/status/881069379353366529

Was that his practice stroke, or actual stroke?

[wazamac]

I've read that he anchors on his practice stroke then moves his top hand away for the actual stroke.

Still a little suspect.

[Jazz18]

I've not seen any slow mo or close ups of his actual stroke (the Twitter link didn't work for me) but when trying to watch closely on the broadcasts, it looks like he moves his top hand away to me.

[benno_r]

The video posted is put together is edited using 2 separate camera shots, and no ball visible. Could easily get a shot of an anchored practice stroke, cut to different angle real stroke, no ball... GUILTY!!!

On one hand it's conclusive proof, on the other, some well edited click bait.

[BUSHY]

Was that his practice stroke, or actual stroke?

Actual. This week it has been mentioned more than any other. USGA is looking at it, spoken to them about it, other players are saying they don't like it, putting more pressure and more eyes on it and wouldn't you know....He putted like a donkey.