Survey Results: Non-Conforming Clubs

Several weeks ago we asked you to share your thoughts on non-conforming clubs from major manufacturers.

The feedback was, to a large extent, about what we expected.

Sufficed to say that some of you have no issues with non-conforming clubs. You view them as a means to make the game more accessible. Non-conforming clubs could break down barriers by making the game less frustrating and more fun.

For others, non-conforming clubs are the devil’s tools. If you so much as pick one up, even if you’re by yourself and never enter a score, you are a cheater. Sew a scarlet ‘NC‘ on your sweater . You’re branded for life.

In reality, we don’t really know what promises non-conforming clubs could deliver on. Is it 10 more yards with the driver? 25? 50? What about accuracy? Would non-conforming clubs allow us to hit more fairways, attack more pins, and play 18 holes in 3 hours or less and get you home in time to take your son to lacrosse practice?

Your responses to this survey and the discussion that followed the original post, suggest this is a polarizing subject with plenty of passion on both sides (and in the middle).

Here’s what you told us.

Question 1: Pleasure

I’m guessing that 37.36% of you would argue that golf is plenty enjoyable as it is. The challenge is part of the fun, right?

Not for everyone.

The difficulty of the game is a tremendous barrier, and if non-conforming clubs can overcome some of that, is that really such a bad thing? Constant frustration is not fun. For many, non-conforming clubs have the potential to take the game from totally impossible to challenging. That’s not the same as making it easy. We don’t all progress and improve at the same rate.

Why shouldn’t we view non-conforming clubs as a gateway to the game; one that offers the potential for beginning and recreational golfers to eventually grow into conforming equipment? If we think of non-conforming clubs in the same way that we think about training wheels for our kids’ bikes (they help them get over the fear while offering greater potential for rapid improvement), we might attract new golfers.

I know what you’re going to say. Golf is hard. It’s supposed to be, and those looking for the easy way probably won’t stick around anyway. You might be right.

Question 2: Growth

This question is representative of much of what’s wrong with aspects of the current grow golf movement. Basically it’s guys like us (avid golfers) speculating on what it will take to bring new golfers to the game. At the risk of redundancy, golf is hard. Whether making it easier, and by extension, more fun (via equipment) will bring new players to the game continues to be a subject of much debate.

As you can see, there’s relatively even split among our readers. While I do believe there’s some growth potential in non-conformity, golf is still expensive, slow (it takes a long time, and it’s not packed full of action), and far too often assumptions about elitism manifest themselves in reality.

Golf is a tough sell right now, and it’s unlikely being able to hit the ball longer and straighter is enough to overcome the other perceived issues with the game.

 Question 3: Rounds Played

14.37% isn’t a huge number, but I’d absolutely love to hear more from those of you who said you would play more if non-conforming clubs were available. Is it because non-conforming clubs could make the game less frustrating? Is it because you believe it would make rounds take less time? If we’re having more fun, and taking less time away from other things to do it, would we play more golf? Some apparently think so.

Question 4: Limitations

This, to me anyway, is perhaps the most fascinating question in our survey. You can count me among the 67.72% who think non-conforming clubs are fine for recreational play. If a guy is out on the course by himself, with his kid, or with a group of like-minded buddies, what’s the big deal? He’s not competing in tournaments, and he’s not taking my money.

I remain baffled by the 23.15% of you who apparently believe you’re cheating – even when you’re not actually playing (you play for fun and you don’t keep a handicap).

I was in Target the other day wandering through the sporting goods isle when I noticed a dozen different footballs. None was NFL legal. Most probably weren’t college legal either. Some were smaller and some had added surface textures to make the ball easier to grip. I doubt many people have a problem with this.

By the same token, the Tour de France has also sorts of rules that govern the bicycles that competitors use during the event. That’s cool for competition, but if two weeks after the event I want to take my chances on the course riding a Huffy dirt bike, through the streets of  Le Mans, have I cheated or have I simply gone for a bike ride on a road that can be used for competition?

It boggles my mind that some can’t see of golf as anything other than a competitive pursuit. Why can’t golf be played simply for fun with no rules governing play (because play is fun) or the equipment used?

 Question 5: Usage

Maybe the answer to my previous question can be found in the answers to this question.

4.67% say they would use non-conforming clubs to gain a competitive advantage. Hopefully those guys simply misunderstood my meaning. Look, we all know that some people cheat at golf, so I suppose it’s reasonable to think that some people would try and use non-conforming clubs for competitive play, but is that reason alone to say that major manufactures shouldn’t produce them?

If a guy is going to cheat, he’s going to cheat. He’ll kick and roll his way to a better lie. He’ll drop a pocket ball. He’ll shave a stroke or two (except when it’s more beneficial to add a stroke or two). He’s going to do what he’s going to do. Simply put, some people have integrity, some people don’t. Non-conforming clubs won’t change that either way.

I’m in that 33.25% that says maybe. If non-conforming is 10 yards…probably not. If it’s 50…hell yes, I’m going to have some just for fun clubs, and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that.

 Question 6: Your Dollars at Work

And in this lies the rub for manufacturers considering releasing non-conforming club lines. While 71.94% say the availability of non-conforming clubs from a given manufacturer wouldn’t influence your conforming club purchasing decisions, nearly 20% of you told us that you’d actually be less likely to purchase conforming gear from a manufacturer that also produces non-conforming clubs.

For a golf company, that’s a dangerous percentage. How many new customers will you reach vs. how many potential customers could you lose? At a minimum it would be a gamble for any company that chooses to make the leap, and given how risk averse the golf equipment industry is as a whole, it’s unlikely any brand of repute has the stones to go for it any time in the immediate future.

 Question 7: Permission

As we were putting together this survey, I couldn’t help but think that the biggest issue holding back widespread availability of non-conforming clubs might be permission from those we admire. Would we feel differently about non-conforming clubs if Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, or Rory McIlroy told us to go out, play golf, and use whatever equipment (conforming or otherwise) that allows us to have the most fun?

Apparently not.

In today’s world even yesterday’s players are more than legends, they’re brands. So with that in mind, it seems unlikely that anyone would be willing to risk his brand to endorse the use of non-conforming clubs (for recreational play, of course). While just under 70% say it wouldn’t matter one way or another, the 8% who might be swayed are well-outnumbered by the almost 23% who told us they’d probably think less of any professional golfer who suggests non-conforming clubs might not be that bad.

It’s the sort of thing that  can damage a reputation, which is exactly manufactures would likely find themselves navigating the waters of non-conformity with little if any help from their professional staffers and brand ambassadors.

Additional Perspective

It’s important to remember that we, the obsessive gearheads, are the minority here. While these results may reflect the thoughts of the avid (and well-connected) golfer, my suspicion is that the majority of golfers, most of whom fit nicely in the recreational category, are likely much more receptive to the idea of non-conforming clubs. Companies like Polara have already carved out a niche for themselves in the non-conforming space, and I’d wager that a growing number of smaller companies will join them.

The debate is far from over.

At some point there may be enough money spent on non-conforming clubs that a major player will put profits over the USGA. When that happens others will surely follow.