Time For PGA Players To Belly Up To Rule

As everyone has said this is a complicated issue and certainly a slippery slope for the PGA R&A and USGA. Be that as it may, the fact is that although these putters have been in place for a long time they definitely represent a change in the way people are allowed to play the game. The old guard in general was not allowed to use long putters and therefore competed in a way that current players are not required to adhere to, making the dynamics that are necessary to win a tournament different today than they were in the past. We have all missed our share of 2 and 3 footers and if we think about it more often then not the reason is nerves. There is no question that in every sport that is part of the game that players have to master to lessen that demand lessens the game and the accomplishment itself. The fact that the putters have been integrated into the game to this degree is unfortunate, the issue in my opinion should have been dealt with long before today. If the purity of the game and the traditional way of playing it is based in part on a free swinging club, then that's the way the game should be enforced, if for no other reason than to keep the structure and format uniform moving forward. There are other issues and concerns for the governing bodies of golf to address such as driving distance, restricted flight balls etc. For better or worse this is the hot topic of moment and the reality is the lag time until 2016 should give all those afflicted more than enough time to adjust to a normal conventional putter. Golf is a great game and it's experiencing the most popularity and worldwide growth in it's history, hopefully this controversy will not derail that growth so here's hoping for the best...