What is the plan for implementing the new groove rules at USGA championships?

The new rules regarding grooves will be adopted as a condition of competition for the 2010 U.S. Open, U.S. Women's Open and U.S. Senior Open, as well as sectional (final stage) qualifying events for these three championships. The condition will not be in effect at local (first stage) qualifying events for the 2010 U.S. Open or at any of the USGA's national championships and team competitions that are contested by amateurs only. There is no local (first stage) qualifying stage for the U.S Women's Open or U.S. Senior Open.

The USGA will adopt the condition of competition for U.S. Open local qualifying beginning in 2011 and for the national championships and team competitions it conducts for amateur players no later than 2014, as originally announced.

The full text of the condition of competition appears at the end of this document.

What guidance does the USGA offer to state and regional golf associations or clubs regarding adoption of the condition of competition for local or regional competitions?

Although the condition of competition will be included in the Rules of Golf as of January 1, 2010 for committees to adopt, the USGA plans to implement the condition over a period of several years, beginning in 2010 with the U.S. Open, U.S. Women's Open, and U.S. Senior Open and their sectional (final stage) qualifying events. As originally announced, the USGA intends to adopt the condition for the championships and team events it conducts for amateur players no later than 2014. The USGA recommends that state and regional associations and clubs implement the condition in accordance with this general time frame. However, if the condition is implemented in 2014, or sooner, it is the recommendation of the USGA that this condition should be adopted only for competitions involving expert players.

What are the basics of the new groove regulations?

Although the complete technical specifications of the new groove requirements are more detailed, the following statements summarize the key changes:

1. The volume of grooves is reduced.

2. Groove edge sharpness is reduced for clubs with lofts greater than or equal to 25 degrees.

A common misconception is that "V" shaped grooves will be required under the new specifications and that "U" shaped grooves will no longer be allowed. This is not the case. However, any "U" shaped groove must conform to the new specifications for both cross sectional area/spacing and edge radius.

The complete technical specifications can be found in the Test Protocols for Equipment section at www.USGA.org.