Anchoring of putters banned from 2016 by golf’s ruling bodies

Golf's two ruling bodies will ban the anchoring of putters in competition from 1 January, 2016.

The R&A and the US Golf Association first unveiled plans last year which were supported by the European Tour but not the PGA Tour.

The ban will apply to any club rested against a part of the body, such as the broom-handle or the belly putters.

It’s about time the rule makers got together and banned a piece of equipment that has no place in the game.

I agree that it’s unfortunate for players who currently use it, the long putter should have been banned as soon as it was introduced, but they’ve been given sufficient time to make the transition back to a regular putter.

As for all the youngsters who have grown up with it, it’s also unfortunate for them but you really have to question a coach who suggests to a player under the age of, say, 16 that they should use a long putter.

The big stumbling block on the horizon is what those who run the PGA Tour decide to do, they have indicated that they aren’t in favour of the ban, but frankly it’s not up to them.

The R&A and the USGA make the rules and whether the PGA Tour agrees with it or not they should follow, you can’t have a situation where you can use the long putter one week but the week after you can’t, the game would be a laughing stock.

Instead of staying silent the PGA Tour should do the right thing and release a statement saying they support the ban.