Welcome to the exciting September issue of the Frankly Friends Newsletter. In this issue we are launching “Frankly The Best,” a series of equipment ratings that will ultimately include balls, wedges, drivers, hybrids, irons and putters. Each item will be judged on the basis of technological design and actual user evaluation -- not player testing or endorsements, speculation, promotional hype or sales volume.

We know that our Frankly Friends are sophisticated consumers, and we want to hear about your experiences with the equipment you’ve tried and used. We will add our technical expertise to create the most useful equipment ratings ever compiled.

Like every golfer, you, our Frankly Friends want to know which is the best choice in drivers from among all the options on the market today. It is very difficult to find the differences from a technological or machine-testing point of view, because most drivers are now designed to meet or push the legal limits. So, “frankly,” we have decided to go beyond technology by obtaining valuable input from actual users (you, our Frankly Friends) about the clubs you use, how you feel about them and how you would rate them.

Please fill out the short questionnaire on The Driver; we will summarize the responses and send all respondents an exclusive preview of the ratings before we publish them in next month’s newsletter. In appreciation, you will also receive a complimentary section of our Equipment Essentials report on “The Driving Club” which will give you more information on what to consider when purchasing a new driver.

"Frankly The Best"--What is the best Driver Survey is now CLOSED for analysis. Results will be published in our next Frankly Friends Newsletter. Sign up as a Frankly Friend to be alerted.

Electronic Measuring Devices Survey: Our results

A whopping 86 % of our readers say that EMDs (Electronic Measuring Devices) should be permitted under the rules

Frankly Speaking.....

We have had a surprising response from our readers to our last newsletter’s article “How Far to the Flag stick,” especially with regard to how they feel about permitting these devices under the Rules of Golf. As a traditionalist myself, I find it hard to accept electronic gadgets on the golf course, but the downside of banning these measuring devices far outweighs the benefits of maintaining the status quo. An overwhelming number (86%) of our Frankly Friends seem to agree, and voted that this “most ignored” rule should be changed.

I’m pleased that there are so many concerned golfers who understand the consequences of governing bodies that stick to a rule that makes no sense. It was recently reported that the USGA and the R&A have found some common ground at meetings held just before the recent Walker Cup in Chicago, and that they will adopt a “Condition of Competition” to permit these distance-measuring devices after January 1st 2006.

If the rumor is true, I congratulate the USGA and the R&A for recognizing the inevitable and taking some action to shore up their respect in the eyes of those who play the game. One can only govern the game of Golf through consent of the governed, and this comes from promulgating rules -- the official guidelines needed to maintain order -- that are sound and sensible. A rule that is almost universally ignored is a rule that ought to be changed.

A Shorter Ball...what do you think?

Just as the USGA cures one foot, they shoot the other.

They have done it again: They are already trying to decrease the distance that a golf ball will travel, and just recently they proposed a limit on the forgiveness factor of clubs.

Do they have enough feet for this many bullets?

The USGA has asked manufacturers to develop a ball (for experimental purposes) that will go 25 yards shorter than the existing balls, because the pros (.001% of the golfing population) are hitting it “too far.” Please read my article -- which The New York Times found significant enough to publish on the eve of U.S. Open Week -- and tell us what you think.

I have not had time yet to fully digest the “second shot”, their September 4th proposal to limit the Moment of Inertia (MOI) of drivers, but it strikes me that this too would most affect those who need help (you and me), and not the elite who don’t miss the sweet spot.

Click here to read Frank's New York Times article

Encourage your friends to have their say...... click here to tell them about this newsletter!

Grow the Game Update:

A Trip to the Honesty Box

Some things change but remain the same. This is especially true in golf.

We recently visited a site in the west of Scotland, “The Isle of Seil Golf Club,” close to Oban where the famed single malt whiskey is distilled. This wonderful experience is not the wave of the future, but it is a beautiful reminder of how basic our game can be at heart.

Look at these images, and think about what constitutes the true essentials of this game we love. There is more to the game than the parts of it that so many try to exploit – more to it, and less too. We must recalibrate our expectations and rediscover our most basic pleasures if we want the game to continue to provide the timeless challenge that makes it so attractive.

Enjoy this journey to Seil as I did. Click here to view my pictures of the trip.

Grow the Game Update

We just wanted to update you on our Grow the Game project. We are currently analyzing the responses to our survey and updates are available on:

www.GrowingTheGame.org

This site will contain progress reports as we proceed with this project. Please sign up as a Frankly Friend to be updated and include your interest in Golf Research.