America 250: Bobby Jones
Born on March 17, 1902 in Atlanta, Georgia, Bobby Jones became one of the greatest amateur golfers in history. As a teenager, he reached the third round of the US Amateur at the age of 14, showing early promise. He went on to win 13 major championships, all as an amateur, a record that still stands. In 1930, Jones achieved
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President Donald Trump has shared his opinion on the latest announcement to roll back the golf ball, and as is often the case, his opinion on the current issue does not necessarily align with the majority.
The USGA and the R&A—two governing bodies for golf—initially shared a plan in 2023 that the development of golf balls would change so that balls would travel up to 15 yards shorter at the professional level and up to five yards shorter for amateurs. This was a direct approach to combat distance, and the perception that it has gotten out of hand with new technology.
The original announcement nearly three years ago involved a staggered start that would take effect at the professional level in 2028 and all other golfers in 2030.
US President Donald Trump tees off on a new 18-hole course at the Trump International Golf Links on July 29, 2025 in Balmedie, near Aberdeen, Scotland. President Trump is visiting Scotland on a part-holiday, part-work trip as he stayed at his Trump Turnberry golf course, followed by the Trump International Golf Links in Aberdeenshire, between July 25 and 29. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
TEENAGE PHENOM MILES RUSSELL MAKES ENTIRE GOLF WORLD FEEL OLD WITH OWN QUOTES AHEAD OF US OPEN DEBUT
On the eve of the 2026 US Open on Wednesday, the USGA and R&A announced plans for a golf ball rollback have been put on hold until at least 2030.
Trump praised the decision to put efforts to roll back the golf ball in a Truth Social post Wednesday night.
“Congratulations to Commissioner Brian Rolapp, the PGA Tour and the governing bodies, and also the great U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, for a BIG WIN where the USGA wanted to roll back the distance of a golf ball, for whatever reason, and now they are barred from doing so, at least for many years Social,” Trump wrote in a long series of years.
“It was a ridiculous idea that nobody wanted, especially PGA Tour players and people who don’t want to go to a course, to be told that their drives are going to go 20 yards shorter. What the USGA should do is agree that, well into the future, they’re not going to allow the current ball to go any further. In other words, they’re going to keep the ball the same! no reason at all, you’re not going to be able to hit a ball as far as you used to hear about something so ridiculous?”
United States President Donald Trump tees off after opening his new golf course at his Trump International Golf links resort on July 29, 2025 in Balmedie, Scotland. US President Donald Trump will visit his Trump Turnberry golf course as well as the Trump International Golf Links in Aberdeenshire during a short visit to Scotland from July 25 to 29. (Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
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Trump’s suggestion that “no one wanted” golf ball technology to change to match distance is not true. The debate in golf, especially at the professional level, is completely divided.
United States President Donald Trump attends the 2025 Ryder Cup on the Black Course at Bethpage State Park Golf Course on September 26, 2025 in Farmingdale, New York. In his second term, Trump has attended several major sporting events (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
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Many, if not the majority, of people involved in golf recognize that the technology in both golf balls and modern drivers has gotten out of hand. Several golf courses have become “too short” for elite and professional players.
As for the approach golf’s governing bodies have taken to solving the problem, well, that’s where opinion diverges even more. “How” to effectively rein in the distance golf balls possess today is the million-dollar question, and this delay proves the powers that be also need time to tinker.
