Callaway, USGA Chief Debate

Tuesday, January 23rd 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) â€” Ely Callaway and USGA executive director David Fay took their fight over nonconforming drivers public Monday night during a live 90-minute debate on The Golf Channel.

``If you don't change your inflexibility â€” the USGA's inflexibility â€” I think you're going to find that the golfers you're governing are going to rebel,'' Callaway told Fay.

The U.S. Golf Association has ruled Callaway Golf's $500 titanium ERC II driver illegal because of the spring-like effect.

The governing body adopted a test in 1998 to measure the trampoline effect in thin-faced drivers, which are said to cause the ball to travel as many as 30 yards farther.

Fay opposes Callaway's contention that there should be rules differences for competitive and recreational golf.

``To us there's one set of rules, and the first rule of golf is that you play by the rules,'' Fay said.

``We established a rule and we believe that all players believe that all players should play by that rule. There's not a distinction in our minds ... that you have one set of rules for one type of player and another set of rules for another.''

Callaway Golf had $840 million in sales in 2000.

``We are so large because over the years we've found a way to give the average player â€” not the professional golfer â€” rewards and satisfaction by using our clubs,'' Callaway said.

The debate followed USGA president Trey Holland's weekend comments that Callaway endorser Arnold Palmer will no longer be the organization's chief recruiter because of his stance on nonconforming drivers. On Monday, the USGA issued a statement emphasizing that Palmer will continue to serve as the volunteer national chairman of its Members Program.

While Palmer, who signed a 12-year deal with Callaway in June, has said nonconforming drivers should not be allowed in competition, he supports using them for recreational golf.

The Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews â€” golf's governing body everywhere except the United States and Mexico â€” concluded in September that there is no need for a test to measure the spring-like effect. That decision left the golf world with two sets of equipment regulations.