Plastic spikes controversy re-emerges at St Andrews conference

At last month’s Conference of The Association of Golf Club Secretaries (held at the University of St Andrews) there was a major surprise in the final session when delegates were given the opportunity to raise their own ‘hot topics’ with representatives of golf’s ruling bodies.

A surprise answer was given to a question from a Swedish delegate who asked if there was any hard evidence to support the requirement for plastic in place of steel spikes in golfers’ shoes. Gordon Child (British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association) said that evidence was now appearing to show that the latest high-grip plastic spikes did more damage to the putting surface, causing greens to become bumpy. If the turf is healthy, he said, steel spikes did no harm to the grass.

Then an American delegate pointed out that there were some 500 court cases pending in the US where golfers were claiming for personal injuries they attributed to the enforced wearing of plastic spikes, which had made them slip.

Golf Business News.Com would like to know the views both of golfers and of those charged with the responsibility of looking after golf courses.

Click here to tell us what you think about plastic spikes – let us know whether you are viewing the subject as a player or as someone in the business of providing golf facilities (or both!).