Back9Network Airs Interview with PGA of America President Ted Bishop on USGA & R&A Banning of Belly Putter

HARTFORD, Conn., May 21, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Back9Network will broadcast an exclusive interview with PGA of America President Ted Bishop on the anchoring ban of belly putters immediately following the USGA's news conference 8 a.m. ET on Tuesday, May 21 during which the governing body will "announce final action on proposed changes to the Rules of Golf."

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Sitting down with the Back9Network, Bishop shares his views on the final decision of the governing body's ban of the belly putter with the rule change anticipated to go into effect on January 1, 2016.

For Broadcast: PGA of America President Ted Bishop comments video click here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/resfzov2s9gpo3v/Bishop%20Response%20to%20Anchoring.mov

Interview Excerpts from Ted Bishop, President PGA of America, comments to Back9Network on the USGA's & R&A's Banning of Belly Putter:

"If you look at the history of rules changes I can't think of too many in my 37 years of being in the golf business that have had a potential impact on the business of the game and the enjoyment of the game like this one has," Ted Bishop told Back9Network.

"I can point to two or three guys at my facility that over the winter came in and said to me, 'you know what, if I can't go out there and use a long putter going forward I may quit playing the game.'"

"I'm very disappointed you know in the outcome of this. I think that PGA of America has been very vocal throughout the comment period on all the reasons why we oppose it, as has the PGA Tour. So, I think at this point in time we have to take a couple of steps backward, and just a regroup and figure out where are we going to go from here."

"It would be logical that we would definitively rule at the end of June when our board of directors convenes at our professional national championship in Sun River Oregon the last week in June, this is a topic that we need to talk about face to face and it's also a topic that you know our directors need to solicit input from our 41 sections that they represent and that's consistent about how we've handle this anchoring issue from day one. This wasn't about a few guys at the top saying this is how we are going to deal with it, this is starting out at the ground level talking with the people that are in the trenches day in and day out and saying what do you think? What's important to you? Let your voice be heard and so we have got a lot of work to do to get ourselves in a position where we can make a decision in 30 days."

"The prospect of their possibly being any kind of a rollback with the golf ball is something that the PGA of America does not feel is in the best interests of the game, I have had a hard time understanding how amateurs hitting the ball a shorter distance is going to speed up play and it is going to enhance the enjoyment of the game for them."

"I think that the PGA of America has to look at what's best for the game as a whole and I think that's the million dollar question. What is best for the game here? And as I have said from day one we need to be problem solvers not troublemakers."

Back9Network provides lifestyle programming presented in a variety of formats (e.g., scripted, non-scripted, fiction, non-fiction, drama, feature length films, news and information) with golf and golf-related themes as backdrop.

About Back9Network: Back9Network, based in Hartford, Conn., is a lifestyle multiplatform television network and media company. Back9Network was developed as a complementary alternative to traditional media's focus on professional golf tournament coverage. Focused on compelling storytelling, interesting personalities, features and fashions, interviews and instruction, travel, gear and so much more, fans of all kinds will want to hang with the Back9Network. Back9Network.com, the online clubhouse for Back9Network, delivers a fresh perspective on the golf lifestyle and its worldwide influence.  Back9Network's leadership includes respected and outspoken executives from the golf and media industries. Clint Eastwood serves as chairman of the Back9Network Creative Committee.

For Media Inquiries:
Lynn Luczkowski, L2 Communications 860-313-1426 or [email protected] or cell 413-478-1569
Aubrey Haznar, L2 Communications, 617-549-8792 or [email protected]

SOURCE Back9Network