America 250: Bobby Jones
Bobby Jones was born on March 17, 1902, in Atlanta, Georgia, and became one of the greatest amateur golfers in history. As a teenager, he reached the third round of the U.S. Amateur at age 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 the
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President Donald Trump has shared his opinion about the recent announcement regarding rolling back the golf ball, and as is often the case, his opinion on the topic at hand doesn’t necessarily align with the majority.
The USGA and R&A — two governing bodies of golf — originally shared a plan in 2023 that golf ball development would change, making balls 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 opinion 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.
U.S. President Donald Trump tees off at a new 18-hole course at Trump International Golf Links on July 29, 2025 in Balmedie, near Aberdeen, Scotland. President Trump is visiting Scotland in a trip that’s part-vacation, part-work, as he stayed at his Trump Turnberry golf course, followed by Trump International Golf Links in Aberdeenshire, between July 25 to 29. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
TEENAGE PHENOM MILES RUSSELL MAKES ENTIRE GOLF WORLD FEEL OLD WITH EYE-POPPING QUOTE AHEAD OF US OPEN DEBUT
On the eve of the 2026 U.S. Open on Wednesday, the USGA and R&A announced that plans for a golf ball rollback have been paused until at least 2030.
Trump praised the decision to pause the efforts to roll back the golf ball in a Truth Social post on Wednesday evening.
“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 VICTORY where the USGA wanted to roll back the distance of a Golf Ball, for whatever reason, and now they are precluded from doing so, at least for a long number of years,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“It was a ridiculous idea, that nobody wanted, especially PGA Tour Players, and people that don’t want to go to a Course to be told that their drives will be going 20 yards shorter. What the USGA should do is agree that, far into the future, they will not allow the current ball to go further. In other words, they will keep the ball the same! The game of Golf is “hot as a pistol.” The last thing we should do is tell people that, for no reason whatsoever, you will not be able to hit a ball as far as you used to. Has anyone ever heard of anything so ridiculous?”
U.S. 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. U.S. President Donald Trump is visiting his Trump Turnberry golf course, as well as Trump International Golf Links in Aberdeenshire, during a brief visit to Scotland from July 25 to 29. (Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
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Trump’s suggestion that “nobody wanted” golf ball technology to change to combat distance isn’t true. The debate in golf, especially at the professional level, is completely divided.
U.S. President Donald Trump attends the 2025 Ryder Cup at 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 folks involved with 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 address the issue, well, that’s where opinions differ even more. The “how” of effectively reining in the distance golf balls possess nowadays is the million-dollar question, and this delay proves the powers that be need time to tinker as well.