12.10.2012
when you replace a man like the usga’s dick rugge,
you had better bring in someone with credentials.
like working on the international thermonuclear
experimental reactor or the linear accelerator for
the superconducting super collider. those impressive lines on the résumé belong to John spitzer, the
assistant technical director for the usga. last week
spitzer was named to replace his boss, rugge, who
has served as the association’s senior technical director since 2000. in a letter circulated to usga staff,
spitzer was tabbed to take over as managing director of equipment standards, overseeing a team that
investigates and adjudicates all matters of equipment technology for the usga. spitzer will report to
John bodenhamer, usga senior managing director of
rules, competitions and equipment standards. spitzer
joined the usga in 1997 and has been involved in the
research on spring-like-effect limit, indoor ball testing, the limits on clubhead size, volume and moment
of inertia and the study of spin generation that led to
the formulation of new groove regulations. spitzer is
slated to begin his new duties upon rugge’s retirement on feb. 2, 2013. “He’s a very solid engineer, and
i’ve relied on his technical skills throughout my time
here,” said rugge. “He is a familiar figure to manufacturers and that will be helpful in our relations with
them.” —E. Michael Johnson (@EMichaelGW)
05spitzer gets usga call
cHris condon/us pga tour
cover // contents // 10 things // pga tour australasia // asian tour // let // eQuipment // tim rosaforte
