What that means is a player cannot compete in any type of sanctioned tournament, or even post a score for his handicap, if he uses the ERC II driver. So the USGA banned the use of the ERC II driver, put it on a list of nonconforming - illegal - clubs, a list of shame, according to Callaway. This trampoline, or spring-like, effect is worrisome to the USGA, which has been concerned with how far the ball has been flying since 1997. The club, though, exceeds the USGA's standard for coefficient of restitution, which is a fancy way of saying the ball is propelled off the club face much faster than other clubs currently permitted for use in this country. The driver is the latest advent in technology and is said to propel the ball 20-30 yards farther for nearly everyone who chooses to wield this magic wand, which has a retail price of $499. But his latest innovation - the ERC II driver, named for none other than Ely Reeves Callaway - has the USGA and, seemingly, every other law-abiding golfing citizen in a snit. With projected sales of over $990 million worldwide this year, it's a safe assumption the golfing consumer likes the product being made by Callaway. His equipment manufacturing company, Callaway Golf, has made more than 6 million clubs that conform to the legal standards set forth by the USGA, which sets the rules of golf for the United States and Mexico. And it's with the United States Golf Association. Golf's long-distance relationship Controversy surrounding Callaway Golf's ERC II driver has sunk a wedge into the golf world Sunday, March 18, 2001īy Gerry Dulac, Pittsburg Post-Gazette Sports WriterĮly Callaway, the man who introduced titanium drivers to the world, has a great big gripe. The Bifurcation of Golf II: Equipment & Rules Golf World Letter to the editor, Feb 9, 2001

Callaway erc ii driver review