The following commentary was written by Geoff Shackelford, who is the author of "The Future of Golf in America: How Golf Lost Its Way In The 21st Century and How To Get It Back".

Consider a few recent U.S. Golf Association decisions for “the good of the game”:

• The rain-delayed 2002 U.S. Open finished in the dark because Executive Director David Fay sided with NBC’s desire to send leaders off as late as possible. Why? In hopes of garnering a better Nielsen rating. NBC also influences pairings and Michelle Wie’s surprising U.S. Women’s Open exemption certainly didn’t upset anyone at 30 Rockefeller Plaza.

• To save around $3.5 million a year, the USGA ceased publication of its 55-year-old Golf Journal. The magazine gave people a reason to stick with the USGA membership program, which is almost half the size it was just four years ago.

• Want to host a U.S. Open? Better find at least 50 corporate tent sites. That’s why Shinnecock Hills looks like it’s been hijacked by the Ringling Brothers.

Traditionalists have tolerated the recent U.S. Open profiteering because a now hefty $170 million war chest could conceivably brace the organization against lawsuits designed to undermine their efforts to protect the game.

However, the more money the USGA accumulates, the more bottom-line driven it has become.

On the most controversial issue -- regulating technology -- Fay has gone from publicly saying the distance race was bad for golf a few years ago, to more recently calling it a “natural evolution of a healthy sport.”

Even with several appealing stars, a golf friendly baby-boom generation, improved course maintenance standards and strong junior golf participation, golf is still not healthy.

Play is down because the game takes too long and it’s too expensive.

After nearly two decades of USGA inaction, golfers feel pressured to buy the latest product offering in hopes of finding another ten yards off the tee.

For what?

To offset the “championship” yardage race that has added little interest but a lot more time to a round of golf.

Key members of the USGA Executive Committee clearly do not understand how the distance pursuit alienates many recreational golfers.

Instead, they cling to the notion that all is well in the world as long as the integrity of par is maintained at the U.S. Open. So the USGA leadership narrows and lengthens Open courses, shrugging off its feverish set-up blunderings with the lame “everyone has to play the same course” excuse.

Three of the last six Opens have been tainted by set-up follies.

And despite producing worthy champions at Olympia Fields and Pebble Beach, those championships were somehow soiled by low winning scores in the eyes of some USGA leaders.

Last I heard, the United States Open existed to produce a national champion, not an ego and financial boost for the Executive Committee.

Key members of the 15-person Committee along with their Executive Director appear much more infatuated with pleasing NBC and grabbing big Nielsen numbers.

But golf needs a summit bringing together manufacturers, governing bodies, course owners, golf professionals, architects, superintendents and concerned golfers to discuss the future of the game.

However, opposing views and public discourse appear unappealing to key USGA leaders who incestuously subscribe to the groupthink-born conclusion that their priority is to accumulate capital.

For the good of the game? Not these days.

From 'The Wire', a publication of the Golf Press Association

Geoff's Web site is www.geoffshackelford.com. Check it out - he has other good commentary on this great old game.