Sam: I already said folks need to start preparing themselves (and their children) for marriage at earlier ages than is currently popular, in order to comply with our halachic obligations.
If the S”A says it is not only a halachic obligation but we actually beat the person if he doesn’t comply (granting the Rema disagrees about the beating), that is a pretty good indicator that this has strong halachic force. And the Rambam also paskens the Gemora as halacha.