Definitions -- The Language of Golf (Cont'd)

In my last post, I stressed the importance of knowing the Definitions as they are the Language of Golf. At the very end, I mentioned there are only four parts to a golf course. While I had defined the term through the green, I feel it is important to go over the parts of a course so that you have the knowledge necessary to fully understand the Rules when reference is made to the course. Here is an article that I have written that explains the course.

Definitions – The Language of the Game

Have you ever attempted to read the Rules of Golf and become frustrated? It’s likely most of you have experienced that frustration. Why? In most cases, it’s a result of the language. Not only is it often hard to follow, but it also includes terms with which are not familiar. After all, the definitions are the fundamental building blocks to understanding the Rules.

Since you are reading this blog, you are probably an avid golfer – playing more than just a few times each year. I bet you believe you know the different parts of the course pretty well, but do you? Did you know there are only four (4) parts to any course? Let’s look at some of the terms relating to the course.

The Course: Before we can discuss the four parts of a course, we must first define “the course” itself. It is the whole area within any boundaries established by the Committee. In other words, the area in which play is permitted (the old definition).

Now that we know what the course is, we can talk about its parts…..

#1 – The Teeing Ground: This is the starting point for the hole you are playing. It is a rectangular box, two club-lengths in depth, with the front and sides determined by the front and outside edges of tee markers. The two club-lengths are determined by whatever club you wish to use for your stroke. If you use a long putter, your teeing ground is bigger than mine.

It does not have to align with the intended stroke to the fairway or green. In other words, if it points you 30 yards right of the fairway, it still remains a rectangle defined by the tee markers.

Also, when you are playing a hole, for example the 16th hole at Hazeltine National, there is only ONE (1) teeing ground for that hole. True, there may be other teeing areas (or tee boxes), but your teeing ground is defined by the tee markers from which you are playing that day. In addition, the “teeing ground” that you will use on #17 isn’t a teeing ground when playing the 16th hole.

#2 – The Putting Green: This is the hallowed ground of the hole you are playing. It is the location for the ultimate destination – the hole. You know that it is the “ground of the hole that is specially prepared for putting…” However, there’s more, “…or otherwise defined as such by the Committee.” This means a temporary green created because the real green, that is under repair or covered, fulfills the definition of putting green, no matter what club you might need to use to get the ball in the hole.

Also, when is the ball considered to be on the green? When any part of it touches the putting green. What about all of the other putting greens? They are considered “wrong putting greens” but they are not THE putting green.

#3 – Hazards: Hazards, by definition, include not only water hazards but also bunkers. Unfortunately, we all are far too familiar with both of these hazards.

Of course, a water hazard is any sea, lake, pond, ditch, surface drainage ditch or other open water course (whether or not containing water) and anything of a similar nature on the course. That appears to be good news – that water hazards don’t exist off the course – but if we’re off the course, then we’re OB (not good!).

There are a two other points that must be made about water hazards: (1) a ball is in a water hazard when any part of it touches the water hazard, and (2) the margins of the water hazards extend vertically both upwards and downwards. So, that ball stuck in a bush or tree overhanging a water hazard is IN the hazard.

A bunker is NOT a trap! Traps catch little rodents. By definition, a bunker is a hazard consisting of a prepared area of ground, often a hollow, from which turf or soil has been removed and replaced with sand or the like. However, grass-covered ground bordering or within a bunker is not part of the bunker (think about the “church pews” at Oakmont).

Like the water hazard, a ball is in the bunker when it lies in or any part of it touches the bunker. But unlike the water hazard, the margins of the bunker do not extend vertically upwards, only downwards.

The last point about hazards is this – notice I did not use “The Hazards”? This is because all hazards on the course are hazards irrespective of what hole you are playing. The water hazard adjacent to the green on #7 at Hazeltine is a hazard just like the water hazards or bunkers on the 16th hole.

#4 – Through the Green: This is everything else within the boundaries of the course not previously mentioned, including all other putting greens, teeing areas, practice areas, fairways, long rough, etc.

Why have I spent so much time discussing the parts of a course? Because, in many instances the location of the ball is necessary information in order to properly answer a rules question. And, the rules will give different answers depending upon the location of the ball. For example, under Rule 16 (Putting Green), the player may mark and lift the ball, and clean it, without penalty as long as the ball is ON the putting green. However, the player doesn’t have the same opportunity if the ball lies in a hazard or through the green.

Until next time-
Doug