May Update

In this edition, I thought I would give you a "behind-the-scenes" look at my schedule. Here it is - May 11 - and I'm so far behind with what has gone on thus far in this young season and have so much to do before it's June. Since I last posted, I have:

-finished conducting the Big Ten Men's Golf Championship at Windsong Farm. Illinois repeated for the team title and a Northwestern golfer claimed the individual title. My one lasting comment and memory from the event -- boy, are college golfers ever slow! It was often painful to watch how long it took to play shots. Yes, the conditions were difficult, especially Saturday, but still...

-went to Duluth and conducted two rules programs for members at Ridgeview Country Club. I had nearly 50 interested ladies on one night followed by over 60 men the next. While I wasn't teaching, I toured the course with manager Steve Anderson and superintendent Wes Salo to talk about course marking. In addition, I made a stop at Black Bear Golf Course (next to the casino in Carlton off I-35) for a site visit for our Players' Qualifying and Enger Park for a site visit for our MGA Amateur Qualifying that will be held there in May. Enger is the third busiest course in the state (in rounds played) behind Bunker Hills (Coon Rapids) and Braemar (Edina). I left Duluth last Friday in snow.

-conducted the Spring Meeting of both the MGA Tournament & Rules Committee and Tournament Volunteers (more on these in my next post) at Midland Hills Country Club.

And, if that schedule isn't busy enough, in just the next few weeks, I have:

-Monday, May 17: US Open Local Qualifying @ Hazeltine National Golf Club. We have the second largest local qualifing event in the country, behind only Cincinnati. The field of 150 (full) will be playing for nine (9) spots into the Sectional qualifying.

In order to get ready for that, I have to set up the course (setting tee and hole placements and checking course marking), create the Local Rules & Hole Location Sheet, determine volunteer assignments, create scorecards, make arrangements for breakfast and lunch for our volunteers, pack the truck, haul the score board and tents to the course and set them up. This all must happen BEFORE anyone hits a golf shot!

-In addition the the US Open qualifying, I have five qualifying events for our three MGA Players' Championships (Regular, Mid & Senior) that all need score cards, score sheets, Local Rules sheets, and other last minute touches that must all happen BEFORE Monday.

-In addition to those five events, I need to finalize the MGA Team for the MGA/PGA Cup Matches, set for May 25 at Rush Creek Golf Club and do the last minute planning details for that, including course set-up.

-And if those seven total events aren't enough to keep me busy, I have the assorted office details that must be accomplished ... immediately!!

And I've had people say, "Gee, your job sounds like fun. How can I get one like yours?" Yes, it's true, I do have a good job and one that is fun ... most of the time. But, at this time of year, I could use time to stop for about 3-4 days to allow me to catch up and I'm not talking about sleep (yet).

Until next time (if I make it)-

Doug

Interesting Ruling

Saturday, May 2 - Still Day 2 of the Men's Big Ten Championship at Windsong Farm. The wind is causing all sorts of playing problems, but my concern about a ball moving on the putting green has (thus far) been unwarranted. However, I just had an interesting ruling.

A player's third stroke became embedded just under the lip of the greenside bunker on the 9th hole. He called for a ruling to inquire as to his options. Under Rule 28, he has three options, all of which incur a one stroke penalty.

First, he may go back to the place from which he played his last stroke ("stroke & distance"). Second, he may drop behind the point where the ball is unplayable, keeping that point between him and the hole. Third, he may drop within two clublengths of the point where the ball is unplayable. However, since the ball was in the bunker, the last two options require the player to drop in the bunker as the only option that permits the player to drop outside the bunker is stroke and distance. Thus far, the ruling is straight-forward, but this is where it becomes interesting.

After electing to proceed under stroke and distance, he picked up his ball and started back. It turned out he had played the stroke from only approximately 75 yards away, and the bunker was on his line of play. While walking back, his fellow-competitor raked the bunker and improved the player's line of play. Under Rule 13-2, a player must not improve, or allow to be improved, his line of play by creating or eliminating irregularities of surface. Is he penalized?

Fortunately, Decision 13-4/35.8 deals with this exact situation. It states that if a player elects to proceed under the stroke and distance option (taking the ball out of the bunker), he is permitted to rake the bunker even if it is on his line of play. However, had he elected to proceed under either of the other two options, or if he had changed his mind and come back to the bunker, he would have incurred a two stroke penalty.

Until next time-

Doug

Big Ten Championship @ Windsong Farm

Saturday, May 1 - Day 2 of the Big Ten Championship is underway in extremely windy conditions. As I write this, winds are sustained at 25 with gusts to 35 and playing havoc with the players. Windsong Farm is a course completely open to such elements in all but a few spots. Everyone is in for a LONG day.

As the head Rules Official, I have emphasized to my on-course officials to pay attention to the likelihood of the ball moving on the green. This can cause great issues for the players. Under the Rules, if a ball at rest moves due to a natural force (wind, water, gravity), the player simply plays the ball from its new position. However, if the ball moves by any other influence, then it is replaced. A ball at rest on the putting green can be a little more challenging.

If a player has marked, lifted and then replaced the ball in its original spot and the ball moves, he again will play it from its new spot. This is still true even if he leaves his ball marker in position behind the ball. Many people believe that, since the ball marker is still there, then the ball must be replaced. Should a player lift a ball that has been moved by the wind, replace it on its original spot (next to the mark) and then putt, he has played from the wrong place. Under Rule 20-7, he incurs the general penalty of loss of hole (Match Play) or two strokes (Stroke Play).

The issue that seems to cause the most problems for the players, however, is when they have "addressed" the ball. Remember, addressing the ball occurs when the player takes his stance and grounds his club in preparation for the stroke. We often see players address the ball and then, fearful the ball may move in the wind, step back. Unfortunately, since he had addressed the ball, the ball remains addressed even if he steps away. Thus, should the wind move it, he incurs a one stroke penalty and must replace the ball (even though he wasn't close to the ball). Our starters are reminding the players about this fact and suggesting they remark and lift the ball, which is the only way a ball can be "unaddressed".

Of course, if the player does not "ground" his club and the ball moves, then he will not be penalized under Rule 18-2a.

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