Day 2 @ USGA/PGA Rules Workshop

Day 2 of the USGA/PGA Rules Workshop in San Diego is over. This is always the longest, but thankfully they have been giving us plenty of breaks. This is important so that we can stay focused on the material.

Today we covered the "Status of Ball" definitions and Rules 15, 20, and 23-28. These are some of the basic relief rules that officials handle frequently. While there haven't been any changes to them in this set of revisions, it is always important to review them.

One of the changes that is of concern for me is the much publicized change regarding a ball being blown by wind after address. Under the old rule, if a player addressed the ball and it then moved, the player was "deemed" to have caused the ball to move and incurred a one-stroke penalty. However, with the new Rules, if it is "known or virtually certain" that the player has done nothing to cause the ball to move and the ball moves as a result of a gust of wind, the player is not penalized. But, that's not all of the story.

The problem with all of this is that everything being published regarding this change is focusing on the "known or virtually certain that the player has done nothing to cause the ball to move" aspect. Unfortunately, unless one reads Decision 18-2b/11, they will not know that gravity is not one of the elements NOT considered if the ball were to move.

In other words, if a ball is precariously perched on a slope on a slick putting green and the player grounds his club immediately behind the ball, and then gravity takes over and causes the ball to move, the player will say that he has done nothing to have caused the ball to move -- and that is likely to be true. Thus, the player will play the ball from its new position. However, this Decision states that gravity is NOT an element to be considered and since wind did not cause the ball to move, the player will be deemed to have caused the ball to move. And, this requires the ball to be replaced and the player add one penalty stroke to his score. Yet, this is not likely to happen.

We shall see how this turns out, but fortunately this is the most (potentially) controversial changes for this year.

Well, dinner on Coronado Island awaits, until next time-

Doug

USGA/PGA Rules of Golf Workshop 2012

(Dateline: Sun, Jan 15, 2012, San Diego, CA)

The 2012 PGA TOUR season has started in Hawai'i and preparations for the MGA season are well underway, too.

This week, I am in San Diego, CA, attending my 10th or 11th USGA/PGA Rules of Golf Workshop. With me are MGA volunteers Bill Casey, Ward Johnson and David Senner.

This is an important year to attend a workshop with the changes that were made to the Rules effective January 1st. By attending, I will be able to conduct my rules education programs for the MGA and make sure my presentations are up-to-date with all of the rules. In addition, Bill, Ward and David are showing their commitment to maintain excellence with the rules for the benefit of all MGA and USGA competitors.

Our instructors for the week are Jeff Hall (USGA) and David Price (PGA), and we are off to a good start after Day 1. The presentation has been re-worked by the USGA so that the rules are being presented in a more logical manner for learning. No longer is it the Definitions, Rule 1, 2, 3, and so on presentation. While this is a change for many of us in attendance (there are about 100 total students and probably half have attended 8-10 workshops or more), it will help to keep us paying attention.

After the first day, there is always a reception so that we can get to know each other better, to catch up with fellow "rules geeks" we haven't seen since our last workshop, or to ask those questions that we dare not ask during class. Tonight, David Senner and I were fortunate enough to visit with David Price and ask some questions. Of course, the conversation turned to the 2010 PGA Championship and Dustin Johnson. Needless to say, speaking with the person walking with Johnson as the referee that fateful day at Whistling Straits was fascinating from our perspective.

One of the nice opportunities for me in my bi-annual attendance at the workshop is the chance to play golf on green grass and in warm weather, and this year was no different. Thanks to my counterpart Mike Sweeney at the Southern California Golf Association, Bill and I were able to play La Jolla CC on Friday with two members, both of whom are past presidents of the SCGA. Yesterday, we were graciously hosted by Dave Podas, head professional at Belair CC and formerly of Minneapolis GC. The picture is of the three of us in front of the 18th green with the suspension bridge in the background. The bridge is how you get from the 10th tee over to the 10th green.

Two more days of workshop lie in store for us followed by "the Test" on Wednesday and then a return to the frozen north. Once I return to the MGA, I will be extremely busy getting everything ready for the 2012 season. This time between New Year's Day and the unofficial start of the season - Monday, April 2nd (the opening day for tournament applications) - always goes by very quickly.

Wish me luck as I continue preparing for the "reverse flow of information" (a favorite quote of Jeff Hall's) and as I get ready for the 2012 MGA Tournament Season.

Until next time-

Doug