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.

For scores, visit http://www.golfstat.com/. For additional stories, visit http://www.gophersports.com/.

The Masters is Underway!

The Masters, arguably one of the greatest sports events each year is underway! Arnold Palmer, and for the first time, Jack Nicklaus served as the Honorary Starters and hit the first shots of what should be another great Masters.

Certainly the Tiger Woods story, both his on-going recovery from his personal problems as well as his return to professional golf, have received much of the media coverage thus far. Despite his absence from golf for nearly five months, one cannot overlook him as a possible champion. He has proven his ability to play the course better anyone else in the field (four victories in 16 starts) and, well, he consistantly amazes us with his ability to do the unbelievable.

However, Tiger should not be the only story. There are so many great players capable of winning. While this event tends to favor the more experienced players, this might be the year a younger player comes from the pack to "shock the world" (such as Zach Johnson a few years ago). It will be especially fun for me as I have been invited to watch it in 3-D on Friday afternoon. I'll report back on the experience.

Lastly, this has been such a great start to the golf season here in Minnesota. Not in my previous 12 seasons (springs) have we had such a positive and exciting start. People are really into golf as a result. This is just what golf needs in this area. Let's hope it continues throughout the year!

Until next time-
Doug

Pre-Season Golf Excitment

Wow, these last two weeks have brought two major announcements in golf.

First, on March 8, the PING company and its CEO John Solheim agreed to allow the PGA TOUR and USGA to waive the waiver, or in essence, to ban the use of PING EYE 2 irons. That means no more "Groovegate"! No more Phil causing controversy by using an EYE 2 wedge to make a point. No more of Scott McCarron accusing anyone of cheating. Special thanks go to Mr. Solheim for taking this step to get the news of golf back on to the players playing.

So, we have one week of normal golf until this past Monday when, at 10:26 am CDT, the announcement is released. Of course, if you are reading this, you know full well what I mean. Tiger is returning to golf in a matter of weeks at The Masters.

If you read his announcement, it was far shorter than his 13+ minute statement a few weeks ago. And, it really didn't give us much information other than this was the right time and place. However, what he didn't say has given all of us an opportunity to fill in for him.

While driving back to the Cities yesterday from Marshall and Dacotah Ridge, I listened to the PGA TOUR Network on XM radio. Callers, and the hosts of the two different shows (Fairways of Life and Teed Off!), had widely diverging opinions of Tiger's return and why he selected to return at The Masters rather than next week at Bay Hill or at some other tournament.

I believe he is going to get criticism for anything he does, and maybe that's warranted. Ultimately, everyone's going to come to his or her own conclusions if Tiger will ever be able to be forgiven. Those people that will be able to forgive him, or at least give him an opportunity to redeem himself personally, will be willing to accept him and welcome him back to the sport. The people that can never forgive him for what he did to his wife and family will also never be willing to accept him and welcome him back.

While there is no way anyone can condone his actions, and I certainly have lost tremendous respect for him as a man, he is just that...a man who is capable of making mistakes just like all of us. True, our mistakes may not seem to be as bad, but who is to judge that? I hope I can learn to respect him for his ability, not to hit a golf ball, but to overcome his problems and serve as a role model for others like him. I believe that can happen but time will tell if it does.

I am, however, looking forward to his playing in The Masters and being a part of the excitement on Sunday.

Until next time-
Doug

2010 Great Minnesota Golf Show Postlude

Another Great Minnesota Golf Show is over, and based on the comments of some of the exhibitors and my experience from Sunday afternoon, it appeared to be quite successful.

Personally, I don't recall seeing a Sunday afternoon that busy. Frequently, exhibitors were starting to take down their booths shortly after 2 pm but not this year. There were plenty of people wandering the halls, hitting balls and getting free lessons provided by my fellow Minnesota Section PGA professionals, and picking up last minute deals. Of course, I don't think Sunday's 64*, perfectly sunny sky did anything to deter people from coming. In fact, the combination of the later date and the perfect golf weather only increased everyone's desire to get playing.

In fact, I was even swayed to part with some of my hard earned money when lured into the Lyons Golf & Associates booth. The salesperson invited me to come in and make an offer, any offer, on any of their remaining inventory. Turned out, Lyons is owned by Jeremy Segal, a (former?) MGA player. I ended up purchasing a pair of $100 retail Callaway golf shoes for ... well, it was almost stealing!! Thanks, Jeremy -- I'll think about you every time I wear them.

And while we all know that more cold weather, and (ugh) snow, is still quite likely before the golf season gets into full swing (pun intended), yesterday saw the first course opening in MN with more to come in the next few days. What could be better than an early start to this golf season?

Until next time-
Doug

(Picture courtesy of Natalie Gille, MGA Associate Member from "Swing and Dine".)

The Great Minnesota Golf Show Preview

Sporting a new location and later date, the Great Minnesota Golf Show opens its doors to the public at noon Friday at the Minneapolis Convention Center and runs through Sunday afternoon. These pictures show what the space looks like before the action starts.

Sharing the Convention Center with the Auto Show, over 80 exhibitors, including the MGA, Minnesota Section PGA, Giants Ridge, the Brainerd Golf Trail, and Madden's Resort, hope to get the season off to a strong start. And with the long-range forecast for next week showing sunny skies and temperatures in the 50s, the timing may be perfect.

Golfers of all ages and abilities will find something to keep their interest and many reasons to spend their money. Some of the newest golf clubs will be available to demo at the range, and one can be fitted for a new set of Pings as well. In addition, some great deals will be available at the many retailers on site.

All MGA members should make a point to stop by the MGA booth to say hi. If you show your GHIN/MGA Handicap Card, you will receive a free gift.

Here's to hoping we have a quick start to a long golf season!

Until next time-

Doug

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

The Definitions -- The Language of Golf

In my last post, I was somewhat harsh toward CBS analysts Ian Baker-Finch and David Feherty for not understanding the term "Dormie". As a result, I had some who asked about the derivation of the term. Here's what I discovered - and maybe some of my criticism wasn't completely warranted.....

According to About.com: Golf, "Dormie comes from the word 'dormir,' which shares a French and Latin origin. 'Dormir' means 'to sleep.' 'Dormie' means that a player has reached a match-play lead that is insurmountable - and so the player can relax, knowing that he cannot lose the match. 'Dormir' (to sleep) turns into 'dormie' (relax, you can't lose)." It goes on to say, "At least, that's what the USGA Museum says." The definition as it applies to golf is that the player is as many "up" as there are holes left to be played.

Baker-Finch made the comment that since each match was to be played until a winner was determined (such as the Casey-Villegas match), dormie wasn't applicable. His point being that there would not necessarily be a set number of holes left to be played. Or, applying the historical derivation, the player would never be able to relax as he could lose in extra holes.

Also, in fairness to Ian and David, I also must be critical of the announcers on the PGA TOUR NETWORK on XM Radio (#146). While I truly enjoy listening to their broadcasts while in my truck, I cannot tell you how many times during their coverage of the Accenture World Match Play Championship I heard them refer to a ball that went over the green as the ball went "through the green". And, this is not limited to just them, many people who cover golf have made the same mistake.

Unfortunately, this creates confusion in the average golfer. As a result, when that golfer attempts to proceed under the Rules, he may do so incorrectly since (believing the information he heard on the radio or TV to be correct) he doesn't understand the Language of Golf - the Definitions. It is imperative that anyone closely related to golf, whether they be an announcer, tournament player, or simply passionate about golf, know the Definitions within the Rules. After all, Rule 6-1 tells us that "the player and his caddie are responsible for knowing the Rules." Yet, how can one reasonably expect to be able to follow the Rules if he doesn't understand completely the language in which the Rules are written?

So, what exactly does the term "through the green" mean? It is the whole area of the course except: (a) the Teeing Ground and Putting Green of the hole being played; and (b) all hazards on the course. By the way, these four are the only parts of a golf course.

Until next time-

Doug

Match Play and TIOs

Today's coverage of the Accenture Match Play Championship has included two interesting situations that warrant mentioning.

The first came at the opening of the coverage. Ian Baker-Finch and David Feherty were discussing some of the relevant points of match play versus stroke play. They were doing an excellent job - right up to the time when Baker-Finch attempted to explain the phrase dormie. He stated that, since in this event a match had to be played to a conclusion and could not end in a halved match (tie), you could "throw dormie out the window". Unfortunately, this is not a correct use of the term. Dormie is a good thing for a player - it means the player is as many "UP" as there are holes to play. For example, if the player is 4 Up with 4 to play, he is dormie.

The second came in this afternoon's semi-final match between Ian Poulter and Sergio Garcia. Poulter had played his second shot way left of the green with the ball coming to rest immediately behind/under a small bush. However, in his "line of play" was a television tower. Since this is there as part of the tournament, it is called a TIO (temporary immovable obstruction). A player is entitled to relief from a TIO should he have interference from stance, lie of ball, area of intended swing (just like a standard immovable obstruction) and line of flight if he played directly toward the hole. However, it must be reasonable for him to play that direction.

Poulter (who just closed out Garcia 7&6) claimed that he was entitled to relief. Yet, the first official denied his request saying that it was unreasonable due to the ball's lie behind/under the bush. Poulter called for a second opinion (his right) and this official ruled in his favor, giving him the opportunity to take a drop.

The area in which he would be required to drop is determined by using one club-length from the outer-most edge of the TIO. After measuring the first club-length, he must then drop within the second club-length. When Poulter started looking at his options, he was going to be dropping into a bush. Thus, he ended up playing the ball as it lay.

Too bad today's play has been bothered by the rain and "cold" (hey, that's relative), although the sun had returned. Tucson is a beautiful place and great part of the country - not to mention it is home to the University of Arizona (my alma mater).

Until next time-

Doug

Interesting Updates

It appears the groove issue is starting to (thankfully) die, and Tiger's "press conference" Friday will make it last decade's news, but Golf World had an interesting quote from Padraig Harrington. After he was told the new groove rule was announced way back in August 2008, he quipped, "It wasn't announced to me." Maybe Padraig should spend some of his quiet time as he flies across the Atlantic re-reading the Rules of Golf (better yet, he can download the new Rules of Golf iPhone app) and start with Rule 6-1, "The Player and his caddie are responsible for knowing the Rules."

On the heels of the Mickelson-McCarron-Groove Rule controversy and reconciliation comes another set of interesting rules tidbits from last week's AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.

According to Teemaster.com's weekly electronic newsletter TeeMail, it seems Bill Murray (think Caddyshack) was penalized two-strokes under Rule 6-3a for being late to the tee. Under that rule, a player is required to be on the tee and ready to play at his scheduled starting time. Apparently Murray was being interviewed by CBS analysts Gary McCord and David Feherty while the professionals in his group, Minnesota's own Tim Herron (his partner) and Rocco Mediate, played away thus making him late and subject to a two-stroke penalty. Fortunately (or unfortunately), it didn't matter as the Herron/Murray team missed the cut.

This is particularly interesting considering the article that appeared this week in Charlie Walters' column in the St. Paul Pioneer Press. The article featured Hollis Cavner's (Tournament Director for the Champions Tour 3M Championship) experiences while playing with Phil Mickelson during the final round of the same Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Cavner, who partnered with K.J. Choi, is quoted as saying "There was a lot of b.s. going back and forth; we chatted and joked the whole time," he said. "Phil would help you with shots, show you things, 'You need to do this.' He'd look at your clubs and go, 'This is too upright for you.' He was reading putts. You couldn't ask for a nicer guy. It was just a fabulous day."

Hmm, if Cavner was saying that Mickelson (while in contention for the professional title) was helping him, this is in direct violation of Rule 8-1, which states "During a stipulated round, a player must not: (a) give advice to anyone in the competition playing on the course other than his partner, or (b) ask for advice from anyone other than his partner or either of their caddies." The penalty for a breach of this rule is two strokes in stroke play.

Until next time-
Doug

The New Groove Rule and What It Means for You

Unless you have been up on the International Space Station or in a coma for the past few weeks, as a golfer you have to be aware of the controversy on the PGA TOUR regarding Phil Mickelson, Scott McCarron and the new groove rule. Unfortunately, much of what we have heard on television has done little to concisely inform the general golfing public what the new groove rule will mean to them. Thus, I hope this will answer most of your questions.

Beginning in 2010 – The new groove rule is adopted by organizations conducting qualifiers and championships at the very highest level for professional-only and “Open” competitions, such as the three USGA and R&A Open Championships (Men’s, Women’s & Senior) and the major tours. It will be considered as a “Condition of Competition”. Other non-major tours (i.e. Gateway, Futures, etc) may elect to adopt the rule.

Manufacturers may continue to build clubs that do not meet the new groove specifications through the end of this year (2010); however, all clubs built after 1/1/2011 must conform to the new groove regulations.

Beginning in 2014 – This is the earliest the new groove rule will begin to impact amateur golf on a general scale – but (again) only at the highest level. It will become a standard “Condition of Competition” for the highest “amateur-only” competitions, including all USGA amateur-only championships. The Committee of any competition for “expert players” may choose to adopt the rule; however, it is not mandatory.

On a local and state-level, this would be the year the MGA and the other allied associations within Minnesota would begin using the rule – if desired. The MGA Tournament & Rules Committee has already begun the discussion as to whether the rule will be adopted. The Committee did not take any action but will continue discussing the issue.

Beginning in 2024 – This is the planned year for adoption of the rule that will impact the remaining golfers. Prior to this year, golfers may play any golf equipment that was ruled to be conforming under the Rules. As is the case in 2014, the adoption of this rule is at the discretion of the Committee (the group or organization in charge of an event or in charge of the course) and will not be mandatory.

Interesting note to the establishment of this date, consumer research revealed that that only 2% of all iron sets are in use more than 15 years. This rule was written in 2008 (2008 + 15 years = 2023; thus, the year 2024).

If this does not answer your questions, or for complete information on the new groove rule, visit the USGA web site – www.usga.org – or click here.

Until next time-

Doug