A few things casual golf fans may or may not be aware of
by One-Eyed Golfer Guy on Mar 20, 2010 5:58 PM EDT
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PrintEven at my age (61), I learn lots of new stuff everyday. I don't always remember what I learned, but that's cool. It really makes my day when I learn something new about golf. Here are a few things I came across a number of years back that I had not known at the time.
1. Practice putting (or chipping) upon completion of hole (7-2/1)
It is legal to practice putting after you finish a hole in both match play and stroke play. I used to see the pros only do it during match play and many people thought it was against the rules in stroke (medal) play. Not so. For each event on tour, the PGA adapts a local rule prohibiting practice after a hole is completed. I guess they did not like the prospect of 6-7 hour rounds of golf. But, it is legal under the rules of golf to practice putting during a medal play round. See if the course you are playing has adapted such a rule.
2. Identifying your golf ball during a round (12-2)
I used to think I could simply go to a ball that I think is mine, pick it up, identify it and replace it. Not so. You must ask an official or another player to watch this procedure, which includes marking the spot, identifying the ball and replacing the ball as best possible exactly as it was prior to the ID process. A member of our club used to "identify" his ball on every shot. The resulting lies he left himself were amazing. The funny thing is, he used to also "identify" everyone else's ball also. In other words, an equal opportunity cheater.
3. Posting partial round scores in the handicap computer
If you play from seven to twelve holes of golf by the rules, you must post a nine-hole score in the computer. If you play thirteen or more, you must post an eighteen-hole score. For any unfinished hole, you would give yourself a par plus any handicap strokes due on the holes not played.
4. Dave Pelz' test results show you should leave the flag in the hole the overwhelming majority of the time
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I think Golfgirl and Red Tees
might qualify…do ya think?…STUB
I always appreciate rules reminders.
At the course I play we have a few “local rules” – because we have most holes having thick, unplayable woods areas on both sides, we play those woods as lateral hazards , even the areas considered the outside boundaries that would normally be out of bounds. They are not marked lateral which can make it confusing. It was implemented to help keep play moving.
We also play the magical (aka not real) “winter rules”. It started many years ago when our course expanded and conditions were less than ideal…a version of Lift, Clean, & Place, our general rule was you could move the ball up to 1 club lengh no closer to the hole (rough & fairway). Which meant most people just teed up the ball using their club to reposition it. We tried to adjust the local rule to require people who wanted to improve their lie to mark, measure and drop, but at least in our league that lasted about a week. And even though our course conditions have improved, we still play it.
I write about golf at www.tees2greens.com, too.
Two problems with 'winter rules' are
one, you have a tendency to tee the ball up on the nicest piece of grass within that club length and then you obliterate it, and second, you forget that ‘winter rules’ lower your scores by at least 5-6 strokes, so when spring comes and you are playing the ball down, you can’t get to within a dozen of your index…
I'll keep an eye out for you...at www.oneeyedgolfer.blogspot.com
by One-Eyed Golfer Guy on Mar 22, 2010 1:10 PM EDT reply actions
You are exactly right – teeing up on our course has been definitely been a disadvantage for me when exposed to different courses with different grasses…I had no idea how to hit down on the ball and when we go and get to play a nicer course it takes me awhile to get used to it. I know I’m playing a nice course when I say – These fairways look like our greens! :-)
I write about golf at www.tees2greens.com, too.
When the "Winter Rules" sign
goes up at our clubhouse, one can lift, clean and place the ball within 6" of original lie not nearer the hole. I thought this was the most common practice? The only time I’ve known of teeing up on the fairway was at a brand-new course with underlying flint where this was recommended for the 1st year as far as I recall.
Wendy......
I think “teeing it up” means on some grass. We play winter rules. The only “grass” available is weeds, as the “good stuff” is dormant, so teeing it up and blasting out the weeds is a good thing. We are only a few short weeks from being able to play it down again.
The Saints ARE the SUPER BOWL CHAMPS....WHO DAT!
Thanks Em
but I still can’t visualise what’s happening here. The grass is dormant – but still there, right? You grab a bunch of weeds and “tee up” on them? I honestly don’t understand – spell it out in layman’s terms to an ignorant Brit. pls?
No problem,
We usually call it “bumping” it. We just use the club head and roll it around until we get a decent lie. It’s not actually on a tee, but is up a little from the dormant grass, so the term “tee it up”. Yes, the grass is still there, but after a couple of months of carts rolling over the grass it gets real thin, and there is not much there but dirt. I don’t agree that this practice improves scores at all, let alone 5-6 strokes. It is cold, windy, and wet, so a little piece of grass hardly balances out the negative aspects of winter golf, especially at our course where the fairways are nearly perfect for most of the year.
The Saints ARE the SUPER BOWL CHAMPS....WHO DAT!
Gotcha Em - thanks
I don’t think this practice gives me 5-6 strokes either. What niggles me more, however, is that I ALWAYS assume my scores will be so much better when the weather is good – but it ain’t necessarily so.
Wendy....
It’s a cruel, cruel game. The day after I shot my best score ever, I shot 16 strokes higher…..cruel….just cruel!!
The Saints ARE the SUPER BOWL CHAMPS....WHO DAT!
At our club Wendy
the mens winter tees are way up near the ladies, which don’t change that much. For us, it’s just a drive and a flick with a wedge. For a lot of ladies, they don’t get that run they need and the course accually plays longer than summer. In summer for us, it’s usually long iron approaches instead of wedges. Then there is the rough. Very lush in May and June, we sometimes have to hack out, the ladies keep it in play with their shots drives. We find winter easy, the ladies find summer easier than winter.
Agreed our course plays
longer in winter but because my long(ish!) game is better than my short game, the damn winter/summer rounds even themselves out – despite my expectations of it being otherwise. In other words, I’d rather hit 3/4/5 wood onto the green than a short iron!
It's sometimes hard to pitch it to the flag,
when in summer you might bounce it in short of the green.
i DO BELIEVE,
that if ya put your hands on the ball, anytime from the first tee up to the last holed putt, your just like those Professional Woosies that need preferred lies…Play it as it is, I says, that’s the rub of the green…STUB
I don't take a preferred lie
on every hole, even if within the rules, but if I’ve got a great splodge of mud on the ball, I certainly do. Don’t be such a martyr, STUB, I’ supposed to be enjoying myself out there.
I may have misunstood. If by 'winter rules' we
are talking about only improving your lie in your fairway, I agree scores would change very little (let alone 5-6 strokes). However, if you are teeing it up everywhere, within a club length, that’s a different ballgame. If you are in the rough around the green, one lie would make for an easy up ’n down and another lie within an inch would Phil work his butt off for a par.
I'll keep an eye out for you...at www.oneeyedgolfer.blogspot.com
by One-Eyed Golfer Guy on Mar 22, 2010 4:08 PM EDT reply actions
Winter Rules in UK (as far as I know)
only apply to that “closely mown area” through the green – aka the fairway. I’ve never heard of taking preferred lies from the rough – but that’s just me.
Wendy.....everyone knows you folks are "purists".....but
we aren’t quite so pure. Heck, we start taking preferred lies before we get the clubs out of the car….we have no shame!!!…lol
The Saints ARE the SUPER BOWL CHAMPS....WHO DAT!
hahahaha em
Very true about preferred lies before getting out of the car. LMAO
"pain is only weakness leaving the body"
Wouldn't have
all this confusion if ya played it my way….Keep your hands on the clubs, not the balls..lol…STUB
Stub.......now I understand why you like to drink.......lol
The Saints ARE the SUPER BOWL CHAMPS....WHO DAT!
I have this picture of Stub never touching his ball..
the old master has some lady teeing it up for him, carrying his bag and retrieving the ball from the hole. Hope he tips well ! :)
Damm Easy
your the only to have figgured it out…not only that but she pours the martinis and lights the cigars….AAhhh, life is good….STUB
man o man
I am sorry in advance but I have to say this. Since easingwolds “Old Master” comment just moments ago, I can’t help but picture STUB in the movie, Caddy Shack. Remember when the Italian kid was looping doubles for the old couple and they had to be told what direction to hit it in ? Sorry Stub all I can picture is you. hahahaha No harm meant ole bud.
"pain is only weakness leaving the body"
Ok, I wasn't gonna pull rank on ya
but here goes….Robert the Bruce (now Easy and W. you should know who that was) declared at his home course Old single Malt Club, a Loooong time ago, and best I can remember…(my memory fads now and then) his edict was " NEEER TOUCHE YEUR OWN BALLS LADDIE…HAVE THE LASSIES DO IT FUR YEE" and that’s why I employ lovely long limbed fore caddies ….jist sayin….Dinna touche your balls Mon…and as usual Jumpin…none taken…STUB
Hey Stub......boy those Lobsters
just got a little better tasting…….It won’t be long before Jumpn comes to big D and we can all meet and settle some things on the course……lol
The Saints ARE the SUPER BOWL CHAMPS....WHO DAT!
EM, he's living
in a land of denial, sort of like the TIGAR…but that’s ok….STUB
If these dammed pulled
muscles don’t snap back, the only thing I’m gonna be doin is ….drinkin I guess…STUB
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