5 TIPS WHEN GETTING READY FOR A TOURNAMENT

It is getting closer for the next tournament qualifier so here are 5 tips to know when getting ready for a big tournament:

1. Make sure your clubs meet the USGA and R&A Groove Specifications.  The following is a data base  to verify if your clubs made prior to January 1, 2010 comply with the 2012-2015 Rules of Golf and are permissible for play under the Groove Condition of competition, which is in effect for all USGA Open Championships.  Additionally, information regarding the conformance status of clubs not listed, which includes new models of clubs manufactured on or after Jan 1, 2010, please contact the USGA Research and Test Center at (908) 234-2300.
2. Make sure your golf balls are all the same type and conform to the 2012-2015 Rules of Golf Rule 5 The Ball and Appendix III.  Conforming Ball List
3. Check out and adhere to the foot ware policy for the local course conditions.  Recently Lee Janzen was Disqualified at a US OPEN QUALIFIER for wearing metal spikes. 
4. Your golf attire meets the dress code of the tournament you are playing.  Most USGA tournaments or Professional Tournaments will not allow you to wear jeans, cut offs, shorts.  Mock Turtlenecks sometimes are allowed, but time to time depending on the course you are playing they may not be allowed.  If not in the proper attire yourself or your caddie you may be disqualified.
5. Check your bag thoroughly making sure you have enough equipment such as gloves, towels, tees, balls, rain gear, umbrella etc. to be with you for any condition that may arise.  For if you don't have it in your bag you cannot go get it.   Also make sure you only have 14 clubs in your bag.  Rules of  Golf Rule 4.

If you follow these 5 tips you should be ready to enter any tournament as long as your game preparation is set to play at that level.

Until next time, come prepared to play.

Rainy Day Sundays

Today is a beautiful Rainy Day Sunday.

We have had a steady stream of rain since yesterday afternoon and today it is still beautiful.  I have been enjoying quiet time with my wife.  Her working on her genealogy and me thinking of what next to write about and enjoying a day of golf shows and other sports. 

It has been about three weeks since I broke my finger and I get to see the doctor this next week to see when I can start practicing again.  I have a couple of tournaments I want to get ready for such as the Senior US Open Qualifier in June and a local Pro-Am also in June.

I can't wait to starting working on my short game and eventually work on full swing to get my tempo in tournament condition.

As I have been sitting on my favorite chair looking out the living room window listening to the birds, watching our cat chatter at them, listening to the rain drops hitting the trees and ground along with the wind flowing through the trees and constantly looking at my gorgeous wife doing her thing I thought what rule can I talk about today and it came to me lift clean and place.

When playing golf for many years and with a variety of people I think the most misunderstood rule in golf is how to play lift clean and place properly.  A simple rule made hard by human thinking.

As provided in Rule 33-8a, the Committee may make and publish Local Rules for local abnormal conditions if they are consistent with the policy established in Appendix A.

If local abnormal conditions interfere with the proper playing of the game and the Committee considers it necessary to modify a Rule of Golf, authorization from the USGA must be obtained.

The Appendix A 4a is the one that will be utilized when the tournament director states they will play Lift Clean and Place.

Lifting an Embedded Ball, Cleaning:  Temporary conditions that might interfere with proper playing of the game, including mud and extreme wetness, or warranting relief for an embedded ball anywhere through the green or permitting lifting, cleaning and replacing a ball anywhere through the green or on a closely mown area through the green.

When this is implemented by the Director of the Tournament the proper procedure is to:

• Mark ball before lifting.
• Clean Ball (cannot change ball in play at that time)
• Tournament Rules dictate the distance can be placed from original spot no closer to hole.
• Ball in play

Well time to get back to the peacefulness of the Rainy Sunday and quiet time with my wife.

Until next time,

When playing in the rain keep as dry as you can and have the proper attire to help make the game stay fun..........

 

Rules of Golf to know During Your Round Relief for Ball in Water / Lateral Hazard

I am starting off with the Rules of Golf that most likely will happen during your playing round.

The first one I am going to cover is Rule  :

"26-1. Relief for Ball in Water Hazard

It is a question of fact whether a ball that has not been found after having been struck toward a water hazard is in the hazard. In the absence of knowledge or virtual certainty that a ball struck toward a water hazard, but not found, is in the hazard, the player must proceed under Rule 27-1.

If a ball is found in a water hazard or if it is known or virtually certain that a ball that has not been found is in the water hazard (whether the ball lies in water or not), the player may under penalty of one stroke:

a. Proceed under the stroke and distance provision of Rule 27-1 by playing a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played (see Rule 20-5); or

b. Drop a ball behind the water hazard, keeping the point at which the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped, with no limit to how far behind the water hazard the ball may be dropped; or

c. As additional options available only if the ball last crossed the margin of a lateral water hazard, drop a ball outside the water hazard within two club-lengths of and not nearer the hole than (i) the point where the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard or (ii) a point on the opposite margin of the water hazard equidistant from the hole.

When proceeding under this Rule, the player may lift and clean his ball or substitute a ball. "

This one presented itself during my last PGA professional tournament.  I had a dog leg left off the T-box and hit my drive through the right side of fairway, hit the cart path and bolted into the creek that was clearly marked with red stake and red line next to the cart path.

Most golfers when they have this happen during normal play, even if they understand that you get 2 club lengths (Rule 26-1 c above) from where the ball entered the hazard, they take the drop from the other side of the cart path. 

The ruling is as follows as presenting by the PGA OFFICIAL during the tournament:  The hazard line was two inches from the cart path, I placed my tee at point of entry into the hazard, used my driver for two club length no closer to hole.  I was still on the middle of the cart path no matter which direction.  Therefore, I placed a tee on the spot of my two club length, dropped the ball in between the two markers on the cart path.  I dropped twice and each time the ball bounced back into the hazard or closer to the hole.  For the third attempt placed marker where the ball dropped second time, then marked nearest relief from cart path taking stance with club  that I was going to use for next shot. I then proceeded with one club length relief marking the spot and then dropping ball between the markers.  The official deemed ball in play, I gave myself a one stroke penalty for hitting into the lateral hazard and moved on.

I know this was a lengthy ruling, but this is how this should be played by the rules.

Keep watching my blog for my next Rule of Golf.

Until then, remember the game of golf is a gentleman's game and is the only sport I know of where you call the penalties on yourself.....