It's important that we all have the same understanding of the rules we are playing under in each of our
tournaments. As mentioned on the "Refresher" page, we play by the USGA Rules of Golf. You should be
familiar with the basics such as the difference between a water hazard and a "lateral" water hazard and how to
handle each. The rules of golf will help you more than penalize you if you know how to apply them. If you
have questions about any of the following, please let me know.
tournaments. As mentioned on the "Refresher" page, we play by the USGA Rules of Golf. You should be
familiar with the basics such as the difference between a water hazard and a "lateral" water hazard and how to
handle each. The rules of golf will help you more than penalize you if you know how to apply them. If you
have questions about any of the following, please let me know.
On the
Course
Course
| Bumping the Ball (Winter Rules) |
In the past we have played all of our events using what is known as
Winter Rules. The reason we did this was because we're not playing on
Country Clubs and it was very unfair to hit a big drive down the middle of
the fairway and wind up on a patch of weeds or dirt.
Winter Rules. The reason we did this was because we're not playing on
Country Clubs and it was very unfair to hit a big drive down the middle of
the fairway and wind up on a patch of weeds or dirt.
The rule we played by, was intended to allow a bump only in your own fairway. Not from behind a tree or
from two fairways over. Those shots did not deserve a reward. Unfortunately, this liberal policy was being
routinely abused and became the subject of numerous emails or phone calls to me. Sadly, this abuse was not
limited to high handicappers either!
Starting in 2009, we are simply going to play golf as it was intended. Play the ball as it lies!
Once again it's important to know the rules of golf because there are many situations where you can get a free
drop. We will also allow, at the discretion of your playing partners, a free drop from an area loaded with tree
roots or a ball landing in rocks. We don't want anyone to get hurt or to ruin their equipment. This type of
drop must also be performed within the rules of golf. If your are near tree roots and your partners say go
ahead and take the drop, you can't just knock it toward the fairway with your club. You must establish your
nearest point of relief, no closer the hole and drop there. Sometimes this may put you further behind the tree.
The decision to drop is up to you.
Now, we've eliminated winter rules as a regular practice but that doesn't mean we can't reinstate it for a
particular event, either due to weather or bad course conditions. This will be announced when the tee times
are posted on the website. Hopefully, this should simplify things and end the calls to me about the player who
hits a ball behind a tree but when the next shot was played it was about 6 feet from it's original location on the
edge of the fairway. If you have any questions about this, let me know.
from two fairways over. Those shots did not deserve a reward. Unfortunately, this liberal policy was being
routinely abused and became the subject of numerous emails or phone calls to me. Sadly, this abuse was not
limited to high handicappers either!
Starting in 2009, we are simply going to play golf as it was intended. Play the ball as it lies!
Once again it's important to know the rules of golf because there are many situations where you can get a free
drop. We will also allow, at the discretion of your playing partners, a free drop from an area loaded with tree
roots or a ball landing in rocks. We don't want anyone to get hurt or to ruin their equipment. This type of
drop must also be performed within the rules of golf. If your are near tree roots and your partners say go
ahead and take the drop, you can't just knock it toward the fairway with your club. You must establish your
nearest point of relief, no closer the hole and drop there. Sometimes this may put you further behind the tree.
The decision to drop is up to you.
Now, we've eliminated winter rules as a regular practice but that doesn't mean we can't reinstate it for a
particular event, either due to weather or bad course conditions. This will be announced when the tee times
are posted on the website. Hopefully, this should simplify things and end the calls to me about the player who
hits a ball behind a tree but when the next shot was played it was about 6 feet from it's original location on the
edge of the fairway. If you have any questions about this, let me know.
| Out of Bounds (or lost ball) |
If you hit a ball out of bounds, the rules of golf state that you
should replay the stroke from the same spot as the previous
one whether it be the tee, the fairway, a bunker, wherever.
This is where the term "stroke and distance" comes from.
When you hit a ball out of bounds, you lose a stroke and the
distance the ball traveled.
We have modified this rule slightly and I mean slightly for our events. If you clearly hit a ball out of bounds
(into a backyard, bouncing down a street,etc.) then you replay your next shot from the same spot. If there is a
chance your ball went out of bounds but you're not sure, then you must hit a provisional ball from the same
spot. Here is our variation. If you hit a ball that you don't think is out of bounds, but upon approaching it,
find that it is, you can drop a ball within 2 club lengths in bounds of the spot where your ball crossed the out of
bounds line defined by the white stakes (fence, etc). This is to speed up play by not forcing you to go back to
the original spot of the shot. If you use this variation, your penalty is 2 strokes, For example, a tee shot is
found to be out of bounds and you elect to invoke this
Westdivots rule. You drop a ball as described above and your next shot is your fourth. This shouldn't come
into play often as you should be able to tell immediately if your ball is out of bounds. A lost ball is played the
same. Agree with your playing partners on the spot where the ball should have been, drop another ball and
take a 2-stroke penalty.
should replay the stroke from the same spot as the previous
one whether it be the tee, the fairway, a bunker, wherever.
This is where the term "stroke and distance" comes from.
When you hit a ball out of bounds, you lose a stroke and the
distance the ball traveled.
We have modified this rule slightly and I mean slightly for our events. If you clearly hit a ball out of bounds
(into a backyard, bouncing down a street,etc.) then you replay your next shot from the same spot. If there is a
chance your ball went out of bounds but you're not sure, then you must hit a provisional ball from the same
spot. Here is our variation. If you hit a ball that you don't think is out of bounds, but upon approaching it,
find that it is, you can drop a ball within 2 club lengths in bounds of the spot where your ball crossed the out of
bounds line defined by the white stakes (fence, etc). This is to speed up play by not forcing you to go back to
the original spot of the shot. If you use this variation, your penalty is 2 strokes, For example, a tee shot is
found to be out of bounds and you elect to invoke this
Westdivots rule. You drop a ball as described above and your next shot is your fourth. This shouldn't come
into play often as you should be able to tell immediately if your ball is out of bounds. A lost ball is played the
same. Agree with your playing partners on the spot where the ball should have been, drop another ball and
take a 2-stroke penalty.
| Click the USGA logo to be taken to some terrific animations describing the most common rules of golf. |
| Exchanging Scorecards |
| My apologies to Joe Buenavista as this cartoon in no way insinuates that he is a creative scorekeeper!! |
We started exchanging scorecards because that's how
all tournament golf is played. It's just another check to
make sure the playing field is level. I have had
incidents relayed to me that incorrect scores were
being reported to playing partners at recent
tournaments. When I asked if anything was said, the
common answer was, "I don't want to appear
confrontational". I completely understand this but I
also think this can be done without appearing to be
confrontational. If a 5 is reported to you and you know
a 6 was scored, just ask to go over the hole. Something
like, "Gee, I had you with a 6 for that hole. Two in the
bunker, three on the green and 3 putts. Is that right?"
It may have been an honest mistake, or it may not.
Please ask if you think a score was erroneously
all tournament golf is played. It's just another check to
make sure the playing field is level. I have had
incidents relayed to me that incorrect scores were
being reported to playing partners at recent
tournaments. When I asked if anything was said, the
common answer was, "I don't want to appear
confrontational". I completely understand this but I
also think this can be done without appearing to be
confrontational. If a 5 is reported to you and you know
a 6 was scored, just ask to go over the hole. Something
like, "Gee, I had you with a 6 for that hole. Two in the
bunker, three on the green and 3 putts. Is that right?"
It may have been an honest mistake, or it may not.
Please ask if you think a score was erroneously
reported. I don't want to call it a duty, but in a way it is because you're protecting the rest of the field. I
really don't think we have any conscious cheaters in this club, only a few people showing signs of early
senility and Alzheimers.
really don't think we have any conscious cheaters in this club, only a few people showing signs of early
senility and Alzheimers.