Dr. Robin Farran is at it again! Not only is he already widely regarded as one of the preeminent USGA Rules Officials in the country, this semester he’s back teaching Advanced Rules at the Golf Academy. Dr. Farran sends out incidents like the one you’re about to read below some 50 weeks a year to over than 450 recipients. The man is dedicated.
This week’s Rules incidents involve Rule 3-3: Doubt As To Procedure. This is the Rule in which the competitor can complete the hole with two balls, without penalty:
1. In stroke play, a player announces that he/she will play two balls under Rule 3-3 and does not announce which ball he/she wishes to count. The player plays the original ball in accordance with the Rules and the second ball in accordance with the Rules. What is the ruling?
a) The score with the original ball counts. Rule 3-3b(ii). (The original ball is okay and counts)
b) The score with the second ball counts.
2. In stroke play, a player announces that he/she will play two balls under Rule 3-3 and does not announce which ball he/she wishes to count. The player plays the original ball from a wrong place and the second ball in accordance with the Rules. What is the ruling?
a) The score with the original ball counts.
b) The score with the second ball counts. See Rule 3-3b(ii). (Only the second ball is okay)
3. In stroke play, a player announces that he/she will play two balls under Rule 3-3 and selects the second ball to count. The player plays the original ball in accordance with the Rules and the second ball from a wrong place. What is the ruling?
a) The score with the original ball counts. See Rule 3-3b(i). (Only the original ball is okay)
b) The score with the second ball counts.
4. In stroke play, a player announces that he/she will play two balls under Rule 3-3 and selects the second ball to count. The player plays the original ball in accordance with the Rules and the second ball from a wrong place. The player scores 5 with both balls and does not report to an official or to scoring that he/she played two balls. What is the ruling?
a) The score with the original ball counts.
b) The score with the second ball counts.
Neither – DQ. See Rule 3-3a.
5. In stroke play, a player’s ball lies on a gravel cart path. Not knowing if relief is available, the player announces intent to play two balls, plays the ball on the gravel path, and drops a second ball under Rule 24-2. At scoring, the player learns that gravel paths are deemed to be immovable obstructions. What is the ruling?
a) The score with the original ball counts. See Rule 3-3b(ii). (Did not select)
b) The score with the second ball counts.
6. In stroke play, a player’s ball lies on a gravel cart path. Not knowing if relief is available, the player, without any comments, plays the ball on the gravel path and then drops a second ball under Rule 24-2. At scoring, the player learns that gravel paths are deemed to be immovable obstructions. What is the ruling?
a) The score with the original ball counts. See Rule 3-3b(ii). (Doubt; did not select)
b) The score with the second ball counts.
Principles of Golf Course Maintenance
Today was the first day of Principles of Golf Course Maintenance with PGA Professional Gary Balliet. Not much to report here other than the fact that we got a high level overview of the topics we will be covering this semester. As you might imagine, there’s a lot to cover. Here’s a sampling:
* Elimination of compaction
* History of tee boxes, putting greens, fairways, and rough
* Rotary vs. reel mowers
* Sand
* Water and water quality
* Sodding and seeding
* Animals found on the course
* Course set-up
* Trees, landscaping, and replanting
* Fertilizer
* Aerification, coring, and sprigging
* Drainage
* Equipment
* Turf diseases
Tournament Administration
After Principles of Golf Course Maintenance on Tuesday, we have Tournament Administration with PGA Professional Warren Pitman. It’s a continuation of Planning/Organization of Tournament Golf, which we took last semester.
Great news! In this our 4th semester, we’ve been promoted to First Assistants, and our membership is made up of the new first semester students at the Academy. Campus Director Tim Eberlein says, “The more you have in common with your members, the more they will like you.” That means not only do we have to welcome our new members, we’re going to have to practice our social skills while we’re out playing with them.
Interestingly enough, Rules were the topic du jour, but specifically Rule 6. Here’s one for you: True or False? Being on time for an assigned starting time is defined as being present and ready to play when it is your turn to tee off.
The answer is false. Rule 6-3a and Decision 6-3a/2 and 6-3a/2.5 state the player must start at the time established by the Committee. If the player arrives at his starting point, ready to play, within five minutes after his starting time, the penalty for failure to start on time is loss of the first hole in match play or two strokes at the start of the first hole in stroke play. Otherwise, the penalty for breach of this Rule is disqualification.