Know the Rules and Play Faster

This Golf Column will appear Monday August 23rd in the Kelowna Daily Courier.

Know the Rules & Play Faster.

Knowledge about the rules of golf could have saved Dustin Johnson over $1,000,000 and a lifetime of what “ifs”. I am certain Johnson would never intentionally try to break any rule. Johnson demonstrated tremendous class during and after the ordeal. What happened on the 72nd hole of last week’s USPGA Championship was heartbreaking. Dustin Johnson had a lapse in concentration and grounded his club in a bunker. The penalty would cost him two strokes and the possibility of winning his first major championship.

The players had been informed about the “Local Rules” regarding the 1000 plus bunkers at Whistling Straights. All week the players took care before playing shots from any type of sand. The unfortunate part about Johnson’s debacle was that the gallery was standing in the bunker. The area appeared to be worn and trampled ground outside the gallery ropes. Johnson and his caddie must have been caught up in the moment of playing the final hole of a major. They both failed to recognize the golf ball was actually in a bunker.

Golf has a total of thirty-four rules. Read the rulebook at least once and be certain to read the local rules when playing a tournament or a casual game.

On pages 18 & 19 in the Rules of Golf published by the RCGA (Golf Canada) is a section on “Pace of Play” that all golfers should read because daylight is slipping away sooner every day.

Monday August 23rd the sun will set at 8:00 p.m. and with less time for golf the pace of play becomes an issue. You do not want to be completing the final holes of your career round in darkness do you? Here are some tips that will assist in speeding up the game and provide more enjoyment for everyone.

#1 Play ready golf. Regardless of who has the honour hit when it is safe instead of waiting for others.

#2 Record scores on the next tee.

#3 First person to hole out picks up the flagstick. Be ready to replace it when the final putt is holed. Don’t just exit the green and leave the flagstick for the last player.

#4 Leave your golf bag on the side of the green nearest the next tee.

#5 Keep your practice swings to a minimum. One or two are enough for anyone on any full shot.

#6 Watch your golf ball until it has finished rolling, especially after a bad shot.

#7 Play from the correct set of tees. Leave your “ego” at home; you don’t need to see the whole golf course.

#9 Spend as little time needed at the beverage cart as possible.

#10 When on the putting green, read the break of your putt while others are putting. Taking care not to disrupt them.

#11 In between shots walk briskly; start planning your next shot as you approach your ball.

Most golfers don’t realize when they are out of position. Here is a simple way to determine if you need to get your group moving. When arriving on the tee of a par 4 and the group in front has left the putting surface you are out of position. When arriving on the tee of a par five and the group in front has removed the flagstick you are behind. When arriving on a par 3 and the group in front has left the next tee, you best get cracking.