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The USGA Rule Book: Definitions

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Do you know golf law?
Do you know golf law?

Let me go out on a limb and state that most weekend golfers probably try to follow the USGA rules. Sure, we might not walk back to the tee to re-hit a ball that’s gone OB (or play a provisional). And we sometimes take mulligans and gimmies, but for the most part, we try to play the game right.

But do we really know the rules? I’m sure many of you have thumbed-through the USGA rule book, but have you read it cover to cover? Probably not. So in this continuing series, I’m going to write about stuff you find in the rule book – perhaps about things you’ve never even realized.

Today we’re highlighting Section 2: Definitions. Perhaps part of what makes understanding the USGA rule book so difficult is the terms used for things. Do we really know the difference between a “water hazard” and a “lateral water hazard”? To that end, the USGA Rules have an entire section devoted to the definition of golf terms.

There are literally dozens of rules defined in the rule book. Do you know what “Rub of the Green” means? That’s when a ball in motion accidentally is deflected or stopped by an “outside agency.” Of course, you then have to read the definition of “outside agency” – which is basically a person or thing other than the players themselves, their caddies and/or their equipment (with the exception of wind or water). So an outside agency, for example, might be a chipmunk that runs across the green and deflects your ball. Now then, what is the benefit of “Rub of the Green”? Well, you play the ball as it lies (after the chipmunk moves it) and don’t have to take a stroke. Gee, thanks.

What constitutes a “stroke” is also a good one to highlight. A “stroke” in golf is when a player has the intent of hitting the ball – even if said player misses the ball! However, a check swing (where the player is able to stop a swing before it reaches the ball) is NOT considered a stroke. By the way, if you are addressing (hello ball!) the ball on the tee and mistakenly tap the ball with your club causing it to fall, that is also NOT considered a stroke and you may re-tee without penalty.

Do you know what “through the green” means? That’s basically referring to the fairway of the hole being played (or the area between the tee and green). Though hazards (both water and sand) are not considered “through the green.”

“Abnormal Ground Conditions” is a rather abnormal one: It includes things like “casual water” and “ground under repair” (which, of course, have their own definitions). But it also includes holes made by burrowing animals. “Burrowing animal” is defined (yep, that’s defined too) as a “hole for habitation” for critters such as moles, gophers and salamanders. But the rule doesn’t apply to worms or insects. Which is a bit discriminatory if you ask me – after all, I’ve seen some pretty large burrowing wasps out on the course!

Finally, let’s circle back to the difference between a “water hazard” and a “lateral water hazard.” See below:

  • A “water hazard” is any sea, lake, pond, river, ditch, surface drainage ditch or other open water course (whether or not containing water) and anything of a similar nature on the course.”
  • A “lateral water hazard” is a water hazard or that part of a water hazard so situated that it is not possible, or is deemed by the Committee to be impracticable, to drop a ball behind the water hazard in accordance with Rule 26-1b.

Get it now? LOL. Basically, there may be portions near a water hazard where you might actually find your ball but cannot play from (environmentally safe areas, etc.). So in these instances, you can play the ball up to two club lengths away from the lateral water hazard (and still lift and clean or substitute a ball).

So know your golf terminology! Though I’d rather familiarize myself with more non-traditional golf terms like THESE.

Are Golf Courses a Waste of Space?

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Do you have any idea how many golf courses there are in this world? Or how much land they use – especially when compared to other recreational sports fields? As golfers, perhaps we could use a little perspective.

Do statistics show golf courses are taking up too much space? (Photo by Greg D’Andrea)

I tell ya, golf courses and cemeteries are the biggest wastes of prime real estate!
– Rodney Dangerfield (as Al Czervik) in Caddyshack

Is it bad when one of the most beloved characters in golf movie history thinks golf courses are a waste of space? We love Al Czervik – we all do. But the fact remains he wanted to buy Bushwood and replace the course with condos. Granted, his motivation was purely for profit, but nonetheless he wished there were less golf courses in the world. And so do many other people.

Some real estate moguls see golf courses as an encroachment on their piggybank; Some environmentalists view golf courses as an encroachment on the natural habitat of wildlife; and some non-golfers see golf courses as just a waste of space that could have been put to better use.

Whatever your viewpoint might be, one can’t deny golf courses take up a good amount of space – to the tune of 2.24 million acres1 in the US alone. That’s a lot of real estate. Another mind-boggling stat is just how many golf courses there are in this country: More than 16,000. Let me put that in perspective for you: There are only 12,800 McDonald’s restaurants in the US. This means when you’re driving down the road craving a BigMac, you’re more likely to find a golf course before a Mickey D’s. I’ll give you a moment to digest that.

It’s also true golf takes up more space than other recreational sports. Baseball, softball, soccer and football fields take up 1 to 3 acres2 each while basketball and tennis courts much less still (0.1 – 0.6 acres respectively). This is a far cry from the average amount of acreage needed for a golf course (140 acres).

Even a golf driving range (15 acres2) takes up more than each of the non-golf fields combined! So from a space management standpoint, you could have youth baseball, softball, soccer and football games all going on at the same time in one park (and a tennis and basketball court to boot). Or, you could have one facility to practice (not even really play) golf.

Now my point in telling you all this is to give you the perspective of the non-golfer. If you’re a non-golfer and read those stats, you’d think; “Wow, that’s a lot of space for one sport that not everybody plays.” And based on that, you can begin to see why so many people have a hard time with golf and the land it requires (see comedian George Carlin’s famous take on this here). Furthermore, many courses are private – meaning vast tracts of land are set aside for only a very select few to enjoy.

As golfers, we may have never even thought about how many golf courses there are in the world (34,000). For us, there can never be too many courses. But when we look at the stats, it’s kinda crazy. That’s a lot of land, water, fertilizer, pesticides, etc. just so we golfers can play our game. Sure golf is doing more to lessen its environmental impact these days, but that’s just scratching the surface. So this brings me back to the original question: Are golf courses a waste of space?

For the avid golfer, they certainly aren’t wasting space. But the non-golfers have valid points – especially on the topic of if there are too many courses. This is a real concern and one the golf industry (at this point at least) might have a hard time rebutting. I’ve posted about there being too many courses before and tend to agree the herd could use a little thinning – especially in this post-Tiger era when golf participation is on the decline.

However, if a course is operating at sustainable levels and putting forth a decent product (they don’t have to be lush green mind you), then in my opinion, it’s hard to argue there would ever be a better use for that land.

Notes:
1See page 3 of the Golf Course Environmental Profile: Property Summary.
2See the appendix of the Reusing Cleaned Up Superfund Sites report.

Take The 3-Club Challenge

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3 golf clubs
Are you brave enough to take the 3-club challenge? (photo by Yuki Shimazu / CC BY-SA 2.0)

Sometimes you just need a change. Maybe your game’s in a funk – or at least it’s smelling funkier than usual. Perhaps you feel like your last few scores were more wretched than the typical hack-job rounds you normally piece together.

Well, don’t let it get you down. Remember, golf is meant to be fun, so why not start having some? What you need is to change your perspective. But doing that takes more than just forgetting about the high number on your scorecard – it takes reacquainting yourself with the game of golf. But how?

This is where it gets interesting and fun all at the same time: All you need to do is remove some clubs from your bag. And by “some” I mean all but three of them (and keep your putter too). That’s right – take them out before you get to the first tee – just leave them in your trunk.

I call it the “3-Club Challenge” and the object is to play the entire round of golf with only three clubs and a putter. Sound ridiculous? Don’t knock it until you try it. I’ve done this a few times – typically when my previous few rounds have been exceptionally poor – and I have to tell you, it’s reinvigorating!

Now the trick is to choose your clubs wisely. For me, that means my 20-degree hybrid; an 8-iron; and my pitching wedge. The hybrid will see double-duty – both off the tee (I hit about 215 with that club) and out of the fairway. The 8 is my club from 150 yards and the wedge is good from 125 and in (and all will be three-quarter-, half- and quarter-swung at some point during the round too). While those are my three clubs, you’re free to select any three you’d like or feel comfortable with – just as long as you don’t have more than three clubs and a putter in your bag.

Limiting your club selection in this way forces you to simplify the game. It makes you slow down and think hard about each shot. You limit risky shots because you have none to play – every stroke must be carefully thought out. Instead of griping and ripping it, you aim for the 150- or 200-yard marker in the fairway. Instead of going for the green, you pick a spot to lay-up and pitch on.

The first time I took the 3-Club Challenge, I was amazed – not just at how much I strategized for each hole, but also how my results weren’t really that bad! Every time I give the challenge a whirl, I end up shooting pretty close to my average – or at least much better than my previous few terrible rounds with all my clubs. By the next time out, I’m back on track – playing my regular game of poor (but not wretched) golf.

Ready to give it a shot? Get your golf buddies in on it too and maybe even make a little wager on the round.

A word to the wise: I wouldn’t recommend taking the 3-Club Challenge on an unfamiliar course – you don’t want to handicap yourself too much. But on a course you know, this can be all that’s needed to right the ship.

And if you do take the challenge (or already play some form of it), I would love to know your results by leaving a comment!

Stinky Golfer Confessions: Losing it on the Course

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brokenclubNo, I’m not talking about golf balls – though losing those can lead to losing “it”. I’m talking about a downright tantrum like a toddler an hour past nap time. I’ve heard about these breakdowns; I’ve witnessed them (I’ve even filmed someone else having one) and I’ve had them myself.

Club throwing or breaking; cart punching; green gouging – they all constitute tantrums on the course. On a recent round, Stinky Golfer Tom and I were hacking our way through 18 holes. Now I’m not embellishing the term “hacking” – it was a hack-job plain and simple – both seed/sand mixtures on the cart were depleted by the 15th.

Anyway, I was standing over a two-footer for double on the 17th and I pushed it right. I had enough. I swung my putter at the ball and sent it careening off the green. Along with the ball also flew a hefty sized divot from right next to the hole. I had “lost it” on the green. Now I wasn’t trying to dig up a chunk of green, but there it was.

I hate guys like me. Now there was a gouge a few inches from the hole. Even though I tried to replace my divot as neatly as possible, it was still capable of knocking someone else’s putt offline. Yes, on that particular day, I was that jerk who messed up the putting surface for everyone else.

Meanwhile, Tom just stood there, watching. Tom is the epitome of cool on the golf course. Now don’t get me wrong, Tom is a typical stinky golfer who gets mad at himself after a wretched shot. But he doesn’t get physical. I’ve never seen him throw (let alone break) a club in anger. He’s never defaced the course on purpose. And he’s certainly never kicked or punched the golf cart. So I wonder what he was thinking that day? Probably what an a-hole I was. But he didn’t say a word.

We tantrum throwers (and you know who you are) have to remember to keep things in perspective. I (of all people, who writes for a blog that teaches golf should be fun) should be more cognizant of keeping emotions in check. Sure I can (and should) get upset at a poor shot – that’s a natural reaction. But I also need to practice what I preach – that golf is more about camaraderie and enjoyment than it is about your score.

So today I pen this post as a shamed man. And I hope my confession serves as a reminder to you the next time you feel like “losing it” on the course. Miss a two-footer? Duck-hook one off the tee? Took a snowman on the last hole? WHO CARES???? You’re playing golf, man – seriously…where else would you rather be?

Video: How to Go Like a Golf Pro

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Not only do I write for a golf blog in my spare time, but I also have a full-time job that requires a fair amount of traveling. With that in mind, it’s safe to say I know a thing or two about business trips – from how to pack before the trip to efficiently navigating through security. So when National Car Rental asked me to be the golf blogger for their “Go Like A Pro” campaign, I felt I was uniquely qualified.

I’ve posted before about golfing on business trips – especially about golfing with your client! If you’re both a golfer and a business traveler, but haven’t really given much thought to playing while on the go – think again! And to that end, I’ve put together a short video to help you Go Like a Pro when it comes to golfing on a business trip.

Tips on how to Go Like a Golf Pro:

  1. Do your homework! Before you pack, use an online course database (like this) to research golf courses near your destination (either close to the airport or close to your client’s office). Once you find a course, always call to make a tee-time and confirm the price of the greens fees.
  2. Accessorize like a Golf Pro: To properly accessorize, first make sure you purchase a quality golf travel case. It should be big enough to handle that huge driver of yours and padded enough to protect it too. Next, keep in mind that playing on an unfamiliar course has its disadvantages. Yardage distances can be deceiving so a rangefinder could be your best friend. You’ll also want to make sure you pack plenty of balls (there’s nothing worse that running out and having to ask your client to borrow some). And bring a brush to clean your clubs and shoes off before repacking them – no one wants to unpack a bunch of dirt and grass! Finally, never underestimate the value of a towel and umbrella – you never want to let them see you sweat and you never want to get caught out in the rain!
  3. Save time by practicing in the hotel! If you fly in the night before, turn the carpet in your hotel room into a practice green! You’ll already have your putter with you, so all you’ll need is one of those hotel room glasses (you know, with the white cardboard cap on top) tipped in its side to putt into.

Bonus tip! If you do end up golfing with your client, remember the best policy is to always let them win!

Items featured in the video:

Disclaimer: GolfStinks.com received compensation for this post and video.

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