GolfStinks

A Golf Blog for the Rest of Us!

What I Took Away From The Masters

| By | 3 Comments

For starters, I guess it was a pretty great tournament.  I didn’t take the time to watch much more than a few minutes of the final round (for the most part, I got my updates from ESPN), but I’ll take everyone’s word for it.  Lot’s of stories – a 14-year old makes the cut, Tiger’s two-stroke penalty, a dramatic playoff win…lots of stuff to talk about.  But I don’t want to do that.  Everyone is going to be talking about the obvious stuff.  Instead, I have a couple of questions.

Let’s starts with the 14-year old.  We’ve asked before if it’s good to have a kid playing in a tournament when a 16-year old played in the 2011 U.S. Open.  But a 14-year old at The Masters?  Are you kidding?  This kid’s mother was packing his lunch and meanwhile he’s keeping pace with Phil Mickelson at Augusta!  Great story, but my question is the same as it was two years ago – when a 14-year old is going stroke-for-stroke with some of the greats of the game, does that cheapen the sport or, at least, the tournament?  Does it make you look at the pro’s with a little bit less respect?

My next two questions though involve the Tiger controversy.  I’ll start with the ruling itself.  So everyone was hung up on the “as closely as possible” part of the rule.  The only real voice of reason I heard was from Curtis Strange when he said that as closely as possible could be determined as 6-8 inches – not 3-4 feet!  I have to agree.  When I hear “as closely as possible” I think “right beside.”  So to stand 3-4 feet behind where your shot was, you’re opening up a can of worms.  I mean, where is the “as closely as possible” line drawn?  What if his original shot was on a downhill lie and he then dropped 3-4 feet back onto a flat part of the fairway?  What then?  Would that be fair?  Would that be judged differently?

Even further…how is this giant loophole left open by the rule-makers?  How can you leave something like that up to interpretation?  If someone else did the same thing but moved 3-4 feet closer, is that the same?  What if they moved 6-8 feet one way or the other?  That certainly isn’t as close as possible either.  But…that’s all up for debate I guess, right?

But the whole controversy brings me to another issue.  Why is it that this day in age, with all of the officials, rangers, scorekeepers, etc. on the course that the player is responsible for keeping his own score?  Granted, we all keep our own scores when we play, but this is the pros, man.  Every professional sport has an official scorekeeper.  Why not golf?  A golfer is expected to sign his scorecard (in a designated area mind you) and remember the entire round?  Why wouldn’t an official be doing that for him?  This sport really needs to move out of the dark ages and update some of their rules.  It’s just silly and leads to stupid controversies such as this that take away from the game itself.

And just on a side note…inputting a rule to protect the players who don’t know the rules is absolutely ridiculous.  Seriously, is this a professional sport, or is it me and my buddies playing on a Sunday morning at the local muni?  If you’re going to play the game, you’d better know the rules.  Ignorance is not an excuse.  In the NFL, if a player doesn’t know something he did is a penalty, do the refs say “Oh, you didn’t know?  OK, well then instead of a 15-yard penalty it’ll just cost you five.”  If an NBA player didn’t realized he traveled before hitting a layup, do they let him keep one of the two points?  Of course not!  The rule is enforced!  They don’t implement another rule because the guy didn’t know!

We’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – for a sport that shouldn’t be nearly as complicated as it is, the rule-makers sure do their best to make it that way.  I mean, if you need to have a rule book, and then a separate book to, more or less, decipher the rule book…you have a problem.  This all boils down to the reason I don’t carry, don’t own and have never even thumbed through the rules of golf…nor do I have any plans to do so.  You could drive yourself nuts!  Don’t drive yourself nuts – know the basics and play for fun.

Swing ’til you’re happy!

The USGA Rule Book: Etiquette

| By | 1 Comment

How well do you know golf rules?
How well do you know golf rules?

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.

For example, did you know there is a section in the rule book about etiquette? It’s purpose is to explain how the game “should” be played. In fact, there’s a subsection entitled “The Spirit of the Game” that explains since there are no umpires or referees, it’s up to individual players to take on the responsibility of playing the game correctly.

Under the etiquette section, there are subsections on safety; distractions; and how to act on the green. There is also a good amount of space devoted to keeping the course in good condition – including in the bunkers. I mention bunkers because I always assumed you had to use a rake. But according to the rule book, you just need to “smooth over all holes and footprints.” Only if a rake is “within reasonable proximity” should it be used. Granted, I’ll probably still always use a rake, but it’s interesting to know if you’re in a rush, you can technically smooth the sand out with your foot (and not feel guilty about it).

One common sore spot in golf is slow play. Players (especially weekend hacks like me) are always feeling pressure to keep up the pace – either from the group behind me or from the ranger. I’m constantly striving to catch that elusive 4-hour round. In fact, I’ve written about how a comfortable pace is probably more like 5 hours.

But golf courses tell you it should be 4 hours – why? They make it sound like that’s what it’s supposed to be. But the interesting thing is the rule book doesn’t put a time limit on it! In fact, no where in the rules of golf does it say a round has to take 4 hours (or anywhere close to 4 hours). It simply says, “it is a group’s responsibility to keep up with the group in front.” Further, it defines not keeping up when the group ahead has one full hole between you. So if you’re putting-out on the 5th and the group in front is putting-out on the 6th, you’re still good!

But the rules do suggest some things I rarely employ. For example, how often do you allow the group behind you to play through? Do you do it if you’re looking for a lost ball? According to the rules, not only should you allow the group to play through, you should allow them to play through before you even begin your search! Yep, if you think you might use all of your allotted 5 minutes to search for a ball (and the group is on the tee behind you), you should allow them to play through immediately, not after you’ve been searching for a few minutes.

So while we tend to think of etiquette as the unspoken rules in golf, the USGA obviously has a lot to say about it. In fact, it’s the first section of their rule book! The definition of golf terms, which we’ll discuss in a separate post, is Section 2. Golf is a complicated game – but it’s still meant to be enjoyed. Know your etiquette!

Related Posts: The USGA Rule Book: Definitions

USGA Rules are more what you’d call "Guidelines"

| By | Leave a Comment

Does it really matter what type of putter recreational golfers use?
Does it really matter what type of putter non-pro golfers use?

I was watching Pirates of the Caribbean – the part where they are talking about the “Pirate Code Book” and Barbossa says: “…the Code is more what you call guidelines than actual rules.” You know, this makes a lot of sense when you apply it to the rules of golf too.

Think about it – the vast majority of golf rounds played in the world bend the rules in some way, shape or form. Don’t believe me? Ever take a “gimmie” putt? How about a mulligan? Ever drop a ball in the fairway instead of going back to the tee to re-hit? In fact, the rule book is packed with crazy rules we probably don’t even know about!

Let me state this for the record: The USGA rules are only taken seriously when money is on the line (or during amateur competitive play). Most other times, the rules are treated more as guidelines – and these guidelines become more liberal the less serious the player or foursome is.

For example, some players accept mulligans, while others don’t. But a non-mulligan foursome may allow gimmie putts (within a certain distance of course). In other instances (especially on a muni course) it’s simply poor etiquette to go all the way back to the tee to re-hit – instead you just drop a ball and move on (completely illegal of course, but who really throws a fit over this if money isn’t on the line)?

So it’s with a chuckle in my belly (pardon the pun) that I approach the proposed 14-1b rule (the belly putter rule). I can’t believe golfers are so outspoken over this issue! Some people are outraged at the new rule, while others have already begun calling golfers still using the putter cheaters (we addressed that HERE).

Perhaps the most comical rant I read about this was from the inventor of the Polara golf ball (AKA the cheater’s ball), who actually issued a press release sharply criticizing the proposed rule!

So my question is this: Why are we, as recreational golfers, going through such lengths to complain about a rule we can just choose to ignore? Sure the tour players should have a say and, according to the proposed rule, they will. But as for the rest of us – who gives a crap?

Will the golfing gods swoop down and confiscate your clubs? Will they ban you from stepping foot on a tee box? This is completely absurd. You know what level of rule-bending you will tolerate and you’ve accepted playing the game that way – be it allowing gimmies or mulligans or even so far as using an illegal ball or putter. The choice (as non-tour members) has always been ours. We choose to accept the rule book as either scripture or mere guidelines.

Let the pro-tours and governing bodies sort this one out. Whatever their decision, I’ll consider the rules and decide for myself – after all, I golf for fun.

Book Review: Do I Get A Drop?

| By | 2 Comments

golfstinks golf stinks

When the guys from Golfstinks get together to play a round, we typically allow gimme putts; don’t care much if you take a Mulligan; and don’t mind if you drop a ball instead of walking back to re-tee.

I’d say we’re pretty normal golfers. Look, it’s not the Tour, we’re just out there to have fun. But I’d be lying if I said we just play however we want. The truth is we care about the rules of golf far more than we let on.

For example, no one in our foursome takes a Mulligan…ever. It’s not that we don’t allow them, it’s just that over the years, we simply stopped taking them. Gimme putts are rare too. And when we’re unsure of a ruling, I’ll typically pull out my phone, open up my USGA Rules app, and try to find out what to do.

I’d say most of the time, we just want to get it right (except for walking back to re-tee – that’s just not practical on most crowded public courses). But getting it right can be a challenge too. Have you ever flipped through the USGA rule book? Many times finding what you’re looking for is impractical in-and-of itself.

Enter the ingenious book by Doug Anderson: Do I Get A Drop? Mr. Anderson is an Australian accountant who decided the golf world needed a guide book for the rule book!

The book works by asking a simple question: Where is your ball? If it’s on the tee, turn to the “Tee” section. If it’s in a bunker, turn to the “Bunker” section. On the fairway or in the rough? Turn to the “Through the Green” section. There are also sections for the green, water hazards, OB and ground under repair too.

You literally just flip to the section that pertains to your situation and your answer will be found within seconds. This book will give you your ruling and get you on your way far quicker than the real rule book – and that’s good news both for you and the group behind you!

But “Do I Get A Drop?” is more than just a quick reference guide. If you read it from start to finish, it’s a quick and easy way to learn the rules. It’s packed with humorous cartoons that help explain different ruling situations – from grounding the club in a bunker to your options in casual water – it amuses as it teaches and as a result, you learn extremely quickly.

Plus, it helps you understand all those crazy rules too – for example, I never knew that you CAN’T ask your playing partner what club they used – a stupid rule, I know – but when money is on the line, it might come in handy!

“Do I Get A Drop?” is the perfect way to instantly find the ruling you need while on the course and a great way to learn the rules of golf while you’re in the living room. And as part of this post, Mr. Anderson has graciously provided us three copies to giveaway!

Just head on over to our Facebook page (“Like” us if you haven’t already) and Like the post on our wall entitled “Win a Free copy of the book Do I Get A Drop?” – that’s it! We’ll select three random people to get their very own copy of this useful book!

Good luck!

Introducing: The Stroke Clock!

| By | 5 Comments

golfstinks golf stinksSlow play. It’s probably at the top of most golfers’ complaint lists. Everyone is in such a hurry to get through the game that they can’t stand to be held up for even a minute. But if everyone knows how much it burns other golfers, then why do they do it?

Many have brought up the idea that the it’s the pros who cause the game to be played so slowly. I can understand that. Watching the pros at a tournament can be flat-out boring at some points. Taking an endless amount of practice swings, wandering around the ball for a little while, then taking a few more practice swings before they finally hit the ball…my goodness! Just wake me up when he’s done already!

It’s remarkable how much that sounds like the schmuck in front of you, isn’t it? That’s because the schmuck in front of you watches the tour and thinks he can/should do what they do. Well guess what slow guy…you can’t and you shouldn’t. And I’m not one to normally complain about slow play – I feel that if you’re expecting to hurry, then you’re playing the wrong game. But when someone is deliberately that slow…, you know what I’m getting at.

So in another effort to help improve viewership of the sport as well as, indirectly, improve the pace of play on the course for the rest us, I offer you another idea from the minds of golfstinks – The Stroke Clock. As you could probably figure, the stroke clock would work much the same as both the shot clock in basketball and play clock in football – You have X amount of time to get your shot off.

Think about that for a second. Another element of competition added to a sometimes pretty dull sport to watch. Not only are you playing against the field and the course, but now you are racing a clock as well! Some benefits to the clock? Well, picking up the pace of the game for starters. No more “play suspended by darkness.” No more watching a player wander around his ball and take enough practice swings that you’d think he’s in the middle of a lesson. Just get to your ball, focus and swing already!

And of course, the benefit for the rest of non-pros, speed of play on the public tracks we hack our way through every weekend is bound to speed up as well. All of those players who take their time because that’s what they see the pros do, will have a whole new outlook on the pace of the game! Well, theoretically anyway. But one could hope!

The NBA adopted a shot clock in order to improve the pace of play, therefore increasing scoring and amping up the excitement of the game. The NFL did the same when they adjusted the play clock from 45 seconds down to 40. Even MLB occasionally attempts to speed up the pace of play by putting the pitchers on a clock. And there are penalties for not abiding by each. In the NBA, you lose possession of the ball. In the NFL it’s a five-yard penalty. And in MLB, when enforced, it’s an automatic ball for the pitcher. How about losing a stroke in golf if you don’t get your shot off within 45 seconds of arriving at your ball? Seem a bit harsh? Well, maybe for a season they administer one or two warnings before assessing the stroke penalty. But after that season…you know the rules.

And lets face it, in a sport that has as many ridiculous rules as golf does, one to speed up the pace of play and possibly make the game more exciting might be one to consider implementing.

Swing ’til you’re happy!

Questions / Advertise

info@golfstinks.com

Disclaimers

See here

Privacy Policy

See here