Yearly Traditions

April 23, 2013 / The Grateful Golfer / 4 Comments

Each year I have traditions that prepare me for the golf season. I am sure everyone has their own way of getting ready, but mine has been the same for years. It is nothing fancy, but it helps me mentally and equipment-wise prepare to hit the links. So here it goes!

I read the rule book. The RCGA 2013 rule book is not out yet, so I read last years rule book. I believe it is important to acquaint myself with the dos and don’ts of golf. It helps with the finer points like the difference between a red and yellow hazard. Reading the rule book helps me prepare for tournaments or other competitions with those who do not read the rule book.

I watch a couple of golf movies. I will watch anything new, but if that is not possible I will watch Happy Gilmore, Tin Cup, and The Greatest Game Ever Played. They are fun movies and they help me mentally to prepare for anything on the golf course.

I check my equipment. This year I am changing my grips. I have used different grips through the years, but this year I am trying tacki-mac. They are similar to Golf Pride Tour Wrap, but cheaper. Additionally, I washed my clubs, prepare my carry bag and mark my new golf balls. I also polish my shoes and change my spikes!

Last thing I do is think about what I to accomplish this season. Each year I make several goals and work to achieve them during my practice and times on the links. I have not made any quite yet, but I am sure one will be to break par and another to win a tournament.

Traditions are important to me. The allow me to prepare mentally and equipment-wise for the upcoming season. Regardless on how I play each year, my yearly traditions are special. How do you prepare for your season?

I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!

The Importance of Junior Golf Programs

April 21, 2013 / The Grateful Golfer / 4 Comments

Golf is a wonderful game! It is the only sport where each competitor is the referee, player, equipment handler, and ambassador. It is designed to teach etiquette, patience, fairness, and goodwill towards your fellow competitor. It is a great place to meet new people. In the article Camaraderie: Golf as a Contact Sport The Mindful Golfer asks where can you go and meet total strangers and play a sport for five hours? This is very true. Golf provides so much it is hard to believe that not everyone is playing.

The great aspects of golf are rooted in tradition and are generally taught through interaction with fellow golfers. As adults, we understand that golf has certain written and unwritten rules that are to be followed for the benefit of all. There are methods of teaching, training and educating amateurs that should enhance the joy of playing. Unfortunately, as adults we are not as quick to learn new things. We like to do things our way and sometimes forego learning certain aspects of the game that do not interest us. This devil-may-care attitude may cause stress to those who really love the game.

This is where the importance of junior golf programs shine. Junior golf programs help foster and develop all aspects of the game. They teach younger players values of honesty, integrity and respect both on and off the course. Many national organizations and programs promote junior golf. Their importance to the overall health of the game cannot be overstated because the next group of great players need a way to excel towards being the next Jack Nicklaus.

Guru’s Golf Blog reviewed a book called Inspire Junior Golf by Rick Grayson. The book deals with many aspects of golf from the view of players, teachers and coaches. Specifically, he states that team sports provide an opportunity for players to develop teach-ability, character, integrity, perseverance, a positive attitude and self-esteem. Well, golf is both a team and individual sport that teaches all these and more. Sounds like awesome traits to be teaching you athletes or casual players.

Junior Development Golf Canada‘s mission is “To be the future of junior golf and the go to resource for everything related. By offering easy access for junior golfers looking to learn, develop or advance their golf game. As dedicated professionals and golf coaches we will work in partnership with courses, communities and sponsors, to grow local programs, national initiatives, our brand and the game.” The JDGC is starting to grow and expose many younger players to the opportunity of playing golf. This type of program provides an avenue for golfers to excel to greatness.

The British Junior Golf Tour is also providing unique opportunities for young players to hone their skills. They continue to expand their partnership base and are associated with many other groups in Europe and North America. They outline the expectations of playing in their tournaments through a code of conduct. This is an excellent way to promote the positive aspects of junior golf.

All the programs that help develop junior golf are extremely important for player development. Probably none are more important than the junior programs offered by your local course. Generally, a group of keen amateur golfers with low handicaps start a junior program to promote the sport. They provide young players the opportunity to learn and have fun. These programs are equally, if not more, important to the development of young athletes as players and as a person. Check out your local course, it may be the best thing you ever did for you developing athlete.

Sports Is Everything to many armchair, amateur, professional, part-time, or just want to have fun athlete. It is an opportunity to stay fit, have fun, win bragging rights, or just learn something new. Junior golf programs are outlets to many young athletes seeking something for which they do not even know they are searching. Golf is a great sport and by teaching honesty, integrity and respect to the young can only be good for everyone.

Gopher It!

April 19, 2013 / The Grateful Golfer / 8 Comments

Reading the 2012 Royal Canadian Golf Association rule book as part of my preseason ritual, I came across rule 25-1, Immovable Obstructions and Abnormal Ground Conditions. This particular rule is unique, however it did directly impact a tournament I won back in 2009.

In Canada, the military has an inter-base golf competition to decide a Regional Champion. Additionally, the top five male and top two female low gross players of this 54 hole tournament are selected to represent the region at a National Championship. It is something I look forward too as part of my golfing season. Now back to my story.

After the first day, the competition was pretty close with only six strokes separating the top 12 players. On the second day, I was playing in the last group coming up to the narrow par 5, 16th hole. This hole was difficult because the green was elevated about 10 feet above the fairway and had a steep front face. Each player elected to lay up and had about 100 yards into the green on their third shot.

Last player in our group hit a high 52 degree wedge that hit directly in the middle of the face of the green…..AND DISAPPEARED! Yes, disappeared completely. Each of the players looked at each other in complete confusion. Not sure what happened, the player decided to play a provisional because no one saw it bounce and to save time.

As we approached the green we all walked to the exact same spot without discussion. At the spot was four gopher holes! We look around the green and could not find the players ball. I took my sand wedge and stuck in each hole and pulled out seven balls….no I am not kidding! Unfortunately, none were his. We pulled out the rule book (because I always carry one) and read rule 25-1.

We all agreed that the ball went into a gopher hole and could not find it. Because he hit a provisional, we suggested he play a ball with no penalty as directed by the rule and play his provisional ball; then we would ask the rules official after the round. He ended up with a par with the drop ball and a 7 with the provisional ball. Unfortunately, the rules official did not really know the rules of golf, so we as a group decided to allow the drop ball as the one to count towards his score.

After much debate, most players (even those close in the hunt to make the top 5 for the regional team) agreed with our decision and we moved on. As it turned out, the player did not make the team, but was the first alternate.

To this day, I am confident we made the correct decision. Here is why:

All three players walked to the same spot on the face of the green;
There were four gopher holes within three feet of where we marked the ball;
We were only 100 yards away so tracking the ball was extremely easy;
I collected 7 balls from the gopher holes, so balls have landed there before; and
After discussion in the club house, we all agreed that it was correct interpretation of the rule.

So knowing the rules is very important to golf. It is difficult to interpret them some times, but it can have an impact on any match. This is my story, how would you have called it?

I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!

Saving One Stroke on a Penalty

April 16, 2013April 16, 2013 / The Grateful Golfer / 2 Comments

While watching The Masters on the weekend, it was very obvious that caddies make a concerted effort not to leave the players bags anywhere in their line of sight. Originally, I thought it was a mental thing, but there appears to be a practical reason for their efforts.

According to the RCGA, rule 19-2. Ball in Motion Deflected or Stopped By Player, Partner, Caddie or Equipment states:

If a player’s ball is accidentally deflected or stopped by himself, his partner or either of their caddies or equipment, the player incurs a penalty of one stroke. The ball must be played as it lies, except when it comes to rest in or on the player’s, his partner’s or either of their caddies’ clothes or equipment, in which case the ball must through the green or in a hazard be dropped, or on the putting green be placed, as near as possible to the spot directly under the place where the ball came to rest in or on the article, but not nearer the hole.

After reading this rule, golfers will receive a one-stroke penalty for saving steps. I knew the rule (actually thought it was a two-stroke penalty) and never paid attention during my regular games. How many golfers leave their bag in the field of play, then grab a driver and walk to the tee? How many golfers hit out of the woods or a hazard towards the general direction of their equipment because they were saving time and steps? If you are like me, I do this every round. At the Laurentide Golf Course in Sturgeon Falls, Ontario, Canada, it is easy to leave your bag in the next holes fairway.

I was told a funny story many years back by a friend in this similar situation. He was in a foursome playing their Saturday morning game and the leader of that game was up to hit. Of course the jokes were flying and they were pestering each other as all good friends do. Well, the leader of the group hit a line drive off the tee towards all their bags (about 75 yards out). As the ball made contact, each of the players looked at each other with concern because they could not determine whose bag it actually hit. After the others hit with no incident, the four friends walked towards their equipment. The first guy there started to laugh out loud. As the others approached, he pointed to the leaders bag and showed him a hole in the side of his bag of where the ball went right through. To make it more painful, the group assessed him a two-stroke penalty instead of one. The leader was obviously upset and went on to lose their Saturday’s game. Talk about putting salt in one’s wounds! I am not sure if that extra penalty stroked caused him to loose the match, but if it did, this situation would be a great reason to read the rules of golf every year!

I have left my bag in the field of play for years and never came close to hitting it. However, while playing in a tournament I can honestly tell you that my friends story 20 years ago has prompted me to I make sure my equipment is brought to every tee, place my bag well away from the green, and not is any where close when hitting out of the woods. I am not sure if it ever saved me strokes, however I can tell you for certain it has never cost me any.

Reading the rules is important every year. Already I have saved myself a one-penalty stroke by reading rule 19-2. Anybody out there ever hit their golf equipment?

I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!

What Golfers Will Do!

March 24, 2013March 25, 2013 / The Grateful Golfer / 3 Comments

Sergio Garcia is in the spotlight again. The Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill Golf and Country Club always produces things to talk about. Right now, many media outlets are talking about Garcia’s climb up a tree to play the ball out to the fairway. It can be seen at PGATOUR.COM.

I, however, what to talk about another shot that Sergio made during the second round. Unlike Nicholas Thompson who hit the ball out of the water hazard to within 2 feet of the pin, Garcia hit a ball, it landed on the bank in the hazard and jumped back into the water. He could not play the ball the second time and took a drop adjacent to the spot he took his swing.

While watching, I was confused how they figure out the point of entry in the red staked hazard. I did not see the ball go into the hazard, but must assess that his point of entry into the hazard would not have changed regardless if he tried the shot or not.

I realize this sounds confusing. Well I am confused. I have not encountered this situation before so I need some help. I believe that rule 26 applies, but since he took a shot, missed and it stayed in the hazard….does it still apply? Can someone explain which rule to apply and number of stroke penalty Sergio Garcia should be assessed?