Creative use of a DZ

[LobWedge]

As a Rules Official, I see a lot of different situations on the golf course that players get themselves into. Most are straight forward, but some are downright rare, and bizarre. Below is one such bizarre situation that I was involved in last year as the Rules Chair of a local event...

 

(Dear Penthouse) I wouldn't have believed this if I hadn't been there to deal with it myself.

1st tee. Player attempts to hit his tee shot over a small lake to the fairway beyond. the rim of the water hazard is lined by reeds and bullrushes, so a ball towards the far edge could disappear from view before reaching land. player goes forward to search and KVC determines that the ball is in the hazard. Player makes his way back to tee side of the water to use a DZ (Dropping Zone) established on a forward tee deck. Player TEES his ball in the DZ and plays his stroke to the fairway beyond. And that's when I get the call on the radio from the starter...

Once I got a quick "on the fly" rundown of what the starter had thought he'd seen, my primary motivation was to get to the player before he teed off at #2. I was certain that the penalty was 2 strokes, but at that very moment I was baffled as to which Rule applied. As I drove over to his location between 1 and 2, I came to the conclusion that he had played a wrong ball. I informed the player of his penalty and let him carry on.

As I thought about it further, I pulled in two other senior rules opinions, and an interesting discussion ensued. To truncate things a bit, the opinions boiled down to 15-3, 20-7, D. 20-6/1, and the decision that I finally came to, penalize directly under the Local Rule involving the DZ (App.1, B, 8). Two Strokes.

[cksurfdude]

Hi - so I understand this correctly: the penalty was using a tee in the drop zone; ie. a player must take a drop (inside the DZ)? Thx.

[LobWedge]

Hi - so I understand this correctly: the penalty was using a tee in the drop zone; ie. a player must take a drop (inside the DZ)? Thx.

 

Yes, that is correct.

[PlaidJacket]

I love reading/studying the rules and decisions. Sadly, I'm not all that versed it seems.

My questions is what are your qualifications to be/become a rules "official"? Can you share your credentials, certifications, etc? Are you qualified at all levels of competition?

I don't know of another guy in the forum that's a rules official. You could be most helpful to all of us I think. Our "go to" guy if you will.

Thanks

[LobWedge]

I love reading/studying the rules and decisions. Sadly, I'm not all that versed it seems.

My questions is what are your qualifications to be/become a rules "official"? Can you share your credentials, certifications, etc? Are you qualified at all levels of competition?

I don't know of another guy in the forum that's a rules official. You could be most helpful to all of us I think. Our "go to" guy if you will.

Thanks

 

Hi PlaidJacket. I'm not 100% sure how it would translate in USGA terms (probably the 85+ level), but in Canada we have 4 levels of officiating. I'm at Level 4, which means I'm certified to officiate at the National Championship level. I've also completed a Tournament Administration and Rules Seminar in the last year. We're required to re-certify every 4 years (next year for me). I've worked a couple of local PGA Tour qualifiers for the Canadian Open as well, along with any number of Provincial and Regional tournaments. At some point, time and location permitting, I'll write the USGA exam so I can "work" down there.

 

I'm more than happy to help anyone work through any Rules scenarios/questions that may come up here.

[PlaidJacket]

Sounds like you're well along your way Lob. I don't know that we have anyone here as advanced as you are. Either way... I think you'd be helpful to everyone that has a rules question/issue. Glad you joined up.

 

Question: What do you think are the most common day in day out rules everyone should know? (perhaps the top 10 for example)

[LobWedge]

Question: What do you think are the most common day in day out rules everyone should know? (perhaps the top 10 for example)

 

Excellent question. In my experience if a player can have a basic working knowledge of the following rules, it will help them through 99% of the situations they encounter on the golf course.

 

13. Ball Played as it Lies

16. The Putting Green

18. Ball at Rest Moved

20. Lifting, Dropping and Placing; Playing From Wrong Place

23. Loose Impediments

24. Obstructions

25. Abnormal Ground Conditions, Embedded Ball and Wrong Putting Green

26. Water Hazards (especially the difference between red and yellow stakes)

27. Ball Lost ot Out of Bounds; Provisional Ball (especially 27-2)

28. Ball Unplayable

[PlaidJacket]

I need to do some brushing up on those myself. I've got a Texas Golf Association event coming up in July. If I get selected for one of the open positions. Senior Division. Anyway..

 

For the longest time I thought Tour players ask for way too many rule decisions. Sometimes for what seems like the most minor/common ruling. I'd like to see the rules become more a part of the game than they are. For instance. I'd like it to be where in any tournament a player gets to ask for no more than 2 rulings from an official. Otherwise it's between him and his caddy to decide and play on. For better or worse. Penalty or no penalty.

(yeah... I'm dreaming)

[LobWedge]

I need to do some brushing up on those myself. I've got a Texas Golf Association event coming up in July. If I get selected for one of the open positions. Senior Division. Anyway..

 

For the longest time I thought Tour players ask for way too many rule decisions. Sometimes for what seems like the most minor/common ruling. I'd like to see the rules become more a part of the game than they are. For instance. I'd like it to be where in any tournament a player gets to ask for no more than 2 rulings from an official. Otherwise it's between him and his caddy to decide and play on. For better or worse. Penalty or no penalty.

(yeah... I'm dreaming)

 

Basically, no tour player wants to make a stupid mistake that's going to cost them big bucks.

[numberonecoog]

I cant say I would like to see that Plaid. If I had an opportunity to aska  rules official I would want to make sure. Especially since some guy at home can call in and get me DQ'd.

[PlaidJacket]

I see both sides. But how many times have you seen a player ask for a ruling when they have a sprinkler head next to their ball? Yes, it's a big money game. I get that. I just think the players should at least know the most basic rules as Lob suggested above. I believe Rory a few years ago conceded that he didn't know the rules (basic) or something to that effect.

I'd also do away with rules officials taking TV watchers or spectators advice. They're not a part of the game. Anyway... ain't gonna happen. Moving on.

[cksurfdude]

LW:

Thx for that list; am going to review for myself!

 

Kinda parallel to PlaidJacket's comment about pro players, I find it a bit .. uncomfortable? .. that too many am's don't really know the rules...

(or pretend not to know when it's to their benefit ....)

 

I always play by a super-simplified 'cliff notes' version:

• Play the ball as it lies

• Play the course as you find it

• Do not touch nor move the ball between the tee and the green

 

But am also studying the cases that cover hazards, lost ball, where it's legal to take a drop, etc. etc.

 

Thanks again!

[Kor.A.Door]

I see both sides. But how many times have you seen a player ask for a ruling when they have a sprinkler head next to their ball? Yes, it's a big money game. I get that. I just think the players should at least know the most basic rules as Lob suggested above. I believe Rory a few years ago conceded that he didn't know the rules (basic) or something to that effect.

I'd also do away with rules officials taking TV watchers or spectators advice. They're not a part of the game. Anyway... ain't gonna happen. Moving on.

I believe there is an amendment now that keeps the rv viewer from calling in, it has something to do with HD tv enhancement