The phone rang early on Monday morning, December 5th. Foremost picked up his phone from his bedside table and a quick glance showed the caller was Sandwich. “What the hell does he want this early?”, thought F, slowly gathering his senses. He answered the call. “F”, said Sandwich in a business-like tone. “I’ve decided to place my name in the golf partner portal.” F was stunned by this announcement as Sandwich had been his starting partner for many years. “Why…
Facts The teams were all-square on the difficult Par 4 5th hole at BMCC. Foremost was searching for his ball in the left rough off the tee, but was comforted by the fact that his partner, RM, had split the middle of the fairway with his drive. Suddenly a cart raced into the fairway. Brief words were exchanged between the driver and RM, and F could only watch as RM leapt into the cart which peeled off in the direction…
I. The Leaf Rule Foremost was puzzled by the cryptic email he received from his host on the eve of a highly-anticipated match at the lovely HCC …the HCC in Nashville. “Come to lunch at 11:45 ….” said the message, signed by Reader and Host, FA, who added the following bullet points below his signature: *USGA Rules are in effect *Leaf Rule” is also in effect *Local Rule – host of the event is final arbiter of the Rules F’s…
As exciting as college football was this past weekend with the App State Hail Mary or, perhaps, Vandy’s stirring come-back victory over NIU, the PGA Fortinet Tournament finish had to steal the stage for drama. Foremost has never seen anything like this at this level. In case you missed it. Danny Willet 3-putt from a relatively flat-looking 3’7” to hand a golf tournament to Max Homa. He missed first for the win, and then missed the 5 foot come-backer for…
Perhaps this would be day that Foremost could simply concentrate on his golf game? Not a chance! Unfortunately, circumstances dictated otherwise. Hole # 1 Facts F split the fairway with a towering opening drive on Par 5 Hole #1 at BMCC. His partner, Reader PT, had pushed his initial drive into the rough right, and then seemingly pulled his opening hole mulligan drive into the trees left. F who was, of course, driving the golf cart, quickly identified his own…
If Foremost was asked to nominate the single hole at BMCC hosting the most frequent Rules infractions, he would easily select the short Par 3 Hole #6. The hole from the forward gentlemen’s tees generally plays only 130 to 150 yards based on tee and pin placement, but is situated where misfires often bring disastrous results whether short, left, or right. (The short miss, though tragic, leaves the ball in a creek bed, which rarely presents rules problems as it…
What a week! Biden forgives student loan debt! He’s now got Foremost’s mid-term vote if he will just cancel these pesky Country Club dues. This item has to be next on the Democratic buy-a-vote agenda! (What an easy sale! As most members on this Board will attest, there isn’t that much difference between a College experience and a Country Club experience anyway!) Also, Hawaii saw the most offensive destruction on its shores since Pearl Harbor, as the Commodores routed the…
I. Facts In four-ball competition at BMCC, Foremost was a little slow out of the gate, but his partner RMcN had held off opponents Sandwich and SH with a bogey/par start. “Ok, we are one up”, said F to RMcN as the players proceeded to the third hole teeing area. “Oh no”, said Sandwich. “RMcN is my partner and you and SH are two down.” Well, F was flabbergasted with this announcement, as he distinctly remembered he had tossed the…
I. Facts Foremost was deeply touched when playing partner, JD, noted that he had missed F’s rules blog. F explained that, due to circumstances beyond his control, it had been an unusual and infrequent golf season for F, and that he had, indeed, dropped the ball in his solemn quest and duty to uphold, defend, and explain the Rules of Golf, a failing perhaps even more significant as the very foundations of golf are being rocked by the emergence of…
Veteran Readers CM and JB recently approached Foremost with questions relating to drop relief from a Penalty Area. CM asked whether he was “required” in a certain scenario to take a penalty stroke after playing a drop. JB asked if he had the “option” to take a drop and a penalty stroke without playing the shot. In neither case, was a ball actually in the Penalty Area. I. Facts On the 11th hole at HCC, Reader CM watched his drive…