Facts Player BO sighed as his drive hooked into the bushes left of the 17th fairway at HCC. “Is that a Penalty Area?”, he asked. “Nope”, said Player PB. “The PA doesn’t start until the hole descends into the gully.” “Ok, said BO. “I’m going to hit a provisional.” He then hit his provisional in the same spot in the same cluster of bushes. “Darn!”, he exclaimed. “Maybe we can find one of them”. The players arrived at the bushes…
The world breathed a sigh of relief when he announced that he would not retaliate. The response would not have been “proportional”, he explained later, and the evidence had not fully supported the conclusion that the opposition had even been at fault. Nevertheless, Foremost issued a stern warning to all opponents that he would remain ever-vigilant. Facts The Par-5 6th hole at OEI presents a daunting challenge off the tee box. The striking feature of the shot is the elevation…
Facts Foremost played a blind uphill second shot into the Par 5 17th Hole at HCC from a lie right of the cart path on a slope descending into a creek-side Penalty Area. He was riding in the golf cart with opponent TD in a tight match with two holes to play. They approached the balls in the fairway, as all players had hit their second shots. Upon arriving at the first ball in the fairway, TD quickly grabbed an…
She looked at Foremost …. a simple question in her eyes. They traded stares for what seemed like an eternity. An awkward silence ensued. Issue Would Foremost mark his damn ball? Facts F’s ball was in the fringe on the 9th hole of HCC, six inches off the putting green. DD was 4 feet off the putting green with a putter in her hand. F’s ball was directly in her putting line. Ruling A gentleman always, F would have loved…
Facts An old-timer at the HCC in the mountains of N.C. advised Foremost that they had once considered naming the holes of the course. He said the names suggested for the 11th and 12th holes were Boomerang and Echo as approach shots falling short of the elevated putting greens might just come back to the player who executed the shot. F, perhaps a little intimidated, chose this opportunity to put these naming suggestions to the test. He bladed his short-iron…
The chip shot from 20 yards failed to check. As the ball raced past the hole, it struck the ball of a fellow player and came to rest by the hole for a tap-in par. “That’s collusion!”, shouted Reader and opponent NZ, articulating the problem many players have with a practice more commonly referenced as “backstopping.” He pointed out that no one would ever leave a ball unmarked where it might assist an unpopular player….a Patrick Reed … or the…
The University of the South* Sewanee, Tennessee Foremost was excited to play the recently renovated Sewanee Course which had received rave reviews. “Do you have any Local Rules?”, asked Foremost, making his usual inquiry at a new course. “Yep, cheat like hell” said the attendant, not missing a beat. Reader Rev CS, a Sewanee Divinity School alum, unwittingly took this advice to heart. Facts “It’s okay if I step down the grass by my ball, isn’t it?”, he asked as…
Facts Nothing is more refreshing than a frank, respectful, and spirited Rules discussion between two popular and veteran golfers, both mindful of the history and spirit of the great game of golf, and of the obligation each player has to the sportsmanship, traditions, etiquette, and Rules of play, which make golf the greatest game on earth. In this spirit, Reader RF approached Reader WT on the practice range at BMCC and asked him why he was “so damn slow”. Upon…
(Rules 6.3,7.4, 9.4, 12) As golfers move into the year under the New Rules, they should familiarize themselves with the new terminology of golf. By now, most players know that “Water Hazards” are now “Penalty Areas” (See Def, “Penalty Area”) and “Bunkers” are no longer “Hazards”, but instead receive special treatment of their own under a new Rule for “Bunkers” (See Def “Bunker”; and R12). Other new terminology that has received less attention to date is the designation of a…
With the weekend Livingston competition on the horizon at BMCC, and In anticipation of an onslaught of Rules controversies and questions, Foremost travelled to Orlando and the spectacular Orange Tree Golf Club for a couple of playing sessions and rules consultations with golf’s premier Rules guru, Mark Russell. Mark has been a PGA Rules official since 1980, and is currently Vice President of Rules and Competition overseeing all aspects of competition on the Tour. (Yes, he’s the guy you see…