Wait, Golf Has Rules?
Wednesday, September 1st, 2010This is a guest post written by Shane Bacon.
If you can look past Tiger Woods and all that has happened with him this year, 2010 might be remembered for two things; multiple 59s, and multiple rules violations.
From the famous “bunker that isn’t a bunker” fiasco at the PGA Championship to the recent disqualification at the Canadian Women’s Open by two players for playing the wrong ball and not saying anything about it, it seems that the rules of golf have continued to be stretched thin, but for the first time, the players are the ones that are getting patted on the back when something happens.
You see, as a junior golfer you are told to carry a few things in your bag; balls, tees, a glove and the Rules of Golf. They are essential, because a lot of the times out on a golf course, you don’t have someone around with a radio and a degree in the USGA to tell you what is right and wrong.
So, the question is this; are players lazier these days with the rules, or are some intentionally pushing the limits of the rules because they know they can?
I think most of the infractions we’ve encountered in 2010 have been simple mistakes. From the early months of the groove limitations to the latest missed snooze button by Jim Furyk, you can classify all of these as human err, and nothing more.
But, grounding your club in a bunker? That’s stuff we have been preached not to do for centuries. Playing the wrong ball and deciding not to speak up about it? That’s flat out cheating.
There's an app for that.
Yes, at times ignorance can be bliss, but on the golf course, ignorance is means for disqualification. It’s time we stop being so clueless. Maybe some reading material might solve that.
Shane Bacon
Shane Bacon is the owner, writer and editor of the popular golf blog Dogs That Chase Cars.
He is also the lead writer at Yahoo! Golf, the most trafficked golf site on the Internet.
Shane is a former competitive golfer who still carries a single digit handicap. He enjoys bow ties and sarcasm.
Related Category: Bacon & Fried Eggs, College golf, Golf, Junior Golf
And then the heavens opened up. We got rained on for most of the back nine and I managed to still keep my compossure and press on. I knew I was in contention for one of the 5 spots up for grabs, I just needed to string a few solid holes together coming in. I stuck a 3-iron to 12 feet on the 230 yard par 3, 7th and had a great look at birdie that just skirted the edge of the hole. I roped a Drive on the 8th hole that left me w a 125 yard pitching wedge, uphill to a sucker-pin tucked back right. The tounament director rode out to join the circus that was forming around our group on #8, as my finish determined not only my fate, but the fate of several others. He informed me that I needed to make a birdie coming in to qualify. At this point I experienced a complete mixture of emotions. My head was spinning. On one hand, I was still in contention and could control my own destiny. But the other half of my brain was making me nautious thinking back to that 12 inch tap in that would have all but secured getting through and qualifying. I had to take it straight at the pin and try to stick one, and I nearly did. I flushed a wedge and was posing on it thinking I stiffed it. It flew straight over the pin took one hop from 3 feet behind the hole and took a huge hop over the green. Now, I faced a mega-flop shot to a green elevated at least 8 feet above me with no green to work with. I could only see the top of the pin and pulled off a miraculous shot that lipped out to 5 inches. I almost stole the birdie I needed to get in. 
