Golf Rules! What are "Winter Rules" Anyway?

Actually, under the Rules of Golf, there’s no such thing as “winter rules.” But wait a minute, we play by them when the course gets sloppy, don’t we? Yes. Because we adopt a local rule.

Here’s what the USGA says, under “’Preferred Lies’ and ‘Winter Rules.’ “Adverse conditions, including the poor condition of the course or the existence of mud, are sometimes so general, particularly during winter months, that the Committee may decide to grant relief by temporary Local Rule either to protect the course or to promote fair and pleasant play.

“The Local Rule should be withdrawn as soon as the conditions warrant.” The ASMC Tournament Committee generally waits until carts are not permitted on the course, which is a pretty good indicator, before implementing a local rule allowing players to improve their lie, usually by six inches in the same turf condition (that is, in the rough, you stay  in the rough).

And since, under the Rules, the embedded ball rule applies only in “closely-mown areas,” like the fairway or fringe, the Committee usually adopts a rule allowing relief anywhere except in a hazard.

Again, here’s what the USGA says under “Lifting an Embedded Ball, Cleaning.” “Temporary conditions that might interfere with proper playing of the game, including mud and extreme wetness, warranting relief for an embedded ball anywhere through the green or permitting lifting, cleaning and replacing a ball anywhere through the green or on a closely mown area through the green.”

This is a problem throughout the year in the grassy area around and behind No. 8 green, for example. In a Men’s Club tournament, you may NOT take relief from an embedded ball in these rough areas unless the Committee has specified a local rule granting relief for an embed ball “through the green.”

In any game, you should clarify whether you’re playing under a local rule that allows you to improve your lie. Whether you’re playing under “winter rules” or the actual Rules of Golf, you must post your score.

Golf Rules! Principal Changes Introduced into the 2012 Code

There’s been some discussion about the changes in the Rules of Golf that were introduced for 2012 and we thought we’d list them for you.

Definitions:

Addressing the Ball
The Definition is amended so that a player has addressed the ball simply by grounding his club immediately in front of or behind the ball, regardless of whether or not he has taken his stance. Therefore, the Rules generally no longer provide for a player addressing the ball in a hazard. (See also related change to Rule 18-2b)

Rules:

Rule 1-2. Exerting Influence on Movement of Ball or Altering Physical Conditions
The Rule is amended to establish more clearly that, if a player intentionally takes an action to influence the movement of a ball or to alter physical conditions affecting the playing of a hole in a way that is not permitted by the Rules, Rule 1-2 applies only when the action is not already covered in another Rule. For example, a player improving the lie of his ball is in breach of Rule 13-2 and therefore that Rule would apply, whereas a player intentionally improving the lie of a fellow-competitor’s ball is not a situation covered by Rule 13-2 and, therefore, is governed by Rule 1-2.

Rule 6-3a. Time of Starting
Rule 6-3a is amended to provide that the penalty for starting late, but within five minutes of the starting time, is reduced from disqualification to loss of the first hole in match play or two strokes at the first hole in stroke play. Previously this penalty reduction could be introduced as a condition of competition.

VIDEO: Rule 6-3a Explained

Rule 12-1. Seeing Ball; Searching for Ball
Rule 12-1 is reformatted for clarity. In addition, it is amended to (i) permit a player to search for his ball anywhere on the course when it may be covered by sand and to clarify that there is no penalty if the ball is moved in these circumstances, and (ii) apply a penalty of one stroke under Rule 18-2a if a player moves his ball in a hazard when searching for it when it is believed to be covered by loose impediments.

Rule 13-4. Ball in Hazard; Prohibited Actions
Exception 2 to Rule 13-4 is amended to permit a player to smooth sand or soil in a hazard at any time, including before playing from that hazard, provided it is for the sole purpose of caring for the course and Rule 13-2 is not breached.

VIDEO: Rule 13-4 Explained

Rule 18-2b. Ball Moving After Address
A new Exception is added that exonerates the player from penalty if his ball moves after it has been addressed when it is known or virtually certain that he did not cause the ball to move. For example, if it is a gust of wind that moves the ball after it has been addressed, there is no penalty and the ball is played from its new position.

VIDEO: Rule 18-2b Explained

Rule 19-1. Ball in Motion Deflected or Stopped; By Outside Agency
The note is expanded to prescribe the various outcomes when a ball in motion has been deliberately deflected or stopped by an outside agency.

Rule 20-7c. Playing from Wrong Place; Stroke Play
Note 3 is amended so that if a player is to be penalized for playing from a wrong place, in most cases the penalty will be limited to two strokes, even if another Rule has been breached prior to his making the stroke.

Appendix IV
A new Appendix is added to prescribe general regulations for the design of devices and other equipment, such as tees, gloves and distance measuring devices.

Reisdorf, Poor, Apolskis and May Win the ABCD Blind Draw

John Reisdorf, Dale Poor, Ray Apolskis and Charlie May took top honors in the March ABCD Blind Draw tournament, turning in a blistering, breath-taking, staggering net score of 109 on two balls.

That’s 33 below par, for those keeping count.

The second-place team – Bob McCormick, Joe Claridge, Glenn Taylor and Frank Cavallero – wasn’t far behind at 111. Whew!

Third place at 112 was won by John Peterson, John Holquin, Rodd Doerr and Bob Gadsby. With 113, the team of Bill Halward, Jim Boulware, Bob Twaddle and Bob Fust took fourth. (Furst took fourth, ha!)

The fifth place team  at 115 was Don Urfer, Billy Klinkefus, Dick Staniford and Jeff Stanga. And the sixth place team at 117 – the last in the money – was Pete Pappas, Frank Antunovich, Jeff Collins and Mike Howley.

This was a four-man, two-best-ball team event, with teams randomly created from blind draws of player from four handicap flights.

Closest-to-the-pin awards on #8 went to Dick Stainford, 5' 11"; Dale Poor, 6' 5", and John Peterson 9' 3". On #12 it was Ray Aposkis, 2' 1 1/2"; Gerry Catalano, 3' 6", and Bill Halward 4' 5".

The tournament was organized by ASMC Tournament Chairman Gary Lovell and his Tournament Committee.

World War II 'Battlefield' Golf Rules

There's some dispute about whether they're real or just a wonderful joke (as noted in Snopes), but they're so good (and thanks to Rob Prough for passing them along), that we thought you'd get a kick out of seeing them:

RIP Rudy Monte: A Longtime ASMC Friend

Rudy Monte, an independent grocer, philanthropist and longtime member of the Aptos Seascape Men's Club, died Monday, March 12. He was 85.

Born in Mission San Jose in 1926 and a graduate of Washington Union High School in Centerville, Monte served in the Merchant Marines during World War II. He and his bride, Doris, lived in San Francisco and then San Jose, operating a variety of businesses until finally settling as a retail grocer.

He served on the board of the Monte Foundation, established by his son Marc, to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for local schools by putting on an October fireworks spectacle on Seacliff State Beach as a way of thanking the community for supporting the family business, Deluxe Foods of Aptos.

Besides Doris and Marc and his wife Jessica, Monte is survived by sons Paul and his wife Charlotte, and Rudy Jr. and his wife Deena, and a daughter Linda and her husband Bob. Also five grandchildren and one great grandchild.

A viewing for family and friends is scheduled for Sunday, March 18, 2012, 4-6 pm with a Rosary beginning at 6 pm at Benito Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel, 1050 Cayuga Street, Santa Cruz. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, March 19 at St. Joseph's Church, 435 Monterey Ave., Capitola.

The family suggests that Rudy's spirit be honored with a gift to The Monte Foundation. You may visit www.pacificgardenschapel.com to light a candle for Rudy and share any condolences with his family.

First H-I-O For $caletti

Mr. Budweiser...aka...Jeff $caletti had his very first Hole-In-One on Monday (Presidents Day) February 20th. He aced the 126 yard, 8th hole with a 9-iron. The group $100 dollar H-I-O rule was in effect and rumor has it, it was a pretty good  payday! Congratulations Jeff and way to get in your playing partners pockets!