How important are rules....

[Kris C]

This is about ball golf, but rules discussions are always a good thing.

http://sports.yahoo.com/golf/blog/devil_ball_golf/post/Dustin-Johnson-s-rules-violation-costs-him-a-sho?urn=golf-262517

[Kris C]

This is more about the letter of the law vs the spirit of the law. I've always felt that the letter of the law should be followed because the spirit is open to interpretation. It sucks when it bites you in the :shocked: but that's the way it goes sometimes.

[DMajor]

I watched this live yesterday. He definitely grounded the club and he was definitely in a bunker so he was penalized accordingly.

It was too bad that given the enormity of the situation not one of the many pga officials reminded him before he addressed the ball that he was in a bunker. The biggest problem in that situation is the course and crowd design for the tournament. Bunkers are a significant hazard in golf and should not be part of the gallery's path.

Dustin Johnson ended up making about $270,000 for tying for 5th place. Had he gotten 3rd place in the playoff he would have won around $500,000. If he won the playoff he would have won $1.35 Million. That was potentially A million dollar mistake. He took it pretty well all things considered.

On a side note last cash at this tournament made $13,900. $1,000 less than the USDGC champion made last year.


http://www.pga.com/pgachampionship/2010/scoring/results.cfm

[papatart]

The thing about the official not saying anything is that it is not his place to say anything. He is their as an observer to make sure that the rules are followed, not to keep everyone from breaking them when they are getting ready to commit an infraction.

As much as I hated seeing this happen to him (I was watching it live and it killed me to see it) I also appreciated the way that he handled it. I have yet to see a professional ball golfer not take the high road and say that they were disappointed but in the end it was his responsibility and he made a mistake.

I think the thing that made me the most upset about the entire situation is that the course people seemed to want to have everything their way: have the course play the way it was originally designed and have as many paying customers there to watch the event. Because of the crowds, these bunkers that were in the design became part of the gallery and it cost someone a chance at a championship. Had there been no gallery there (actually standing IN the hazard while he is making his shot) then he would have never grounded the club as it would have been obvious that it was a bunker. I think they should have either played the course and had less gallery area or understood that they wanted a huge crowd and let off on the bunker rule a bit.

I just wish I could hit a golf ball with any kind of accuracy.......

Later,
Scott Papa

[REDFIVE]

There was a rules sheet made available to all players and the first line was about the bunkers that would be off the fairways in the croud. He had admitted that he did not read the rules sheet. If he had he would have been aware that he were in one of these hazards. Looks like having knowledge of the rules is a very important part of golf.

[Sausage Fingers]

There was a rules sheet made available to all players and the first line was about the bunkers that would be off the fairways in the croud. He had admitted that he did not read the rules sheet. If he had he would have been aware that he were in one of these hazards. Looks like having knowledge of the rules is a very important part of golf.

DING! DING! DING! WE HAVE A WINNER!!!!:cheerleader:

[prospect]

As far as I know, it doesn't matter where the bunker is, you cannot ground your club in a bunker. If you ground your club, you can gauge how soft/firm the sand is, and adjust your swing accordingly. I don't care if he read the rules sheet or not, being a touring pro he should have known that already.

[Toby Puttzinski]

I think most of us that watched it live had no idea that there was any sort of bunker there... the shot landed in a large gallery, and the area was trampled by a mob surrounding the lie>> the 'mini' bunkers were already lacking distinct borders, but this was made worse by the heavy foot traffic... and the fact that there were sandy places throughout the course.
Even if he had read through the rules sheet thoroughly, there's a good chance he'd have overlooked the fact that he was in a 'bunker', considering the physical circumstances and the enormous pressure he was feeling while approaching that shot. Regardless, Chris is right, he should've read the rule book... or just put it on the fairway..

[sillybizz]

Rules aren't important and neither are city, state and federal laws, just ask a North Park regular!

[ChUcK]

Rules aren't important and neither are city, state and federal laws, just ask a North Park regular!

Posts like these make me want to cancel my internet service.

[sillybizz]

Posts like these make me want to cancel my internet service.

:kissflowers: :angel:

[PuttsRrad]

last year chuck's posts made me CANCEL my internet service!!

[Tim]

To quote my neighbor Sue at the Chick Flick: "I have no problem following rules, so long as they make sense."

[sillybizz]

To quote my neighbor Sue at the Chick Flick: "I have no problem following rules, so long as they make sense."

So if I don't think holing out makes sense I don't get two strokes during PDGA play? You have to follow rules whether you believe in them or not or you could suffer the consequences.

[Tim]

Or if you don't think it makes sense, don't play tournaments.

[LJ Jubner]

So I am watching on Sunday and see his ball in the sand. He addresses it (grounds club) and I think Hey, that's a trap! He plays and off they go. After he turns in a bad card, The local rules are shared publicly.

Note Ball golf has two sets of rules The Royal and Ancient and the local (conditional, situational) The locals are published in the PP on Wed
The Local rules states "that any Sand whether boundaried or not, raked or not and/or outside of the ropes is deemed a hazard and will be treated as such". Plain and simple.

There was an incident of misplayed course recently and the group made what was "an incorrect decision" the player was ultimately the only one who bore the weight of the decision.
Bottom line

Always

Throw a provisional when in doubt
Talk to the TD before you turn in your card


Tim
I believe there are 5 rules we should all play by all of the time

NO Falling putts
Don't advance in front of play
Behind your mini
Pack it in Pack it out
Don't break shit

[Tim]

Tim
I believe there are 5 rules we should all play by all of the time

NO Falling putts
Don't advance in front of play
Behind your mini
Pack it in Pack it out
Don't break shit


Not bad standards, though I don't really have much of an issue with 1-3 in casual play, so long as anything is done with good intentions.

Kind of reminds me of George Carlin's version of the 10 Commandments. (http://www.dvrbs.com/world/GeorgeCarlin-TheTenCommandments.htm)

[DMajor]

Don't break shit
[/LIST]



Especially your hand

[Ol' Bob]

Especially your hand

I know that break. Got mad and punched something hard, eh? http://nwdiscgolfnews.com/forum/image.php?u=562&dateline=1282068733 Ask me how did I know.

[Ol' Bob]

Not bad standards, though I don't really have much of an issue with 1-3 in casual play, so long as anything is done with good intentions.

Kind of reminds me of George Carlin's version of the 10 Commandments. (http://www.dvrbs.com/world/GeorgeCarlin-TheTenCommandments.htm)

Stop making so much f***ing sense.

[ChUcK]

NO Falling putts
Don't advance in front of play
Behind your mini
Pack it in Pack it out
Don't break shit


6. Yell "FORE" as if it's your own spouse that your DF Boss is about to cream.

[DMajor]

I know that break. Got mad and punched something hard, eh? http://nwdiscgolfnews.com/forum/image.php?u=562&dateline=1282068733 Ask me how did I know.

I had an unusually frustrating morning entirely unrelated to disc golf. Then went to play a round at seatac. Threw my first bad shot of the round on hole three's tee and punched the shoulder high metal tee sign right next to the tee. It was the first time I have ever punched anything on a disc golf course out of frustration. I saved par on three and finished the round at thirteen over. That was a month ago and I have not been able to throw much since. I have gotten alot better with my left but it is not nearly as fun.

Let that be a lesson. Punching things out of frustration is not a good idea. But if you do make sure you connect with your pointer and middle knuckles first or you will end up twiddling your thumbs all summer when your friends are out winning disc golf tournaments :(

How did you know?

[mazza]

[QUOTE=ChUcK;73588]6. Yell "FORE" as if it's your own spouse that your DF Boss is about to cream.[/QUi hope u didn't forget that rule....at the point in time

[ChUcK]

Nah, it's just one of my pet peeves on the course. I don't mind getting hit/having discs land near me if I hear a good fore first.

[Cajun]

If you are in the habit of punching something out of frustration you need to train yourself to use your non-throwing hand. In the split second it takes to switch hands you may sometimes get lucky and realize its not worth it and walk away.

When my hand or arm gets injured or hurt at home I love to tell my wife and mother-in-law "Don't worry its not my throwing hand!" and watch their you gotta be kidding me oh darn reaction.

[Ol' Bob]

How did you know?

I just punched the wall for telling you to ask me that.

Well let's see... It was an afternoon over forty years ago and I was leaving in the wee hours on a trip to the PNW from my mom's house in So. Cal. I had put a rack on top of my '68 Camaro for my 17' fiberglass canoe. I had my BSA 650 on a trailer behind and was going on the greatest vacation of my young life. I had bought some expensive 1/2" nylon braid rope to tie the canoe down and I wanted to do it in two pieces, one fore, and one aft. I put the canoe on the rack and tied down one end and when I went to tie down the other end, I found I had cut the rope in the wrong place. It pissed me off so much that I punched the canoe. It was actually quite hard. I got what they call, "the boxer's fracture." I still left in the wee hours, but with my right hand gripping a rolled ace bandage and another ace bandage wrapped around it. Man, it hurt to shift that four speed all the way to Ocean Park.

After I got home from the doctor, I found I had not cut the rope in the wrong place after all, but only thought I had. Oops.

Some years later I got pissed at my old lady and kicked a 50 pound bag of Purina Dog Chow. It didn't give like I thought it would. Don't do that either, if you like your toes, that is.

[3 Fingers]

I just punched the wall for telling you to ask me that.

Well let's see... It was an afternoon over forty years ago and I was leaving in the wee hours on a trip to the PNW from my mom's house in So. Cal. I had put a rack on top of my '68 Camaro for my 17' fiberglass canoe. I had my BSA 650 on a trailer behind and was going on the greatest vacation of my young life. I had bought some expensive 1/2" nylon braid rope to tie the canoe down and I wanted to do it in two pieces, one fore, and one aft. I put the canoe on the rack and tied down one end and when I went to tie down the other end, I found I had cut the rope in the wrong place. It pissed me off so much that I punched the canoe. It was actually quite hard. I got what they call, "the boxer's fracture." I still left in the wee hours, but with my right hand gripping a rolled ace bandage and another ace bandage wrapped around it. Man, it hurt to shift that four speed all the way to Ocean Park.

After I got home from the doctor, I found I had not cut the rope in the wrong place after all, but only thought I had. Oops.

Some years later I got pissed at my old lady and kicked a 50 pound bag of Purina Dog Chow. It didn't give like I thought it would. Don't do that either, if you like your toes, that is.

What I got out of that was " I can't belive you tied a canoe to the top of a four speed '68 Camaro " You must have been alot of fun to hangout with Ol' Bob !!!!!!

[Ol' Bob]

Only new car I ever had. Should have put it straight into storage, eh?

I showed up in the Ocean Park area and soon was spoken of around the peninsula as "California Bob, the drug pusher." Nice car (my mom), nice bike (the GI Bill), nice canoe (pumping gas 56 hours a week). Sold the car to my uncle after two years and got an old 1951 Air Force Jeep. Broke the motor case on the BSA and gave it to my friend who had an ugly BSA with a good motor. Stored the canoe at a friend's house for the winter and he had a chimney fire and the house burned to the ground.

Ah, the good old days... It doesn't get any better than this!

Lay not your treasures up upon the earth,
where moth and rust doth corrupt.
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