Foremost and Sandwich squared off in a high-stakes putting match last week on the Bermuda grass practice green at BMCC. (Course play is limited to temporary greens as the regular bent grass greens are temporarily closed due to heat and/or disease stress). The format of the competition was straightforward, with dollars awarded for closest to hole and two-putts. Without further detail, F can only say he was trounced after a few holes and lost $5.00. F wishes to appeal and…
Hardly a week goes by without Foremost hearing from a friendly Reader … “when is F going to call a violation on F?” The sad implication, of course, is that F tends to use the Rules when beneficial to F, or when placing F in a favorable light, and not necessarily in the noble pursuit of truth, justice, world peace and strict adherence to the Rules of Golf. F denies this accusation, but must acknowledge there are, indeed, situations where…
Facts Reader BrC interrupted an otherwise splendid round by firing his drive on the Par 4 7th Hole at HCC in the general direction of the houses bordering the right side of the fairway. The ball was heard striking and rattling around in the trees, but its eventual landing spot could not be determined visually, due to the severe slope off the fairway and through the rough. BrC was advised to play a “provisional” ball as his fellow players noted…
With much of the golf world still talking after the July 4th weekend about the rather epic meltdown and finish in the John Deere Classic, another stirring golf finish almost slipped under the radar….this competition at the lovely and challenging BMCC in Nashville in their annual Fourball (Match Play) elimination tournament. Wily veterans RGC and his moppy-headed partner, JB, were cruising to victory over youngsters JC and CC, 3 up after the 11th Hole, although storm clouds gathered on the…
1. Facts — May I Drop in a Penalty Area? Reader BF didn’t get the roll off the steep slope to the left of the Par 4 Hole #12 at OEI. With the ball from his drive just off the fairway, but in the rough and well below his feet he chunked his approach shot into the unkempt PA mini-gorge fronting the green. He found his ball, and after struggling to purchase…
Facts In Match Play competition on the Par 5 14th Hole at HCC, Foremost hit a most promising drive off the tee which ended up slicing into the wooded Penalty Area right of the fairway. F was ever-hopeful, however, as he thought he saw the ball ricochet back towards the fairway. He proceeded directly to the tree he had marked, and sure enough, there was his yellow ball. 10-12 feet down the slope off the fairway,…
1. Facts ToD caused a minor uproar on the first tee at HCC by arriving and playing in mousy colored Hoka sneakers rather than playing in conforming golf shoes as worn by most players in professional ranks and at upscale golf clubs. He said they were soft, well-cushioned, and extremely comfortable. Was he violating a ROG? Ruling Foremost was inclined to defend the sneaker accessory as a simple fashion indiscretion. A player’s shoes would fall…
In a highly competitive Four-Ball competition at the beautiful GCT in Kingston Springs, the Yank requested tree relief on the intimidating 9th Hole, a Par 4 bordered in its entirety on the right by a retaining wall descending precipitously to the ball-hungry, swirling waters of Brush Creek. The tendency, of course, is for players to play left off the tee to avoid the Penalty Area, and the Yank had done just that, overcompensating somewhat and leaving his ball in the…
Facts In a recent a recent Four Ball competition, Reader TC approached the green where his fellow players awaited and announced that he had accidentally touched his ball while aligning his club prior to his pitch shot into the green. He stated that he had seen the ball quiver forward, but that it had quivered back into the exact same position as at address, and that it had never rolled or left its original spot. He didn’t…
Facts Foremost and Reader JoR were delighted to participate in a four-man Charity Scramble recently at the outstanding Vanderbilt Legends course outside Franklin, Tn. The recipient charity was “High Hopes” , and while the charity itself is not golf-related, its name alone set an aspirational tone for the day at hand, as what golfer ever tees it up without his own “high hopes”? The Rules format was interesting and designed to promote fast play and and, perhaps, a few more…