Subject: Dreamers (R11; R18; R5)

It was a cool, glorious day at BMCC. Thrilled to be on the golf course, dreamers WT and Foremost decided to play all the way back from the black tees in match play competition. Several Rules incidents occurred.

(1) Facts

With honors, WT laced a fine drive down the middle of the 9th fairway from the blue tees.

(1) Ruling

With the realization that WT played from the wrong teeing area, F asked WT to cancel and replay the stroke from the correct teeing area. WT was delighted to hear that there was no penalty for playing from the wrong teeing area in match play, when a two-stroke penalty would be assessed in stroke play. R11-4a and b.

(2) Facts

F’s second shot lies up ahead on the hole #17 fairway. A Player on Hole #4 drives over to F’s ball, picks it up, carefully inspects it (he was probably admiring the Foremost logo), and drops it on the ground. F later finds his ball perched awkwardly, half atop a leaf and sporting a small clump of mud.

(2) Issue

Is F entitled to relief? (WT argues that he is not). If so, drop or place? May he clean the ball after lifting?

(2) Ruling

By definition, F’s ball was moved by an”outside agency”, which is any agency other than the player’s or opponent’s side or equipment in match play. (The interference must be “known” or with”virtual certainty.” In this instance, there was actual knowledge, as both players witnessed the incident).

F is not only entitled to relief; he “must” replace (not drop) the ball. R18-1. Note, however, that where the specific spot from which the ball has been moved cannot be known, the player must drop instead of place. R20-3c. Since the players observed the ball being lifted from a great distance ( probably about 260 yards, as F had hit his 3-wood), the specific spot of the ball’s initial resting place could not be known, and the drop was appropriate. And yes, F was entitled to clean his ball before dropping. R21.

(3) Facts

After yanking his tee ball into the LWH on hole #15, WT reaches in his bag and pulls out a pink “Snell” ball which he had found somewhere. His game immediately improves and he holds on to win the match. Prior to exiting the 18th green, F raises a timely complaint under R2-5. The essence of the complaint is that F has never heard of a “Snell” ball, and questions whether it is a conforming ball under R5-1.

(3) Ruling

The matter is brought to the attention of the Committee who stated he actually had a sleeve of Snell balls sitting on his desk. F did not find this answer conclusive, but prior to appealing and submitting this question to higher authorities he researched the list of conforming balls on the internet, and did find that white or yellow Snell balls made the list. F thought WT had played with a pink Snell, but in fairness he could have just used a pink ball on another hole. F withdrew his complaint.

A lively discussion ensued after the match. WT told of some fine distant relatives he had from Tiptonville who had planned on bringing some of their distant relatives and all playing BMCC since it was a far better course than any they could play around Tiptonville. He said his relatives were surprised to hear him explain that BMCC restricted play to members, and further, to hear that not only could they not play golf, but they couldn’t even enjoy the extra benefits like the swimming pool and sauna, nor could they same-day register and vote on the impending BMCC capital project, unless they became members.

Further, WT said he advised his now shell-shocked relatives that even Dreamers, the children of members who had been brought into the Club at no fault of their own and who had enjoyed the Club their entire lives, had to leave the Club upon reaching adulthood, at which point they were invited to reapply for membership. “How cruel”, someone had muttered. “Heartless”, said another.

WT said the relatives finally, however, grasped the concept of membership. One said a country club must be like a house. “I guess if you own it and care about it,” he said, “you get to make some rules and say who lives there.” Another had nodded his head slowly in agreement, but added he couldn’t believe a country club had admission and participation standards so much tougher than those of the United States of America.

Reader CC was listening solemnly as WT told his story. He pointed out that sometimes membership even had to be earned, which was why he was wearing a coat and tie and preparing to join the BMCC team for dinner on the eve of the inter-club match with the GCT, while F and WT were wearing sweaty shirts and smelly socks and ordering carry-out.

As usual, all comments are welcome!

Respectfully submitted,
F*

*By the way, the author’s book “I Think That’s a Penalty” is now available in paperback on Amazon books. F looks forward to a few candid reviews! The setting is site-specific, but the scenarios and ROG are universal.