Pre- Game

Prior to a recent Four-Ball Match Play competition at BMCC, Player WT suggested to his group that they all lock arms as a show of unity. Player RM said he thought it would make a more powerful statement  if they all simply held hands. Foremost said he had never liked to hold hands in the huddle in college, even  though his coaches had all thought that was a good idea. Player EC said there was no way he was holding hands, or linking arms, or kneeling, but he would support a well-reasoned joint statement.

Someone asked WT why he wanted to lock arms. He said he couldn’t remember why exactly, but he thought they should hold a press conference, since he knew the reason wasn’t what everyone had thought it was in the beginning. RM asked EC to, at least, consider holding hands.

F then suggested they should kneel, but then stand up to tee off. EC countered that they should stay in the locker room until the starter called their tee time , and then simply rush to the tee. F cautioned that while this proposal had merit, they risked a violation of R6-3 and possible disqualification if they were late for their tee time. RM asked if anyone had considered whether the Head Professional or the Club’s GM would want to hold hands with the group as well. “What would that tell everybody?” he asked. “Imagine that message.”

F eloquently reminded all that the Game of Golf had weathered well the test of time,  and that by golly, if they wanted to be so insensitive as to change and amend the Rules effective January 1, 2019, he was honored and duty-bound to participate in this noble and non-violent expression of dissent. A listener interrupted F to tell him that the protest they were discussing had nothing to do with the Rules.

Someone mercifully suggested they just play golf.

(1) Facts

Player EC faced a down-hill sideways 3- footer for par to halve the  6th hole. He addressed the ball, grounded his putter, and perhaps touched the ball inadvertently with his putter. The ball rolled over. EC looked around to confirm that his opponents had seen the movement of the ball as well. They had.

(1) Issue

What is the penalty for accidentally causing a ball to move on the putting green?

(1) Ruling

No penalty. Effective calendar year 2017, BMCC  adopted the recommended Local Rule which modified the customary  R18-2 violation imposed when causing a ball to move on the putting green. When the cause of the movement is accidental and inadvertent, no penalty.

EC was delighted to learn of and be the beneficiary of this Local Rule, since no one in this group had actually seen it applied in a competitive match at BMCC until this historic moment.

(2) Facts

F makes a critical 12-foot putt for a bogey on the 8th hole. Partners and opponents EC and RM immediately point out that F played out of turn as EC faced a 16-foot putt for bogey. F thanked them for their observation, and agreed he had putted out of turn.

EC missed his putt. He then demanded that F cancel his successful putt and replay the shot. F politely refused this request.

(2) Issue

A R2-5 claim was made by the EC/RM team as F’s bogey had tied the hole. They argued that the F’s shot had been cancelled, and that consequently, they had won the hole.

(3) Ruling

The Committee happened by and ruled in F’s favor, stating that the opponents’ request was not timely as EC had played an intervening shot. This ruling was correct.

In match play, there is no penalty for playing out of turn, but the opponent may “immediately” require the player to cancel the stroke and replay the shot in the correct order. R10-1c.

Simply noting that F had played out of turn,however, did not constitute a request that he cancel and replay the stroke and the intervening shot foreclosed any possibility of a do-over on this issue.

Post-Game (19th Hole)

RM was a victor for the day and was looking for payment of a small wager. F pulled out his cell phone and offered to pay 0.000704 BTC rather than the $3.00 sum owed. RM did not wish to entertain this offer.

Issue

Is payment by bitcoin or cryptocurrency an acceptable 19th hole practice?

Ruling

F ruled in RM’s favor on this occasion, and promptly paid cash, although he suspects transfers of  bitcoin will soon become commonplace in the 19th hole. Why not? No more iou’s or going to the pro shop for cash!

As usual, all comments are welcome!

Respectfully submitted,

F

 

 

 

(