Bigfoot Spotted at BMCC! (R8.1a(3);R12.2b(1); “CAS”)
Facts and Rulings
The locker room was tense as Reader and Player JS scowled menacingly and interrogated the prior foursome. “Did any of you leave a deep footprint in the bunker adjacent to the 10th green?”
One could almost hear a pin drop.
“That depends”, said Reader RP who was a member of this prior foursome, after an awkward moment of silence. “I was in there I think…but did it look like a size 9 and 1/2?”
JS had indeed found his ball on the downhill slope of the bunker in a deep shoe print in an otherwise immaculately raked bunker. He asked if the new rules offered any relief for this clearly unfair and unfortunate predicament. And he added, “Aren’t the new Rules supposed to make the game easy and fun?”
Foremost advised that while this situation was most regrettable, it offered the group an opportunity to visit one of the new rules which articulates one of the central principles of the game of golf, namely, playing the course as one finds it. Specifically, a golfer must generally accept the “conditions affecting the stroke” ( “CAS”: that’s a new term the Reader will need to know) and he must not eliminate indentations or uneven surfaces (R8.1a(3)). F reluctantly advised that no relief was available.
(The Reader may note that each of the new rules is now accompanied by a statement of its purpose and guiding principle).
JS stoically considered this verdict, and after collecting his wits, skillfully managed to flop the ball out of the bunker. Unfortunately, F had to call a penalty on him at this point, as JS had lightly brushed the sand around the crevice with his backswing.
This circumstance allowed the group to visit new R12, a specific rule for bunkers, which specifically states a prohibition against touching sand in making a backswing for a stroke. R12.2b(1).
The new Rules will be our friends, Readers, and it is always nice to make new friends!
As usual, all comments or corrections are welcome!
Respectfully submitted,
F
2 thoughts on “Bigfoot Spotted at BMCC! (R8.1a(3);R12.2b(1); “CAS”)”
Foremost,”Put the flag where the sun does not shine.” The new rule, allowing us to leave the flag stick in while putting, may cause trouble. I witnessed two competitors in conflict. One wanted the stick out while putting and one wanted it in. They went back and forth. Competitor one begin to place the flag, at the edge of the green, furthest from the hole. He then told competitor 2, “If you want the flag in the hole, go get yourself.” Just saying, could be an interesting year in golf.
Thank you, Melvin. Our group had a couple of caddies who we worked to death…flag in, flag out, tend, flag back in…very entertaining.
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