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Author: Foremost

A Foremost Authority on the Rules of Golf and Numerous Other Subjects. Author of "DON'T BE A CLUB SHORT! Learn the New Rules of Golf 2019".
A Ruling Upends the Livingston!

A Ruling Upends the Livingston!

The Livingston field breathed a sigh of relief as contestants reviewed the brackets and found that Foremost and his formidable partner, WT, would not be in the competition. Although he is generally not one to point fingers, F would have to lay the blame for this sad and noteworthy development exclusively on WT, who had volunteered to handle the registration. An explanation is in order. WT claimed that he had logged into the registration site precisely at the appointed time,…

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Touching Balls/ The Teeing Area

Touching Balls/ The Teeing Area

(Rs 14,15, 6, 1.3c(4)) Foremost was in a state of deep reflection as he waded into his chicken burrito bowl. How, he wondered, would he ever be able to take advantage of his Chipotle gift card in this evolving, food-delivery world of Covid? Why did he have to confirm he wanted guac every time he used the Uber delivery App? Of course he wanted guac! Suddenly, a notification chimed on his cell phone. It was from Reader LB who had…

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Foremost Files Whistleblower Claim Over “The Match”

Foremost Files Whistleblower Claim Over “The Match”

Peyton/Tiger v Phil/Brady (Questions Raised About $20MM Purse)! While The Match didn’t quite replace the the Masters this spring, it did break the sports quarantine and provide plenty of action for a golf-starved, television audience. Foremost was delighted to have priority seating on his sofa for this event and was, of course, thrilled to see a Rules issue arise during the Match! The incident that gathered all of the attention was Tom Brady’s request for help in taking relief from…

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Player Unmasked!

Player Unmasked!

(1) A Late Arrival Foremost was late for his tee time. He arrived as his group was playing their second shots on the Par 5 Hole #1. Realizing his error, F raced to the tee box and hit his drive without touching his toes, putting on a glove, or taking a single practice swing. His next two shots were hit in similar fashion, and he finished the hole making a snappy 5, net 4. He wishes the rest of the…

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Green Goofs (R’s 14.1b; 9.5b; and 23.6)

Green Goofs (R’s 14.1b; 9.5b; and 23.6)

(1) Facts — Marking and Lifting Foremost thought he had dunked his wedge shot on the Par 5, 8th hole at BMCC. The ball landed softly and, from F’s vantage point in the fairway, appeared to come to rest only a couple of feet from the pin. F was excited to have a birdie putt, a short one at that! As so often happens, however, by the time F had navigated the stepping stones through the creek and accomplished the…

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Foremost Fondly Remembers His Wedding Night (Rs 10.2 and 16.1a(2); Def’s “Advice” and “Animal Hole”)

Foremost Fondly Remembers His Wedding Night (Rs 10.2 and 16.1a(2); Def’s “Advice” and “Animal Hole”)

Foremost well remembers the first post-matrimonial advice he was ever given related to golf. An older gentleman, a close family friend, engaged F at his wedding reception with two suggestions: First, he said, offer to help clean the new china and make sure that in doing so, you drop and break the nicest gift, the finest piece … you will never have to fool with that stuff again. Second, he said, let your bride know that as a devoted husband,…

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Thanks, Partner! (Rs 23.5; 15.1; 7.3, and Def.s “Loose Impediment”, “Movable Obstruction”)

Thanks, Partner! (Rs 23.5; 15.1; 7.3, and Def.s “Loose Impediment”, “Movable Obstruction”)

In recent Covid Tour, Four-Ball action at BMCC, Foremost encountered a couple of situations in which actions by a player may have led to a penalty for his unwitting, unsuspecting, and innocent partner. (1)Facts – A Fish Story A flash flood left player JS with an unusual lie recently as he found a fish interfering with his swing path on the 4th hole at BMCC. “It’s dead”, said RM, who was on his knees with his head tilted, apparently listening…

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Playing With Two Balls (Rs 6.4; 20.1; and 21.4b)

Playing With Two Balls (Rs 6.4; 20.1; and 21.4b)

Foremost suspects many of his Readers in recent days have been pondering when, and if, it is ever possible for a player to play two balls in match play. Hmmm… Certainly, a player in stroke play has the option to finish a hole with two balls if he questions the correct procedure he should follow under the Rules, and he complies with the notice and reporting provisions of R20.1c(3). In match play, however, the two-ball option is not available for…

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Oldsters Ignore C-Virus Restrictions, Too! (R5.2; R1.3; WHS)

Oldsters Ignore C-Virus Restrictions, Too! (R5.2; R1.3; WHS)

Foremost had his game face on for a recent outing at BMCC and as expected, the competition was fierce! As the Reader is aware, however, F and his group often have trouble navigating preliminary issues, and such was the case yet again as the players gathered (under recommended social-distancing guidelines) on the first tee. (1) Practice Before Round As the Committee at BMCC had closed all practice ranges due to the China Virus, F was shocked to see players JS…

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Practice After Concessions (R’s 3.2, 5.5, and 23.6)

Practice After Concessions (R’s 3.2, 5.5, and 23.6)

(1) Facts: A Confession Foremost was hammering away at golf balls on the range the other day when he was approached by Reader SM who said he had been losing sleep over his failure to timely self-report a violation in BMCC’s recent Scottish Day match-play competition. “That is sad to hear”, said F. “I’m sure this will haunt you for years”, F added. “So, what happened?” SM explained that he had been in a green-side bunker, when his opponents had…

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