Is it a penalty to touch the sand in a bunker with a club prior to making a bunker shot? I. Facts -A Touching Made in Frustration and Anger Opponent RM found himself in the front portion of the green-side bunker on the 12th Hole at BMCC. His shot came out a tad heavy, and just missed reaching the putting surface. RM could only watch helplessly as the ball skittered around the edge of the embankment before dropping back into…
1. Facts After a weak drive on the Par 4 9th Hole at BMCC, Foremost yanks a long second shot squarely into the middle of a magnolia (?) tree short left of the green. He begins a search for his ball, a search joined by his partner, RM, and veteran opponents,JB and RC. The tree, also, serves to protect the teeing area of the upper practice range. A handful of balls were in the…
Facts Opponent RM hit what appeared to be a lovely drive on the difficult Par 4 7th Hole at BMCC. The hole is bounded on the entirety of its right side by the treacherous waters of Richland Creek. A well-placed drive along the creek-side shortens the distance and offers a better approach angle into the hole. RM’s drive looked perfect until it took a late nasty right hop and just disappeared over the embankment towards the creek. From the teeing…
I. Facts The Match wasn’t going well. As the day grew late, Foremost foresaw, however, that he might chance upon a penalty violation by his opponents. Such an opportunity, indeed, presented itself at the Par 4 13th Hole at BMCC. Opponent RM had hit a lovely bunker shot to about 4 1/2 feet from the hole with a side-hill putt for a par to win or tie the hole. F’s partner, Sandwich had left his approach putt about…
Facts In a scene reminiscent of the 16th Hole at the Scottsdale Stadium Course, bedlam reigned momentarily at the construction-shortened 10th Hole at BMCC. Foremost’s partner, RGC, led off with a magnificent shot which settled on the lip of the cup. Then, after F chunked a shot off to right , opponents JS and RM threw a couple of darts at the flag with JS’s ball residing only three or four feet below the hole. Rowdy workers emerged from back-hoes…
I. Facts A light, but cold and steady rain, drummed continuously on the players as they reached the Par 5 Hole #8 at BMCC in a four-ball match that at this point had been shortened to nine holes, by mutual agreement. The match was all square. The green at Hole # 8 is elevated and fronted by a sharply sloping bank which descends into a small creek. Players often see an approach shot fall just short of the green, only…
Foremost and Sandwich had just finished the 10th hole at BMCC. F was driving the golf cart as always, of course, as he generally doesn’t like to play if he can’t drive the cart and keep score. The cart path from Hole #10 descends into a tunnel under Harding Place and ascends to the Hole #11 tee. The tunnel entrance itself opens after a rather sharp left turn around a blind curve. F was juggling a cup of tuna salad…
The phone rang early on Monday morning, December 5th. Foremost picked up his phone from his bedside table and a quick glance showed the caller was Sandwich. “What the hell does he want this early?”, thought F, slowly gathering his senses. He answered the call. “F”, said Sandwich in a business-like tone. “I’ve decided to place my name in the golf partner portal.” F was stunned by this announcement as Sandwich had been his starting partner for many years. “Why…
Facts The teams were all-square on the difficult Par 4 5th hole at BMCC. Foremost was searching for his ball in the left rough off the tee, but was comforted by the fact that his partner, RM, had split the middle of the fairway with his drive. Suddenly a cart raced into the fairway. Brief words were exchanged between the driver and RM, and F could only watch as RM leapt into the cart which peeled off in the direction…
I. The Leaf Rule Foremost was puzzled by the cryptic email he received from his host on the eve of a highly-anticipated match at the lovely HCC …the HCC in Nashville. “Come to lunch at 11:45 ….” said the message, signed by Reader and Host, FA, who added the following bullet points below his signature: *USGA Rules are in effect *Leaf Rule” is also in effect *Local Rule – host of the event is final arbiter of the Rules F’s…