Weight Transfer
by Brian Sloan and Joey Martinez

One of the most common flaws with the golf swing is an improper weight transfer.  It would be like pitching a baseball to home plate without moving your body.  It can cause an array of problems such as:  fat shots, thin shots, loss of power, and inconsistency.  To help combat this problem focus on finishing with all your weight on your left side, right side for left handers.  There is also the Gary Player drill.  It consists of walking through your shot (Drill Only).

 

Eyes over the Ball for the Short Game
by Joey Martinez

Have you ever noticed how many putts the guys on tour make, or how close they chip the ball every time. I’m sure you’ve heard to put your eyes over the ball definitely for putting. But you may not have heard to get your eyes over the ball for chipping.

It will help get you chips on line as well as putts. It will also help you make pure contact with the ball much like hitting a solid putt. You need to make sure you grip down on your 9-iron or wedge almost to the steel, also by doing this you will gain more control over the club. Try this and see if your short game improves.

Custom Club Fitting
by Joey Martinez

How many of you have ever bought a clubs off the rack? What are the chances that those clubs fit your swing? Chances are that they don’t. Steve Ball, a professional club fitter here in the city, finally fit a person with standard length, lie, and grip. It was the first time in the 10 or more years that he has been doing it that a person was fit for a set of clubs off the rack.

If the lies of your clubs are one degree off, it equates to a shot being 10 feet off your target. So if your clubs are 3 degrees off, that equates to a shot being 30 feet off your target.

The length of your clubs is very important as well. If a persons clubs are too long, there is a strong tendency to hit the ball more towards the heel of the club, a.k.a shanksville, or the is a tendency to hit the ball inconsistently on the club face. If the clubs are too short there is a tendency to hit the ball on the toe of the club.

Grips are not the biggest factor in the equation, but if they are too small it may make a person that hooks the ball hook it more. If the grips are too big then it might cause a person to leave the ball out to the right.

So next time you need a new set of clubs, take the time to get custom fit, it doesn’t cost any more and most manufacturers will have them to you in 7-10 business days. You can even take your off the rack clubs and have the custom fit for $100-$150. If you think you are getting a bargain on EBAY it will cost an extra $100-$150 to get them custom fit.

 

Keep it under the Wind
by Joey Martinez

The old story of the New Year is the wind.  A lot of people simply think all they need to do to keep the ball under the wind is club up and put the ball back in their stance.  That is only part of the equation but there is another even more important component of the equation.  That is SWING EASY.  The story behind swinging easy to keep it low is having less spin on the golf ball.  The easier you swing the less spin the ball will have which will help keep the ball down.  If you try to swing hard, that will impart more spin on the ball which causes it to balloon up in the air and come up short.  So all you have to do to combat the wind is club up, move the ball back in the stance, and swing easy. 

If you have any question or would like to schedule a lesson please call the golf shop at  427-3947.

 

The One Dollar Sand Save
by Scott Hutzel
Assistant Golf Professional

Sand shots can sometimes be very tricky and often times discouraging. With the right technique you can learn to get the ball out of the bunker and closer to the hole with a better chance at saving a par.
Place the ball slightly forward with an open stance and open the clubface up so that it is square with the hole. The open face will allow you to slide the leading edge of the club through the sand instead of digging in. Picture a spot about an inch behind the ball and an area about the size of a dollar bill, and try to blast out this area of sand. The key is to make sure you accelerate the club through the ball to a nice full finish. This is done to ensure you do not decelerate and leave the ball in the trap.
If you need any more help with this or any other area of the game please call to the golf-shop to schedule a lesson.

If you have any questions, you can call us in the golf shop.  427-3947.

The Bump and Run
by Joey Martinez

The “bump and run” chip shot is a vital part of a great short game. Knowing how to play this shot can save you from a disastrous score by allowing you to make that great par save or birdie.

Especially playing here at our course, this chip shot is very predictable because our greens always roll very true and smooth.

The idea is to take some of the guess work out of the chip, by allowing it to get on the ground quickly and roll to the cup. Letting the ball roll to the cup with a “bump and run” takes some guess work out of chipping when using a higher lofted club.

Here are a few key components for this shot: 1) Play the ball with a lower lofted club like a 7 iron. 2) Place the feet close together and play the ball back towards the right foot (or left foot for the left handed player). 3) Choke down on the club near where the grip ends. 4) Use a more “putt” style stroke keeping the wrists firm and swinging the shoulders, arm, and hands in one piece.

This shot will produce a low trajectory that will hit the ground and “run out” to the hole, eliminating an unneeded big swing with a wedge. If you have any questions or feedback about this shot, please contact the golf shop.

 

1, 2, 3 Knockout
by Scott Hutzel

We are all aware that a round of golf here at Twin Hills can be very challenging. On the days when the ball seems to find the trees more than the fairways or greens, knowing how to execute a good punch shot is essential. The 3 major keys of hitting this type of shot are: 1) At address set the ball behind the center of your stance closer to your right foot. 2) Place your hands ahead of the ball in a “forward press” to minimize loft and help keep the ball low. 3) Use a ½ to ¾ swing and swing speed to help keep the ball low and minimize backspin that will make the ball climb. The golfer who uses a Herculean type swat on a finesse shot such as this, will more than likely be playing his next shot from the trees also. If you have any questions or problems with this or any other shot, please contact the golf shop.

TEMPO
by Joey Martinez

Tempo is the heartbeat of the golf swing.  If your tempo is too slow or too fast the results will not be pleasing.  Everybody has their own tempo.  For example Nick Price has a very fast tempo, where as Ernie Els has a much slower tempo.

There are many drills to help you work on your tempo.  First, simply count, “1” for the backswing and then “2” for the downswing.  Vijay Singh counts “13” for the backswing and “14” for the downswing to slow his tempo down.  A second drill to try is to take your backswing, stop count to two, and then take your downswing.  This will also make you complete your backswing before starting your downswing.  The third drill is to get your 150 yard club and practice hitting it 100 yards with a full swing.  These drills will help you master your tempo.

 

SOFT HANDS
by Joey Martinez

If you ask any golf professional what’s the quickest way to lower your score, they are going to tell you short game. One of the quickest ways to improve your short game is to work on a soft grip. A softer grip includes lighter grip pressure (4 on a scale from 1 to 10).  This will also help relieve tension in your arms. This goes for pitching, chipping, and especially putting.

When you use soft hands, it helps create feel around the greens. Also your distance control will be much more consistent. You will also find that you will make better contact with the ball more often.

Putting with soft hands is absolutely crucial.  Putting involves so much feel and precision that any tension in your hands and arms will cause a lot of missed putts. By using a soft grip you will make more consistent strokes which can lower your scores.

REMEMBER KEEP THE SAME, SOFT GRIP PRESUURE THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE SHOT

 

HITTING OUT OF WET SAND TRAPS
by Joey Martinez

With all of the rain we have experienced, most of the sand traps you will come across will have a different texture of sand than the norm.  Your wedge will have a tendency to bounce or skid off this surface into the golf ball, instead of sliding or scooting underneath the golf ball and letting the sand propel the golf ball towards the green.  You don’t have to change anything in your swing; you just need to adjust a few things in your setup.  First of all, place the golf ball between the center and the front of your stance.  This will help negate the club from bouncing or skipping into the golf ball.  Secondly, do not open the club face near as much.  Keep the club face square so the club will dig into the firmer surface.  The golf ball will come out a little lower with less spin.  Finally, by squaring up the club face you will not need to aim your body to the left.  You can take dead aim at your target.

HITTING OUT OF THE ROUGH
by Joey Martinez

Finally we have some weather for the grass to start growing, and that means after an errant tee shot, the approach will be coming from the rough.  The rough in Oklahoma can be a little tricky.  One of two things can happen: the ball can be sitting up in the rough or it can be sitting down in the rough.  For both shots, a steeper swing is required for any hope of success.  You can practice this by placing a ball in the normal position in your stance.  Then place another ball four to five inches behind that one.  Then make a swing hitting the forward ball without hitting the latter ball.  The tricky part about hitting from the rough is how the ball is laying.  If the ball is sitting down in the rough try to make normal contact, hitting the ball first.  If the ball is sitting up in the rough, you want to hit half an inch to an inch behind the ball.  In this case you may catch what is called a flyer, it is a ball that comes out with no spin and travels a lot farther than normal.  In both cases there will be a layer of grass between the clubface and the ball which will reduce spin into the green.  You may have to play short of the hole to keep the ball on the green.  To avoid this all you have to do is hit the fairway.  

If you have any questions or need to set up a lesson, give us a call in the golf shop.  427-3947.

CHIPPING FROM BARE LIES

by Gerrod Chadwell

It seems to be a common trend this time of year that tight lies around the chipping areas are giving golfers’ problems. Golfers tend to “blade” and “chunk” shots off of the bare grass.

There are a couple of little things we can do in these situations. First, you must place the ball in the back of your stance. You need to the ball position to be off of your back foot. Combine this with placing slightly more weight on your front foot than your back foot. This creates a descending blow on the golf ball.

The first thing that meets the golf ball is the club head.  This is a start to creating solid contact when you are chipping the golf ball.  For more help on chipping contact the golf shop at 427-3947.

 

SWINGING EASY

by Joey Martinez

How many people want to play better golf? If you don’t, go on doing what you’re doing. For those students of the game this might be the thought that puts you over the top. I might be as simple as a kindergarten spelling test. Here it is:  SWING EASY!!! There are many benefits of swinging easy.  First of all you have more control of the golf club. Often times an outcome of swinging too hard is an off balance finish. A smoother, easier swing promotes a balanced finish. Oh yeah, swinging easy will not put as much strain on your body.

The key to golf is consistency.  Being able to make the same swing time and time again is a must for good golf.  It is hard to swing consistently when you put everything you have behind every swing.  Swinging consistently also helps promote solid contact with the ball, which is way more important than hitting the ball hard.  When you hit the ball solid with a consistent swing your game is more predictable, which in turn leads to lower scores.

Everyone that’s from Oklahoma knows that the wind can sometimes blow.  For those who swing as hard as they can, the wind can make a bad day worse.  Swinging hard puts more spin on the ball, magnifying any hook or slice, hints the motto “When it’s breezy swing easy.  Swinging easy puts less spin on the ball, thus minimizing any hook or slice.

Now comes the part of execution.  It all starts on the driving range.  Go out and work on swinging 70 percent. You will be surprised of how solid you will hit the ball and even more surprised that it will go the same distance as a hard swing. The tough part is taking that thought onto the golf course. If you still don’t believe me; club up two clubs and hit a shot with a smoother, easier swing, and I’ll bet you a nickel the ball will sail over the green. The good part about swinging easy is that you can take that thought and implement it into your short game.  Who would have thought it:  a universal thought you can use for all aspects of your game

Play Smart

by Joey Martinez

Twin Hills is not the most forgiving golf course.  Occasionally some shots will get away from you. When that happens, learn to take your medicine and get the ball back into play. Usually, that is. It depends on the situation.  For instance, in match play, if you’re 2 down with two holes to play and have to make birdie, you may try to be a hero and hit a shot you normally don’t try to hit.

That's part of what makes the game so fun. Otherwise, go the conservative route, get the ball back on the short grass and try to save par.  Sometimes when you try to hit the heroic shot it backfires and that can bring the big numbers into play.

Putter Fitting

by Gerrod Chadwell
           
How many times have we walked into a proshop or golf discount store to look for a putter?  Whether it is the newest model, the most expensive, or one our friend suggested.  Nonetheless we purchase the putter off the shelf, take it to the golf course and realize that this one is no different than the rest.  We haven’t realized that maybe it is the “Indian and not the Arrow.”

The first step to putting is being properly fitted for your putter.  We as golfers come in all shapes and sizes.  This means that the putters we use are usually standard length and lie (35inches in length and 72 degrees of lie angle) and do not fit us.  In turn we fit ourselves to our putters, which results in poor outcomes.  To have a putter that fits, you must have your eyes over the ball and your hands underneath your shoulders.  Eyes over the ball will make you a more consistent aimer and your hands underneath your shoulders will improve your putter path.  For more information on putter fitting or putting in general please contact the golf shop

 

June Rule of the Month

by Joey Martinez and Brian Sloan

“Touching the Line of Putt Rule 8-2b/16-1”

Have you ever seen a person go and touch the green to indicate a target to aim at while putting?  Would there be a ruling involved?

Yes, Rule 8-2b states:  When the player’s ball is on the putting green, the player, his partner or either of the caddies may, before but not during the stroke, point out a line for putting, but in so doing the putting green must not be touched.  A mark must not be placed anywhere to indicate a line for putting.  Penalty for Breach of Rule:  Match Play-Loss of hole.  Stroke Play-Two stroke Penalty.

Rule 16-1 States:
The line of putt must not be touched except:
-the player may remove loose impediments, provided he does not press anything down;
-the player may place the club in front of the ball when addressing it, provided he does       not press anything down;
-in measuring;
-in pressing down a ball-marker;
-in repairing old hole plugs or ball marks on the putting green;
-in removing movable obstructions.

 

May Rule of the Month
Striking the ball more than once

What happens when you have a chip or a sand shot and the club hits it twice during the same stroke.  What happens if by freak chance the club hits the ball three times during the same stroke.

Rule 14-4 Striking the Ball More than Once

If a players club strikes the ball more than once in the course of a stroke, the player must count the stroke and add a penalty stroke, making two strokes in all.

This rule states that if the ball is struck more than once there is a penalty of one stroke.  If the ball is struck three times during the same stroke there is still only a one stroke penalty.

April Rule of the Month
Fallen Trees

Now that Spring is here the wind is going to blow. Jerry and his crew did a great job of getting the all the tree debris off the ground. Now all the broken limbs that were hanging in the trees are being blown down, what do you do when your ball comes to rest behind or in a pile of fallen tree debris?

25/7 Fallen Tree in Process of Being Removed
Q. A green keeper is in the process of sawing up a fallen tree and stacking the wood. What is the status of such a tree?
A. The tree in its entirety is ground under repair as it constitutes “material piled for removal” — see Definition of “Ground Under Repair.”

Ground Under Repair
"Ground under repair" is any part of the "Course" course so marked by order of the Committee or so declared by its authorized representative. All ground and any grass, bush, tree or other growing thing within the ground under repair are part of the ground under repair. Ground under repair includes material piled for removal and a hole made by a greenkeeper, even if not so marked. Grass cuttings and other material left on the Course that have been abandoned and are not intended to be removed are not ground under repair unless so marked.

When the margin of ground under repair is defined by stakes, the stakes are inside the ground under repair, and the margin of the ground under repair is defined by the nearest outside points of the stakes at ground level. When both stakes and lines are used to indicate ground under repair, the stakes identify the ground under repair and the lines define the margin of the ground under repair. When the margin of ground under repair is defined by a line on the ground, the line itself is in the ground under repair. The margin of ground under repair extends vertically downwards but not upwards.

A ball is in ground under repair when it lies in or any part of it touches the ground under repair.
Stakes used to define the margin of or identify ground under repair are Obstructions.

Relief for ground under repair is one club length no nearer to the hole, and not in a water hazard.

 

March Rule of the Month

I’m sure that everyone in Oklahoma knows that the wind can sometimes blow.  And here at Twin Hills the greens aren’t exactly flat.  So what happens when you mark your ball on the green and the wind or the slope of the green continues to move your ball?  Even though your coin still marks the original position of the ball do you replace it?

The answer is no.  The ball is in play once you have placed it.  So if by chance it rolls in the hole it is deemed that you have holed out your last shot.

If not you are to play it from its new position.
Here it is worded in the Rules of Golf.

Rule 20-4  When Ball Dropped or Place is in Play
If the player's ball in play has been lifted, it is again in play when dropped or placed.
A substituted ball becomes the ball in play when it has been dropped or placed.

This is out of the Decisions on the Rules of Golf

20-4/1  Ball Replaced on Putting Green But Ball-Marker Not Removed; Ball Then Moves

Q. A player replaces his ball on the putting green but does not remove his ball-marker. Subsequently the wind moves his ball to a new position. What is the ruling?
A. Under Rule 20-4, a ball is in play when it is replaced, whether or not the object used to mark its position has been removed. Consequently the ball must be played from the new position — see Decision 18-1/12.

 

February Rule of the Month
by Joey Martinez

Broken or Damaged Clubs

Say you hit a bad drive and it comes to rest next to a tree, you have a sizable bet riding on the hole, and the only way to give yourself a chance to win or halve the hole is to swing which breaks your club, can you replace it during the round?  ANSWER:  Because it was during the normal course of play you may replace the club if it does not unduly delay play.

Say you are playing and you hook a drive out of bounds, out of anger you throw your club against a tree breaking it, can you replace it during the round?  ANSWER:  Because it was not during the normal course of play you may not replace it.

Here is how it is stated in the USGA’s Rules of Golf

4-3. Damaged Clubs: Repair and Replacement

a. Damage in Normal Course of Play

If, during a stipulated round, a player's club is damaged in the normal course of play, he may:
(i) use the club in its damaged state for the remainder of the stipulated round; or

(ii) without unduly delaying play, repair it or have it repaired; or

(iii) as an additional option available only if the club is unfit for play, replace the damaged club with any club. The replacement of a club must not unduly delay play and must not be made by borrowing any club selected for play by any other person playing on the course.

PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE 4-3a:
See Penalty Statements for Rule 4-4a or b and Rule 4-4c.

Note: A club is unfit for play if it is substantially damaged, e.g., the shaft is dented, significantly bent or broken into pieces; the clubhead becomes loose, detached or significantly deformed; or the grip becomes loose. A club is not unfit for play solely because the club's lie or loft has been altered, or the clubhead is scratched.

b. Damage Other Than in Normal Course of Play

If, during a stipulated round, a player's club is damaged other than in the normal course of play rendering it non-conforming or changing its playing characteristics, the club must not subsequently be used or replaced during the round.

c. Damage Prior to Round

A player may use a club damaged prior to a round, provided the club, in its damaged state, conforms with the Rules.

Damage to a club that occurred prior to a round may be repaired during the round, provided the playing characteristics are not changed and play is not unduly delayed.

PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE 4-3b or c: Disqualification.

 

January 2008 Rule of the month

This time of year the golf course always seems to be a little soggy, especially after we put the rye seed down.  Depending on how wet the course is or how high a player hits the ball there is a chance that the ball may become imbedded.  What is the rule for an embedded ball you ask? Well let me tell you…

Rule 25-2 states:  A ball embedded in its own pitch-mark in the ground in any closely mown area through the green may be lifted, cleaned and dropped, without penalty, as near as possible to the spot where it lay but not nearer the hole. The ball when dropped must first strike a part of the course green.” Closely mown area” means any area of the course, including paths through the rough, cut to fairway height or less.

In straight forward English this means that if your ball is embedded, not in a hazard or unplayable (against a tree or in a bush) it may be lifted, cleaned, and placed no closer to the hole.

 

December 2007 Rule of the Month
Teeing Ground and the “Head Start”
by Joey Martinez
Assistant Golf Professional

The rules of golf define the teeing ground as: A rectangular area two club lengths in depth, the front and the sides of which are defined by the outside limits of two tee-markers. A ball is outside the teeing ground when all of it lies outside the teeing ground.

Rule 11-4(b) stroke play: If a competitor when starting a hole, plays a ball from outside the teeing ground, he incurs a penalty of two strokes and must then play a ball from within the teeing ground.

Rule 11-4(a) match play: If a player, when starting a hole, plays a ball from outside the teeing ground there is no penalty, BUT the opponent may immediately require the player to cancel the stroke and play a ball from within the teeing ground.

Watching groups begin play from the pro-shop on the number one tee brings to light many “trends” of common mistakes made in a round of golf. One such “trend” that is observed quite often is what we kindly call “the head start.” This common mistake is made when the player does not take note of where the tee markers are placed and willingly or unwillingly tees his ball in front of the designated teeing ground.

While this may not be a big deal in your weekend group, it is bad practice not to exercise this rule. You should be aware of this rule when/if you play in a formal tournament. We would hate to hear a story in the pro-shop about loosing a hard fought tournament due to simple oversight and poor habits in your regular practice rounds.

 

November 2007 Rule of the Month
by Joey Martinez

Q. A player marked the position of his ball on the putting green and lifted the ball. When it was the player’s turn to play, he could not find his ball-marker. Subsequently, he found the ball-marker stuck to the sole of his shoe. He concluded that he had accidentally stepped on it while assisting his partner in lining up a putt. What is the ruling?

A. The player incurs a penalty stroke under Rule 20-1 which requires that the position of a ball be marked before it is lifted, and contemplates that the ball-marker will remain in position until the ball is replaced. The player must place the ball as near as possible to its original position but not nearer the hole — Rule 20-3c.
Under the last paragraph of Rule 20-1, a player is exempt from penalty if his ball-marker is accidentally moved in the process of lifting the ball or marking its position. In this case the ball-marker was not moved during such process.

20-1 Lifting and Marking
A ball to be lifted under the Rules may be lifted by the player, his partner or another person authorized by the player. In any such case, the player is responsible for any breach of the Rules.
The position of the ball must be marked before it is lifted under a Rule that requires it to be replaced. If it is not marked, the player incurs a penalty of one stroke and the ball must be replaced. If it is not replaced, the player incurs the general penalty for breach of this Rule, but there is no additional penalty under Rule 20-1.
If a ball or ball-marker is accidentally moved in the process of lifting the ball under a Rule or marking its position, the ball or ball-marker must be replaced. There is no penalty provided the movement of the ball or ball-marker is directly attributable to the specific act of marking the position of or lifting the ball. Otherwise, the player incurs a penalty of one stroke under this Rule or Rule 18-2a.
Exception: If a player incurs a penalty for failing to act in accordance with Rule 5-3 or 12-2, there is no additional penalty under Rule 20-1.
Note: The position of a ball to be lifted should be marked by placing a ball-marker, a small coin or other similar object immediately behind the ball. If the ball-marker interferes with the play, stance or stroke of another player, it should be placed one or more clubhead-lengths to one side.

October 2007 Rule of the Month

by Joey Martinez

This time of year the golf course always seems to be a little soggy, especially after we put the rye seed down.  Depending on how wet the course is or how high a player hits the ball there is a chance that the ball may become imbedded.  What is the rule for an embedded ball you ask? Well let me tell you…

Rule 25-2 states:  A ball embedded in its own pitch-mark in the ground in any closely mown area through the green may be lifted, cleaned and dropped, without penalty, as near as possible to the spot where it lay but not nearer the hole. The ball when dropped must first strike a part of the course green.” Closely mown area” means any area of the course, including paths through the rough, cut to fairway height or less.

In straight forward English this means that if your ball is embedded, not in a hazard or unplayable (against a tree or in a bush) it may be lifted, cleaned, and placed no closer to the hole.

 

September 2007 Rule of the Month

by Joey Martinez

You’re standing on #11 tee box hitting your shot; you take your backswing and hit the ball.  You look up and it is heading straight right.  When you get to your ball it is laying in the middle of #8 green what do you do? 

25-3 Wrong Putting Green

a. Interference
Interference by a wrong putting green occurs when a ball is on the wrong putting green.
Interference to a player's stance or the area of his intended swing is not, of itself, interference under this Rule.
b. Relief
If a player's ball lies on a wrong putting green he must not play the ball as it lies. He must take relief, without penalty, as follows:
The player must lift the ball and drop it within one club-length of and not nearer the hole than the nearest point of relief.  The nearest point of relief must not be in a hazard or on a putting green. When dropping the ball within one club-length of the nearest point of relief, the ball must first strike a part of the course at a spot that avoids interference by the wrong putting green and is not in a hazard and not on a putting green. The ball may be cleaned when lifted under this Rule.
Penalty for Breach of Rule:
Match play — Loss of hole; Stroke play — Two strokes.

 

August 2007 Rule of the Month

Ball Unplayable
by Joey Martinez

Q. A player’s tee shot comes to rest in tree roots. He makes a stroke, fails to move the ball and then deems the ball unplayable. May the player return to the tee, playing 4, under Rule 28a?

A. No. Rule 28a permits the player to play “a ball ... at the spot from which the original ball was last played.” The original ball was last played from the tree roots, not the tee.

Rule 28:  Ball Unplayable

If the player deems his ball to be unplayable, he must, under penalty of one stroke:
(a) Play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played (see Rule 20-5); or (b) Drop a ball behind the point where the ball lay, keeping that point directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped, with no limit to how far behind that point the ball may be dropped; or (c) Drop a ball within two club-lengths of the spot where the ball lay, but not nearer the hole. Penalty for Breach of Rule:
Match play — Loss of hole; Stroke play — Two strokes.
If the unplayable ball is in a bunker, the player may proceed under Clause a, b or c. If he elects to proceed under Clause b or c, a ball must be dropped in the bunker.
The ball may be lifted and cleaned when proceeding under this Rule.

July 2007 Rule of the Month
by Joey Martinez

In light of the recent storms, there have been many trees that have fallen.  If your ball happens to come to rest in or next to them what would the ruling be?  According to the USGA’s Decision on the Rules of Golf, Is a fallen tree a loose impediment?  The answer is, if it is still attached to the stump, no.  If it is not attached to the stump, yes.

Rule 23:  Loose Impediments

Except when both the loose impediment and the ball lie in or touch the same hazard, any loose impediment may be removed without penalty.
If the ball lies anywhere other than on the putting green and the removal of a loose impediment by the player causes the ball to move, Rule 18-2a applies.
On the putting green, if the ball or ball-marker moves in the process of the player removing any loose impediment, the ball or ball-marker must be replaced. There is no penalty provided the movement of the ball or ball-marker is directly attributable to the removal of the loose impediment. Otherwise, if the player causes the ball to move, he incurs a penalty of one stroke under Rule 18-2a.
When a ball is in motion, a loose impediment that might influence the movement of the ball must not be removed.
Note: If the ball lies in a hazard, the player must not touch or move any loose impediment lying in or touching the same hazard — see Rule 13-4c.
Penalty for Breach of Rule:
Match play — Loss of hole; Stroke play — Two strokes.

June 2007 Rule of the Month

“Ground Under Repair”

You might have noticed that the collars around the green have been marked “ground under repair.”  They are identified by a painted white line.  The winter was hard on these areas and has set them back a few months.  Your options in this circumstance are as follows:  You have the option of playing it as it lies.  If you feel you will do adverse turf damage generally the club would prefer you take relief.  In taking relief, the player may clean his ball and drop it without penalty within one club-length of and not nearer the hole then the nearest point of relief.  The nearest point of relief must not be in a hazard or on a putting green.  You must take total relief from the condition!

 

May 2007 Rule of the Month
by Joey Martinez

Have you ever started playing a hole with a Titleist 2 with your mark on it and finished the hole with a Titleist 2 without your identifying mark? Obviously there was a mistake on the hole and you finished the hole with the wrong ball. Titleist by far is the most popular ball in golf and a lot of people play it.  Be sure to mark your golf ball and identify it before every shot. If you fail to do this and hit the wrong ball this is the procedure:

a. Match Play
If a player makes a stroke at a wrong ball that is not in a hazard, he loses the hole.

There is no penalty if a player makes a stroke at a wrong ball in a hazard. Any strokes made at a wrong ball in a hazard do not count in the player’s score.
If the wrong ball belongs to another player, its owner must place a ball on the spot from which the wrong ball was first played.

If the player and opponent exchange balls during the play of a hole, the first to make a stroke at a wrong ball that is not in a hazard, loses the hole; when this cannot be determined, the hole must be played out with the balls exchanged.

b. Stroke Play
If a competitor makes a stroke or Strokes at a wrong ball that is not in a hazard, he incurs a penalty of two strokes.

There is no penalty if a competitor makes a stroke at a wrong ball in a hazard. Any Strokes made at a wrong ball in a hazard do not count in the competitor’s score.

The competitor must correct his mistake by playing the correct ball or by proceeding under the Rules. If he fails to correct his mistake before making a stroke on the next teeing ground, or in the case of the last hole of the round, fails to declare his intention to correct his mistake before leaving the putting green, he is disqualified.

Strokes made by a competitor with a wrong ball do not count in his score.

If the wrong ball belongs to another competitor, its owner must place a ball on the spot from which the wrong ball was first played.

 

Embedded Ball Rule

By Joey Martinez

It seems that whenever the weather is bad, people get stir crazy just to get out on the golf course.  However, the course may be a little wet from the rain or in our case the snow and ice.  Depending on how wet the course is or how high a player hits the ball there is a chance that the ball may become imbedded.  What is the rule for an embedded ball?

Rule 25-2 states:  A ball embedded in its own pitch-mark in the ground in any closely mown area through the green may be lifted, cleaned and dropped, without penalty, as near as possible to the spot where it lay but not nearer the hole. The ball when dropped must first strike a part of the course green.” Closely mown area” means any area of the course, including paths through the rough, cut to fairway height or less.

In straight forward English this means that if your ball is embedded, not in a hazard or unplayable (against a tree or in a bush) it may be lifted, cleaned, and placed no closer to the hole.