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New rules for SENIORS on the golf
course......
Rule 1.a.5
A ball sliced or hooked into
the rough shall be lifted and placed on the fairway at a point equal to the distance it carried or rolled into the rough with
no penalty. The senior should not be penalized for tall grass which ground keepers failed to mow.
Rule 2.d.6 (b)
A
ball hitting a tree shall be deemed not to have hit the tree. This is simply bad luck and luck has no place in a scientific
game. The senior player must estimate the distance the ball would have traveled if it had not hit the tree and play
the ball from there.
Rule 3.b.3(g)
There shall be no such thing as a lost ball. The missing ball is on or near the
course and will eventually be found and pocketed by someone else, making it a stolen ball. The player is not to compound the
felony by charging himself or herself with a penalty.
Rule
4.c.7(h)
If a putt passes over a hole
without dropping, it is deemed to have dropped. The law of gravity supersedes the Rules of Golf.
Rule 5.
Putts
that stop close enough to the cup that they could be blown in, may be blown in. This does not apply to balls more than three
inches from the hole. No one wants to make a travesty of the game.
Rule
6.a.9(k)
There is no penalty for so-called
"out of bounds." If penny-pinching golf course owners bought sufficient land, this would not occur. The senior golfer
deserves an apology, not a penalty.
Rule 7.g.15(z)
There is no penalty for a ball in a water hazard, as golf balls should float. Senior
golfers should not be penalized for manufacturers' shortcomings.
Rule
8.k.9(s)
Advertisements claim that golf
scores can be improved by purchasing new golf equipment. Since this is financially impractical for many senior golfers, one-half
stroke per hole may be subtracted for using old equipment.
Please
advise all your senior friends of these important rule changes. Carry a copy with you at all times to refer to when playing
with non seniors.
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Golf Etiquette 101 from the USGA
Unlike many sports, golf is for the most part played without the supervision of a referee, umpire or
coach. The game relies on the individual golfer to show consideration for other players and to abide by the rules. New golfers
are often in need of advice about customary behavior and practices to follow on course so that play proceeds safely and without
delay. Here are some tips to help all players get the maximum enjoyment from the game.
Unlike many sports, golf is played, for the most part, without the
supervision of a referee or umpire. The game relies on the integrity of the individual to show consideration for other players
and to abide by the Rules. All players should conduct themselves in a disciplined manner, demonstrating courtesy and sportsmanship
at all times, irrespective of how competitive they may be. This is the spirit of the game of golf.
Players should ensure
that no one is standing close by or in a position to be hit by the club, the ball or any stones, pebbles, twigs or the like
when they make a stroke or practice swing.
Players should not play until the players in front are out of range.
Players
should always alert greenstaff nearby or ahead when they are about to make a stroke that might endanger them.
If a
player plays a ball in a direction where there is a danger of hitting someone, he should immediately shout a warning. The
traditional word of warning in such a situation is "fore."
No Disturbance or Distraction
Players should always show consideration
for other players on the course and should not disturb their play by moving, talking or making any unnecessary noise.
Players
should ensure that any electronic device taken onto the course does not distract other players.
On the teeing ground,
a player should not tee his ball until it is his turn to play.
Players should not stand close to or directly behind
the ball, or directly behind the hole, when a player is about to play.
On the
Putting Green
On the putting green, players should not stand on another player's line of putt or when
he is making a stroke, cast a shadow over his line of putt.
Players should remain on or close to the putting green
until all other players in the group have holed out.
Scoring
In
stroke play, a player who is acting as a marker should, if necessary, on the way to the next tee, check the score with the
player concerned and record it.
Play at Good Pace and Keep Up
Players should play at a good pace. The Committee
may establish pace of play guidelines that all players should follow.
It is a group's responsibility to keep up with
the group in front. If it loses a clear hole and it is delaying the group behind, it should invite the group behind to play
through, irrespective of the number of players in that group.
Be Ready to Play
Players
should be ready to play as soon as it is their turn to play. When playing on or near the putting green, they should leave
their bags or carts in such a position as will enable quick movement off the green and towards the next tee. When the play
of a hole has been completed, players should immediately leave the putting green.
Lost
Ball
If a player believes his ball may be lost outside a water hazard or is out of bounds, to save time,
he should play a provisional ball.
Players searching for a ball should signal the players in the group behind them
to play through as soon as it becomes apparent that the ball will not easily be found.
They should not search for
five minutes before doing so. Having allowed the group behind to play through, they should not continue play until that group
has passed and is out of range.
Bunkers
Before leaving a bunker, players should carefully fill up and smooth
over all holes and footprints made by them and any nearby made by others. If a rake is within reasonable proximity of the
bunker, the rake should be used for this purpose.
Repair of Divots, Ball-Marks
and Damage by Shoes
Players should carefully repair any divot holes made by them and any damage to the
putting green made by the impact of a ball (whether or not made by the player himself). On completion of the hole by all players
in the group, damage to the putting green caused by golf shoes should be repaired.
Preventing
Unnecessary Damage
Players should avoid causing damage to the course by removing divots when taking practice
swings or by hitting the head of a club into the ground, whether in anger or for any other reason.
Players should
ensure that no damage is done to the putting green when putting down bags or the flagstick.
In order to avoid damaging
the hole, players and caddies should not stand too close to the hole and should take care during the handling of the flagstick
and the removal of a ball from the hole. The head of a club should not be used to remove a ball from the hole.
Players
should not lean on their clubs when on the putting green, particularly when removing the ball from the hole.
The flagstick
should be properly replaced in the hole before players leave the putting green.
Local notices regulating the movement
of golf carts should be strictly observed.
If
players follow the guidelines in this Section, it will make the game more enjoyable for everyone.
If a player consistently
disregards these guidelines during a round or over a period of time to the detriment of others, it is recommended that the
Committee consider taking appropriate disciplinary action against the offending player. Such action may, for example, include
prohibiting play for a limited time on the course or in a certain number of competitions. This is considered to be justifiable
in terms of protecting the interest of the majority of golfers who wish to play in accordance with these guidelines.
In
the case of a serious breach of Etiquette, the Committee may disqualify a player under Rule 33-7.
Play
at a Good Pace and Keep Up
It is a group's responsibility to keep up with the group in front, regardless
of the group behind them.
Be Ready to Play
Players should be ready to play as soon as it is their turn to play. When
playing on or near the putting green, they should leave their bags or carts in such a position as will enable quick movement
off the green and towards the next tee. When the play of a hole has been completed, players should immediately leave the putting
green.
If in a cart...
Do not wait for your cart
partner to play before getting ready to play your own ball....if it won't interfere with her play or if your ball is not too
far away, grab some clubs and go to your ball so you will be ready after she hits.
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