Golf rule myths
in [Golf in UK]
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From: david s-a on 23 Jul 2006 00:13 Malcolm Wadsworth wrote: <main body deleted> > Another myth (again, by my criteria) is that the competitor who has the > lowest handicap has the honour at the first tee. > > Regards, > Malcolm > > Malcolm, This caught my attention as I had believed this to be an almost universal practice. Haven't gone too far into it....but I note that the 1996 issue of the RoG (Definitions) gives a slightly different definition of 'Honour' than the later editions. Perhaps Johnty has some relevant information on the history of the 'Honour'! Quote (1996 RoG) Etiquette... "..The player who has the honour should be allowed to play before his opponent or fellow-competitor tees his ball.." Definitions.. "..The SIDE entitled to play first from the teeing ground is said to have the 'honour'..." (Caps mine) No reference at all to the first teeing ground. In the 2000 and 2004 issues the Definitions dictate that it is "..the PLAYER entitled to play first etc..."; again no specific reference to the first tee. The etiquette section of the 2004 version lists under 'Consideration for other Players' that "..on the teeing ground, a player should not tee his ball until it is his turn to play...". This wording a sort of inversion of the 1996 wording! I do recall, however, that in the annual syllabus booklet of a club to which I previously belonged...there was a specific note that "...The Captain should always be afforded the Honour on the first tee....". As far as I know..this is the only note I have been able to find that makes any reference as to who is entitled to the Honour on any tee.... despite even the most recent issue of the Rules alluding to an 'entitlement' in the Definition of 'Honour'. Odd that... cheers david
From: JPW on 23 Jul 2006 01:30 david s-a wrote: > Malcolm Wadsworth wrote: > > <main body deleted> > > > Another myth (again, by my criteria) is that the competitor who has the > > lowest handicap has the honour at the first tee. > > > > Regards, > > Malcolm > > > > > > Malcolm, > > This caught my attention as I had believed this to be an almost > universal practice. Haven't gone too far into it....but I note that the > 1996 issue of the RoG (Definitions) gives a slightly different > definition of 'Honour' than the later editions. Perhaps Johnty has some > relevant information on the history of the 'Honour'! > > Quote (1996 RoG) > > Etiquette... > > "..The player who has the honour should be allowed to play before his > opponent or fellow-competitor tees his ball.." > > Definitions.. > > "..The SIDE entitled to play first from the teeing ground is said to > have the 'honour'..." (Caps mine) > > No reference at all to the first teeing ground. > > In the 2000 and 2004 issues the Definitions dictate that it is "..the > PLAYER entitled to play first etc..."; again no specific reference to > the first tee. The etiquette section of the 2004 version lists under > 'Consideration for other Players' that "..on the teeing ground, a player > should not tee his ball until it is his turn to play...". This wording a > sort of inversion of the 1996 wording! > > I do recall, however, that in the annual syllabus booklet of a club to > which I previously belonged...there was a specific note that "...The > Captain should always be afforded the Honour on the first tee....". As > far as I know..this is the only note I have been able to find that makes > any reference as to who is entitled to the Honour on any tee.... despite > even the most recent issue of the Rules alluding to an 'entitlement' in > the Definition of 'Honour'. > > Odd that... > > cheers > david David, Doesn't Rule 10-1/2 give a clear indication of which side/player has the honour at the first tee? JPW
From: david s-a on 23 Jul 2006 21:04 JPW wrote: > > David, > > Doesn't Rule 10-1/2 give a clear indication of which side/player has > the honour at the first tee? > > JPW > Of course it does! What a twerp I am.....I'm supposed to know this! A slight brain malfunction, I cannot recall a single occasion when I have had to refer to Rule 10 in the ordinary course of play, which might account for it! I do recall however, on the matter of Rule 10-1b and R10-2b, that with the change to the Rules in 2004 I queried the strength of the word 'is' in the sentence (during the play of a hole) '..the ball farther from the hole IS played first'. As you are aware, in previous versions the wording was '...SHALL be played first...'. This seems to leave an optional character to the order of play in the 2004 versions.....I never did get a satisfactory response to this! Thankyou for pointing out my idiocy. :-) cheers david.
From: Colin Wilson on 23 Jul 2006 21:25 david s-a wrote: >> Doesn't Rule 10-1/2 give a clear indication of which side/player has >> the honour at the first tee? > Of course it does! At my club, we don't have a draw or timesheets in our weekly events. They'd think you were a bit pretentious if you wanted to toss for the honour on the first tee. Handicap is just the easiest way to sort it out "socially". Unwritten, but at least everyone knows where they stand. -- Cheers Colin Wilson ------------------------------------------------------------------ Trentham Golf Club: http://www.trenthamgolf.com Barnbougle Dunes: http://publishing.kyneton.net.au/barnbougle ------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Colin Wilson on 23 Jul 2006 21:40
Harrison Bergeron wrote: > So if I spin a tee to see who it points to I'm going > to be considered pretentious? > > Crazy. It's usual to toss for match play. But they'd look at me askance if I suggested tossing on the first tee for stroke play. And they'd think I was even more strange if I suggested spinning a tee .... clockwise or counter-clockwise. ;-) BTW, we all thank our "playing partners" in stroke play too! -- Cheers Colin Wilson ------------------------------------------------------------------ Trentham Golf Club: http://www.trenthamgolf.com Barnbougle Dunes: http://publishing.kyneton.net.au/barnbougle ------------------------------------------------------------------ |