Golf Rules with Ivor Shank & Sandy McCrevice – “Ups & Downs”

Golf Rules with Ivor Shank & Sandy McCrevice – “Ups & Downs”

Sandy & Ivor were having a game by the seaside and enjoying their usual match for a couple of pounds. On the 5th hole Ivor sliced his approach shot into a greenside tree. After a short search the ball was spotted but was lodged in the branches about 12 feet from the ground. Sandy suggested that Ivor must go back to the place he last played from as a two club length drop was impossible from that height even if they could reach the ball. Luckily for Ivor the Club Secretary happened to be walking the course with his dog and seeing the two arguing offered his help. He informed Ivor that he could ignore the vertical distance and drop within two club lengths of the spot directly below his ball in the tree for a one stroke penalty (Decisions 28/11). He also did not need to retrieve the ball but could substitute one without penalty. Ivor proceeded to take the penalty drop and then chip the ball into the hole. Sandy was so cross he 3 putted and lost the hole.

Still one down at the 17th which is along the cliff tops Sandy pulls his tee shot over the edge. Determined not to lose the money he ventures onto the beach looking for his ball. He finds it 30ft below the fairway under the overhanging cliff and with not enough backswing to chip out. “Aha!” Cries Sandy in a eureka moment. “I can take a penalty drop like you did on the 5th and if I go towards the cliff the vertical height can be ignored so I will be at the top of the cliff.” Ivor could see the logic and with his own drive lodged in a bunker feared Sandy could save himself.

At that moment the Club Secretary still walking his now exhausted dog came along the beach. Without asking if his intervention was welcome he “kindly” offered his opinion. Sandy confidently pointed out the similarity between this situation and the 5th hole “tree incident” and picked up his ball to effect the drop. “I am sorry” said the official “but under rule 28c a player is only permitted to ignore the vertical distance if his ball is off the ground, but your ball is on the ground (Decision 28/12).” The options open to Sandy were not discussed. Sandy did not complete the hole. The dog had to find his own way home. Sandy paid both Ivor his winnings and court costs following his conviction for assault.

(R&A publication – Decisions on the Rules of Golf 2010-2011 Rule 28/11 & 28/12)

Deanwood Park GC 01635 48772 or golf@deanwoodpark.co.uk for rules advice and bookings.
www.deanwoodpark.co.uk

More fun next week with Sandy & Ivor…………..

Tags: congu, deanwood park, EGU, Golf, golf rules, Ivor Shank, rules, Sandy McCrevice

This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 24th, 2010 at 5:54 pm and is filed under Golf. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.