Real-Life Communication
Your golfer has just hit a long drive off the tee that veers sharply
to the right and into the trees. It doesn't look good. You walk up the course
with your player and discuss possible outcomes of the shot.
As you approach,
you spot the ball nestled into a small neatly stacked pile of sticks. It looks
odd, and it would be impossible for your golfer to play. He will have to move
the ball to make a shot. But are there any rules that apply to this situation
so that he won't have to take a penalty stroke for moving the ball?
"Communication
skills are the most important part of caddying," says Amy Lillibridge, a caddy
who has worked on the LPGA tour. "You must be able to serve as mathematician,
psychologist, cheerleader and a friend all at the same time.
"Sometimes
things must be said that could either cost your job or bring great success,"
she adds. "You must be willing and secure enough to take these risks to help
the team."
Your player leans over and says to you:
"I think there
might be a rule that applies to this situation. What do you think? I mean,
it's definitely an abnormal ground condition. I don't think it's anything
to do with a burrowing animal and it's not casual water, but I do think it
could qualify as ground under repair.
"Do you think I should be able
to put this ball at the nearest point of relief without penalty? Could you
get the marshal so we can get him to rule on this?"
Oh boy, you'd better
know what your golfer is talking about so you can be of some assistance in
this decision!
As you walk over to flag the marshal, you go over some
of the rules in your head:
Abnormal ground condition usually
refers to any ground that is not usual on the golf course. It could be anything
from water that is not a feature of the course, holes and piles of dirt made
by animals or it could be ground under repair.
Casual water is any water
on the course that is there only temporarily. Things such as snow and ice
qualify; however, dew and frost do not count.
Ground under repair includes
any part of the course that is amidst repair, such as holes made by ground
crews or leaves and stick piles that are marked to be removed from the course.
This doesn't include grass clippings that are not going to be removed from
the course, but it may include environmentally sensitive areas.
The
nearest point of relief is the point on the course, closest to the ball, where
the shot can be played without obstruction. The player should measure this
distance using the club he intends to use for the shot. The ball can't be
moved closer to the hole.
Would you know the answers to
these questions?
- What is ground under repair?
- You remember that ground under repair doesn't include lawn clippings not
scheduled for removal. Does ground under repair include sticks piled for removal?
- What does nearest point of relief mean?
- What club can the player use to measure out to his nearest point of relief?