Decision, Decisions - Dog Day Afternoon...

Scenario: You make a superb approach to the green for a short eagle putt. As you walk towards the green you see a large dog pounce on your ball, prance around with it, and drop it neatly under the lip of a greenside bunker. How must you proceed?

A. It is considered a "rub of the green" and you must play it as it lies.

B. You may replace the ball as near as possible to the spot where it was initially at rest on the green.

C. Two stroke penalty for disturbing the wildlife.


Answer: B. Decisions on the Rules of Golf; rule 19-1/6 tells us that if the dog picked up the ball, the player should place the ball - without penalty - as near as possible to the spot where the original ball was when the dog picked it up.

However. The rule is very clear that if the ball was not picked up, but rather was deflected by a stray animal into the bunker or elsewhere, the ball must be played as it lies. Now that's RUFF.




Thomas Clooney, Head Golf Professional, Islandwood C.C.
www.IslandwoodCountryClub.com

Decisions, Decisions.... Who wants One

Scenario: GolferX is on the tee of a sharp dogleg hole and makes an attempt to drive his golf ball over the trees toward the green. He hits the ball well, and there is question as to whether it cleared the trees.

A fellow-competitor announces that he saw the ball hit a tree and go out of bounds resulting in GolferX declaring his ball out of bounds and hitting another tee shot.

Upon completing the play of the hole, they find that GolferX's original ball off the tee was in the hole. What is the ruling?

A. GolferX's score with second ball counts

B. GolferX's score with first ball counts

C. GolferX's score with second ball counts, fellow competitor penalized one stroke

D. GolferX's score with first ball counts, fellow competitor penalized two strokes

E. GolferX's score with second ball counts both players penalized two strokes

And the answer is:

B. GolferX's score with the first ball counts

(according to the Decisions on the Rules of Golf -rule 1-1/2, the play of a hole is over when a player holes out. It matters not whether the player is aware of it or not. In this case, anything that takes place after the ball is holed-- including advice or conversation with a fellow-competitor is moot. A score of 1 and a hole in one should be recorded)

All drinks for the day go on GolferX's chit. Go see Leo!

Thomas Clooney, PGA Head Professional

http://www.islandwoodcountryclub.com/

Lesson for a Buck

Lesson Corner-

Simple Bunker Thought for a Dollar

This is a good tip for the beginner golfer as well as a terrific visual reminder for everyone.

The bunker shot is very challenging for numerous reasons. Not the least of which is the varying conditions of sand bunkers from course to course. One of the challenges in executing the basic shot, is learning how far to strike the sand behind the ball.

In most cases, you can visualize that your ball is sitting in the middle of a dollar bill. What you want to do is strike the sand at a point behind the ball that would represent the back edge of the bill. You want to swing as if you want to get down and through the sand enough to send the ball and dollar bill out of the bunker.

If the sand is compacted or wet, you will want to aim a bit closer and try to knife the ball out.......but that's a lesson for another time.

Good Luck,
Tom Clooney, PGA
www.IslandwoodCountryClub.com

Driver Size Matters?

What are you driving with?

With the USGA limit on driver head size remaining at 460 cubic centimeters, and golf club manufacturers turning out offerings to the limit, it is worthwhile to consider whether a driver of that size is good for your game.

When we are asked by a member about what driver they should purchase, we have to immediately ask a series of questions to address each person's particular needs and tendencies. Some of the question we ask in most cases include:

Are you looking to add distance or accuracy or both?
Where are your poor shots going? Hook, slice, high, low?
What driver are you currently using?

Do you have any physical limitations as well?

After listening to our member's answers, we can then take a look at their swing to get the full picture of what driver model might be appropriate. We keep an ample supply of demo drivers on hand so that we can have them try a few clubs that fit their profile. It is only then that we will have a custom driver ordered.

In the past few years, we do tend to order mostly bigger driver models approaching and including 460cc. For the casual golfer, when matched with the proper shaft flex and loft, they offer exceptional forgiveness and distance.

For the lower handicap player however, these drivers tend to take away most of the ability to work the ball and control ball flight. If you fall into this category, it might be wise to try some of the available traditionally sized drivers.

Most importantly, we always stress that with the price of golf equipment being what it is, you should never buy golf clubs without hitting them first. Remember: Size does matter, but you need to play with it first.

Thomas Clooney, PGA Professional, Islandwood C.C.

http://www.islandwoodcountryclub.com/

Hogan!!!

Hello. I am Ben Hogan. I have the best golf swing ever. Thank you for watching.




Much to learn from this short video.

Now I'm off to hit a large bucket........."I Know Nothingk!"

Cary Kearns, Rookie Caddie, Islandwood C.C.
http://www.islandwoodcountryclub.com/

Pots are Panned

Nobody likes these dastardly hazards. Often unseen from the teebox, pot bunkers can butcher a hole and a round for a player faster than Johnny Miller can say "this one's makeable folks" on any putt or chip inside of 80 feet.

Seriously, the truth in trying to successfully play out of one of these ditches is simply to take your medicine-- and quickly. Unless you are an extraordinarily gifted and confident bunker player, consider some options with better odds.

If you are very anxious over the shot, you should consider whether you can execute a shot either sideways or backwards that would enable you to safely exit the bunker in one shot. If you are worried that you can't do that, you can always declare your ball unplayable under the rules and you will then have two other options-- each of which come with a one-stroke penalty.

First, you may drop your ball within two club lengths of your ball's location and no closer to the hole while still remaining in the bunker. Secondly, you may go back and play your previous shot from as close as possible to that location. Although these two options are not all that pleasant, you can likely avoid a big number on the scorecard.

This low-handicapper got greedy and paid the price:

Be careful and smart out there!

Thomas Clooney, PGA Head Professional, Islandwood C.C. http://www.islandwoodcountryclub.com/

Let's get this Straight

"The woods are filled with long hitters." ~Harvey Penick

Let's ponder the characteristics of just a few of history's greatest athletes in their respective sports:

Joe Montana- Smart and patient quarterback with a below average arm. Not as physically gifted as many of his peers. Deadly accurate passer.

Wayne Gretzky- Smart and patient center-iceman. Not as physically gifted as many of his peers. Uncanny ability to anticipate where the puck would be. Deadly accurate passer and shooter.

Pete Rose- Smart and patient hitter. Not as physically gifted as many of his peers. Concentrated on only one thing in the batters box- "hit it where they ain't". ... 4,256 times.

The goal for the game of golf can be described as - Get the ball in the hole in the fewest amount of strokes. We think that it is important to break that goal down a little bit further. How about this thinking for instance:

Get the ball in the fairway in the fewest amount of strokes possible - then

Get the ball on the green in the fewest amount of strokes - and then

Get the ball in the hole in the fewest amount of strokes.

It basically comes down to choosing the right strategy and the right club for each shot and situation. When you hand in your scorecard, nobody asks, "how?". They only need to know, "how many".

Leave it to the folks with muscles and the newest drivers and the biggest swings to do the nature walking.

Thomas Clooney, PGA Head Professional, Islandwood C.C.

http://www.islandwoodcountryclub.com/

Pushing Down the Daisies

Scenario: A player is on the green and can't find his trusty ball marker. He proceeds to walk beside the green, approach a daisy patch, and pick a flower. He uses that flower as his ball marker.

Is this permissible?

Answer......

Yes, it is perfectly within the rules. The Decisions on the Rules of Golf rule 20-1/18 allows for a player to mark the position of his/her ball on the green with just about any object. However:

It is a local rule on the professional tours and at some other events that a ball should be marked with a small cylindrical round object - like a coin or similar. Otherwise there is no firm rule dictated in the rule book.

Thomas Clooney, PGA Head Golf Professional

www.IslandwoodCountryClub.com

Bad Water

Obscure Rule Alert- Obscure Rule Alert- Obscure Rule Alert!

Scenario: A player's golf ball comes to rest a few feet outside of the stakes that are meant to define the boundary of a water hazard but is in some overflow water from the "hazard".

The player declares that he would like to take free relief and drop away from the condition for which he declares to be casual water. He does so, but did he violate a rule?

Answer: YES. According to The Decisions on the Rules of Golf regarding rule 26/2, the player was in violation. This decision puts the responsibility on the "committee" to mark the margin of the hazard. But if the water hazard extends beyond those markings, and your ball lies within, you are still considered to be within the natural boundaries of the hazard regardless of the markings.

Not a fun place to be, but it is the rule. Bad Water!!

Thomas Clooney, PGA

www.IslandwoodCountryClub.com

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