Question on new OB rules

[Ryan Stratulate]

Just was wondering if the World Am was going to “encourage” the tournament courses to use the local new OB rule to help with pace of play?

[Bob Newman]

I don’t think this local rule will speed up play and I personally think you will give up yardages at the cost of an extra penalty stroke. The 2 times I have hit OB, I would have given up about 60 yards. Also I feel the USGA out this in for recreational play not tournaments.

[Bob Newman]

I don’t think this local rule will speed up play and I personally think you will give up yardages at the cost of an extra penalty stroke. The 2 times I have hit OB, I would have given up about 60 yards. Also I feel the USGA put this in for recreational play not tournaments.

[Dale McMath]

Bob, I tend to agree with you that it will not speed up play, at least for this tournament. Too many golfers on the courses. I’ve used the OB rule to my advantage from time to time, but it is an analysis that has to take place on a hole-by-hole basis. Sometimes it helps, sometimes it hurts. I also believe the USGA likely intended this more for recreational golf not tournament golf.

[Dale Craig]

I play in several New York State tournaments every year and have actually already played in one this year and brought this subject up before the start of the first tournament. The state tournament director said that the NYSGA was still looking at it, but will not be implementing it this year for NYSGA events. I believe as others have stated that this is probably intended more for recreational (not tournament) rounds, thus the reason it is only a local rule.

[Bob Newman]

I have worked several statewide events for Golf associations in SC, and have yet to see this Local Rule in effect and honestly I hope it stays that way. Two new Local Rues came out the middle of April and I have seen this put to use and I think they are good ones: G-9–Replacement of club that is”broken or significantly damaged” –this local rule allows this but the New Rules do not allow it to be replaced.
E-12–Ball played from outside relief areas when taking Back on the Line. Without this new Local Rule, players could be penalized for playing “outside the dropping Zone” if they do not create a “reference point” when taking Back on the Line relief.
I have just spoke of this in the simplest fashion and you need to read these thoroughly to fully understand them. I can show you in person easier than I can try to explain them. the new Modern Rules are still just as complicated as the old ones in my opinion.
I also like the Local Rule for “opposite But Equal” relief for the Penalty Area.

[Dale McMath]

I hope it is not adopted. Would take a bit of the “tournament” feel away from the event. Nothing like the feeling of standing on the tee you have just returned to after hitting two OB.

[Bob Newman]

You are absolutely correct. Same feeling you get when you have to make a 2 ft putt and you haven’t putted on all year.

[Paul Lill]

Bob Newman, if someone hasn’t putted a 2 foot putt all year then they don’t have a legitimate handicap and shouldn’t be in the tournament anyway !!!

[Bob Newman]

Paul, you are absolutely correct and that is part of the reason that at least half of the players in your flight don’t have a chance to win. The other big factor is most do not play the ball “down” all the time. These two factors equal close to 5 shots on your handicap. When I first started playing in WA in 2005; I discovered these from an article “somewhere “. Think it was from USGA but did not save it.

[Rick Kimbrell]

Not a big fan of the OB/Lost Ball local rule. I play in 2 tournament leagues. I league adopted the local rule, the other did not.
Oh, and Bob, about playing the ball “down”…I hope we have 4 days where can are told to play the ball down this year.

[Bob Newman]

Rick, the one thing I’ve noticed is that the players that use it end op dropping and playing 30 yds closer to hole than where their ball actually crossed the OB.
I had an interesting OB situation the other day at a Junior Golf event. I rode up on a hole and saw a ball just past an OB stake(no white line down) and about 2” behind. A parent was signaling to the player it was out. I got closer to the ball and saw that next the next OB was at right angle to that stake and ball appeared to be in bounds. By time player arrived I had pulled a string to confirm ball was inbounds(by half a ball). My first question to player “did you announce you were hitting a provisional”, he answered YES. parent does not have a clue as to what is going on and thinks player has choice of what to do, gets mad at me. Player is in jail, makes triple bogey and guess whose fault it was. Ended up being an educational experience for both parent and player. They both also learned, you can not move a OB stake.

[Bob Newman]

Saw an interesting situation with John Rhan and OB chain link fence. Fence proper was completely OB as OB is at ground level on course side of fence post. The official pulled a string from post to post and the ball was totally out of bounds. John pitched a fit. I found it intriguing that a man playing golf for a living did not fully understand one of the simplest rules

[Rick Kimbrell]

You are right Bob. A ball 15 yards OB did not cross OB directly across from where it is found. Explaining that to a player generally is going to meet with sort of confrontational discussion.

[Dale McMath]

I’m glad many others feel the same way about the local OB/lost ball rule not being used at the WA. Would somewhat lessen the excitement/feel of the tournament. We play the ball down (hopefully no weather issues to change that) and hole out all putts. No reason to add into it a “speed of play” component that is totally misunderstood and seldom applied correctly.

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