Rock in a hard place

A bearded Robert Rock

The antiquated rules of golf reared its head yesterday when Enagland's Robert Rock found himself disqualified from the Irish Open after returning an incorrect scorecard.

Rock was runner-up in this European Tour event last year and was one of the favourites going into the week before his quick exit. He had just signed off on an opening round 65 when tournament officials noticed Rock had registered a 4 and a 3 on the 14th and 15th holes. In fact, he had taken a 3 and a 4 at  the Killarney Golf and Fishing Club

So despite his total of 65 being accurate, his hole-by-hole score was not. Instant DQ.

It is a good reminder to us all even though your average golf club officials aren't nearly as thorough as this. It is not good enough to have the same score on both your own and your marker's scorecard. They must be identical.

Norman still wants a World Tour

In the mid-1990's Greg Norman put forward the idea of a World Golf Tour which would have featured the world's top players in an eight tournament schedule played in the US, Canada, Scotland, Japan and Spain. The PGA Tour hated the idea but Norman still believes it could work and hopes the European Tour may give it a go.

When it was first proposed by Norman, it seemed like a great idea to everyone outside of the US. Indeed, many in the US also thought it was a good idea but the PGA Tour, worried its importance may nose-dive, stepped in and warned players their tour cards would be revoked if they take part. Many players outside the top 50 also didn't like the idea of a World Tour, potentially missing out on prize money and having to travel around the world to play golf tournaments.

It was this reason Norman proposed the idea in the first place. Bring the world's best golf - to the world.

In a recent interview with Inside Golf, Norman says the European Tour should have taken it on.

"They (European Tour) could have taken themselves out of the box a little bit and taken a look at what I was basically recommending and wanting to implement. They could have easily done it and they could have captured the hearts and minds of every golfer, spectator and corporation around the world. They still have a chance."

Gary Player who will weigh in on absolutely any topic related to golf, has not surprisingly weighed in on the idea of a World Tour.

"A man who can travel and win tournaments – that’s who the real champion is. If you get on an aeroplane and go and play in different countries where you can’t understand the editorial, you don’t like the food, you don’t like this and that and can still win – that’s a champion."

Does anyone disagree with this World Golf Tour concept?

The croquet putting style

Sam Snead using the legal croquet style
putting method. Both feet face the hole
and on one side of the line of the putt.

Thinking of trying the croquet putting method? Be very careful not to straddle the line of the putt when you do as this is illegal and a violation of the rules of golf.

As I mentioned last week, KJ Choi has been experimenting with a croquet style of putting but has been standing with both feet on one side of the ball. If he were to straddle the line of the putt with both feet he would be in violation of Rule 16-1e.

The straddle method was banned in 1968 after the great Sam Snead employed it late in his career as his putting deteriorated. Reportedly Bobby Jones played a large role in having the technique banned.

"Bob Jones got that banned, I'm sure of it," Snead once said. "I would've won Augusta again if they let me putt that way."

But why was it banned? I see no reason apart from sour grapes from Bobby Jones. What specifically about this straddle method isn't right? Facing the hole surely seems more natural and it does not rest the hands or club against the body like some legal belly putters do.

Related Stories
Searching for Bobby Jones
Putting while holding the flagstick
The new putter theory

R&A launch Rules of Golf iPhone app

True or False: A ball lies in a part of a tree overhanging a water hazard. The ball is in the water hazard? (Answer below)

The R&A have recently launched their official Rules of Golf iPhone application. It's free and available for the iPhone, iPad and iTouch.

It includes a quick guide explaining playing procedures in more frequently encountered situations, plenty of images and videos as well as a personalised guide to etiquette from Padraig Harrington.

But if you don't have an iPhone get the rules of golf book format. It should be in every golf bag.

Get the official R&A Rules of Golf iPhone application here.

Answer: True. Question courtesy of a Rules quiz at the R&A website.


More Rules of Golf
Out of bounds from a bunker
Playing from a hazard
The teeing ground
A crow took my golf ball

Crazy man jumps golfer; turns out to be caddy

Look out! There's a crazy guy behind you!

It first appeared that Richard S. Johnson's Scandinavian Masters win on Sunday would be marred with the appearance of a crazy man jumping on him after rolling in a 30 foot putt to win by a shot.

It turned out to be his caddy, Anders Timell.

P.S. The 'S' stands for Stanley

Photos: Julian Finney/Getty Images

Slow play - Is your club to blame?

The blame for slow play at your golf club may well be due to poor club management rather than the players themselevs according to Mike Orloff of Golf Industry Central.

"This is a management issue much more than a player issue. If your staff were behaving in an inappropriate way, you would do something about it. If your players (especially members) are not behaving to your expectation you must also do something about it."

"Yes, players do need to be educated on pace of play and etiquette best practices, like the need to keep up with the group ahead of them and not ahead of the group behind them, but at the end of the day it is up to management to ensure that everyone has a respectable pace during their golf round."

I have always questioned why the weekend course setup needs to be the most difficult for the week. Medal days and important events are an exception but to ensure a faster weekend round, the pins do not need to be tucked behind bunkers nor tees placed back in snake territory.

Mike goes on to highlight several steps that golf clubs should adhere to when designing and managing golf courses:

• Par 5's -Extend the length to as long as possible, so most people are not waiting for the green to clear and to try and reach in two shots.
• Par 4's – Set to 330-350 metres maximum, so most players can reach or get close in two shots.
• Par 3's – Keep at a maximum length of 150-160 metres, so the majority of players can reach the green in one hit.
• Green speed – keep at 9-10 on the Stimpmeter, so players are not regularly 3 and 4 putting or generally spending to much time on the green.
• Rough – lower height, so the majority of players can fully advance the ball if hitting from the rough.
• Pin positions - put in the easiest green position on busy days.
• Competitions - Set up the course to accommodate the format of the day. i.e. Don't have the course play the longest and toughest if your conducting a stroke play club championship.

Read the full article here over at Golf Industry Central.

Country Courses

Today's post comes from Matt and Tony of SA Golfing Adventure who endeavouring to play all 158 golf courses in South Australia.

by Matt

I was trying to think of some of the most interesting things we have encountered on our trip so far and whilst there are some very nice courses in the city or in larger towns, it is the courses in the middle of nowhere which have given us some of our best stories. These courses show the real spirit of golf, they maintain a course on the support of the local community and have struggled through many a year. Some of these courses don't even have any grass on them, Morgan in the Riverland being a perfect example.

So here's a list of things we have found on golf courses, that most city golfing folk would never have seen before:

• Wire around the scrapes of many rural courses to keep sheep from entering the scrape.
• Perfectly square scrapes at Georgetown.
• Fantastic open days where your entry fee includes a cooked steak lunch at Yankalilla.
• The sand scrapes at Padthway where the locals offer you free beer after your round
• Rough left untouched for many years at Port Macdonnell, so deep that you lose your feet in it.
• The first hole at Port Victoria where a wayward shot will end up on the boat ramp.
• Playing on only dirt at Morgan, where apparently grass does not grow

And our personal favourite...

• Huge pieces of infrastructure through the course at Georgetown, including crossing the famous Murray River pipeline on numerous occasions. The same pipeline ships water all across the whole state.

We've recently travelled to the Yorke Peninsula and played 15 courses in 6 days. All of these places are very much isolated and we uncovered yet more country fol course gems.

Follow our journey, blogs and reviews at www.sagolfadventure.com.

The good, bad and ugly from the 2010 British Open

The good

Louis Oostheizen was never headed going into the final two days. Looked in complete control.

The Open Championship has a knack of producing very famous winners such as Woods, Nicklaus and Norman but is not afraid to give some unknowns the Claret Jug such as Curtis, Hamilton and now Oostheizen.

Jin Jeong - the Korean finished top amateur and resides in Melbourne. He is soon to become an Australian citizen.

Video: A 90 second wrap of The Open

The bad

The decision to suspend play due to high winds at St.Andrews was a bad one. High winds at St.Andrews? Who would have guessed.

John Daly kicked over a plant pot exiting the scorers tent on Friday. There shouldn't be trees on a links golf course.

Tiger Woods cursed his way around st.Andrews but kept up a pretty good record of three top-5's in majors this year.

The ugly

K.J.Choi used a croquet style putter and side-stance at The Open - a few other golfers should be trying this.

The shot of the tournament came from Miguel Angel Jiminez. A horrible lie near the greenside bunker on the road hole led to a cut across the green up aginst the wall. The next shot produced the shot of the tournament. See previous post.

John Daly's jacket in the photo of past British Open champions (see above). Hard to tell but he must be one of the shortest Open champions.

Ewan Porter complained that fans deliberately said nothing when they knew where his ball was on Thursday. Pipe down Porter - we deal with lost balls all the time.

(Photo courtesy of Geoff Shackleford)

Video: 2010 British Open - A final wrap in 90 seconds

More videos
Jimenez plays shot off the wall

Mickelson plays shot from the road

2010 British Open preview
Adam Scott's 42-second eagle

Video: Best shot of the 2010 British Open

Miguel Angel Jimenez played a shot on the 17 on Saturday that visiting golfers to St.Andrews have been trying for years. He bounced one off the wall and back onto the green. Lots of luck but an amazing golf shot.

More videos

2010 British Open - a final 90 second wrap

Mickelson plays shot from the road

2010 British Open preview

Adam Scott's 42-second eagle

Video: British Open round 3 - in 90 seconds

Addendum: KJ Choi did NOT straddle the line of his putt. this would be illegal. He placed both feet on one side of the ball but facing the hole. He then putted in a croquet style. More on this next week.

More videos

Mickelson plays shot from the road

2010 British Open preview

Extreme 19th hole

Video: The Open, Round 1 - in 90 seconds

Video: British Open preview - in 90 seconds

More videos

Mickelson plays shot from the road

Adam Scott's 42-second eagle

Ernie Els douses Adam Scott with beer

2010 British Open: What you need to know

The 150th Open Championship: The Old Course, St.Andrew's,. July 15 - 18, 2010

Scoring: British Open Live Leaderboard

Australians in the field (12): Robert Allenby, Kurt Barnes, Jason Day, Mathew Goggin, Marc Leishman, Geoff Ogilvy, Cameron Percy, Ewan Porter, Adam Scott, John Senden, Peter Senior, Michael Sim (Greg Normal has withdrawn, still recovering from shoulder injury). Full field

Last year's winner: Stewark Cink in a bright green shirt. Best Aussie: Mathew Goggin (T5)

Aussies to watch: Geoff Ogilvy has been practising on links courses for weeks and finished 5th here in 2005. He's due. I'm not convinced our '09 hope, Mat Goggin, will fire this year, but Adam Scott just needs a working putter to get into contention. It will be interesting to see how Marc Leishman and Michael Sim goes on debut at The Open.

Look who else is back for his 18th Open, Peter Senior. He played his first in 1979 and his last was at St.Andrews in 2000.

What to watch: The road-hole 17th will have some extra excitement after being recently lengthened. Expect to see a lot of golfers come in from the 2nd fairway.

Will an Aussie win? Probably not. It will suit the Aussies more than the US Open setup but form counts and we have none of it right now. Maybe someone like Percy or Allenby may surprise. It is a pity Appleby isn't playing. He loves the wind.

Should I watch the Tour de France instead? No. Granted Colin Montgomerie is not quite as appealing as Cadel Evans, but the dulcet tones of Renton Laidlaw with a late night red are just as good as a view of the French countryside.

When to watch: Australian TV Schedule

More details: Official Open Championship website

TV Times for 2010 Open Championship

The Open Championship is a favourite of many Australian golf fans as it is the only major tournament we can watch a a half decent hour.

All live coverage is on FoxSports as well as a repeat each day. Keep an eye for  lots of great old British Open Films in the days leading up to the tournament at St.Andrews.

Thursday and Friday: 6:00pm - 5:00am

Saturday: 10:00pm - 4.30am

Sunday: 7.00pm - 4.30 am

More British Open info

St.Andrews resets course record

The Open and all the apps!

World's most famous par-4 just got longer

Video: Aussies on the PGA Tour

Here's a video of a few Australians on the PGA Tour talking about their season so far and what they wish for in the second half of 2010. Courtesy of The Golf Show on Foxsports. 

Greg Chalmers is particularly interesting. He sounds very realistic about his poor form and what he needs to achieve. James Nitties, Marc Leishman and an almost unrecognisable Mat Goggin who has shaved off his locks.

More videos

Phil Mickelson plays shot from the road

Ernie Els douses Adam Scott with beer

Adam Scott's 42-second eagle

Haka performed on golf course

If you missed it there was good news on the Kiwi golf front last week. New Zealander Michael Hendry won the Indonesian Open on the OneAsia Tour by seven shots. It pushes him into 6th position on the Order of Merit.

Click here to see final round highlights but below is a haka performed for Hendry immediately after his victory, performed by a few fellow Kiwi's.

Note the worried bodyguards gripping tightly onto Hendry as they approach the haka!

Hat tip to Grant Dodd for this one.

Rules of Golf: Putting while holding flagstick

Can you hold the flagstick and make a putt at the same time?

Yes. This is a question that pops up a lot. The confusion seems to have arisen because everyone thinks it was illegal a long time ago. I have seen no proof that it ever was against the rules although have some recollection of it.

You can putt and hold the pin at the same time. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Make sure the ball does not strike the flagstick (Rule 17-1/5). If so, it is a loss of hole in match play of a two stroke penalty in stroke play.

Can the flagstick rest against me while I putt?

Well, yes and no. If it is deemed to be used to steady yourself it can be contrary to Rule 14-3 which states; "...the player must not use any artificial device or unusual equipment, or use any equipment in an unusual manner: a. That might assist him in making a stroke or in his play" and you may face disqualification.

In truth, the flagstick resting against you doesn't really constitute assistance to playing a shot but it is possible it may raise some eyebrows among the rules sticklers. Avoid it.

More rules of golf
OB from a bunker
Playing from a hazard
The double hit

The lack of links

If your life depended on playing well at St.Andrews and you had three weeks to prepare on any other course, which one would you choose? It would be a links course, right?

There is a problem brewing on the professional tour concerning playing The British Open on a links golf course such as St.Andrews. How do they prepare for the Open when no other tournaments are played on links golf courses anymore?

Former Australian professional and now well-known course designer Michael Clayton wrote about the problem this week:

"Years ago, the Irish Open was played a couple of weeks before The Open at the wonderful Dublin links at Portmarnock but new inland courses, hungry for publicity and legitimacy, offered a better deal to the tour and so one of the very few tournaments on a true links was lost. Now, The Open aside, it is hard to find anything professional played on the courses where the game developed."

The Scottish Open was once also played on a links golf course and Australians including Craig Parry and Peter O'Malley previously won the tournament. But it is now played at the Loch Lomond Golf Club; a soft, inland tree-lined golf course.

Geoff Ogilvy has noted the problem and withdrawn from the Scottish Open and opted to spend the week practising on  links golf courses. He has done this in the past with little effect but maybe this week is his time.

It sounds like the perfect time for a brand new links golf course to be built in Scotland  by someone looking for money and publicity, and willing to host a tournament on the eve of the British Open.

Sorenstam hits golf balls from skyscraper

From the "do some crazy things for charity" department comes a video of ex-golfer Annika Sorenstam and America's saltiest golfer Briny Baird, hitting golf balls off of a New York City skyscraper into the East River.

Remarkably, this wasn't a sketch from Letterman but for a good cause, supporting the Fallen Heroes Fund and the Annika Foundation.

More golf videos

Mickelson plays shot from the road

Tom Watson speaks - keep it simple

Golf Baby advertisement

Y.E.Yang beats Tiger

The Open Championship + extras

The vuvuzela-free 2010 Open Championship (British Open) from St.Andrews is now only a couple of weeks away and no major tournament is complete without its range of iPhone apps, tweets and videos.

In addition to the official 150th Open Championship has its very own Facebook fan page and Twitter account where you can get up to minute information links to news updates - such as the live webcam positioned on the end of the clubhouse!

There is also an iPhone app for The Open which is of course mandatory for any major event these days and there are plenty of official and 'behind the scenes' videos over at The Open's YouTube Channel.

Got your fix yet? Feeling the need to buy something? Head to the online official Open Championship golf shop and buy yourself a pink Open Trifolf bag towel - then tell me what trifolf means.

Now as soon as they broadcast it in 3D, it'll be better than being there! Well, warmer anyway.