This month's golf news and features

FAMILY TRIP TO KANCHANABURI

This will be from 18th to 21st April. Departing the Bazaar on Sunday midday, check in at Felix Resort, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, golf at Nichigo, Blue Sapphire and Nichigo respectively. All in cost is 7,600 Baht for two golfers sharing a room and 5,000 Baht for one golfer with non playing partner. Return to Hua Hin after the tournament on Wednesday.
Payment is with registration at Berny’s. For members and their partners only. This event is heavily subsidised by the society.
TAXI JACK
Last call!
Recent results: 20th February at Kaeng Krachan, 48 players. A grp 1st Maria Thelning (guest), 37 pts, 6 hcp, 2nd Jonathan Davis (guest) 36 pts, 4 hcp. B group 1st Sam Sheriff 36 pts 20 hcp, 2nd Steve Ross 35 pts, 20 hcp. 24th February at Springfield 47 players A grp, 1st Mick Evans, 71 net, 10 hcp, 2nd Dicky Bird 71 net 10 hcp, B group 1st Bjorn B (guest) 37 pts, 19 hcp, 2nd John Anstee 36 pts 20 hcp. 27th February at Sawang Resort 48 players A group 1st Clive Bruce 71 net, 8 hcp, 2nd Karl Westholm 74 net 11 hcp, B grp 1st Steve Ross 39 pts 20 hcp. 2nd March at Palm Hills 46 players A group Ulf Persson 67 net 16 hcp, 2nd Robert Laminit 70 net 12 hcp, B group 1st Boom Schroeder 40 pts 20 hcp, 2nd Bjorn B (guest) 39 pts 19 hcp. 9th March at Dragon Hills 33 players A grp 1st Mike Anderson 36 pts 14 hcp, 2nd John McMorris 34 pts 14 hcp, B grp 1st Sam Sheriff 36 pts 19 hcp, 2nd John Miller 32 pts 31 hcp. 12th March at Springfield 36 players (18 teams) 2 ball better ball, 1st Michael Christensen / Winfried 48 pts, 2nd Fiona Zimmerman / Kevin Rahm 47 pts, 3rd Mike Anderson / Peter Gouldby 46 pts. 16th March at Lake View 49 players A group 1st John Stuart 69 net 16 hcp, 2nd Ulf Sparvman 70 net 4 hcp. B group Kjell Alsterljung 36 pts 32 hcp, 2nd Alan Rawson 36 pts, 26 hcp.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
Family trip Kanchanaburi 18th - 21st April. Details above. Gentlemens outing to Pattaya 4th to 8th July, details in May issue.

APRIL FIXTURES
Date Course Format
Friday 2nd Lake View Stroke/Stableford
Tues 6th Kaeng Krachan Stroke/Stableford
Fri 9th Palm Hills 2,3,4 team event
Tues 13th Songkran holiday no fixture
Fri 16th Springfield Red/White/Blue
Tues 20th Sawang Stroke/Stableford
Fri 23rd Lake View Stroke/Stableford
Tues 27th Palm Hills 4 ball better ball
Fri 30th Springfield Stroke/Stableford

Rule by Rule

Rule 5. The Ball

What It's About: Tells us we must play with a conforming ball, and how to determine if a ball is unfit for play.

Rule 1 states that the game of golf consists in playing a ball from the teeing ground into the hole, establishing the general principle that a player may not change balls during play of a hole. Of course, other Rules cover situations where that is not possible (i.e., a lost ball). The longest section of Rule 5 deals with when you are allowed to change balls during play of a hole.

You can substitute a ball if the original is "unfit for play," which means it is visibly cut, cracked, or out of shape. Unless you're still playing a ball with a balata cover, that can be pretty tough to do these days, especially since a mere scuff or scratch doesn't make a ball unfit (nor can a ball be substituted if the player thinks it is damaged internally, according to Decision 5-3/1). Nonetheless, you may lift your ball from any place, including a bunker or water hazard, to determine whether the ball has become unfit for play. You must first announce that you are going to lift the ball because it might be damaged, then you must mark the ball and give your opponent in match play or fellow-competitor in stroke play an opportunity to examine it. Failure to follow this procedure results in a one-stroke penalty. Under this Rule the ball cannot be cleaned when it is lifted.

The same sub-section of Rule 5 also covers what to do if the ball breaks into pieces as a result of a stroke. In this case, not only do you substitute a ball, but the stroke is canceled and you play from the same spot.

This part of the Rule has a long history. It was introduced in the mid-19th century when gutta percha balls, which tended to break apart, replaced feather balls, which didn't. For a time, the Rule stated that the player substituted another ball at the place where the "largest portion" of the ball lay. Finally, in 1908, the R&A declared that another ball could be dropped where any piece lay. The wound, three-piece ball introduced early in the 20th century didn't break, so all mention of balls splitting disappeared from the Rule in 1933 (the part about substituting for a cracked ball, added in 1891, remained). It reappeared in 1976 after solid-core balls, which would occasionally break into pieces, came on the scene.
The other two parts of Rule 5 are similar to Rule 4 on clubs -- a player must use a ball that conforms to certain specifications spelled out in an appendix to the Rules, and foreign material must not be applied to the ball for the purpose of changing its characteristics. The penalty in either case is disqualification. The USGA test center in Far Hills, New Jersey, evaluates golf balls as to their conformity to the specifications for weight, size, spherical symmetry, initial velocity, and an overall distance standard; the USGA publishes and regularly updates a List of Conforming Golf Balls.

Some confusion exists as to whether a player is allowed to change the brand or type of ball during a round. This is prohibited only under a condition of competition, in effect at the highest levels, such as the Tours or USGA championships. It is recommended that this condition not be used at the club level.

DECISIONS, DECISIONS

One of the most embarrassing things that can happen on a golf course is to run out of balls during the round. Given that Rule 4 prohibits borrowing a club from another player, does this mean that a player who has run out of balls must pack it in and head for the clubhouse? Decision 5-1/5 clarifies that the Rules do not prevent a player from borrowing other items of equipment -- such as balls, towels, clubs, tees, etc. -- from another player or an outside agency. If he's running low at the turn, he can make an emergency trip to purchase more balls from the golf shop or retrieve balls from a locker or the trunk of his car. However, if the One-Ball Condition is in effect, the player would need to obtain the same brand and type of ball that he had been using. This condition has burned Bill Kratzert on the PGA Tour and Anders Forsbrand on the European Tour. Both had to withdraw from tournaments when they hit all of their balls into water hazards.
For the complete Rules of Golf and Decisions on the Rules, visit the USGA's site.

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