When the United States Golf Association meets with the Royal& Ancient Golf Club to consider revisions in the Rules of Golf, I believe consideration should be given to changing the wording on the on-conforming club rule (4-1)
Currently, it reads that if a player unwittingly carries a nonconforming club but does not use it, he is still disqualified. That's what happened to Kevin Stadler at Las Vegas this year. That shaft on his lob wedge was bent
First, disqualification is too stiff of a penalty. If a player did use such a club, then the penalty should be two strokes. If he did not use it, there should be no penalty.
If a club happens to be damaged in the normal course of play - when it occurs in the making of a stroke or a practice swing - a player may repair it - restoring it to its original condition - as long as he does not unduly delay play. He could also use the club in its damaged shape until the stipulated round was over. He could also add a similar club as long as he did not borrow on from another player.
If a player happens to bend the shaft or break his putter using it as a cane or even in a fit of anger, it would be considered non-conforming and he could not replace it unless he started the round with less than 14 clubs.
In the 1987 Ryder Cup at Muirfield Village, Ben Crenshaw's putter broke as he was tapping it on the ground walking to the 10th tee. It was ruled this was not done in the normal course of play and he had to use various other clubs to putt with for the final nine holes. He eventually lost to Eamonn Dacy 1-up as the Europeans scored a 15-13 win. Has Crenshaw won that match, it would have ended in a 14-14 tie.
I wonder what a player is supposed to do with a non-conforming club in cases like Crenshaw's. If he keeps it in his bag, it appears he would be subject to disqualification like Stadler.
In another case, a player left a putt about one inch short of the cup. In disgust, he hit his shoe with the head of the putter and bent the neck of the putter. He went ahead and tapped in the putt. Oops! the result was disqualification - a harsh penalty.
Adding lead tape to a club or changing the weight portals on one of the adjustable drivers during a round would be considered as changing the playing characteristics of a club and would not be permitted. However, it would be okay if the competition went to extra holes.
While considering other parts of Rule 4 in relation to carrying more than 14 cluvs, I would suggest that the wording on one of the decisions needs to be revised also. Currently, decision 4-4c/1 states a player should be penalized even if the has taken an excess club out of his bag and placed it elsewhere on his golf cart before the start of play. I think that he has taken it out of his bag and it should be considered out of play. |
