And so it begins....
Your rule card and some other tidbits prior to the start of play. I don't know how these are going to be passed out, but the Commish asked me to put out a card that could be laminated and sent out with each competitor that breaks down the rules of golf and addresses frequently mishandled or misunderstood rules (both USGA and league rules). It was a pretty tall task to make the card small enough to fit easily into a golf bag and still have enough stuff on it to make the card useful, but I think we struck the right balance. Since there are still more USGA rules to address that REGL, a side and a half are for those troublesome USGA rules and their windy, lawyerese language. I took a USGA pamphlet and consolidated it to address things like water hazards, lost balls, Out of Bounds, balls being moved, obstructions, loose impediments, proper drops, lateral water hazards, unplayable ball options, etc. I also consolidated penalties (1 stroke or 2) in a box on the back side. Please keep in mind that the card by no means replaces your rule book. I'd also have it in the bag to help resolve questions. The rest of the card addresses some common REGL rules and what to do, including rolling the ball in your own fairway, what to do if one or both of your opponents don't show up, what needs to be on the scorecard, and embedded balls. I hope this card is a resource that you'll find useful, and it's the committee's hope that it will speed up play if you can find an answer to your rules question quickly from the card. After I'd put the card together the committee had to deal with a freak of nature. The last (and probably only) winter storm of the season hit most of the mature pine trees in the area really hard, snapping off a number of large limbs on most of the pines of Ruggles Golf Course. The staff really thought they probably wouldn't have the course cleared of limbs prior to the start of league play and the committee (after a whole lot of discussion) devised a special, temporary Local Rule to deal with large piles of limbs under the pine trees. When asked for my opinion regarding this situation, my first instinct was to deem the area under the tree to be temporary Ground Under Repair. This would have allowed you to pull your ball out from under the limbs, find your nearest point of relief, drop a ball within 1 club length, and play out the hole. However, a bone of contention came up among the committee when the question of relief was investigated. In a normal Ground Under Repair situation, the Ground Under Repair boundary is from the ground downward. So, you get relief for stance and swing, but not for line of intended flight. Some of the committee members thought the relief option in some cases was going to mean that even though a competitor could make a swing, they might be forced to make that swing with the ball going back toward the tee box rather than at the green due to the large piles of pine limbs under some of the trees. So, what to do? The revised Local Rule that was enacted (temporarily) would define 3 regions based on where your ball ended up under the tree (see the diagram courtesy of Mr. Hensley (I knew he was a man of many talents, but the artwork is RESPLENDENT!)) in relation to a line between the flagstick and the tree. If it's on the right-half of the line, you get to drop within a club length of the limit of the pile of stuff on the right-hand side of the tree so that you have full relief from the piles. Same deal on the left. However, if you are in the region right behind the tree trunk, you get no line-of-flight relief and you'd probably be forced to pitch out sideways. Left half is just like the right. I was out playing Ruggles yesterday and the staff has made great headway in clearing limbs from under most of the trees on most of the holes (the exceptions yesterday were holes 16 and 17, and the edges of the driving range bordering holes 14 and 18. I think (and hope) the Local Rule will probably be unnecessary by Monday. While tree limbs might not be on the course, odds are pretty good that we're in for some wet weather early next week. Bring your rain gear and assume we'll be playing. Good luck, and I hope you enjoy the 2017 edition of the Ruggles Evening Golf League!