European Tour -- Better Know the Rules

[LoJo]

Very interesting policy from the men's Euro Tour. And...about time! It's absolutely ridiculous that these "professionals" are too lazy to bother with learning the most rudimentary Rules.

I can understand that a lot of money is on the line for an error (and there have been some recent well-documented mistakes), but ...c'mon!...needing help taking relief from a sprinkler head? Not sure of how many club lengths taken with an unplayable lie drop? That is just stupid and lazy, and it contributes to slowing down the game while awaiting Rules officials. Throw these slaggards off the Tour until they learn the Rules!

Europe wants its players to know the rules
By DOUG FERGUSON, AP Golf Writer

Arizona (AP)—Dustin Johnson had to call for a ruling on consecutive shots around the fifth green in the final round at Pebble Beach. One was for relief from the grandstands, the other because his chip came to rest in a sprinkler head.

“I get a little confused,” Johnson said. “It’s always good to get an official, so there’s no question about it.”

But what if the official is nowhere around and the group has to wait until one arrives?

The European Tour has a new policy this year aimed at making sure players know common rules, and encouraging them not to call for a ruling on the most routine drops.

Europe’s top two officials, John Paramor and Andy McFee, have finished making a DVD that educates players on simple rulings. If they deem that a player has asked for a ruling he should know on his own, the player has three tournaments to attend a seminar (and watch the DVD) before he can enter another event.

“It’s for when you get a guy asking for what we consider a frivolous ruling,” said McFee, the senior referee in Europe.

And what is frivolous?

McFee described some examples as what kind of penalty drop is allowed for unplayable lies and hazards (yellow and red), along with free relief from a sprinkler head or a cart path.

“They need to know how to take relief from a cart path,” McFee said. “Most golfers around the world know this, and our players should not be exempt from that.”

McFee said at Abu Dhabi last month, a player he declined to identify called for an official, who was several holes away. When the official arrived, the player said, “Is it two club lengths if I declare an unplayable?”

“We now have the right to make him go to the rules seminar,” McFee said.

In Johnson’s case with the sprinkler, McFee saw no problem. He said some players can go blank on the rules, and even the highest-rated USGA officials are not immune from that (Trey Holland at Oakmont in 1994).

As for relief from the bleachers? McFee said anything involving a temporary immovable object can be tricky, and they would not consider a ruling that involves a TIO to be frivolous.

He said the policy is aimed at all players, with emphasis on the younger players who are reluctant to take drops on their own.

“I don’t think it’s something we’ll use very often,” McFee said. “But it’s there.”

[xman5]

Unless it's the most obvious I would ask for an official. Too much on the line.

A sprinkler head no.

Perhaps they should simplify and consolidate some of the rules.

[xman5]

Unless it's the most obvious I would ask for an official. Too much on the line.

A sprinkler head no.

Perhaps they should simplify and consolidate some of the rules.

The mens tours make how much money, and they can't have a few offcials?

[LoJo]

xman.... The examples cited were really simple and obvious Rules that all golfers, pro or amateur, should know.

It's not a matter of whether the Euro Tour has enough RO's. Even on the PGA tour they would not have enough officials to cover every situation that occurs ... ones that a player should KNOW how to proceed.

I very much agree with this "frivolous ruling" policy. Yes, there's lots on the line for the pros getting the ruling right...but...c'mon!! A pro doesn't know how to take an unplayable lie? That's unacceptable!

OK...well, I'm a rules junkie, so this article tweaked my interest.

[Buzzer]

The laziness or stupidity of one player (waiting for an RO) could effect all the players behind him/her.
I'm with Lojo on this one.

Viva Annika.....who took the time to go to RO school many years ago just so she knew the rules.

[MarinePaul]

There's no excuse for a professional not to know the rules, especially those for an unplayable lie, hazards, or other common situations. I'll accept that there may be some situations where a player isn't sure about a particular rule, but an unplayable lie? Ridiculous.

[xman5]

Carry a little pocket rule book thats what I do.

[MarinePaul]

Originally Posted by xman5

Carry a little pocket rule book thats what I do.

There you go. I'm sure that these guys can afford it.