Rules Roundtable

by

Where do I drop the ball?

I have seen many variations of the correct place to drop your ball if it’s out of bounds, lost in the weeds or in a Penalty Area. My hope is to show everyone the correct place to drop with this communication. I have included a couple of illustrations created by Rick Hines (Thank you Rick). You must scroll down and put your glasses on to see them.

There is some confusion about the term “Back on the Line Relief” as well. Most golfers I have talked to, thought that meant the line from their previous shot to where the ball came to rest, but that is not correct. The best way I can describe “Back on the Line” is to, stand behind the ball while looking at the pin and then taking your relief back on that line 1 club to either side of it. Then drop the ball from your knee height. Metro seniors allows us to roll the ball with our club up to a foot, left, right or back to try and improve our lie.  

Lift, Clean and Place of the ball within one (1) foot, not nearer the hole, allowed on the whole of the course except:

  • 1. The putting green of the hole being played; and
  • 2. All Penalty Areas on the course including Bunkers
  • 3. If the grass your ball is in, is longer than 6”
  • 4. NOT ALLOWED to improve line of play, to get relief from behind tree, in a different cut of grass (rough to fairway),

Enjoy this video of the proper way to use “Back on the Line” relief: http://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/rules-hub/rules-modernization/major-changes/procedure-for-taking-back-on-a-line-relief.html

Lateral Relief: Is another option for determining your drop options in some cases.  This option may be used to your advantage, depending on where your ball entered the Red Staked Penalty area (Sand traps are not Red staked). I have also included a video on the proper Drop Procedures.   

Lateral Relief: http://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/rules-hub/rules-modernization/major-changes/procedure-for-taking-lateral-relief.html

Rules of Golf – History

by

Looking over the rules changes for 2019 brings all kinds of interesting information to the fore.

Interested in the history of the “Rules”? USGA has prepared a very interesting summary of the rules over a 270 year period.

Some of these are quite interesting, especially the relief drops. Some give shine a light on why some rules were established.

Makes for interesting reading when taking a rest from putting new grips on, cleaning up the grooves, or otherwise tuning up for the new season.

CLICK HERE for a little fun reading.

I also recommend that you visit the USGA site to look at the new rules. The videos are really good. Metro Seniors is founded on USGA rules. We make a very few “local” variations to keep pace moving and allow for “seniors” abilities. However, if you know and follow all USGA rules, it will help you with the few variations from Metro Senior.

CLICK HERE for USGA Major Rule Changes with videos

2019 Special Events Entry List Update

by

The Entry List for all of the 2019 Special Events have been Updated. The Waiting List for the Founder’s Day, Ryder Cup, and Pick Your Partner Tournaments have also been updated.
Click on the sidebar link “Confirm/Wait/Pairing Lists”.

The registration levels for each of the tournaments are as follows:

Find Your Swing 96% full

Ryder Cup 100% full (Waiting List has been started)

4-Person Best Ball 85% full

Pick Your Partner 100% full (Waiting List has been started)

Founder’s Day 100% full (Waiting List has been started)

Same Flight 66% full

Pace of Play Rules

by
CLICK HERE FOR USGA PACE OF PLAY RULES

USGA has new rules specifically focused on improving pace of play. MSLSGA as the “Committee” has over several years adopted local rules for pace. These are now virtually identical to the several of the new USGA rules.

USGA encourages setting expectations for both beginners and experienced players on what types of behavior are considered prompt play, including the maximum amount of time it should normally take to make a stroke.

New USGA Rules encourage prompt pace of play by recommending that:

  • Players should recognize that their pace of play affects others and they should play promptly throughout the round (such as by preparing in advance for each stroke and moving promptly between strokes and in going to the next tee),
  • A player should make a stroke in no more than 40 seconds (and usually in less time) after the player is able to play without interference or distraction
  • Committees should adopt a Pace of Play Policy.
  • In addition, Rule 6.4 expressly allows playing out of turn for stroke play, affirmatively allows and encourages players to play out of turn in a safe and responsible way to save time or for convenience (also known as “ready golf”).

EXPECTATIONS METRO SENIORS

  • Members are Expected to:
    • Play to best competitive effort, with courtesy and respect for others
    • Follow all rules – no gimme putts, QUAD BOGEY max, leave flagstick in, ……
    • Manage their group to “Meet Pace” and “Keep Up” with group ahead
    • Play READY GOLF – Play “out of turn” in a safe, responsible manner – No HONORS!
    • Play quickly – USGA suggests 40 SECONDS for a stroke
  • Pace of Play Targets
    • 4 to 4 1/2 hours Tee Starts
    • 4 1/4 to 4 3/4 hours Shotgun Starts
    • Course, conditions, organization, member capability

Maximum of Quad Bogey on any hole

All players are required to take no more than a Quad Bogey on any hole.  This will prevent a “blow-up” hole from slowing a group and all behind them.  It will reduce only about 15 to 30 strokes per round but these are concentrated in our slowest players and groups. Pace for our slowest players (and those following) should improve by several minutes per round.

The Quad Bogey rule will not make any differences in handicaps, in flight prize money, in flight standings, or in qualifications for the league championship.

Everyone who has a bad hole is required to take advantage of the Quad Bogey rule.

News of History!

by

Did you know?

Metro Seniors is 46 years old in 2019?

That we have had 30 Presidents over the years? And, six of those are still playing in 2019!

That one man with an idea started Metro Seniors with an ad in the newspaper?

Larry Roth with Bob Roderigue, Metro Seniors’ Historian, are finishing a project to collect, organize and publish much of our rich history. Over the next year or so we will be posting some of our history as an honor and recognition to the many volunteers who have contributed to building Metro Seniors.

You, too, can make history. We have many opportunities for volunteers on committees, at the Division level, and as a Board member or officer. This is a great way to help a great St. Louis institution while using your skills, knowledge, interests or talents with a great group of friends.

A simple start – a look back at our Presidents over the years. CLICK HERE

2019 Metro Plus Membership Sold Out

by

Metro Plus “Sold Out”

140 Metro Senior members have signed up for the Metro Plus. The new Premium Division will start play this April playing premium public courses and 4 private Country Clubs. I’d like to thank all of the Metro Senior members who signed up to the initial season.

Metro Plus has started a wait list for those who cancel prior to the start of the season. If you wish to be put on the wait list, please contact Larry Roth @ larry@lgr-sri.com for the appropriate links.

Additional information will be sent to all the members directly. Starting in March/April a separate section on Metro Seniors website will be dedicated for all Metro Plus info.

Larry Roth
Metro Seniors VP

2019 Special Events Entry List

by

The Entry List for all of the 2019 Special Events have been Updated. The Waiting List for the Founder’s Day Tournament has also been updated.
Click on the sidebar link “Confirm/Wait/Pairing Lists”.

The registration levels for each of the tournaments are as follows:

Find Your Swing 90% full

Ryder Cup 99% full

4-Person Best Ball 78% full

Pick Your Partner 97% full

Founder’s Day 100% full (Waiting List has been started)

Same Flight 63% full

Credit Card Now Accepted for Memberships 1-7-2019

by

Credit Card transactions are now reopened for Membership Renewals and New Membership Applications effective immediately. 1-7-2019. Special Events and Metro Plus will open January 9, 2019 by 9 AM.

The problem that developed with our PayPal account was completely resolved within a few days during the holiday period. We decided all close credit card transactions for an abundance of caution until we were completely satisfied that our account and issues were completely clear.

The actual incident involved only the Metro Senior account. It was very short and security procedures locked our account access immediately. Along with PayPal security procedures, we have strengthened our own security rules and education to prevent this in the future.

No member information or credit transactions were involved.

Membership Renewals have been extended to January 31, 2019 to accommodate members who may have waited until late December to renew. Paper form renewals remained open during the credit card outage.

As announced, we decided to delay Special Events registrations opening to Wednesday, January 9, 2019. This allowed time to make sure our credit card transactions were secure. Plus for fairness, all members had fair notice for the opening.

Links for the Special Events and Metro Seniors registration will open by 9:00 AM on January 9, 2019.