Sand Bunker or Waste Area

For anyone that has played the game for any length of time you will encounter “Sand Traps” and “Waste Bunkers” on a golf course. So, what is the difference between the two? Both have sand, most are surrounded by grass, water, fairway, rough, etc. For those of us that play weekend golf and find ourselves in one of these conditions the question is simple, can you ground your club or not? In other words, before you play the shot can your golf club come in contact with the sand or playing surface? Or, do you need to hover the club above the ball before you play the stroke? In a traditional Sand Trap, you cannot ground your club because the sand trap is considered a “hazard”. Meaning your golf club cannot come into contact with the surface prior to playing the stroke. Okay, what the h_l does that mean? In a nutshell, when addressing the golf ball, in your golf stance, you cannot have the golf club touch the ground. Sounds simple enough, eh? Not so fast because the sand you find yourself in may be a Waste Area, not a Sand Trap, so a different rule applies.

In a Waste Area you can ground your golf club. You can even take a practice swing that has the club come into contact with the ground. Also, when you go to play your stroke you can have the club rest behind the ball on the ground before you play the stroke.

So, you can see how an occasional or casual golfer could be confused. However, a touring pro such as Dustin Johnson should know different. I raise the point because at last weekend’s PGA Championship Dustin made the mistake of not knowing he was in a sand trap on the 18th hole. As he played the stroke, he grounded his club, incurred a two shot penalty for the infraction and after the round was completed he was assessed a two stroke penalty. Because of this penalty it knocked him out of the playoff with Kaymer and Watson. What makes this worse is that the PGA of America provided each player with a “local rules” sheet explaining the condition. So, Dustin and his caddy had plenty of notice prior to even starting the event that the local rules apply. Furthermore, the PGA of America Rules Officials placed the sheets throughout the locker room basically telling the players that if you are in “sand” that you should consider it a hazard no matter where you are on the golf course. Dustin felt that since he was in an area outside of the ropes and people had been walking through it, that it was not a hazard.

What makes this more amazing is that each group has a “PGA Official” following them and the players can easily ask the Official what the ruling is before they play the shot. After all, they were on the 18th hole of the Championship so delaying the field was a non factor. You see it each week on tour whereby the players ask the Officials for the most basic of rulings. Let alone on the 18th hole of a major when you are tied for the lead. Dustin stated that he did not think he was in a sand trap/hazard. All I can say to that is “C’mon Man” to borrow a phrase from the ESPN NFL coverage.

In the end, the rules of golf are complex, they apply to every player in the field and even the best players in the world are not exempt from them.

Associated Press Photo

Olde Stonewall Golf Club

I recently had the opportunity to play Olde Stonewall Golf Club in Ellwood City, PA. Olde Stonewall is located about forty miles northwest of downtown Pittsburgh. I have always wanted to play this golf course because I've heard so many good things about it. It has also received industry recognition by Golf Magazine and Golf Digest as one of the best public courses. Needless to say, the golf course and facility did not disappoint.

The course is very challenging ,offering five sets of tees ranging from 5,241 to 7,103 yards. It is set up for every level of player from the beginner to a championship golfer. It suits the eye off the tee and offers some very challenging approach shots into well protected greens. The player will have to contend with sand, water, trees and streams. If you are a beginner player this is a course where you will want to bring a few extra balls because there are many chances to lose them.

The golf course itself sits on a very large piece of property and covers a lot of ground. It is not a golf course one could walk because there are great elevation changes, as well as long distance between greens and tees on a number of holes. This adds to the charm of the property because you have access to some great views and vistas. While the front nine is mainly at lower elevations, the back nine is entirely different. That back nine winds up and down the hillsides and back into the valleys. Many of the tee boxes sit on top of ridges and into the hillsides, providing great opportunities to snap photos. A number of our playing partners commented on how beautiful the course must be in the fall as the leaves change color. I would agree it would be a fantastic course to play in early to mid September. In this part of the country, late September to early October is typically the peak season for fall foliage.

The course was in beautiful condition, with nicely manicured fairways and greens. In addition, the greens rolled very true and the putts held their lines. To me, that is always a good sign of a great golf course.

They also have an adequate locker room facility should you wish to take a shower, clean up after the round or store your attire in case you want to change before dinner.

Finally, we had an opportunity have dinner in their restaurant Shakespeare’s. The food was fantastic and the service was very first rate. They had an extensive menu of food and drink that you do not typically find at a Golf Club. So, when you leave the property, you will not have only had a fantastic round of golf on a beautiful course, you will also enjoyed a great meal in a fine dining facility.

So, if you ever have the opportunity to play Olde Stonewall, take advantage of it. You will be hard pressed to find many courses more beautiful to play in Western Pennsylvania.

One Shot at a Time

One Shot at a Time


We always hear professional golfers say they are playing “one shot at a time.” Why is that a standard line? What does it really mean? Are they just saying it to avoid getting into detail about shots with the press, or is there any true meaning or truth to a strategy of playing one shot at a time? I say both. The statement does appease the press because they get a quick quote for the next morning’s daily sports page. But, I think that players really do play one shot at a time, and here is why.

First, because when you are playing a competitive or casual round of golf, every single shot counts. In a competitive round you cannot afford to lose shots to the field. Most of the competitors are good or great players and a golfer playing to win cannot afford to lose even a single stroke. If you do lose a stroke, you may not have time to make it up during the course of the round.

Second, because golf is a game of the present and conditions constantly change. Meaning, how you approached a shot in the past or what you might do in the future has no bearing. Every single shot is unique every time you play. Even if you play the same course on a regular basis every course setup is different. Yes, the superintendent may put the tees or pins in certain spots during course setup. However, that does not matter. As soon as you tee off every shot from there in is unique. Everything changes each round: ball position, pin position, wind direction, club selection, moisture, temperature, humidity, rough thickness, grain, putt breaks, etc.

So, the next time you are playing a competitive round of golf, whether for a skin or a championship, ask yourself “what are the ramifications if I do not execute this shot?” Will I be able to recover? Will my opponent make a mistake? Will there be any more opportunities to make up a stroke or hole? That is why good players and professionals play one shot at a time. They know that one poor swing, bad decision or miscalculation may cost them the round, championship or match.

In golf, every shot does count as you will only play that particular shot once in your lifetime. You will never have the same shot twice regardless of the conditions. Make it count because it is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Tiger hearing it from fans

I was wondering how long it would take for the TV or Print Media to actually capture or report on the heckling that Tiger receives on tour.  Since he is the Media Golden Boy they dare not say that people are heckling him for "fear" that once his game returns he will shun them.  The fans do not share this same concern and you know he is hearing about it while on course.  

I ran across this article earlier today where a fan expressed his opinion and it was reported on by the media.  Here is an the excerpt and you can find the full article in the link attached.

Moments later, as he was walking between the 18th green and the scoring trailer, a young man said loudly to him, ``You're washed up, Tiger. Give it up!''

I think most golf fans agree that Tiger will win many more times in his career and probably many more majors.  However, will his reputation ever recover?  I do not believe it will for most people.  Fans will admire and respect his game.  They will enjoy watching him play and break records.  However, there will always be those memories in the back of their mind of what he did to himself and is family. 

For the first time in his golfing career he is receiving criticism.  It will be interesting to see how handles it and if his game truly recovers.

The Caddy

I had the opportunity recently to play in my clubs Caddyshack Open.  It is an event where the caddies and staff have the opportunity to play in an organized event with their colleagues and club members.  This is the first year I have had the opportunity to play in the event and had a wonderful time.  It was great to see everyone so relaxed and enjoying themselves.  Only in Western PA would the caddies warm up before the match by throwing around the pigskin on the driving range instead of hitting balls or practice putting  You have to love it.

We are fortunate enough to still have a caddy program at our club in a time when most golf courses do not.  Golf clubs have been eliminating caddies since the seventies when the golf cart burst onto the scene.  Golf Clubs around the world cite many reasons for this trend such as; carts speed up play, there are longer walks between greens and tees, carts are less expensive, golfers would rather ride than walk, etc.  That is sad because most of us could use the additional exercise and many potential caddies will never be exposed to this great game because of a "cart".

 As a young person I had the opportunity to be a caddy and so I really appreciate all they do to help our game.  I learned so much about the game as a young man lugging those bags around.  I learned the etiquette of the game, important life lessons and had the opportunity to watch some great players.  When I was a caddy, the members always used to tell us to fix two ball marks when you walk onto the green.  That simple act seems like a small task but it is really a sign of respect.  By doing so you are respecting the golf course, the players in your group and future players who will play the hole.  You want to leave the course in better condition than you found it.   Without having been a caddy it would have probably taken me a long time to learn those basic golf etiquette lessons.

Wikipedia defines a caddy as; In golf, a caddy (or caddie) is the person who carries a player's bag and clubs, and gives insightful advice and moral support. A good caddy is aware of the challenges and obstacles of the golf course being played, along with the best strategy in playing it. This includes knowing overall yardage, pin placements and club selection. A caddy is not usually an employee of a private club or resort. He is classified as an "independent contractor," meaning that he is basically self employed and does not receive any benefits from his association with the club. Some clubs and resorts do have caddy programs, although benefits are rarely offered.

I define the caddy a little differently;  A caddie is a person who does carry the player(s) clubs throughout the round.  However, he or she is also a friend, confidant, psychiatrist, critic, assistant, instructor and teammate. 

We watch the Professional caddies on TV each week assist the professional players during the round.  Unfortunatley, because of TV coverage we rarely hear the dialouge between touring pros and caddies. The announcers believe their commentary is much more important than what is being said between caddy and player.  However, I believe most fans watching the telecast would much rather hear what is being said on the course in the heat of battle than what a "talking head" has to say.  If you think about it what other sport can you watch on TV and you hear what a player is thinking about in the heat of the moment.   Without the caddy that would not be possible as the instructors are not allowed to instruct during competition play. 

To close, the Caddy is an importnat part of the history of the game.  Caddies have been an important part of the history of the game for instance, Eddie Lowry caddying for Francis Ouiment when he won the US Open at age 19.  Bruce Edwards caddying for Tom Watson for many years and in the end providing inspiration to all of us.  To the favorite caddy at your club who reads the proper break or tells you to hit the extra club.  The role of the caddy cannot be overstated and for some of us we wish the "Caddy Program" would come back into vogue and the carts would play less of a role in the game we love. 

Putting Grip Pressure

Earlier this year I was struggling with my lag putting overall.  I was unable to judge the pace properly on longer putts.  So, I adjusted my grip pressure, holding the club might less firm.  Immediately, I began to seen the results on lagging the ball closer to the hole.  I have even found that this same tactic works for short putts.  The putter glides through the ball much  cleaner and the strike is more on the face.  I also had to take a much longer stroke since I was no longer "hitting" the putt rather, stroking the "putter".  The lighter grip pressure removes all of the tension from the hands, arms and shoulders which creates more of a rocking motion.  The stroke becomes more of a pendulum method resembling the strokes of touring professionals Justin Leonard and Loren Roberts.  I now make more long putts, have shorter second putts and can be much more relaxed on the greens.

the Why in golf instruction

I found this article on the Golf dash Blog ver intersting.  In the article, John states that golf scores have barely improved over the past thirty years even with all of the new technology.  I have a theory as to why this is the case.

I have always found it interesting that golf instruction and tips typically come in the form of “how to do something” rather than “why”? Obviously, a player needs to understand how to perform the fundamentals of the golf swing; proper grip, stance, posture, etc. However, a player also needs to understand why they are making the change or improvement.  If they do not understand the "why" then they will not understand the ramifications of a movement.

I believe this is why so many players that take lessons never really improve. The instructor never fully explains why the change is necessary and the role the change plays in the overall swing and swing sequence. So, they make a change for a brief period of time then slide back into old, bad habits.

I recently discovered a mistake I was making in my right hand grip. Although I knew that I needed to have the club in my two middle fingers it was too much in my palm. The result was I was not able to break my right wrist enough going back to create the angle necessary for a proper wrist load. This led to inconsistent hits and a lack of power. Although I have been told how many times, I never translated the how to the why. In other words, why is it so important to properly set the right wrist in the backswing? As a right handed player it is the difference between a proper wrist load and not. It affected my entire golf swing on every shot from the driver to the shortest wedge shot. With the change, I have much more consistency and a lot more power with less effort.

If we learn why then we can groove proper muscle memory and all achieve lasting improvements. Just knowing how is not always good enough.