Stuart Appleby rips Whistling Straits

[JerseyThursday]

From his twitter:

Every bunker is listed in the rules last week to be played as normal bunkers and the normal rules apply (aka don't ground club)
I'm very pissed and angered that this is way the 2010 PGA came to an end.
It was listed in many parts of the caddy and player areas of this unique rule for the week.
Dustin and caddy are ultimately responsible for their actions....but WTH
I think that they need to make significant changes to the course that has hundreds of pointless bunkers that patrons have to walk through to view players.
The PGA says that their a part of the game and to be treated as hazards.
Never seen patrons walking through bunkers in any other professional event (world wide) try that at Augusta.
Then I see them using leaf blowers to fluff up the rough to make the course harder (did they have them 100 years ago, think not)
We go back there in 2015 I hear.
What's the next sad story to unfold in Wisconsin?
Stay tuned in 5 years time...

[nevets88]

I was checking out Twitter golfers and Ian Poulter tweeted something similar although not a rant.

Appleby has 10K followers, which is alot. But Poulter nearly has a million followers. That seems off. Is he really that popular?

[pixel5]

He has a right to be upset. It is an insult to every player in the field. Why the heck should spectators be allowed to stand in bunkers that are in play?

[newtogolf]

I can see both sides, but that's the course design which the PGA and players knew when it was selected. As was said by someone else in another thread; bunkers are meant to act as penalties for hitting off the course so there is no guarantee you'll have a decent lie from one.

The only alternative for this course would have been to create a larger OOB area for the spectators to watch from which would have resulted in even more penalties.

[Elvisliveson]

I can see both sides, but that's the course design which the PGA and players knew when it was selected. As was said by someone else in another thread; bunkers are meant to act as penalties for hitting off the course so there is no guarantee you'll have a decent lie from one.

No, they could have declared them waste bunkers. You hit a bad shot into a waste bunker and are in effect penalized by their unkempt, rough condition, but you are clearly alllowed under the rules of golf to ground your club in them.

[JerseyThursday]

No, they could have declared them waste bunkers. You hit a bad shot into a waste bunker and are in effect penalized by their unkempt, rough condition, but you are clearly alllowed under the rules of golf to ground your club in them.

Exactly. They made the right call based on the circumstances, but the circumstances were a mistake from the offset

[newtogolf]

No, they could have declared them waste bunkers. You hit a bad shot into a waste bunker and are in effect penalized by their unkempt, rough condition, but you are clearly alllowed under the rules of golf to ground your club in them.

Just so I understand your point, any bunker that was accessible to spectators should have been considered a waste bunker?

[Elvisliveson]

Just so I understand your point, any bunker that was accessible to spectators should have been considered a waste bunker?

Yes, a bunker that was outside the ropes and allowed to be trampled to dust by spectators should have and almost always is considered a waste bunker. It's just that Whistling Straits in this case has a local rule that states otherwise.

[deronsizemore]

I may have heard wrong on The Golf Channel last night, but I thought they said Appleby received a similar penalty for grounding his club in one of those bunkers in one of the earlier rounds? I'd say he was pissed at that and then for Dustin to lose the way he did, even more pissed.

[akgolfnut]

What's the point of 1200 bunkers anyway? I wasn't enamored with the golf course as all the networks were...mickey mouse design if you ask me.

[sean_miller]

What's the point of 1200 bunkers anyway? I wasn't enamored with the golf course as all the networks were...mickey mouse design if you ask me.

There are some fantastic photographs of the course - especially when there are long shadows. That's the most positive thing I can say about the course - it produces some nice photos.

[newtogolf]

Yes, a bunker that was outside the ropes and allowed to be trampled to dust by spectators should have and almost always is considered a waste bunker. It's just that Whistling Straits in this case has a local rule that states otherwise.

That would be more appropriate then.

[Paradox]

That would be more appropriate then.

and its the way it should be.

The game of golf wasn't meant to be played by forcing players to hit from a size 10 shoeprint because SPECTATORS are on the course. Yeah, if a fellow player left a mark(by some weird chance) then tough luck..play it as it lies and follow the rules but SPECTATORS? If you have to cheapen the way the game is played so you can make some money...hand over the reigns. Its just a completely ridiculous thought to have a course with so many "bunkers" on it and not declare most of them waste area's. They can very easily keep patrons out of all the "bunkers" and let them walk through all the waste area's they so choose.

[chriskzoo]

LOL @stewartcink via Twitter: "In light of PGA finish, Augusta just announced new seating for patrons available in right greenside bunker by 18 green #didihearyouright?"

[Bluenoser67]

The 18th at Whistling is called DYEabolical but I think it should be renamed DYE-arrhea in light of this Sunday's screwup.

[andef]

I may have heard wrong on The Golf Channel last night, but I thought they said Appleby received a similar penalty for grounding his club in one of those bunkers in one of the earlier rounds? I'd say he was pissed at that and then for Dustin to lose the way he did, even more pissed.

I heard that too but if I'm not mistaken it was either in the first or second round of the PGA in 2004.

[Fourputt]

Awful lot of whining here from a lot of people who didn't even have to play the course. Why is it so terrible? I've had to play from foot prints before... human, deer, elk, coyote.... what makes those guys so special? When you hit the ball that far off the track, there SHOULD be a penalty for it. Then he is stupid enough to ground his club after they were informed of the special rule??? Sorry, but I have no sympathy whatsoever for any of them who were foolish enough to make such a dumb mistake.

[Bluenoser67]

Awful lot of whining here from a lot of people who didn't even have to play the course. Why is it so terrible? I've had to play from foot prints before... human, deer, elk, coyote.... what makes those guys so special? When you hit the ball that far off the track, there SHOULD be a penalty for it. Then he is stupid enough to ground his club after they were informed of the special rule??? Sorry, but I have no sympathy whatsoever for any of them who were foolish enough to make such a dumb mistake.

Spoken like a true 12 Handicap. Tear down our Gods. I bet your favorite Major is the US Open.