Rules official resigns over ...rules issue.

[Vinsk]

http://www.golfchannel.com/news/golf-central-blog/major-rules-controversy-leads-officials-resignation/

So once again a Major (albeit a smaller tour) decided to be cut to 54 holes this time over a disagreement on rules enforcement controversy. Poor decision IMO. The players broke a rule but complained and threatened to withdraw if enforced? Take a look and see what you think. Total loss of credibility on behalf of tournament officials and poor sportsmanship by the players overall I feel.

[dennyjones]

Wow...I can't believe they came to that decision.  

[David in FL]

 Those players that threatened to resign should have been allowed, nay, encouraged to do so.  I'm sure there would have been plenty of players who would have been pleased to continue with the resulting smaller field!

I'm curious to see the greens, but regardless of any potential ambiguity in differentiating the putting surface from the fringe, the rules must be applied.  When in doubt, either err on the side of safety and don't lift your ball, or ask a rules official for a ruling.

 

 

[Vinsk]

54 minutes ago, David in FL said:

 Those players that threatened to resign should have been allowed, nay, encouraged to do so.  I'm sure there would have been plenty of players who would have been pleased to continue with the resulting smaller field!

I'm curious to see the greens, but regardless of any potential ambiguity in differentiating the putting surface from the fringe, the rules must be applied.  When in doubt, either err on the side of safety and don't lift your ball, or ask a rules official for a ruling.

 

 

Yes. Imagine if DJ had complained and threatened to withdraw after being told he grounded his club in the ambiguous bunker. LOL. Bye DJ. I know this is a 'side tour' but nonetheless I feel it's still responsible to uphold the rules of golf. I just can't believe the final decision was to erase the scores for that day! Lousy decision there.

[Buckeyebowman]

12 hours ago, dennyjones said:

Wow...I can't believe they came to that decision.  

Yeah, pretty chickencrap IMO! Admittedly, I've never seen the course, but I've played a lot of golf and never had a problem differentiating the fringe from the "closely mowed putting surface"! Penalize the violators and let the chips fall where they may.

[CCC]

2 hours ago, Buckeyebowman said:

Yeah, pretty chickencrap IMO! Admittedly, I've never seen the course, but I've played a lot of golf and never had a problem differentiating the fringe from the "closely mowed putting surface"! Penalize the violators and let the chips fall where they may.

Yes, it would not be the first time. Remember Dustin Johnson in the US Open? It was a bunker, no it was not a bunker.

[Vinsk]

13 minutes ago, CCC said:

Yes, it would not be the first time. Remember Dustin Johnson in the US Open? It was a bunker, no it was not a bunker.

Yes. Remember the post 3 above yours? Lol.

[CCC]

Yes, I do. It bears repeating.

[iacas]

1 minute ago, CCC said:

Yes, I do. It bears repeating.

What does?

Also, of course, it doesn't bear repeating if it's off topic.

[CCC]

Oooops. My bad. Again. :)

No harm - No foul.

[joro]

Todays players, both male and female are a bunch of self centered spoiled brats who make too much money, ignore the rules, especially the time guidelines, ignore warnings and do what they want.    Look at Spieth, he takes more time than normal, doesn't care, ignores warnings, and is always on the clock.    Just one example but he is never penalized, why?    He is just one of many.   Now I see his friend Thomas is following suit.

[Wally Fairway]

I remember a PGA event (maybe a major, can't really remember) where there was an issue as to boundary between green and fringe. If I recall correctly, players were encouraged to get a playing partner or even a ruling from an official if they couldn't tell if they were on the green.
Not agreeing with the players or the ruling, but how "poorly" is the course prepared if they cannot tell where the green is and where the fringe is?

[joro]

15 minutes ago, Wally Fairway said:

I remember a PGA event (maybe a major, can't really remember) where there was an issue as to boundary between green and fringe. If I recall correctly, players were encouraged to get a playing partner or even a ruling from an official if they couldn't tell if they were on the green.
Not agreeing with the players or the ruling, but how "poorly" is the course prepared if they cannot tell where the green is and where the fringe is?

 

15 minutes ago, Wally Fairway said:

I remember a PGA event (maybe a major, can't really remember) where there was an issue as to boundary between green and fringe. If I recall correctly, players were encouraged to get a playing partner or even a ruling from an official if they couldn't tell if they were on the green.
Not agreeing with the players or the ruling, but how "poorly" is the course prepared if they cannot tell where the green is and where the fringe is?

 

Good point Wally, the rules are hard to enforce when there is no obvious boundary.    The Dustin Johnson thing was the worst I have ever seen and the explanation that is was well defined and posted for all to see was nothing but a attempt to justify what the powers in hand did to DJ.    When they allow people to walk and stand in what they call a "Sand Trap" they are good candidates for Densa.    That was nothing but taking the Championship away from him.      This LPGA thing is no different and should have been handled differently by the both parties.

[iacas]

12 minutes ago, joro said:

Good point Wally, the rules are hard to enforce when there is no obvious boundary.    The Dustin Johnson thing was the worst I have ever seen and the explanation that is was well defined and posted for all to see was nothing but a attempt to justify what the powers in hand did to DJ.    When they allow people to walk and stand in what they call a "Sand Trap" they are good candidates for Densa.    That was nothing but taking the Championship away from him.      This LPGA thing is no different and should have been handled differently by the both parties.

Let’s not rehash the DJ thing. The players knew all sandy areas were bunkers. On a course with that many, some 100 yards from the center of the fairway, spectators were bound to be in them.

DJ isn’t the sharpest tack.

[joro]

6 minutes ago, iacas said:

Let’s not rehash the DJ thing. The players knew all sandy areas were bunkers. On a course with that many, some 100 yards from the center of the fairway, spectators were bound to be in them.

DJ isn’t the sharpest tack.

Ha ha ha, that is a great reply, brilliant.    "spectators were bound to be in them"    lol

[DeadMan]

I would really like to see a picture of the greens and fringe at this course. Every article I've seen doesn't have a picture. I feel like normally it's pretty obvious. For 6 players to mess it up is very strange. 

And I wish the articles would explain why the rules official resigned. Was it because she screwed up or because she did not agree with how this tour handled it?

[sjduffers]

I haven't seen images of the greens in question either, but I seem to recall that some time ago on the men's tour (perhaps it was in Europe?), the distinction between green and fringe was very difficult to make and they had blue dots of some kind, spaced out every so many feet, at the boundary...

Either way, I can't believe so many players would be so careless if they couldn't tell where the boundary was, and that the decision to drop the first round scores was taken as a result. SMH.

[Vinsk]

Yeah I’ve searched for pics as well. Does seem odd that six players made the same error. Must be a ‘section’ of the green where it was ambiguous and I guess those six players were all in that particular section. @iacas, had a rules official came and looked at the area and realized it wasn’t very clear where the green border was could he/she had declared this? I assume since penalties were given somebody knew where the border was? Obviously if a player wasn’t sure he/she should’ve asked but I’m wondering if it was so unclear that the players had no doubt they were on the green? Hopefully some pictures will surface.