VOX

True. The only time the hole by hole net score matters in stroke play events (or qualifying rounds) is under many "match of cards" methods.

There is also a misconception that he always crafted greens that were mounded like turtle shells. Most of that dome effect is the result of 100 years of sand top-dressing.

As the Scots say, "Nae wind, nae golf". Most links rely on wind as an integral part of the course/sport.

After Ernie played Justin Rose walked over and look at the spot that Ernie played from. He seemed to be a bit puzzled.

Biggest impact from being allowed to drop from 0.5" will probably be in the sand. No more plugged lie drops.

The St. Andrews Golf Club (UK) just implemented the following: Ready Golf Over the past year or so there has been quite some discussion on this subject by the golf authorities and club golfers in general. In the past, the etiquette of golf always gave the “honour” to the player with the lowest score at one hole in medal play to tee up first at each hole once the 1st hole has been played. So now we, The St Andrews Golf Club, would like to slightly amend the way we play in stroke-play events by adopting Ready Golf. Studies have shown that an average additional time that 3 or 4 people take per hole under the etiquette system, is 100 seconds for a 3 ball and 125 seconds for a 4 ball. The problem arises from the order in which the group plays from the tee. If the “honour” is with a golfer who must wait for the group in front to clear to a safe distance before he can play, the delay is estimated to be 3 minutes at its longest. In an average round, therefore, not counting par 3s, there is a potential saving of up to 42minutes per round. If we could see even a 30 minute saving per round that would be a great benefit to us all. Some members of the Club are currently using this method, but it is not the norm. The Committee of Management is now asking members to start adopting the Ready Golf method in an effort to speed up play. If you are safely able to play when the group in front of you are out of range please do so regardless of the scoring at the previous hole. Prior to teeing off in a stroke play competition please try to make sure that the Ready Golf method is promoted. Thank you all in advance. This will not apply to Matchplay events.

Dave Pelz says this is the best method and if he was starting golf today he would employ it.

Until it proves itself disloyal and then it has to go. A ball that turns on you once will do it again.

I played golf in St Andrews last week with a couple guys who are on the R&A Rule Committee. They said that the re-write is expected to be substantial. The primary goals are to simplify the rules and speed play. They only two items that both of them felt fairly certain to be included were allowing the player to leave the flagstick in when playing a stroke on the green without penalty and allowing the player to drop on the fairway (to avoid divot holes, loose impediments that might cause the ball move if removed and other irregularities). Many other items are being considered but without much consensus yet. The speed play goal strikes me as a bit hypocritical since the rest of the world seems to be heading towards the US handicap posting model which is one of the greatest causes of slow play.

I take it that your quiz assumes stroke play. If it were match play (real golf) Hagen would win.

I have always suspected that Baltusrol was copied from the Misquamicut Club in Rhode Island. Misquamicuts first pro won one of his four US Opens there.

surprised Els smashing the sprinkler at Bay Hill did not make the list.

Jack was lambasted in the 60's for his slow play because it often took him four hours to play in a two ball. It is sad to think that fours hours for a two-ball on the PGA is now considered normal to fast.

By height

ST Andrews hasn't been men only for a couple hundred years, There are 7 clubs that surround the course. A couple are women only, a couple are men only and a couple have both men and women as members. The St. Andrews Links Trust is a public entity. The R&A used to run the tournament but they didn't own the course. The spun off the tournament entity a few years ago to try to avoid concern over their men only membership. Muirefiled in contrast is all male and they own the course.

Yes I meant abandon the provisional ball.

You must abandon the original ball but you could still declare the original ball unplayable and go back to the tee instead of continuing to play the original ball.

Just that I have played it twice and did not find it as intimidating as many other holes. Although there was only a light breeze into me both times. I figured even if I chunked my 6 iron I would be on the front of the green and if I smoked it I would be on the back of the green. I hit it pretty well both times. Birdied it the first time and lipped out for a tap in par the second time. In contrast, I think I got double bogey on 17 both times I played it.

It's interesting that it gives the pros fits but is the easiest hole on the course (other than the par fives) for a mid handicap player like me. I would much rather have a 150 yard shot over water than a 230 yarder. Of course I don't have to worry about spinning a 150 yard shot off the green.

That's not Kevin Na its Jordan Speith. They just play at the same speed and take the same number of false starts.

He anchors on his practice strokes and then lifts it slightly off his chest for the real stroke

One of the great things about ANGC is that it is very playable under normal conditions. Unlike some courses it is actually enjoyable to play from the regular tees.

I've been listening to it on the radio. Bob Papa is brutal but Maureen MaDill is excellent. Some network should snatch her up.

I miss, I miss, I miss, I miss, I miss, I make.