CoachB25

Fortunately, I was able to be a Head Coach to my daughter in both Girl's Golf and Softball. She could hit out of the park in softball (Hit 50 in her collegiate career) and could drive a ball great distances (Drove several greens in high school play). Unfortunately, the rotator cuff player may be done with golf. She is trying to recover but says that swinging a club is really painful. I am hoping that time and rehab will bring her back.

As an FYI, there was not a confrontation with the Rules Official. It was a matter that I have often questioned and so, I asked him how he determined what club my player would use. He has never seen her play and has no idea of her skills level. She has played approximately 2 1/2 years. Again, as I have stated, she has "putted" a ball this distance before with her driver. That is why I originally told her she was fine with the club she selected. As with that situation, you all here have determined what you would play and so now state that your club selection has to be her club selection. The Rules Official and I had a good discussion and so, wanted to bring there here. In fact, he and I talked about it today as he was at our state tournament. Believe me, for those few inches, I would never risk the reputation of my program to gain some advantage. I am glad that someone did think that this was a good thread and I appreciate the feedback.

She used an 8 iron. She landed it about 8 feet short of the green and it bounced and ran on. I think that most good golfers would have used a sand wedge and popped it up in the air. However, long beyond the pin would have been a disaster as this would have been a touchy downhill putt if she went long. Again, she likes to bump and run.

Ok. Thanks! Don't want to hijack your thread.

Hey, thanks for the responses. Believe it or not, my player has hit that distance of a shot before with a driver. She is a big strong girl. The difference here, naturally, is the cart path in between. Would I have done it? NOPE. She is very creative in her approach and used her driver as a mallet putter. I agree that a 3 wood would be a better choice and might consider that myself. The fairway was absolutely perfect and mowed short enough that one might even consider putting had that cart path not been there. The ruling didn't matter because she made par anyway and so, she advanced to the state tournament. However, even when you suggest she should use a wedge, how do you know? For example, this young lady is bump and run almost everywhere around the green. It is something that she is comfortable with because she tends to over swing her wedges. So, if she took out a 7 iron for instance, what if the Rules Committee Coach decided that was not the right club and that she was gaining an advantage. How does anyone know what clubs a young lady will use? All of my girls have never golfed before I get them. So, they don't have the typical shots. I do my best to teach them all of their options. That doesn't mean that they can do it. Again, my problem is anytime an opposing Coach or anyone else thinks that they know what club is appropriate for a player that the have never met before or seen play. I know the casebook ruling but don't agree with it. iacas, by "measurement" I was referencing both stance and club length. The 90 degree in the cart path did add some difficulty to NPR. iacas, I know that you coach as well as being a Pro. I would think that you understand the vastly different abilities of these young ladies and so, hopefully, see the plausibility of my post. I don't intend to wear out my welcome by beating a dead horse. I appreciate the feed back. Thank! Take care, Darrell

Watch a player's short game and you will have a great idea of whether they are attempting to con themselves about their handicap or their abilities. 100 yards in is the key to a good game.

I wouldn't pay more. At the course I play as my home course, both public and members are very good about allowing others to play through. Also, we have 27 holes and so, at the turn, players (members) can pick which "back 9" they want to play. Per fees, I don't ever have to pay and so, I hope I didn't skew your poll too much. I taught the course owner many years ago and was his favorite teacher. So, every year, I get a membership for free. I am one of the most blessed people on the face of the earth.

Edited to add to my previous post: In our events, coaches can not make rulings on their players without another coach present. Rules Committee are formed and coaches can make suggestions to other players. In this case, the rules official asked me a questions, I could give my opinion and so, I did by telling my player she could use her driver. It was made clear from the start of the sectional that if a coach not on the rules committee gave a ruling and it was wrong, the player would suffer the consequences. So, I had to defer. I guess I left that out.

iacas, I do know the rules. I thought that I demonstrated that with the explanation. I wanted thoughts on what transpired. I've played for 30+ years and have been a rules committee for several tournaments. My question was how a coach knows what club you're going to use and this interpretation was given by a coach who was a rules official. I disagreed with what was said and so, sought to argue. The problem was, my player was one stroke out of contention to advance to state. If an open argument happened in front of her, she might have fallen apart. So, after the shot, I asked this coach how he would know what club any player would use and so, any club could be used. iacas, perhaps I made this point poorly.

This is my second post so bear with me. One of my players is playing in a position where her ball is up against a cart path. She has 20 yards to the green and the cart path turns 90 degrees where her ball is. She understands the rules as I do. She gets relief from the cart path and her stance. Here is the rub. She has taken out her wood (driver) to take the measurement. Another coach comes over and tells her that she can't do that. I tell her she can. He says she has to play the ball with the club she intends to use. She is now in a panic and so, I tell her to do what he is suggesting and use her wedge to throw the ball on. My question here is, how does this coach or any coach know what club my player is going to play? Where this was, straight up hill and the cart path were it was, my player, who is skilled in bump in runs, could use her driver to punch he ball up. The green is elevated and the line is straight up hill to the pin. Suppose she went ahead and used her driver for the measurement, addressed the ball and decided not to use that club. IMO, the rule does not say she has to use the club she measured but only states she must use the club she intended to use. IMO, after addressing the ball and making a decision to change clubs, she can change to a lofted club. WHERE AM I WRONG HERE?

I just signed up and so, a little info on CoachB25. First, I post a lot on softball and baseball websites and am either CoachB25 or Cannonball in case anyone has a question as to whether I am the same person. I coach high school girl's golf and so, am interested in reading thoughts on the game in order to help me improve my coaching. I am not a "swing coach" but am the only resource my players have. I have coached Girl's Golf for 10 years and have yet to get a player that has played the game before they tried out for my golf team. Still, every year I tend to get two players out to sectional play and every once in a while get one out to state. My players seem to improve so much in their time with me and it is totally because they are hard chargers. This year, we started out with 8 players. One had to quit because her father would not let her ride to the course with teenage drivers. We have to drive 13 miles to our closest course. Two are also cheerleaders and so, hit heads on a flip and got concussions that ended their seasons. One tore her rotator cuff playing pickup soccer. So, we finished the year with only 4 golfers. Still, we went 18-6 on the year. Two of my golfers made it to sectionals and one will play this weekend at state. To put that into perspective, we played 4 golfers against 6 for 3/4ths of the year. My player that made it to state is only one of 2 players south of Springfield, Il to make it to AA State as individuals. Anyway, I'm here to learn so I can help my players. I can't wait to dig in to some of the threads to see what is there. Take care, Darrell