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Tuesday, February 11, 2003
Chiongbian: More on slow play
By Edgar R. Chiongbian
Tee Time
In over two months, we have pretty much made full cycle on our topics in this column but the subject of slow play simply won’t go away. I believe that slow play is a relevant and important issue in golf that must be addressed squarely to further the enjoyment of the game.
For sake of definition, let us divide the personality of slow play into two parts. The first one characterizes the attitude of a player who wants to play golf as a pastime. Such as leisurely taking his time walking the fairway like in a park, indiscriminately chatting with his fellow golfers, hanging out too long at tee houses, tediously looking for lost balls or waiting at the very last minute to address his ball.
The second relates more directly to the mechanics and discipline of the player in his approach to playing golf. This player is described as one who takes too much time to hit the ball by doing time-consuming pre-shot routines, waiting until everyone is done before he reviews his shot and/or one who simply stands too long addressing the ball before he hits it.
Others add to this problem by hitting extra balls (practice) in the fairway during a game.
Since our topic of slow play last Dec. 1, we were able to make more people aware of this unpopular practice that we are starting to notice a bit faster pace lately.
US PGA is so concerned with slow play that they recently defined, ruled and issued a new policy regarding this. Per US PGA,” Our goal is to enforce the pace-of-play regulations and to draw attention to the pace-of-play regulations”.
The US PGA defined and ruled that “Players are allowed 40 seconds for each shot, with an extra 20 seconds for the player who goes first”.
Under this new policy the penalties are: 1) One bad time during a round is a warning. 2) Two bad times is a one-stroke penalty and a $5,000 fine. 3) Three bad times is a two-stroke penalty and a $10,000 fine. 4) Four bad times means the player is disqualified.
The pros review so many things before they hit the ball so 40 seconds is really a long time if you are prepared and ready to hit the ball. Just remember that the clock starts counting when it’s your turn to hit and not when you are standing over the ball. (Cheling Sala, thanks for the info)
While still on the subject of attitudes and discipline, we would like to remind golfers to be considerate with their fellow players regarding loud talking, shouting, cheering or shrieking when you’re on the greens or near the greens. This kind of behavior is totally unacceptable to the other players in the field.
The Southern Ladies Open just completed its run at the Cebu Country Club with the preparations meticulously put together by NGAP. The Southern Ladies rotate their golf venue every year among the various golf courses in the Visayas and Mindanao. They have just announced that next year’s event will be held in Bacolod. This group is different from the WGAP, which holds tournaments every year in August at Cebu Country Club.
The format for the Southern Ladies Open is individual play while the WGAP is team play.
GOLF TIP: How to play the long bunker shot. Start with the ball in the middle of your stance and lean your hands a little ahead of the ball. On the backswing, take a shallow path so the clubface fans open but swing back almost to a parallel to give more power to your swing and don’t be afraid to turn your hips and shoulders. On the downswing, swing the club briskly while aiming one inch behind the ball. Keep uncoiling your body to power the club through the sand, and try to reach a full follow through.
(February 11, 2003 issue)
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