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Thursday, May 08, 2003
Chiongbian: Caddie or ball boy?
By Edgar R. Chiongbian
Tee time
Everyone knows that golf is an individual sport and unique in its way because even in team play, the players still play the game individually. The Rules of Golf describes the game as being played either by match play (hole by hole) or stroke-play (lowest score) in a round of golf.
To add enjoyment though, there are other formats that encourage team play. There’s the three-ball, best ball and four-ball but the two-ball foursome is probably the format that closely resembles a real team play because it has two players hitting alternate shots with one ball. This is the format that makes the game more fun for the high handicappers since they can get a boost from a partner with a low handicap.
But the real partners of the golfers are their caddies. While many think of this as an option, others are very dependent on them. What is important to note is that caddies can actually make or break the player’s game through penalties caused by incompetent caddies. The rules of golf are very specific about the caddy as an extension of the player and if they violate a rule, you get penalized. If during play your ball happens to hit your caddy or your equipment, this will cost you a two-stroke penalty or lose the hole in a match play.
In other parts of the world, the caddies are considered a professional. In Cebu they are considered hired help, much like the ones you get at home. Others keep them and others can’t. Some know how to treat them and others don’t. As the song from the gambler that goes, “You have to know when to hold them and know when to run.”
Just recently Gingging O expressed his discontentment in the golf committee’s description of a caddy. The committee’s definition is when a ball boy or umbrella girl is sent for you then they are caddies, regardless of their designation. GO’s contention is that when one asks for a caddy and they give an umbrella girl or a ball boy because they ran out of caddies, this does not make the umbrella girl or the ball boy a caddy. There are definitely two sides to this story and which side are you in?
Pro-committee advocates say that once anyone handles your golf clubs then they become a caddy. What if you have your golf bag loaded in the golf cart at the drop area and then you handle your own clubs, will this be an exception to the rule? I believe that this is the loophole. You can then hire a ball boy to locate your ball, or an umbrella girl to do the same plus cover your head with a parasol.
Since there is nothing in the rules book about ball boys and umbrella girls, they may not be considered an extension of the player. If so, then there will be no other penalties to worry about.
We will add golf personalities in our column every month and if you want to recommend one just let me know and we will include them in line-up.
GOLF PERSONALITY: Does anyone not know Johnny Siao? He is friendly and always in a good mood with no exceptions. When he became the sole distributor of an American brand of Jacuzzi and spa equipment, he also bought a big unit for himself and opened Roman Spa at the Waterfront Hotel.
I understand that this place is the ultimate in health clubs via pampering of customers.
Johnny is building a huge house by the 15th hole at CCC that looks like a commercial building. I’m sure he is thinking of putting a Roman Spa there, so when you are playing bad, all you have to do is walk in and get the works before going to the last three holes.
He is the biggest sandbagger I know. But in the raffles not golf. I have seen him win every time and mostly the first or second prize in the major raffles.
During the club/class tournament at CCC, he made an eagle on hole No. 14. He was so proud of this achievement that he agreed to give a blowout the whole week. Justin Uy, who was part of his group, told me that he was entrusted to invite whomever for the blowout. So he invited me and/or anyone who wants to join. When you see Justin or Johnny ask to be invited and let me know when.
(erc@skyinet.net)
(May 8, 2003 issue)
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