[PCCraig]

Pat
  The Country Club is one of my favorite places to be in golf. Mr. Ouimet, who I met at Woodland in '58 as part of a Junior Invitational, often said " the grass is always greener, even the rocks are warm". The place just oozes history and tradition. Ghosts still tee it up at great old lady.
  I've played it 7 or 8 times but not in the last 10 years. You've given me the push I need to get down there. The lowest score of my life was a 64 in 1975 at a very average but enjoyable course in NH. But, the BEST round of golf I ever played was in 1989 at The Country Club was a 70 on the Composite Course.
  Another National Open for TCC?? Well, the 2013 US Amateur will be played in Brookline (second course will be Charles River).I'm sure Mike Davis will be looking very closly at how the players will handle the great lady. I'm looking at my notes on the course and in 1913 it played at 6245 yds, the 1982 US Amateur (Jay Sigel) was played at 6896 yds. In '88 for the National Open won by Curtis Strange , it maxed out at 7010.You and I can probably agree that there is not a hell of alot room to lengthen the course. In my mind, I count 14 holes where there is just no room.I think the membership is not interested in an Open but mindsets can change with time. At this moment, I see no future Open for TCC and that is sad. I think that down the road you could see a Curtis or Walker Cup or a Mid or Senior Amateur. Plus the staggering logistics of staging an Open limits using TCC. I will be very interested at how Merion will handle the problems of spectator flow, parking etc. in 2013. That will give us a better idea how TCC will compare on the logistical front.

Pete,

Thanks for your thoughts. A 70 on the Composite Course is a heck of a round!

The last I heard was that the club has had Gil Hanse out there working on finding places for back tees. A few of the rumored new tees were one on #11 members / #9 Composite which would sit left of the the 8th green (and would require some heavy tree cutting), one further back up the hill on #13/#10, and one back behind the composite #11 green on the other side of the pond for #12, which would turn it into a 600 yard par-5. But then again it's strength against the best players was always pretty high rough and those tiny greens. I'm thinking of heading out there in 2013 for the Am, hopefully we can meet up!

I fell in love with the course in my time out there and was lucky enough to play the course quite a bit as well. I think my best score was around a ~75 on the members course, nowhere near as good as your round there, but not bad for a college kid with no access to a driving range!

There is some fantastic golf in the area and I was lucky to see quite a few of them. OS and Boston Golf Club are both really good, but I like BGC a little better...perhaps it was the driving rain I played OS in the one time I visited. I also played a bunch at the TPC in Norton...but let's not go there

[Peter Pallotta]

Welcome, Pete. It's fun to read/feel the love you have for the game come through your posts.

Your story about Ben Hogan reminds me of the one Harvey Pennick told about the day he decided to become a teaching pro instead of a touring pro.  He was standing next to Sam Snead* as Sam hit a 4 iron -- Harvey said it sounded like a rifle-shot, a sound he'd never heard before.  He knew right then that he could not compete with the very best.  The 'sound' of golf  -- it's like the 'feel' and 'aura' of a wonderful golf course design, i.e. something that can't be separated out from the whole/whole experience.

Peter

(*I think it was Sam, and I think it was a 4 iron; it could have been Lord Byron and a 2 iron).  

[Pete Blaisdell]

Peter
  Thanks for the welcome and your kind comments.

  I have been a student of all matters Hogan for years and the man just fascinates me. I've studied his swing for years and have collected as many clips as possible and the one constant that impresses me is how solid and stable he kept his right knee, it just never moved! Much has been written about the so called " secret " but I think that may have been a ploy on the part of Mr. Hogan to have some fun with the media. I've talked to Lanny Wadkins about this a number of times and he agrees that Mr' Hogan had an unusual sense of humor. A copy of a letter (13 pages on the golf swing) that was hand written by Mr. Hogan in 1977 came into my possession about 15 years ago and I've toyed with the idea of releasing it to the public. I sent a copy to a writer from GOLFWEEK back in the spring (I sent a copy to Lanny also) but they have yet to use it. It is a very interesting discourse on the golf swing.

[Pete Blaisdell]

Jim-
  Good to hear from you. I think the last time we communicated was concerning the article that mentioned the quality of officials at the NCAA. I'm glad we got that straightened out. I truly enjoy your digital magazine . It's the first site I visit on Monday mornings and I have personaly recommended to hundreds of people.
  Cheater lines--I lick my chops if I play a guy with a cheater line. It's one more thing his brain has to process on a ten footer and that's an advantage for me. Good putters are born , not made. I'm a good putter, a really good putter and I putt with an old Wilson 8802 or on slow green a forty year old TP MILLS.These players that use artificial means to get the ball in the hole are just wasting their time. You don't need a test on cheater lines. Cheater lines do not make a mediocre putter a good putter. It's all in their mind.It's supposed to be a simple game of stick, ball and hole. When people understand that and play within their abilities , that's when they see real improvement.

[Peter Pallotta]

Pete - thanks much for those extra details.  I'm an average golfer at best, but my tip of the hat to Mr. Hogan was buying a used sets of old Hogan blades a while back, hoping that they would force me to develop a better swing.  So far, the results are better than anyone could've expected!   (In my limited experience so far, the rock-solid right knee -- no swaying, staying centered over the ball -- is indeed a big key/help for me in making solid contact.)  Also - while I'm the type who tends to defer to the experts and who appreciates expertise in any form, I'd nonetheless encourage you to take that hand-written note and use it in the way YOU feel is best. Much more important than some experience with writing or publishing is a deep and true appreciation of the material itself, which you clearly have.  

Peter

[Keith OHalloran]

Pete,
If you were on the rules com., which rule would you most like to see removed/changed?
Which rule is the most difficult to interpret/ enforce during a tournament? (Discounting the difficulty of asking a player whether the ball moved when he grounded his cub)
Thanks
Keith

[Pete Blaisdell]

Keith
  I get asked this alot and let me begin with a sentence from the definition (The definitions are the KEY to understanding the rules) of OUTSIDE AGENCY.The sentence reads, Neither wind nor water is an outside agency. That being said, let's now go to Rule 18-2b (ball moving after address).If a player addresses his ball (takes stance and grounding club behind or in front of ball) or in a hazard (bunker or water/lateral water hazard ) takes his stance, the player is on the hook for a one stroke penalty unless the movement of the ball is caused by an OUTSIDE AGENCY (EXAMPLE-a another ball in motion hits your ball or a bird swoops down and moves it). Then the player is off the hook. What always bothered me was if a strong wind or a sudden driving rainstorm obviously causes the ball to move, the player was still on the hook even if the cause was evident. I thought that was unfair and I was not alone in my opinion. This is being addressed right now and I am happy to say that this injustice is going to be changed.
  The rule that I find the hardest to interpret when I officiate although I have got a pretty good handle on it as I have progressed is Rule 13-2 dealing with WHAT CONSTITUTES " FAIRLY TAKING ONE'S STANCE " when faced with shots near bushes, branches, small trees etc.No situation under 13-2 is ever the same and a player must be diligent in not doing more than is necessary in taking his stance. I could write ten pages on this so I better stop here.This is the one that many officials will tell you is the hardest to interpret because the number of possible situations extend to infinity.

[Bill_McBride]

  The rule that I find the hardest to interpret when I officiate although I have got a pretty good handle on it as I have progressed is Rule 13-2 dealing with WHAT CONSTITUTES " FAIRLY TAKING ONE'S STANCE " when faced with shots near bushes, branches, small trees etc.No situation under 13-2 is ever the same and a player must be diligent in not doing more than is necessary in taking his stance. I could write ten pages on this so I better stop here.

I had to back into a pretty thigh, bushy tee yesterday and really wondered if I were breaking a rule.   Is this something that can be measured objectively?

Welcome to GCA, and thanks for taking time to answer all these questions!

When I read about your four Buds and a shot of Johnny Walker Black, all I could think of was Thorogood and the Destroyers singing "One scotch, one bourbon, one beer.".  You overshot the beer but skipped the bourbon!   Probably just as well....  

[Dale Jackson]

  The rule that I find the hardest to interpret when I officiate although I have got a pretty good handle on it as I have progressed is Rule 13-2 dealing with WHAT CONSTITUTES " FAIRLY TAKING ONE'S STANCE " when faced with shots near bushes, branches, small trees etc.No situation under 13-2 is ever the same and a player must be diligent in not doing more than is necessary in taking his stance. I could write ten pages on this so I better stop here.

I had to back into a pretty thigh, bushy tee yesterday and really wondered if I were breaking a rule.   Is this something that can be measured objectively?

Welcome to GCA, and thanks for taking time to answer all these questions!

When I read about your four Buds and a shot of Johnny Walker Black, all I could think of was Thorogood and the Destroyers singing "One scotch, one bourbon, one beer.".  You overshot the beer but skipped the bourbon!   Probably just as well....  

Bill, an even more appropriate George Thorogood line from "I Drink Alone" ...

The other day I got invited to a party
But I stayed home instead
Just me and my pal Johnny Walker
And his brothers Blackie and Red

And since I am writing, let me say this about that!   Regarding fairly taking a stance, it is not something that can be measured objectively but can really only be judged on a case by case basis.  A good rule of thumb is if you keep your hands on the club, rather than push branches away, and disturb the tree/bush as little as possible to get a stance (not the best stance) you should be OK.

[Pete Blaisdell]

Bill
 Concerning your situation with the bushy tree, it's difficult to give you a 100% correct answer without seeing the situation but let me say this, if backing into that bushy tree was the only way to fairly take your stance for the selected stroke and even if backing in (without using your hands) caused things to move out of the way, bend or break, then I would say that you have done what is necessary to fairly take a stance, with no penalty.It's difficult to be absolutly sure without seeing the lay of the land.
  Four Buds and a JW Black . That was 15 years ago. If I did that now, call 911.

 Thanks for the welcome!!

[Pete Blaisdell]

Shivas
  Could you elaborate on your term " All marks ". I think I know what you're asking but I need a bit more info before I respond.

  If long putters were brought into the game during Mr. Hogan's time and the USGA had ok'ed their use, I think Mr. Hogan would have retired from competitive golf and returned his FIVE National Open medals to Joe Dey.

[Bill_McBride]

Dale:

"When I drink alone, I prefer to be by myself!". 

[Pete Blaisdell]

Donal
  Sorry, been offline for a while because of the storm.

  To answer your question, Two events got me started officiating. Playing at a State Tournament in the 70's, I violated a rule of golf that was brought to my attention by a fellow competitor. At first I was angry at everyone but myself. When I calmed down, I came to the realization that I am responsible for my actions and if I was going to play this game, any game, I should have a good understanding of the rules of play so I bought a rule book and read it.Then, playing at a good public course in NH , I got fed up that we didn't have any formal competitions so myself and another player formed the Bretwood Men's Golf Association in 1977 and started to conduct 3 or 4 tournaments. Boy, did I make mistakes but that's how you learn. I went from the local level, then to the state and then regional and then in 1990 the USGA came calling and I really got into the Rules and condicting competitions, marking courses and writing local rules. Started conducting seninars and writing articles on the Rules. It's all a progression. Repitition is the best teacher. Worked about 600 events since since 1977. I can hold my own with anybody on the planet but I am certainly not the sharpest knife in the drawer. I know and understand the rules because I worked at it . Any person can become proficient in any area of expertise if they have a PASSION for it. It's not rocket science.

[Kalen Braley]

Pete,

While we're at it.  One more potential rules question for you.

Over the weekend, 3 buddies and myself were playing a team best-ball match play game.  Two players per team, best ball on the hole goes up against the other teams best ball and the best score wins the hole match play style.

Late in the match we were 2 down with 4 to play and I hit my tee ball near the boundary stakes up the left side. I knew it was iffy so I hit a provisional, but I flubbed it and it only went 100 yards or so.  My partner and I go up to my provisional where I proceed to hit it again.  In the meantime, the other team goes ahead of our position to see if my ball was in bounds or not.  Mind you this was unsolicited as I didn't ask them to do this.  I was still too far away to determine if the ball was in or not...but as it turns out I never got the chance because they picked it up and returned it to me and said the ball was indeed out of bounds.

My response was a bit annoyed because I never got to see where the original ball lie and concur that it had indeed gone out of bounds.

So my question is did they violate any rules by picking my original tee ball and declaring it out of bounds when I never had a chance to inspect it?  And as a follow-up, was I correct in thinking this was a serious breach in course ettiquite to pick up my ball  without my having a chance to look at it?  (Obviously if it hit a house or bounced in the street I wouldn't have cared because I would have known it was indeed out)

As always, thanks for your comments!  

[Anthony Gray]

  Will Pete referee Grudge Match 3?

  Anthony

[Kalen Braley]

  Will Pete referee Grudge Match 3?

  Anthony

That would be fantastic.  We need to get him to KP next spring where its very likely to occur.  Garland say he's in as of now, and my status is upgraded to very likely to be attending.

[RJ_Daley]

Pete, were you at Erin Hills this past week?  Or, have you been there? 

One thing that strikes me with Erin Hills and to a bit lesser extent, is these new 'big lot', 'big venue' courses and their effect or impact on the rules officials endurance.  It seems to me that Erin Hills must have been quite a challenge for walking, on course officials.  Maybe John VB will weigh how their crew came through the long week. 

It seems like it might be something like hockey refs, where the rules guys have to be excellent and in shape skaters. 

As the competitive venues get longer, and on more dramatic terrain, it must have some physical impacts, along with some bigger challenges to cover the marking of the course, and overseeing the vast field of play.  Or, maybe it is no big deal... 

[Pete Blaisdell]

RJ
 Was not at Erin Hills, have never seen the course. Have heard many positives from my peers, though'

 I've had some medical issues the past 18 months, 3 procedures (last being 6/7) and the last USGA event I worked was the Public Links at Bandon. I refereed 5 matches that week , including the finals and I struggled at times at Old Mac. My doctor would not have been happy with me but I sucked it up and did it. Walking up that hill on #3 was tough. But, you are right, some courses and some conditions can be taxing for officials.Heat can be draining such as the Senior Open at Caves Valley a few years ago when it's 95 , humid and you walk with a group in morning and afternoon. The APL at Jimmy Austin in Norman was very difficult, especially the first day of match play when it was 115 !!!

 I have decided to take the reat of the season off, get my health, especially my legs, back in shape and be ready to go next year.

 Reminds me that the vast majority of officials are not spring chickens and what we do can be hard physically at times. But, no complaints. We love what we do and there are a lot of people would like to have that opportunity.

[Pete Blaisdell]

Kalen-
  Couple of points to make in your situation.
  Your opponents had the right to ascertain the status of your original ball. However, they should have waited, as a courtesy, for you to make a stroke at the provisional played from the tee before going to the provisional.
  Piking up the original ball-two scenarios here. Unwritten courtesy is that you never pick up another players ball. Let's say that they report that your ball was 10 feet OB so they pick it up. You might accept but you still have a reason to be agitated. But let's say they report it was very close and they THINK it was OB. Now , we have a whole differant animal and the RULES now can into play. USGA Decision 18-3b/5 says that if you make a claim that the ball was in bounds and the Committee rules that the ball was in bounds, the opponent who picked it up is penalized one stroke. The last sentence of the Decision says---IF THE POSITION OF THE BALL CANNOT BE ESTABLISHED, THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT SHOULD BE GIVEN TO THE PLAYER.
 But , you as the player has to make a CLAIM if you feel your rights were compromised by your opponent.
 Hope this helps, they should have waited as a courtesy.

[Pete Blaisdell]

Kalen
  Made an error in writing-------Before going to the provisional should read ---before going to the ORIGINAL ball

  Sorry, should have proofed it before I posted.

[Kalen Braley]

Pete,

Thanks for that clarification.  I really don't think they were trying to cheat me as it wasn't a money game.  But as you know when you have friends that you play with week in and week out, you always want to beat them for bragging rights.   

However, the rub was in play here.  Because when I played my original ball, from my view point on the tee it looked like it was really close as to whether it was in or out.  However, when they went over there....without me, they claimed it was 20 feet OOB.  But because I was never able to see it up close, I pretty much had to take their word for it.  It seems if that happened in a real tournament that would be enough grounds to lodge a complaint with the committee. 

P.S.  I don't think they had bad intent, if anything they probably thought they were doing me a favor of not having to go over there and pick it up. But I did explain that I thought that was bad form. 

Thanks,

[Pete Blaisdell]

Shivas
  I appreciate the explaination. I just gave it a quick read. However, I still need to do clean up work with trees and branches inmy back yard and I promise I will explore your post in depth when I get some free time. I just wanted to advise you of my time restraints so you did not think I was blowing you off. I will say this, quite a post and worth investigation.

  Oh, by the way I like the Gold Medal  sox at JC Penny , 3/$10. I usually wait for the 50% coupon .

[Terry Lavin]

Pete,

Welcome to the nuthouse.  I saw your post on Shack's site a few minutes ago, before I saw this one.  My best to the staffers at the USGA.  I've worked with many of them, including Davis, Hall and Kimball.  They're all quality guys who love the game and always try to do the right thing.  What more can one ask?

[Bob_Huntley]

Pete,

In an earler post you mentioned a long letter from Hogan to a friend writing about the mechanics of the swing. I have a copy of a letter in his handwriting with a couple of stick drawings but it isn't fourteen pages long, perhaps we could share notes.

Good to have you aboard.

Bob

[Dónal Ó Ceallaigh]

Donal
  Sorry, been offline for a while because of the storm.

  To answer your question, Two events got me started officiating. Playing at a State Tournament in the 70's, I violated a rule of golf that was brought to my attention by a fellow competitor. At first I was angry at everyone but myself. When I calmed down, I came to the realization that I am responsible for my actions and if I was going to play this game, any game, I should have a good understanding of the rules of play so I bought a rule book and read it.Then, playing at a good public course in NH , I got fed up that we didn't have any formal competitions so myself and another player formed the Bretwood Men's Golf Association in 1977 and started to conduct 3 or 4 tournaments. Boy, did I make mistakes but that's how you learn. I went from the local level, then to the state and then regional and then in 1990 the USGA came calling and I really got into the Rules and condicting competitions, marking courses and writing local rules. Started conducting seninars and writing articles on the Rules. It's all a progression. Repitition is the best teacher. Worked about 600 events since since 1977. I can hold my own with anybody on the planet but I am certainly not the sharpest knife in the drawer. I know and understand the rules because I worked at it . Any person can become proficient in any area of expertise if they have a PASSION for it. It's not rocket science.

Thank you for your reply Pete.

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