Selborne Weekly Tribune

In This Issue:
1. Teeing Off: March Golfing Events!
2. Pro Tips: Selborne Demarcated Areas (Mulch / Gardens)
3. Tournament Results: Players That Rose To The Top!
4. Golf Rules & Handicapping: Rules / Course Knowledge Episode 23

Teeing Off:
Welcome to the Weekly Tribune!

Swing into March: Fun, Festivities, and Fantastic Golf Await!

March is in full swing, and so are we! With an action-packed lineup of events, there’s no excuse not to dust off those clubs and join in on the fun.

First up, this Saturday, we tee off with the Scramble Drive, a perfect blend of strategy, teamwork, and good times! And once you’ve conquered the course, stick around for live music by Blarney and Son, guaranteed to get you in the festive spirit.

Then, on Friday, March 21st, we celebrate Human Rights Day, and what better way to exercise your rights than by playing a round of golf? Selborne is hosting a Mystery Alliance, so make it a long weekend to remember!

Saturday, March 22nd, welcomes the return of the Tombstone Event. This is a unique (and hilarious) way to play medal. As you navigate the course, you’ll see where fellow golfers have met their fate, running out of shots and leaving their “tombstones” behind. Will you be the last golfer standing?

Rounding out the month, on Wednesday, March 26th, we have the Heineken Sponsors Day Alliance, complete with a complimentary braai. Expect a fun-filled day of golf, great company, and delicious food, because nothing pairs better with a round of golf than an ice-cold Heineken and a sizzling braai!

2.Pro Tips: Relief Areas On Course

IMPROVE YOUR GAME WITH THESE EXPERT TIPS FROM THE PRO:

Understanding Relief Areas on the Course: Gardens & Mulched Zones

The Handicap and Tournament Committee recently considered a written representation from a few members relating to mulched areas on our course. We thank them for reaching out!

Whilst, properly and fully mulched areas could be considered artificially surfaced, Drikus (our greenkeeper) has confirmed that over the last few years and continuing forward, we do not produce enough mulch and a few wind or rain storms quickly blow or washes mulch away. The added challenge is that some areas with minimal growth could also be seen as locations where mulch should be placed, creating confusion for relief options. It is therefore ideal to keep mulched areas to a minimum.

To provide clarity, the Handicap and Tournament Committee has in collaboration with the greenkeeper, identified specific areas that will be designated as mulched areas and will be marked with a short white stake.

These areas together with designated gardens (also marked with a short white stake), will be considered abnormal course conditions and therefore under Rule 16.1, a player will be entitled to take relief. If relief is taken, it must be in terms of Rule 16.1 and is from the nearest (not nicest!) point of complete relief, no nearer the hole.

Some areas will be mulched but are not in the general area and therefore Rule 16.1 does not apply e.g. bridge on right side of 6th hole is in the penalty area.

Rule 16.1a – When Relief Is Allowed

(1) Meaning of Interference by Abnormal Course Condi􀆟on. Interference exists when any one of these is true:

• The player’s ball touches or is in or on an abnormal course condition,
• An abnormal course condition physically interferes with the player’s area of intended stance or area of intended swing, or
• Only when the ball is on the putting green, an abnormal course condition on or off the putting green intervenes on the line of play.

If the abnormal course condition is close enough to distract the player but does not meet any of these requirements, there is no interference under this Rule.

(2) Relief Allowed Anywhere on Course Except When Ball Is in Penalty Area. Relief from interference by an abnormal course condition is allowed under Rule 16.1 only when both:

• The abnormal course condition is on the course (not out of bounds), and
• The ball is anywhere on the course, except in a penalty area (where the player’s only relief is under Rule 17).

(3) No Relief When Clearly Unreasonable. There is no relief under Rule 16.1:

• When playing the ball as it lies is clearly unreasonable because of something from which the player is not allowed to take free relief (such as when a player is unable to make a stroke because of where the ball lies in a bush), or
• When interference exists only because a player chooses a club, type of stance or swing or direction of play that is clearly unreasonable under the circumstances.

Rule 16.1b – Relief for Ball in General Area

If a player’s ball is in the general area and there is interference by an abnormal course condition on the course, the player may take free relief by dropping the original ball or another ball in this relief area (see Rule 14.3):

• Reference Point: The nearest point of complete relief in the general area.
• Size of Relief Area Measured from Reference Point: One club-length, but with these limits:
• Limits on Location of Relief Area:
  • Must be in the general area,
  • Must not be nearer the hole than the reference point, and
  • There must be complete relief from all interference by the abnormal course condition

The relief area is one club-length from the reference point, is not nearer to the hole than the reference point and must be in the general area.

When taking relief, the player must take complete relief from all interference by the abnormal course condition.

Mulched Areas defined as Abnormal Course Condition

Hole 8: The drinking fountain near the cart path.

Hole 10: The rough area left of the fairway (100 meters out).

Hole 12: The drinking fountain area.

Hole 13: The palm tree just past the bunker right of the green.

Hole 14: The palm tree area near the cart path fork (between the 10th and 14th holes).

Hole 14: Right of the fairway, approximately 130 meters out.

Hole 15: The Hole-in-One sign and bench area.

Designated Garden Areas defined as Abnormal Course Condition

Hole 10: Garden right of the green.

Hole 16: Three gardens behind the green (two small and one main garden with a large tree).

Hole 18: Lett of the fairway, approximately 150 meters from the green, near the road.

These updates aim to improve course playability and reduce uncertainty in applying the rules of golf. Players are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the designated garden and mulch areas as well as the procedures for relief.

Should any disputes arise between players and/or markers, please note that the Rules do not allow players the right to decide Rules issues by agreement and and any such agreement you may reach is not binding on any player, a referee or the Handicap and Tournament Committee. You should raise any Rules issues with the Handicap and Tournament Committee before returning your scorecard.

Playing Two Balls (only applicable in strokeplay). If you are uncertain about the right procedure while playing a hole, you may complete the hole with two balls without penalty:

• You must decide to play two balls a􀅌er the uncertain situation arises and before making a stroke.
• You should choose which ball will count if the Rules allow the procedure used for that ball, by announcing that choice to your marker or to another player before making a stroke.
• If you do not choose in time, the ball played first is treated as the ball chosen by default.

You must report the facts of the situation to the Handicap and Tournament Committee before returning

your scorecard, even if you score the same with both balls. You are disqualified if you fail to do so. For more information on playing two balls in stroke play, including how the Handicap and Tournament Committee will determine your score for the hole, see Rule 20.1c.

3. Tournament Results: Competition Results!

Tournament Results: Players That Rose To The Top!

4. Golf Rules & Handicapping: Make The Rules Work For You

Rules/Course Knowledge Episode 23!
Last month we covered “Playing from Wrong Place” and this time we look at “Playing a Wrong Ball”. A wrong ball may be your own ball but due to circumstances or actions it may be considered a wrong ball.
A wrong ball is any ball other than the player’s:

• Ball in play (whether the original ball or a substituted ball),
• Provisional ball (before it is abandoned under Rule 18.3c), or
• Second ball in stroke play played under Rules 14.7b or 20.1c.

Examples of a wrong ball are:

• Another player’s ball in play,
• A stray ball, and
• The player’s own ball that is out of bounds, has become lost or has been lifted and not yet put back in play.

The rule states that a player must not make a stroke at a wrong ball
(1) Making Stroke at Wrong Ball.
Exception – Ball Moving in Water: There is no penalty if a player makes a stroke at a wrong ball that is moving in water in a penalty area or in temporary water:

• The stroke does not count, and
• The player must correct the mistake under the Rules by playing the right ball from its original
  spot or by taking relief under the Rules.

Penalty for Playing Wrong Ball in Breach of Rule 6.3c:
In match play, the player gets the general penalty (loss of hole):

• If the player and opponent play each other’s ball during the play of a hole, the first to make a stroke at a wrong ball gets the general penalty (loss of hole).
• But if it is not known which wrong ball was played first, there is no penalty and the hole must be played out with the balls exchanged.

In stroke play, the player gets the general penalty (two penalty strokes) and must correct the mistake by continuing play with the original ball by playing it as it lies or taking relief under the Rules:

• The stroke made with the wrong ball and any more strokes before the mistake is corrected (including strokes made and any additional penalty strokes solely from playing that ball) do not count.
• If the player does not correct the mistake before making a stroke to begin another hole or, for the final hole of the round, before returning their scorecard, the player is disqualified.

(2) What to Do When Player’s Ball Was Played by Another Player as Wrong Ball.
If it is known or virtually certain that the player’s ball was played by another player as a wrong ball, the player must replace the original ball or another ball on the original spot (which if not known must be estimated).This applies whether or not the original ball has been found.
Playing from a wrong place incurs the General Penalty (loss of hole in Match Play and two strokes in stroke play) so best to avoid these situations. If it happens the Player must, under serious breaches, correct their mistake.

Example 1: Playing Another Player’s Ball in Stroke Play Two players, Alice and Bob, hit their balls into the same area of the rough. Alice mistakenly
plays Bob’s ball.
The Ruling: Alice gets a two-stroke penalty and must correct the mistake by finding and playing her original ball. If she doesn’t correct it before teeing off on the next hole, she is disqualified. (If playing a stableford competition she receives zero points for that hole). Bob must replace his ball where it was and play without penalty.

Example 2: Playing a Wrong Ball in Match Play
In a match, John and Mike both hit their balls onto the fairway. John accidentally plays Mike’s ball. The Ruling: John automatically loses the hole under Rule 6.3c(2). The match continues on the next hole. Mike must replace his ball and play from its original spot without penalty.