OUT OF BOUNDS By Ed Gowan

RULES OF GOLF

American Press Association

A player “stymied” behind their opponent’s ball.

Another long but not forgotten Rule is the art of the “Stymie”. When playing Match Play, a player was allowed to essentially block their opponents next putt with their own ball. Golfers would attempt to position their golf ball on the line of their opponent which was known as a stymie.

One caveat to a stymie was that there needed to be at least six inches of separation between the two balls on the putting green. If there was less than six inches, the blocking ball was lifted until the opponent made their next stroke.

Stymies were part of the strategy in Match Play because the opponent would then need to find a way around, or over, the ball on their path. Notice how we didn’t say “through” the blocking ball. If the stymied player hit the opponents blocking ball, the opponent would have the option of playing their next shot from where their blocking ball was deflected to OR the original spot it was at rest. Even further, if the stymied player knocked their opponents ball into the hole, the ball was considered holed without adding an additional stroke.

The stymie was eliminated from the Rules of Golf in 1952 for the more traditional route of a player marking and lifting their ball on the putting surface, whether it is obstructing their opponent or not.

OUT OF BOUNDS

LIVing Their Best Lives

WORDS BY ED GOWAN

Reuters

Alfred Lord Tennyson in “ e Voyage” expresses the feelings of all golfers: “…that which we are, we are; made weak by time and fate but strong in will, to strive, to see, to nd, and not to yield (to Old Man Par).” is past September I had the privilege of refereeing at the World Amateur Championships in Paris for two weeks watching the best of the world’s amateurs playing for country. ere were a few unique Rules situations, one I’d like to share since it parallels what I see happening with the LIV Tour. A young man from Zimbabwe had hooked a tee shot on a par 4 deep into trees. His only ‘out’ was to the adjacent hole. Instead of playing a pitch to the fairway to set up his third, he played onto the green of the adjacent hole. I was called over to assist his dropping o the green, which gave him a clear and easy pitch onto his green. After a four-foot putt for par a moment later, I relished this 16-yr old’s (yeah, “16”) imagination and Rules knowledge.

Now for the LIV parallel. Isn’t golf (and life) all dependent on taking advantage of the moment, trusting our choices and that the future will o er other choices? Sometimes the least likely direction proves most valuable. I’m thinking that LIV is giving golfers a life-ensuring opportunity. With few exceptions, LIV players will have guaranteed their families’ futures in return for short-term doubt. Will there be an accommodation in the future for these players? Will the LIV players return to favor at some point? Does it matter to them? Most golfers think it should matter. Would it to you? Would a $50 million dollar check o set the opportunity to belong to a Tour? Stepping back and forgetting history, it’s hard to criticize life-changing nancial status, no matter the reason. Is playing a game more important? If one is nancially secure, then without the money issue, it’s a simple matter of choice. What stirs your heart? e larger issue for me is the impact on the Game. Golf su ers when open competition is lacking. at happened many years ago when the PGA and European Tours had con icting eligibility rules. at resolved into each Tour requiring a minimum participation to retain access. ose rules today would generally permit LIV. e Tours’ opposition is more based on control over sponsors, sites, television rights and their respective areas of oversight that LIV threatens.

I believe there is greater good awaiting a few years in the future when peace reigns, though reaching that point will be tumultuous for many. As an interested observer, I anticipate signi cant changes coming on one of both sides of this conundrum. Consider putting in a solid reserve of your favorite beverages and plenty of popcorn. is movie has sequels.

C

M Y CM MY CY CMY K