SCHOOL OF RULES

CIAN HURLEY, Director Of Golf

SCHOOL OF RULES

Dear Members,

In this month’s article I would like to provide you with a useful sequence when considering Penalty Drops on the golf course. These drops can be broken down into three main categories as follows:

1. Yellow Penalty Areas

These are defined by yellow painted lines or yellow stakes. In this scenario you have two options; A) Play again or B) Drop back behind and on line with the pin

2. Red Penalty Areas

These are defined by red painted lines or red stakes. In this scenario you have three options; A) Play again or B) Drop back behind and on line with the pin or C) Take relief of two clublengths (no nearer the hole)

3. Unplayable Ball

This occurs when the golfer’s ball is deemed not possible to play and a penalty drop must be taken. In this scenario you have three options; A) Play again or B) Drop back behind and on line with the pin or C) Take relief of two clublengths (no nearer the hole)

A useful memory aid is as follows: Yellow = AB - A (Again) & B (Behind) Red = ABC - A (Again) & B (Behind) & C (Clublengths) Unplayable = ABC – A (Again) & B (Behind) & C (Clublengths) *Interesting Facts:

• As stated in the rules, “your ball is in a penalty area when any part of it lies on or touches the ground or anything else inside the edge of the penalty area, or is above the edge or any other part of the penalty area”.

• A player may always choose to play their ball when it is in a penalty area. They may also now ground their club in a penalty area, as long as they do not improve their lie in doing so.

• The player may stand inside a penalty area when playing a ball that lies outside that penalty area, including, where relevant, when just after taking relief from that penalty area.

If you have any rules queries that you would like to discuss over the coming weeks then please do not hesitate to ask on your next visit to the club or simply email your query to me at churley@dubaigolf.com.

If you enjoyed the article and found it helpful, feel free to drop me an email at the above address, quote the code SORACH, and be entered into a prize draw!

INTRODUCING CHRIS SAGE

Official Starter at Emirates Golf Club

Hello, my name is Chris Sage and I have been living in the UAE now for 10 years. Leaving the UK, and moving here with my family (wife and 3 children) in 2012, I have worked almost all of my career in the aviation industry, beginning with the Royal Air Force, moving to Rolls Royce and then into my current position within Boeing.

I have had a lot of great experiences, and met some amazing people. My family (wife and 5 children) now live in the UK, and while the time apart is difficult, it does have one benefit – it is quiet. While work can be busy, I do enjoy the downtime and the wide variety of golf courses the UAE has to offer from Yas Links in Abu Dhabi to Al Hamra in Ras Al Khaimah.

Having the chance to play a round of golf is often difficult with a young family, now is the time to make up for that. Aside from golf, I do like football or dare I say it – soccer, and while not directly from the city, I am a Liverpool supporter but please don’t hold that against me.

I am greatly looking forward to working with a such a professional and diverse team at such a prestigious club, and furthermore, meeting the members along the way.