The Pellucid Perspective - April 2013 - (Page 7)

RULES OF GOLF One shot at a time April 1, 2013 By Ted Bishop Editor’s Note: This post is reprinted with the permission of its author, PGA of America President Ted Bishop, for those who may have missed it on the PGA of America web site. The opposition to the proposed ban on the anchored putting stroke by both Bishop and the PGA of America has been well publicized, but in this post, Bishop proposes a compromise solution to the controversy that we thought might provide some interesting food for thought. tarily before the clubhead reaches the ball he has not made a “stroke.” No one can convince me that an anchored putting stroke is anything but a ‘stroke’. Call this Bishop’s Last Stand if you will. I am going to offer a simple solution to this whole mess. Listen up, Mike Davis, because this idea was not mine. It was Glen Nager’s, the current USGA President. Glen and I spent a couple of days together in late February at Augusta National Golf Club. We stayed toast week I sat eye to eye with Arnold Palmer in his Bay gether. I knocked his glasses off as we got out of a van for dinHill Country Club office. If The King and I have one ner. But, we teamed up the following day and won our friendly thing in common, and maybe there is only one thing- that competition among the USGA, the PGA and our great hosts would be our offices. Both are cluttered and loaded with memo- at The Masters. rabilia that reflects golf, friends and family. But, for me it was a You heard it here first. Nager and Bishop bonded (at least I hallowed moment in time and it was the equivalent of talking thought we did). I have been intrigued by a concept that Nager baseball with Babe Ruth. The point of my visit was to bring presented to me on our flight from Atlanta to Augusta. Nager Palmer up to speed on the PGA of America’s is a guy who has taken 13 cases to the Suposition on the proposed ban on anchoring by Nobody in golf wants preme Court of Ithe United States. I respect the USGA and R&A. him greatly and want to take his idea to ana head on collision other level. Palmer has been an outspoken advocate of the USGA in this fight and my mission was If the USGA would drop the proposed caused by some not to change his mind. He told me that his Rule 14-1b and instead, make the ban on ansilly controversy main concern is that he fears a ban on anchoring a Condition of Competition in the choring could cause bifurcation of the Rules Book, all entities in golf over a long putter. Ruleway they want. Rule 33-1could handle it of Golf. He feels that two different sets of the provides, “The rules would be a major setback to the game of Palmer will go so far Committee must establish conditions under golf. He hates to hear the PGA TOUR and to be as calling the long which a competition iselevenplayed.” the PGA of America talk about another set Currently, there are (11) Conditions of rules which would allow anchoring. Palmer putter a contraption, of Competition in the Rules of Golf. These is also steadfast in his belief that players who are not apnot recognizing it conditions include matters whichof the game. anchor a long putter are not performing a propriate to deal with in the rules as a golf club. stroke as it was intended when the game was They include such matters as Specification of founded. Clubs and the Ball; Caddies; Pace of Play and Once an advocate of a non-conforming Suspension of Play; Practice, Advice, Antidriver for the recreational player, Palmer is Doping, etc. These Conditions of Competition now in a different place than he was back in 2001 when Cal- are options available to any entity who is conducting an event. laway and the USGA went toe to toe on the issue. With all Interestingly enough, golf ’s four major championships adopt due respect I had to ask him, what’s different today? Why the different conditions in their competitions. The PGA Champichange of heart? The 83-year old golf icon smiled with that leg- onship elects not to implement the “One Ball Rule” while the endary twinkle in his eye and shrugged his shoulders. other three majors do. The USGA allows for practice putting “That’s just the way I feel,” said Palmer. at the hole last played whereas the other three majors do not. Nobody in golf wants a head on collision caused by some The Embedded Ball Rule through the green is in effect at the silly controversy over a long putter. Palmer will go so far as call- Masters, U.S. Open and PGA but not the British Open. Stones ing the long putter a contraption, not recognizing it as a golf in bunkers can be removed in the British Open, but not the club. I disagree with that and I also think that anchoring a long other three majors. putter is a stroke as defined by the Rules of Golf. By creating a 12th Condition of Competition dealing with On Page 33 in the Rules of Golf, “A ‘stroke’ is the forward anchoring, the USGA and R&A could ban the stroke from movement of the club with the intention of striking at and their competitions. The Masters and PGA Championship moving the ball, but if a player checks his downswing volun- would have to decide how to handle it. The PGA TOUR could L www.PellucidCorp.com The Pellucid Perspective 7 http://WWW.PELLUCIDCORP.COM

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Pellucid Perspective - April 2013

The Pellucid Perspective - April 2013
Contents
Phoenix shifts municipal golf to General Fund subsidy
Filling the junior golf gap
One shot at a time
Plumbing the depths of the on-course restroom issue
Online golf store a solution for pro shop sales?
March golf weather impact: Hibernation mode for golf nationally
Military spending cuts threaten VA golf market
First phase of golf resort with Kidd-designed course in Oroville, CA up for approval
Nice guys finish last ... in Tax Court

The Pellucid Perspective - April 2013