Sometimes Rules are Beneficial

 Austin Golf Association tournament on June 13, 2021 at Roy Kizer GC.  It was a very hot hot day.  I had the pleasure of playing in the same foursome as I did at Delaware Springs.  These are really a competitive and supporting group of golfers.  The course was in great shape.  

I was playing really but my putter was letting me down.  I had three 3-putts and yikes a 4-putt on a par three where I hit the green.  Yes I missed a 6 inch put as I watched roll around the hole in disbelief.  

Before I get to the rules I need to share what happened on hole 16.  I pull hooked a shot off the tee deep into the woods.  The hole was cart path only.  I pulled my bag off the cart and lugged it across the fairway to take my drop from the lateral hazard.  It was not a far walk, but the heat damn near killed me.  I hit a great approach shot, but was just short and essentially buried into the bank of the bunker in front of the green.  It looks like a near impossible shot so I expected the shot to hit the bank and have to hit again from the sand.  To my surprise I laid the sand wedge flat and took a huge swing.  To my surprise the ball popped out and landing on the green about 12 feet from the pin.  My playing partners also were surprised.  The shot looked impossible.  I should have snapped a photo.  Any rate I was exhausted from carrying my bag in the crazy Texas heat.  Yes, this become one of my 3-putts and a six inch putt miss.  I had potential to save a bogie, but it turned into a snowman.  

On the same hole a playing partner hit their second shot tight and drained the 8 foot birdie putt.  This was the same golfer who had chipped in from a bunker on the previous hole for a birdie.  Back to back birdies is impressive.

Now how were the rules beneficial to me.  I think it was on hole #10.  I pushed my drive right and it was in the rough near the cart path.   I got to my ball to see that it was in a huge divot.  In order to hit the ball I would have had to stand on the concrete card path.  I consulted my playing partners and everyone agreed I was entitled to relief.  We found the nearest point of relief.  I dropped the ball twice only to have it roll down the slope.  So I placed it where the ball had landed on the ground.  Thanks to this ruling I did not have to hit from that horrible divot.  

Fellow golfers even if you take a divot in the rough it would be great if you fill them with sand.

The coolest thing about joining the AGA is that you play by the rules.  Missing 6 inch putts are part of the challenge and using the rules as designed can also be helpful.

I need to take more pictures to inject into this humble golf blog.  

Keep on Golfing!  Do you have any rules stories to share?