In a new but popular tradition, Members representing Ireland challenged Members from the Rest of the World to a mixed fourball better ball match. The Irish were victorious by a large margin, but a great time was had by all.
All our teams were in action this past week, flying the flag for Roehampton Club in spectacular fashion.
The Derry team played both their home and away semi-final matches against Betchworth Park Golf Club, winning both 3-0. This is the squad’s sixth final in the last seven years, which is an amazing achievement. The 2022 final takes place at Royal Wimbledon on Sunday 10th April against Hindhead Golf Club.
The Pearson team played the first leg of their knock-out round with a stunning 4/3 win away at Walton Heath. Best of luck to them for the return match.
The Wallis team opened their campaign with a 3/2 away win at Wimbledon Common. Well done to all players, especially Lucinda Cormack who was representing Roehampton Club for the first time.
AOB
Please remember when teeing off from the 1st tee and the 18th to look for people collecting balls or practicing, and then ring the bell to warn them of your approach. We have had a few near misses in the past week which is dangerous and unnecessary.
Pace of play is incredibly important as the lovely spring weather arrives and the course inevitably becomes busier. Remember that your place is behind the group in front, not in front of the group behind! It is a rule of golf that the slower game must allow a faster game through, so players shouldn’t see any shame in doing so, or become aggravated at the thought. If you lose ground, and don’t feel it is possible to step aside for the game behind, either make a concerted effort to move more quickly or consider picking up and skipping on to the next hole.
A Motocaddy push trolley belonging to Christine Hutchinson has been removed from its place in the first trolley shed. It is labelled with her name on the handle. Please contact Christine, me, or the Sports Shop if you have seen it.
Correct procedure when taking a drop …
Most players are now comfortable with dropping from knee height, rather than the old shoulder height requirement. But often a mistake is made in where the drop is made. The rule book says to measure one or two club-lengths, depending on the rule being invoked, from ‘the nearest point of relief.’ This is the estimated point where the ball would lie that is:
• Nearest to the ball’s original spot, but not nearer the hole
• In the required area of the course
• Where the condition does not interfere with the stroke the player would have made from the original spot if the condition was not there
Estimating this reference point requires the player to identify the choice of club, stance, swing, and line of play she would have used for that stroke.
So, for example, if your ball lies in an area of GUR, you do not measure from the edge of the GUR area, but rather from the spot where you can place your ball, stand, and take a swing without impacting the plants or whatever has been marked off as an unplayable area. You are not, however, given relief from the line of your shot. If your drop leaves you with a large tree or something between you and the hole, that is just the nature of the game.
Please contrast the above with the situation where you are calling a ball unplayable. In that instance, you must measure from the spot where the ball has come to rest.
When taking a drop, the ball must fall straight down, without the player throwing, spinning, or rolling it, and must not touch any part of the player or her equipment. The ball must land in the ‘relief area’ which is:
• Either one or two club-lengths from the nearest point of relief, depending on the rule being applied
• In the correct area of the course, such as the general area or not in a bunker or penalty area (again defined by the rule being applied)
• Not nearer the hole
• Not having any interference from the condition from which relief was being taken
If a dropped ball comes to rest outside the relief area, the player must drop again a second time. If the ball again rolls out of the relief area, the player must place the ball on the spot that the second ball first hit the ground when it was dropped. If the ball still won’t stay put, she must find the nearest point where the ball will stay at rest.
If a ball is dropped in a wrong way, the player must drop the ball again, and there is no limit to the number of times she must do so. A ball dropped in the wrong way does not count as one of the two drops required before a ball must then be placed. There is no penalty for dropping incorrectly, but the player must re-drop in the right way. If she drops incorrectly, but the ball lands in the proper relief area, there is still no penalty. Only if the ball rolls out of the relief area and she then hits it anyway is she penalised.
Patricia Morgan, Ladies’ Golf Captain
