Practice Makes Perfect

Practice, practice, practice. That’s what it takes to improve your game. Hmmm, maybe that’s why I’m a golf administrator and not a professional player.

Prior to the resumption of play, the players want to practice and warm up with as much time as we are allowing them. Since we’ve had to resume play so many times, the players have become experts at squeezing out every last second of practice. One way to do so has left marshals and gallery members to chatter. Some players practice putting on the hole last played and practice on the teeing ground of the next hole to be played. The Rules of Golf allow this under Rule 7-2. Just check it out including the exception to the Rule since it specifically addresses practice prior to the resumption of play.

Harry Easterly of Massachusetts (wearing a festive bowtie) had his players asking him if they could practice on the course prior to the resumption. His group was on the putting green waiting to putt out. In this case, Harry, correctly informed his group, "No, they may not practice." This seemed odd to the players since the others waiting on tees could practice.

I suppose most people are used to watching the LPGA Tour and PGA Tour each weekend where they utilize Note 2 of this Rule. But we, at the USGA, do not employ that note.

So hold back your emails to me and the others answering the Rules e-mails. It’s all good with the Rules. The USGA answers a lot of questions like these in our Frequently Asked Questions section on www.usga.org.

Wendy Uzelac

USGA Director of Regional Affairs, Midwest Region