Before I start with the 2021 BJG Rules, let's take a moment to discuss Trivia Question 2, What year did Arnold Palmer retire from Golf? The answer is "2006".

We only had 5 golfers answer last week's question with 4 out of 5 having the correct answers. I take that back - Adam just sent me his answer on Tuesday. He missed the text about the new blog post because of Ding, Ding, Fanduel.

Juan was first to answer and with the correct answer at 9:14. That is within seconds of me posting the blog on the website. Juan must have been staking out the website, waiting for me to post.

Joe Willie was next at 9:20, followed by Matt at 9:21. Bryan was next at 10:03. Jon was last and his answer was 2016. I assumed that Jon was answering last week's question but he assured me that he was answering this week's question. Jon did not ask Jeeves but he also did not stay in a Holiday Inn.

Congratulations Juan, you have won "Vegas Golf" the "on course golf game". This fits right in with his Fanduel addiction.

Next, I have heard from another member concerning the schedule and having Saturdays for the Majors. This member did not believe this was a good idea because, to date, this league had been created as a Sunday league.

I can see where he is coming from because, if you are going to have a family event, it is usually on a Saturday. If you ever have to work on a weekend, it is usually on a Saturday. As I think about it, I would rather do my chores and yard work on Saturday instead of Sunday, but that is just me.

The idea of having Saturday Majors was in the interest of camaraderie. The idea was that we could have a BBQ after a Major but, I don't know that we would actually get all 16 golfer drive to the BBQ location for the remainder of the day. We rarely have all golfers stay for a beer after a round of golf.

Next, the Handicap Committee has already started discussing this year's handicaps, well, they have been talking about their own handicaps... Hopefully they will discuss the rest of the handicaps before the BJG meeting.

Ok, back to the 2021 Draft BJG Rules for 2021. Once the Rules are set, I will have them printed and everyone will have a copy.

1.  Mark your ball, hell, mark all of your balls.  No, the manufacturing name and number is NOT your mark.

At a minimum, your ball will have your initials and your first three balls will be marked 1, 2 and 3. Ball 1 is the ball in play until you lose it. Ball 2 is used as a provisional ball until you find

ball 1 or you finish the hole. Ball 3 is if you lose balls 1 and 2. You must always know what ball you are hitting and your group must know what ball you’re hitting.  Don’t be the guy that hits 2 balls into the woods and then pretends he found the first one or say “Oh yeah, I forgot I was playing ball x.”  Just add the 2 strokes and play on.

2. Count all of your strokes.  If you don’t, I am sure someone will help you.   Do you know who can only count to 8? Someone who doesn’t want a 9.  We all, on occasion, have missed counted our strokes.  Don’t be a douche, if your playing group is telling you that you hit the ball 9 times then you should listen to them and work out the number.

 2.1 If you swing with the intent of hitting the ball and miss, add the stroke.  However, if you accidentally double hit the ball on one continuous swing, no penalty is assessed.

3.  You cannot improve your lie.

3.1.  Exception: Stance:  If your ball lands such that you are not able to stand on the playable

ground--such as if your stance would be on a cart path or sprinkler head--you may move your

ball one club length from the spot where it lies, but not closer to the hole.

3.2 Plugged ball: A plugged ball may be picked up, cleaned and dropped one club length but no closer to the hole without penalty.

a. In the event that the plugged ball in a soaked, swampy area, you may drop your ball

in the closest dry area but no closer to the hole.

b. A pugged ball that is lost in the fairway may be dropped on the fairway with no

penalty assessed. The group must agree that the ball:

1. Landed in the fairway

2. The landing area in the fairway was soaked and swampy

3. The ball is more than likely plugged

4.  Teeing Ground: The "teeing ground"; is the starting place for the hole to be played. It is a rectangular area two club-lengths in depth, the front and the sides of which are defined by the

outside limits of two tee-markers. A ball is outside the teeing ground when all of it lies outside the teeing ground.

5.  Lost ball off the Tee Box: You only have two choices.

a. Declare to the group that you will take the drop for a 2 stroke penalty (stroke

and distance) without searching for the lost ball. Drive directly to the spot

where the ball was last seen entering the out of bounds and stop (not where it

may have landed). Moving straight across to the fairway and no closer to the

hole, measure 2 club lengths and drop your new ball from knee height. This

comes with a 2 stroke penalty so you are now hitting 4.

b. Declare to the group that you will hit a provisional ball for the initial one stroke

penalty.

1. If you find the original ball within 3 minutes, the provisional ball is picked up

and no penalty is assessed.

2. If the original ball is not found within 3 minutes the provisional ball becomes

the ball in play with the one stroke penalty.

3. If the provisional ball off the tee is lost out of bounds, you have 3 minutes to

search for the ORIGINAL lost ball. If the original ball cannot be found in those 3

minutes than you must drive directly to the spot where the provisional ball was

last seen entering the out of bounds and stop (not where it may have landed).

Moving straight across to the fairway and no closer to the hole, measure 2 club

lengths and drop your new ball from knee height. This comes with a 2 stroke

penalty so you are now hitting 6. (first tee shot = 1, drop = 2, provisional tee shot

= 3, lost ball / stroke and distance = 4 & 5, you are now hitting 6).

c. You ONLY get two attempts from the Tee Box and then you are hitting from

somewhere else.

6.  Lost ball (not off the tee) - Drive to the spot where the ball was last seen and stop (not where you think it may have landed). Moving straight across to the fairway and no closer to the hole, measure 2 club lengths and drop your new ball from knee height. This comes with a 2 stroke penalty. If you have not moved forward, you may hit a provisional ball and follow those rules.

6.1 - You have 3 minutes to look for your lost ball.  At the end of 3 minutes your ball is lost,

move on with your life.  The Rules Committee will assign “timekeepers” for each grouping.

6.2 – Leave the cart where the ball went out of bounds and look for the lost ball on foot. After 3

minutes, use the cart as the known point to move to the fairway to drop your ball for the 2 stroke

penalty.

6.3 - Every once in a while, you may lose a ball in the fairway or in the first cut. Look for 3

minutes and then suck it up, take your 2 stroke penalty and drop on the fairway because you are

not going back to the tee box. Sorry (Not Sorry).

6.4 – If you find your lost ball, YOU MUST PLAY THAT BALL. There is no other option. If

you hit your ball 100 yards into the woods or into the swamp area or down a mountain slope

AND you find your ball, YOU MUST PLAY THAT BALL. Good luck with that decision.

7.  Out of bounds.  We don’t really play out of bounds, normally, if you find it, you can play it.

Out of bounds is marked with whites stakes and or white lines.

a. You may play your ball as it lies out of bounds for no penalty OR

b.   If you have not moved forward, you may play a provisional ball from where your last shot

was played for a one stroke penalty, OR

c. From where you found your ball, moving straight across to the fairway and no closer to the hole, measure 2 club lengths and drop your ball from knee height. This comes with a 2 stroke

penalty.

8.  Penalty Areas (Water Hazard): Relief for Your Ball Not Found but in Penalty Area: If

your ball has not been found and it is known or virtually certain that it came to rest in a penalty

area, you may take penalty relief under this Rule. But if it is not known or virtually certain that

your ball did not came to rest in a penalty area and the ball is lost, you must take stroke-and-

distance relief (2 strokes). If your ball is in a penalty area (red or yellow stakes) you may play the ball as it lies for No Penalty or, under penalty of one stroke:

a. If you have not moved forward, you may play a ball from where your last shot was

played, OR

b. Measure 2 club lengths from where the ball ENTERED the margin of the penalty area

and no closer to the hole, drop the ball from knee height, OR

c. Drop a ball any distance behind the penalty area, keeping a straight line between the

hole and the point where the ball ENTERED the margin of the penalty area.

9.  Unplayable ball.  A player can determine at any time that their ball is unplayable. Your

choices, under penalty of one stroke, are:

a. Drop the ball in a straight line backward between the unplayable ball and the hole.

b. Drop the ball 2 club lengths (no closer to the hole).

9.1.  An unplayable ball in a bunker must be dropped in the bunker. New rule for 2019 is that

you can drop your ball behind the bunker, no closer to the holes, for a 2 stroke penalty.

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10.  Relief is granted, without penalty, if your ball is on a cart path, ground under repair and any

manmade object.  You get one club length but the ball cannot move closer to the hole.

10.1.  A root does not constitute the need for relief.  A fence that is marking the boundary of the

golf course is not a “manmade object” and in fact, is probably out of bounds.  When in doubt, get

a ruling from your playing partners.

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11.   Grounding your club in a bunker, add a stroke.  You may ground your club on the

fairway, rough, off the tee and in a penalty area.

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12.   Hitting the wrong ball – add 2 strokes.

13. The flagstick may remain in the hole while putting.

14. In general, the PGA rules will be in effect for any other rule that is not covered here. The

Rules Committee will make the initial ruling, Commissioner can make a final ruling.

15.  You must finish every putt and call your score to the group before leaving putting green.

 You must turn in your scorecard. Failure to turn in your scorecard will result in a DNF.

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16.  Any player who witnesses a violation of the rules must say something as soon as possible so that the violation can be corrected. The alleged violation must be addressed prior to leaving that hole’s green. The Rules Committee will assign a “rules official” with each group.

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17.  In cases of a tie during a Major, there will be a single sudden-death playoff (with no more

than 3 extra holes played).  For all other rounds, the tie will be broken by a putt-off on the

practice green. The Rules Committee will handle ties.

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18.  Be competitive but don’t forget to have fun.  If you not laughing at yourself then it just

makes the rest of us look bad for laughing at you.  Remember, no one gets out alive, so enjoy the

moment.

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19.  The Commissioner is always right and can overturn a Committees ruling if he feels that their

decision is unfair or just plain wrong. That is why he gets paid the big bucks.

20.  If you believe that the Committee is wrong, you can appeal their decision to the

Commissioner. If you believe that the Commissioner is wrong, you can appeal his decision to

the Competition Committee.  While it is true that the Commissioner and the Competition

Committee are the same person, I do take more time to make a ruling as the Competition

Committee.  This works well in the NFL, just ask Roger Goodell.

21.  If at any time you still believe that the Commissioner is wrong, please re-read rule number

19.

As a reminder, Dave, Jake, Adam & Dustin (maybe) make up the Rules Committee.

Trivia Question 3 - What is the 18th hole at the Masters called? The winner will win the box of Wilson golf balls that previously belonged to Steve.

REMINDER - There are only 36 days until the BJG Winter Meeting (3/14/21)

Respectfully,

Broken Joe

Commissioner