TOPICS NEWSLETTER - South Florida PGA Golf

TOPICS NEWSLETTER
VOLUME 17, NO. 4 - SEPTEMBER 2010
South Florida Callway Golf PGA
Assistant Pro Championship - page 7
Section Office Moves to Atlantis CC - page 4
WHAT’S INSIDE:
Section Move to Atlantis Country Club
SFPGA Scholarship Recipients
Pros on the Go
SFPGA Section Championship
...and more!
SFPGA Section Championship - page 9
Senior Section Championship - page 9

chip shots
NEW MEMBERS
The South Florida PGA would like to welcome the following new members to the Section:
Joshua Hart, PGA A-8 Hobe Sound Golf Club
Donald Vandermillen F
Jay D. Westerlund, PGA A-8 The Club @ Renaissance
NEW APPRENTICES
The South Florida PGA would like to welcome the following new apprentices to the Section:
Joseph Fries B-8 Normandy Shores Golf Club
John Nieporte B-1 Trump International GC
Andrew Pease B-8 Spanish Wells CC
William Roberson B-8 Doral Golf Resort & Spa
Jose Rodriguez B-6 Trump International GC
Thomas Sawyer B-8 Okeeheelee Golf Course
PGA CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL PROGRAM
The South Florida PGA would like to congratulate Michael DeJordy, PGA on earning his fifth
and sixth certifcation in Retail and Ownership / Leasing; Jason Miller, PGA on completing the
requirements to become certified in Golf Operations; and Darin Hoff, PGA on completing the
requirements to become certified in Retail through The PGA Certified Professional Program.
QUARTER CENTURY CLUB
Congratulations to PGA member Joseph Jones, PGA on his induction into the Quarter Century
Club, joining an outstanding group of individuals who have been PGA members for over 25
years.
HALF CENTURY CLUB
Congratulations to PGA members Frank Picone, PGA and Art Berry, PGA on their induction
into the Half Century Club, joining an outstanding group of individuals who have been
PGA members for over 50 years.
JUNIOR TOUR VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
The South Florida PGA is in the midst of another successful year of junior golf. To continue the
trend, we need volunteers to come out and act as Pace of Play/Rules Officials during the events.
Each volunteer will receive 1 MSR Credit per hour worked. If you would like to help, please click
here to view the tournament dates and site, and then contact Meredith at 561-72-0544 x105 with
your availability.
APPRENTICE LEVELS PASSED
Joseph Fries Normandy Shores Golf Club R1
Benjamin Kitts Arrowhead Golf Course R2
William Roberson Doral Golf Resort & Spa N-0
Thomas M Sawyer Okeeheelee Golf Course N-0
Shawn Costello Broken Sound Club - Old Course R1
Troy Francis Hunters Run Golf & Racquet Cl. R2
Pleasant Hughes Everglades Club R2
William Pankey Golf & Racquet Country Club R2
Landon Comeau Island Country Club R2
Geoffrey Hall Royal Palm Country Club R3
Jay Westerlund, PGA The Club @ Renaissance R3
Andrew Pierson Naples National Golf Club R1
Patrick Hawkins McArthur Golf Club R2
Scott Kash Bonita Bay Club R2
Lee Stroever North Palm Beach Country Club R1
Brian Fedish The Polo Club of Boca Raton R2
Dennis Rye The Polo Club of Boca Raton R2
contact information
SOUTH FLORIDA SECTION,
PGA OF AMERICA
186 Atlantis Boulevard
Atlantis, FL / 33462
PHONE / FAX
561-729-0544 / 561-729-0914
EMAIL
sflorida@pgahq.com
WEBSITE
www.sflorida.pga.com
PRESIDENT
Stephen A. Cox, PGA
VICE PRESIDENT
Brian Peaper, PGA
SECRETARY
Warren Bottke, PGA
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
Jeff Raimer, PGA
SOUTHERN CHAPTER PRESIDENT
Dick McNeill, PGA
SOUTHEAST CHAPTER PRESIDENT
Rick Heard, PGA
SOUTHWEST CHAPTER PRESIDENT
Bill Constantine, PGA
ISLAND CHAPTER PRESIDENT
Aaron West, PGA
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Geoff Lofstead
ADVISORY BOARD
Paul Anderson
Dean Baker
Rick Bayliss
Ed D’Alessandro, PGA
Ira Kaplan
Jim Maitland
Jim O’Connor
Craig Perna
Steve Sponder
Harry Tempkins
Roger Woonton
2

chip shots
section news
GOLF LICENSE PLATE PROGRAM
This year the South Florida
PGA has partnered with the
Golf License Plate Program
to help promote the plate to
Florida residents. For every
Golf License Plate sold in the
state of Florida $25 goes to the
Florida Junior Golf Council in
support of junior golf throughout the state. Every facility in South
Florida should have received promotional information about the Golf
License Plate Program, and we encourage you to display it at your facility.
Please note that grants are available for PGA professionals conducting
junior golf camps, clinics, etc. and more information can be
found by visiting http://www.fjgc.org/.
3RD ANNUAL PATRIOT GOLF DAY
This year marks the 3rd Annual
Patriot Golf Day and already
3,307 facilities across the country
have signed up to participate.
Last year as a Section 192 of 367 facilities
helped raise $63,000 for the Folds
of Honor Foundation, and we are encouraging
you to participate this year.
It’s not too late to sign up! Patriot
Golf Day 2010 will be held during
Labor Day weekend, September 3-6. If you are interested
in joining the mission to empower the lives of deserving
military families with educational opportunities,
then please become a participating facility in 2010! PGA
Professionals who host an event and submit funds to
the Folds of Honor Foundation will receive TWO
MSR Credits. Please visit playgolfamerica.com to
sign up your course and download your materials.
quote of the month
PRO’S ON THE GO
PRO TO FROM
“Selecting a stroke
is like selecting a
wife. To each his
own.”
Ben Hogan
Professional golfer, on putting
Scott Reinhart unattached A-1 – The Links at Madison Green
Joseph DeMino A-4 – Gleneagles CC A-1 - Boca Country Club
Antonio Lefevre unattached B-4 – Grand Lacuna Golf & CC
Michael Weiler A-4 – Bonita Bay Club A-1 – Bay Colony Club
Bill Andre unattached A-1 Tuscany Reserve GC
Benjamin McCoy A- 1 -Lemon Bay Golf Club, North Florida Section
Joseph Higgins A-15 – Dick;s Sporting Goods A-1 – The President CC
David Witt A-4 – Tuscany Reserve GC North Florida Section
Michael Hattman unattached A-4 – Ballen Isles CC
David A. Green A-4 – Boca Greens CC A-4 – Crystal Lake/South Crs
Randall Raimondi Jr. A-1 – Ironhorse CC A-8 – Ironhorse CC
3

SFPGA Moves To New Home in Atlantis
new contact information
The South Florida Section is now operating from its new location in Atlantis
The South Florida PGA section office recently moved to a
new location in Atlantis, Florida. The section purchased an
office building on the grounds of Atlantis Country Club.
Formerly located in The PGA of America’s national headquarters
in Palm Beach Gardens, the South Florida PGA has
a long history of moving. SFPGA spent twenty-five years in
Coral Springs, two years at Parkland Country Club, and an additional
two years in Palm Beach Gardens. Purchasing a building
for the section and settling into a permanent location is
exciting for the entire staff and all the South Florida PGA section
members.
“It’s always been a goal of the South Florida PGA’s Board of
Directors to purchase its own building and settle into a permanent
home. We are excited to be in a central location to our
members.” said Geoff Lofstead, Executive Director.
The City of Atlantis is located in Palm Beach County near
Lake Worth, Florida. The City, incorporated in 1959, is home
to the Atlantis Country Club and the Atlantis Golf Club. Atlantis
Country Club welcomes the South Florida PGA as well.
PGA Director of Golf, Todd Leckrone, said, “ We at Atlantis
welcome the South Florida PGA. We started Atlantis as a
golfing community over 50 years ago and this gives us a rededication
to our original concept. With two golf courses within
the city; one open to the public and the other a private equity
club owned by the members, we give prospective golfers many
options. Atlantis and the SFPGA both have a passion to introduce
golf to the beginner and grow the game. We look forward
to a long and successful relationship with the South Florida
PGA.”
South Florida PGA
186 Atlantis Boulevard
Atlantis, FL 33462-1111
Phone: 561-729-0544
Fax: 561-729-0914
Above left:
SFPGA’s new home
in Atlantis
Right: lobby view at
the new office
Bottom right: One
conference room
at the new Section
office
4

education
Earn More MSR Credits
As a member of the PGA you are required to complete 54 MSR credits per three year cycle. As the current MSR
cycle quickly approaches please remember of the 54 you must complete 12 in education and 12 in meetings.
The current MSR cycle will end June 15, 2011. As you plan ahead for recertification below are some MSR opportunities
available at this time.
FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MSR CREDITS:
September 3, 2010 - Town Hall Forum presented by BoxGroove
Coral Springs Country Club - 10AM - 12PM
2 MSR Meeting Credits
October 1, 2010 - Town Hall Forum presented by BoxGroove
Fountains Country Club - 10AM - 12 PM
2 MSR Meeting Credits
October 12, 2010 - Southeast Chapter Meeting
Jonathan's Landing Golf Club (East) - 6pm
4 MSR Meeting Credits
October 18, 2010 - Southwest Chapter Meeting
Worthington Country Club - time TBA
4 MSR Credits
November 8, 2010 - Section Education Seminar
Atlantis Country Club - 8am-12pm
4 MSR Education Credits
marlins golf day
On Sunday, August
8TH, the South Florida
PGA hosted a Play Golf
America Event at Sun
Life Stadium in conjunction
with the Marlins
Family Fun Day.
The Florida Marlins
were set to take on the
St. Louis Cardinals, but
due to bad weather the game was rained out.
Although the weather hindered play of the game, activities taking
place in the Fan Zone still went on. Three South Florida PGA Professionals,
including Chad Kurmel, Bill Scott, and PGA Apprentice
Michael Bove, were on hand providing free ten minute golf lessons
and a putting contest to over seventy fans waiting for the rained out
game to take place.
Along with free lessons, US Kids, PJ Nardy provided free demos and
information to anyone interested in US Kids equipment. The South
Florida PGA Play Golf America Event at Sun Life Stadium was a terrific
experience and a great opportunity to reach out to those who
have never played the game before and hopefully encourage them to
get involved in the sport.
November 7, 2010 - Southern Chapter Fall Meeting
LaGorce Country Club - 6:30pm
4 MSR Meeting Credits
January 27-29, 2011 - PGA Merchandise Show
Orlando
2011 - Annual Meeting of the Membership Location
and time TBA
4 MSR Meeting Credits
To register for national events, please visit
pgashow.com.
To volunteer at Junior Tour or Play Golf America,
please call Meredith at 561-729-0544 x105.
To register for any other education meetings or
seminars, please visit the website at
sflorida.pga.com.
PGA Apprentice Michael Bove gives golf lessons
5

Two SFPGA Scholarship Recipients
The South Florida
PGA proudly announces
the 2010
Bobby Goodman
Jordan Albright
Scholarship recipient:
Jordan Albright of
Ft. Myers. The Bobby
Goodman Scholarship
is a $2,500 grant
annually given to a
high school senior or
college student entering
into his/her freshman
or sophomore
year of undergraduate
studies whose parents
or grandparents either work in or are retired from the golf industry.
This scholarship is named after PGA Professional Bobby
Goodman, a man well known to the South Florida PGA record
books. Bobby is recognized for her numerous contributions
to the game of golf at all levels. The Bobby Goodman Scholarship
Fund was created in 1988 by the South Florida PGA
Senior Committee in tribute to the late Bobby Goodman.
Jordan Albright is the daughter of Charles Albright, Assistant
Golf Professional at Miromar Lakes Golf Club and Robin Albright,
Assistant Golf Professional at Cypress Lake Country
Club. Both Charles and Robin are actively involved in the
South Florida Golf Community helping to grow the game
of golf, and are members of the South Florida PGA Section.
This Spring Jordan graduated from Cypress Lakes High School,
where she was ranked 4th in her class of 358 students. During
High School Jordan was an active member of the National
Honors Society, Spanish Honors Society, and National Honor
Society for Dance Arts. Outside of academia Jordan was an avid
golfer and dancer, and actively involved in her church ministry.
Throughout high school Jordan received many awards
including the Do The Right Thing, Florida Bright Futures,
Perfect Attendance, and Scholar Athlete in golf.
This fall Jordan Albright will begin her freshman
year of studies at The University of Florida in Gainsville.
She is interested in obtaining a degree in Dance,
and we wish her the best in her future endeavors.
About the Bobby Goodman Scholarship
The Bobby Goodman Scholarship is available to high school
seniors or college entrants enrolled in his/her freshman or
sophomore classes of undergraduate studies whose parents or
grandparents are employed in or retired from the golf industry
(PGA professionals, superintendents, sales representatives,
club managers etc.). Applicants must be permanent residents
of the state of Florida. Applicants must have a cumulative
GPA of 3.0 (based on a 4.0 system). Application must include a
letter of recommendation from a PGA professional. Students
may be awarded the Scholarship grant only one time.
The South
Florida PGA
is proud to announce
that
Marius Schweiger,Germany
native
now residing in
Fort Myers, is
the recipient of
the 2010 South
Florida PGA
Pr o f e s s i o n a l
Golf Management
(PGM)
S c h o l a r s h i p
at Florida Gulf
Coast University.
Marius Schweiger
The South Florida PGA Scholarship Committee selected
Schweiger as the recipient of the $2,500 scholarship
grant. This fall Schweiger will enter his senior
year of studies, working toward his bachelor’s degrees
in Finance and Professional Golf Management.
Currently Schweiger is completing an internship at
Trump International Golf Club in New Jersey. Previously
he completed two internships in South Florida
at PGA National Resort & Spa in Palm Beach Gardens
and The Club at Mediterra in Naples. Along with his
work experience, Schweiger has volunteered countless
hours to the German Red Cross as a skate-guard monitoring
roller-skaters. Most recently Schweiger he has
become involved with the Ft. Myers community providing
help during the Cape Coral Canal Clean-up, and
helping teach youth the game of golf through The First
Tee of Naples & Ft. Myers.
Schweiger is seen by his peers as an individual who possesses
qualities of strength, devotion and a desire to
succeed. Schweiger’s goal is to one day become a General
Manager of a golf facility. We wish him the best in
all of his future endeavors.
About the SFPGA PGM Scholarship at FCGU
This is the second year that the South Florida PGA has
awarded the PGM Scholarship at Florida Gulf Coast
University. This award was created to off financial assistance
to aspiring young men and women in the Professional
Golf Management Program. This scholarship
is open to all Florida Gulf Coast University students
currently enrolled in or entering into his/her junior or
senior year of studies in the PGM program. Students
must also have completed Level 1 of the PGM program
and have a cumulative GPA of 3.0.
6

tournament news
South Florida Callaway Golf Assistant’s Professional Championship
Paul Scaletta of The
Bear’s Club captured the
title at the 31st annual
South Florida Callaway
Golf Assistant Professional
Championship
Tuesday by defeating
Richard Terga on the
pair’s first playoff hole.
Scaletta found himself in a 3-way tie for third after the
first round, and tallied eight birdies on the final day
to close the margin. Terga, of the John Webster Golf
Academy, shot a final-round 68 to force a playoff with
Scaletta, but bogeyed the first playoff hole (hole #18) to
finish second for the championship.
Aside from winning the Assistant’s title, Scaletta
also qualifies for the Callaway Golf PGA Assistant
Professional Championship held October 11- Left to Right: Paul Scaletta and Kerry Keena; Callway Golf
14 at the PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie. Scaletta
will be joined by Terga, Lee Stroever, and Shawn Hall in representing the South Florida Section at the national assistant’s tournament.
Thank you to PGA Head Professional Frank Petitti of Frenchman’s Reserve for hosting this event and providing an excellent playing experience
for all participants. An additional thank you to title sponsor Callaway Golf, represented by Kerry Keena, Phil Olive, Joe Baker, Dale
Clark and Ann Moon.
Senior Section Championship
Pictured: PGA members Ed Huminick, Gary Baker,
Steve Waugh, Ed Sabo, Dennis Meyer, Jerry Tucker,
Victor Tortorici, Director of Golf, Gene Fieger, Mike
San Filippo
Dennis Meyer of Estero posted two straight rounds of four under par 68
at Sailfish Point Golf Club to earn his first South Florida PGA title Friday
(Aug.13), the 28th annual Seniors’ Championship.
At 136, Meyer won by three strokes and earned $1,500 from the $12,000
purse plus an additional $209 from the optional bonus pool.
After playing the oceanside course for the first time in a practice round
Wednesday, Meyer made five birdies and a bogey each round and kept the
final round going with an 18-foot par-saving putt at the par-3 12th hole.
Special thanks to Sailfish Point Golf Club for hosting a great event, and
The PGA TOUR for supporting the championship.
Bottom Right: (L
to R) PGA members
Ken Martin,
Victor Tortorici,
Sailfish Point Director
of Golf, Jim
Carr
7

tournament news
SFPGA Pro- Superintendent Championship
L to R: Rod Curl, PGA Kevin Downing, John Ketterheinrich, Eric Veilleux, PGA
Global Golf Series #3
Congratulations to PGA member Chris Trout
(pictured to the right) of Fort Myers for winning
the Global Golf Sales Tournament Series
No. 3 conducted by the South Florida PGA
Section on Monday at Ritz-Carlton Golf Club.
Thanks to sponsors Global Golf Sales, Sun-
Dog Eyewear, GameBook and our host, The
Ritz Carlton Golf Club of Jupiter.
PGA Professional Rod Curl and Superintendent
Kevin Downing of Hammock
Creek Golf Club combined for a
team score of 60 to win the tournament’s
Gross division. PGA Professional Eric
Veilleux and Superintendent John Ketterheinrich
represented The Bear’s Club
with score of 58.5 to win the Net division.
These two teams actually tied in
both divisions and a winner had to
be decided using a scorecard playoff
based on the team’s back nine score.
Thanks to our sponsors Global Golf
Sales, E-Z-
GO, BrillyantResources,
and
NYX Golf,
and thanks
to Broken
Sound Old
Course for
hosting a
great event.
8

tournament news
SFPGA Section Championship
Alan Morin of Lake Worth is the second player to
win the South Florida PGA Championship three
times.
Trailing Kaufman by one and tied for second with
Ken Martin of Village GC, Royal Palm Beach,
as they stood on the 18th tee, Morin won as both
Kaufman and Martin closed with double bogeys, giving
him the win with a tap-in par-4.
Morin’s previous SFPGA championships were in
2002 at BallenIsles CC, Palm Beach Gardens, and
2008 at Breakers Rees Jones, West Palm Beach. The
only other three-time winner of the Section Championship
was Paul Trittler of Naples, in 1989 (Doral
CC), 1991 (Cypress Links) and 1993 (Ibis CC).
The Section Championship was made possible by
presenting sponsor TaylorMade-adidas Golf, and
supporting sponsors The PGA TOUR, BoxGroove
and TaylorMade-adidas Ashworth Golf. Special
thanks to the Ritz Carlton Golf Club in Jupiter and
Frenchman's Reserve Country Club.
Left to Right: McRedmond Morelli, BoxGroove; Alan Morin,
PGA;
Left to Right: McRedmond Morelli, BoxGroove; Mike Budnyk, TaylorMade-adidas;
Alan Morin, PGA; David Trout, Ritz-Carlton
9

junior news
SFPGA Junior Tour presented by The Honda Classic Event #7
Presented by:
Supported by:
On Thurday and Friday, August 5th and 6th the South
Florida PGA Junior Tour Presented by The Honda Classic
conducted Event #7 at The Breakers Rees Jones Course
in West Palm Beach. The Breakers Rees Jones Course has
hosted the South Florida PGA Junior Tour for the past four
years, and each year the difficult design and fast green prove
to be a challenge for all competitors in the field. Stephen
McPoyle of Lake Worth enjoyed the challenges the course
presented, firing two rounds of 70 placing him ten shots
ahead of his nearest competitor to claim the Boys 14-18
Overall Title. Irvin Matutina of Miami and Luke Graboyes
of Palm Beach Gardens tied for second with a two-day
total of 150.
L-R: Stephen McPoyle, Tess Huber,
Danny St. Louis
In the Girls 14-18 Age Division Tess Huber of Port St. Lucie
finished atop the leader board shooting 77/75 respectively.
Finishing in second place was Claudia DeAntonio of Weston with a 157, one shot ahead of Annie Dulman of
Palm Beach Gardens.
Michael Graboyes of Palm Beach Gardens was the winner of the Boys 12-13 Age Division finishing five shots
under par to claiming first place by ten shots to Zachary Bariso of Boca Raton. Stefano Gabriel Butti of Palm
City finished in third place with a two day total of 151.
Gabrielle Correia of Palm Beach Gardens finished
first in the Girls 12-13 Age Division with a total of
177, in second was Lorena De Antonio of Weston.
SFPGA Junior Tour presented by The Honda Classic Event #8
L-R: Boys Overall Winner Harley Adams; Sherry Zimet,
Head Golf Professional at The Polo Club; Girls
Overall Winner Marissa Kay
The South Florida PGA Junior Tour Presented by The Honda
Classic conducted Event #8 on the Club Course at The Polo
Club of Boca Raton. Along with the challenging course design,
players faced extreme heat during the first round, causing
many to become ill from heat exhaustion.
However, the heat did not seem to affect Boca Native, Harley
Abrams, who shot a 65 during round two to claim the Boys
Overall Title by five shots. Finishing in second place was Lake
Worth’s, Stephen McPoyle, followed by James Van Nice of
Jupiter.
Marissa Kay of Delray Beach clinched the Girls Overall Title
by two shots to Annie Dulman of Palm Beach Gardens. Radi
Sauro of Lake Worth and Madelyn Tarr of Palm Beach Gardens
finished tied for third with two day totals of 155.
In the Boys 12-13 Age Division Charlie Kennerly of Jupiter
and Carl Chidambaram both finished the event at 143. Kennerly
was awarded first place in a scorecard playoff. Zachary
Bariso of Boca Raton finished third, three shots behind Kennerly
and Chidambaram.
Zora Gittens of Parkland shot a
162 finishing in first place to Story
Shaw of West Palm Beach by one
shot in the Girls 12-13 Age Division.
Samantha Haubenstock of
Weston finished in third place.
10

chapter news other news
The Southern Chapter has a lot of activity at this time.
Most important is Dave & Julie Carse first anniversary.
Dave is tournament chairman for the Southern Chapter
and Julie plays in all Chapter tournaments. Congratulations
to them and thank you for a job well done.
On August 9th we held our pro- scratch tournament at
La Gorce C.C. hosted by head pro Dave Case who went
way out with lunch and dinner and a beautifully conditioned
golf course at a landmark facility in Miami Beach.
Thanks to Dave and his staff for a great event. Congratulations
to Keith Burt and David Yarmitzki for winning.
On August 16th we had a pro only tournament followed
by a seminar at Riviera C.C. Thanks to Will Lust and
his staff for putting up with us all day. Congratulations to
Chris Toulson for his victory and adding to his player
of the year point total.
The seminar consisted of 3 presentations organized by
Jared Isaacs, Education Chairman. Nice to be supported
by a great staff. The first presentation was by Northwest
Mutual who explained how to accumulate some money
in today's economy. Next was Chad Kurmel and the
legendary Don Law to explain how to profitably grow a
junior program and to demonstrate their new teaching
kit for juniors or adults to help improve their game. Last
was a presentation by David Nunes and Scott Meyer
from ISS Co. demonstrating the use of text messaging
to increase rounds and lessons. For more info on ISS
contact Bob Mallek at Orangebrook G.C.
This Saturday we have our 3rd junior clinic at Oriole
Golf & Tennis Club from 10am to noon. Jack Shoenfelt
already has 50 juniors signed up so we could use some
volunteers to help out.
Patriot Days is fast approaching and we need you to sign
up to get your advertising packet in time.This is a
most worthy cause and I would regard it as a personal
favor to help out.
Lastly, please purchase your junior license plate at any
time.. Next event is the pro-pro blind draw 6-6-6 at
Turnberry Isle August 30th. Please call Turnberry pro
shop to sign up.
Thanks for reading,
Dick McNeill
CONGRATULATIONS!
PGA Member Gary Baker has been
selected as the 2010 Florida State Senior
Honoree. Gary will be honored
at the Bobby Goodman Pro-Am for
State Seniors
at Naples
Beach Club
October 14,
2010.
THANK YOU!
The Junior Tour thanks Admirals Cove’s
PGA members Sean Burke-McDer-
mott, Matthew King, Ryan Zug, and
Thomas Sedita and the rest of Admiral’s
Cove staff for their recent donation of
$1200, and St. Andrews Country Club
PGA members Glenn Hall, Paul Clivio,
Terry Farino, Benjamin Bauer and the
rest of the St. Andrews staff for their gen-
erous donation of $500.
11

education
rules with drew
Serious Breach??
SFPGA TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR ANDREW MILLER
The Senior Section Championship played earlier this month at
Sailfish Point provided our Rules Committee an opportunity
to work a little overtime. Don’t get me wrong, our situations
were no where near as complicated or controversial as what
transpired during the final round of the PGA Championship,
but they were interesting enough to include in this month’s segment.
A player’s ball lies in a bunker. He strikes his ball and hits it only
a few feet leaving the ball in the bunker. In disgust, the player
throws down his club striking the sand in the bunker. Is the
player in breach of Rule 13-4? Decision 13-4/35 says, “A player
made a stroke in a bunker and failed to get the ball out. He then
swung his club into the sand, but his action did not affect his
new lie in the bunker. However, since the player had to make
another stroke in the bunker, was he in breach of rule 13-4? Yes.
None of the exceptions under Rule 13-4 apply to the player’s action.”
In addition to Decision 13-4/35, Rule 13-4b tells us that
while our ball is in a hazard we may not, “Touch the ground in
the hazard or water in the water hazard with our hand or a club.”
Based on Rule 13-4 and Decision 13-4/35 it would seem that the
player would be penalized two strokes for breach of Rule 13-4
in this situation. However, Decision’s 13-4/21 and 13-4/0.5 steer
us toward a different solution? Decision 13-4/21 says, “A player’s
ball lies in a bunker. He casually throws a rake into the bunker
for use after his stroke. The rake does not move his ball or improve
the lie of the ball. Does the player incur a penalty? No.
Placing a rake in a bunker is permissible. In this case, throwing
the rake into the bunker was the equivalent of placing it.”
Further clarification for not penalizing the player comes from
reading Decision 13-4/0.5 which says that a player may place his
clubs in a hazard. So is the player penalized or not? Well, Rule
13-4 implies that a breach of the rule occurs only when the club
is in the player’s hand. In this situation the player threw the
club and was no longer in contact with it, thus he could not be
in breach of Rule 13-4. It is similar to the player throwing the
rake into the bunker.
A player takes relief from an area of bushes under Rule 28c and
drops his ball within two club-lengths of the spot where the ball
lay, not nearer the hole. While taking some practice swings, the
player accidentally hits his ball about a foot and a half closer to
the hole. The player then chips the ball from its new location
onto the green and completes the hole with two putts. After
picking his ball out of the hole the player walks over to his fellow
competitor and says, “You know, I really didn’t mean to hit that
ball.” The player explains to his fellow competitor what happened
and the fellow competitor says, “Isn’t that the Davis Love
Rule?” They agree and the player says he is going to play two
balls under Rule3-3. Is the player permitted to play two balls in
this case? And if so, which ball counts under the Rules of Golf?
Before ruling there are several things we must clear up. First,
Rule 3-3 tells us, “In stroke play, if a competitor is doubtful of
his rights or the correct procedure during the play of a hole, he
may, without penalty, complete the hole with two balls.” So, the
player was permitted to invoke Rule 3-3. The Rule goes on to
say that, “the competitor must announce to his marker or a fellow
competitor that he intends to play two balls and which ball
he wishes to count if the Rules permit.” In this instance, the
competitor did mention his intention to play two balls however
he neglected to say which one he wished to count as his score if
the rules allowed. Therefore we must proceed under Rule 3-3bii
which tells us, “If the competitor fails to announce in advance
his decision to complete the hole with two balls, or which ball
he wishes to count, the score with the original ball counts, provided
it has been played in accordance with the Rules. If the
original ball is not one of the balls being played, the first ball put
into play counts, provided it has been played in accordance with
the Rules. Other wise, the score with the other ball counts if
the Rules allow the procedure adopted for that ball.” According
to Rule 3-3 the score for the hole must be determined from the
second ball because the first ball was played from a wrong place
and thus not played in accordance with the Rules.
Rule 3-3 tells us the score with the second ball is the one we
should be counting, but lets take a look at Rule 20-7c, Playing
from a Wrong Place, and see if we get the same answer? Rule
20-7c says, “If a competitor makes a stroke from a wrong place,
he incurs a penalty of two strokes under the applicable Rule.
He must play out the hole with the ball played from the wrong
place, without correcting his error, provided he has not committed
a serious breach. If a competitor becomes aware that he has
played from a wrong place and believes that he may have committed
a serious breach, he must, before making a stroke on the
next teeing ground, play out the hole with a second ball played
in accordance with the Rules.” Rule 20-7c tells us the score with
the original ball is the one we should be counting when deter-
12

education upcoming events
rules with drew
Serious Breach??
...cont
mining the player’s score, provided the player has not committed a
serious breach. So determining whether the player committed a serious
breach is the key to solving which ball we should have counted for
the players score for the hole.
There is no real rule to refer to help us determine what a serious
breach of the rules encompasses. However, there are many
examples of serious breaches in the Decisions on the Rules of
Golf book to help guide us in making a decision. All factors
should be considered, such as condition (rough to fairway), length
(100 yards vs 2 feet) or whether the players swing was impeded.
One of the main factors to consider is whether the player gained a
significant advantage. In this case, did the player gain a significant
advantage by playing the ball a foot and a half closer to the
hole than its original position? In my opinion, this was not a serious
breach of Rule 20-7 since the player didn’t gain a significant
advantage by playing the ball a mere 18 inches closer to the hole.
Further clarification to our situation is added by reading Decision 3-3/2
which states, “In stroke play, a competitor's ball comes to rest through
the green on a paved path. He lifts the ball, drops it off the path at a
point almost two club-lengths from the nearest point of relief (i.e., he
drops in a wrong place) and plays it. The competitor's marker advises
the competitor that he (the marker) believes the ball must be dropped
within one club-length of the nearest point of relief. The competitor,
in doubt, invokes Rule 3-3, drops a second ball within one club-length
of the nearest point of relief and otherwise in accordance with Rule
24-2b(i) and opts to score with the second ball. The competitor holes
out with both balls. What is the ruling? Rule 20-7c states in part: "If
a competitor makes a stroke from a wrong place, he incurs a penalty
of two strokes under the applicable Rule. He must play out the hole
with the ball played from the wrong place…." Thus, the competitor's
score with the original ball, with a penalty of two strokes added, must
count. Rule 20-7c does not permit the second ball to count. However,
the competitor incurs no penalty for having played the second ball.”
In summary, as the player was not guilty of a serious breach of Rule
20-7, he was penalized two strokes for playing from a wrong place.
Thus his score with the original ball is the one which counts for his
score for the hole. If however the player was ruled to be guilty of a
serous breach of Rule 20-7, then the score with the second ball played
under Rule 3-3 would have counted.
September 11-12
Junior Tour #9
Presented by the Honda Classic
Supported by Titleist, Allianz Championship, Don
Law Golf Improvement Center
Held at the Sanctuary Golf Club
September 28-29
SFPGA Professional Championship
Presented by Titleist, FootJoy, Cobra & Club Car &
Mercedes-Benz
Held at Quail Valley Golf Club
October 1
P.A.T.
Held at San Carols Golf Club
October 11
Miccosukee Open Qualifier
Held at Plantation Preserve / Jacaranda
October 12-13
Challenge Cup Matches
Supported by Jack Nicklaus Sportswear
Held at Bay Colony Golf Club
October 14
Bobby Goodman Pro-Am
Held at Naples Beach Club
October 15-17
Florida State Senior Open
Supported by The Naples Beach Hotel & GC &
Pepsi
Held at Naples Beach Club
October 16-17
Junior Tour #10
Presented by the Honda Classic
Supported by Titleist, Allianz Championship, Don
Law Golf Improvement Center
Held at Jonathan’s Landing Old Trail
October 20-23
First State PGA Tour Q-School
Held at PGA Golf Club - Wanamaker
October 26-27
Senior Challenge Cup Matches
Held at West Bay Club
13

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