Ball lies in a greenside bunker with temporary water …now what do you do?

Situation and Question: Your ball lands in a bunker adjacent to the putting green. A heavy rainfall overnight has left “a temporary accumulation of water” everywhere in the bunker except for a high, narrow strip at the end which is where your ball lies. Presumably you are entitled to relief for your stance but complete relieve is not available without leaving the bunker. What are the player’s options?

Answer:

1. The ball is in the bunker which has a temporary accumulation of water, which is important as it is different from an unplayable ball.
2. The player is entitled to Free Relief, if available, however as the ball is in the bunker it holds some special properties. A player cannot get out of the bunker without either:
   1. making a stroke, or
   2. proceeding under a rule (in Stroke play or similar format).
3. In this case the player can stand in the water or take the “maximum” available relief possible, without penalty and play the ball in the water or having to stand in the water.
4. If the players does not like this option, she/he can add 1 penalty stroke and take the ball back-on-the-line and drop a ball outside the bunker in the reference area.
5. Neither of the options are great for the player but it is what the rules allow.
6. See picture below for a description of the situation.

Autumn Neiszner will head into the final round of the 2019 MJT National Team Challenge on Sunday at Niagara on the Lake seeking a medal performance.

The 15-year-old Wascana Country Club member followed an opening round 78 with an 80 on Saturday to sit in a third-place tie at the international team tournament. The Regina product’s two round total of 158 is seven shots back of the leader, Annika Rathbone of Barden Ridge, Australia.

Neiszner will tee off at 6:02 a.m. Saskatchewan time.

Prince Albert’s Cole Jenkins is tied for 20^th in the boy’s field of the event. Jenkins shot 84 on Friday and 83 on Saturday.

Jeffrey Yu Guan of Sydney, Australia leads the tournament with a score of 141 through 36 holes.

Jenkins begins his third round at 6:18 a.m.

Team Australia continues to lead the event, the Saskatchewan juniors are on the Central team, they are in eighth place out of 15 teams.

More details on the event can be found here.

Regina’s Autumn Neiszner and Prince Albert’s Cole Jenkins are competing at the Maple Leaf Junior Tour (MJT) National Team Challenge at Niagara on the Lake.

The event is run by the MJT under the International Players Series banner and has a very deep field, hosting elite players from across Canada in an invitation-only event where 15 teams compete against each other.

Each six-player team is made up of two junior girls and four under-19 boys in a daily best four of six aggregate team scoring format.  The event will also include an individual 54-hole medal play format in each division.

Neiszner shot the third lowest round of the day among the girls, the Wascana Country Club member posted an opening round 78.

Jenkins in in a logjam in 13^th with an opening round of 84.

Both are competing for Team Central; the squad sits in 10^th place. Australia is leading the tournament.

Jenkins will tee off at 6:48 a.m. local time Saturday, Neiszner begins her second of three rounds at 6:32 a.m.

All the tournament details can be seen here.

The Saskatchewan seniors who represented the province at the Canadian championship are pleased with the event and their performances after the fact.

Colin Coben was the top local golfer finishing in a tie for 25^th at the event in Scarborough, Ont. from Sept. 10 to 13. The Delisle golfer was 19-over, 303 (74, 72, 80, 77) after four rounds at Cedar Brae Golf Club. The 64-year-old said overall the week was a great experience.

“It was a beautiful golf course, and this never gets old,” he said. “You want to go, and you want to compete, and you want to do well. It’s always nice to be on the team and part of that too.”

The field started with 156 golfers from across Canada and the United States. The cut line was the top 70 players plus ties. Coben said the way you play doesn’t always reflect the score, but he managed to show well during the event.

“The top-25 is okay but, I was 12^th after the second day. I didn’t play well the first day and shot 74 with bogeys on the last two holes which is still an okay score. The next day I played pretty well and shot 72, and then that 80, I don’t know where they come from but, you’re playing hard. The next day was a real tough day, it was windy and cool.”

The team consisting of Coben, Ken Rodgers, and Brent Wotypka finished well in fourth place during the inter-provincial competition. After round one the team was in seventh but a strong second day bumped them up the leaderboard. Coben said they did have bragging rights over our neighbours to the East.

“We weren’t good the first day, but we had a couple really good scores the second day and got into fourth,” Coben explained. “We were hanging out with all the Manitoba boys and they had us but we surpassed them and beat them by a shot so that was good.”

Overall this was Coben’s 31^st national championship experience. He’s made the cut in all but one senior event he’s participated in. While in Toronto the Saskatchewanians joined some friends from other provinces and took in a Blue Jays game as part of the trip. Coben said the golf is important but other memories will last a lifetime.

“I keep track of what I’ve done, and it will look good on there, you make the cut and top-25 but, the comradery is second to none. You see a lot of guys you see once a year at this thing, you are happy to see them, and they are happy to see you. It’s really good, hopefully a guy can get back next year,” he added.

2018 provincial senior champion Rick Hallberg was the team alternate this year at nationals, the Weyburn product had a strong showing finishing as well tying for 32^nd. Hallberg shot rounds of 76, 75, 78, and 75 to finish at plus-20. The Golf Kenosee member was encouraged with his week.

“I’m not going to complain, that’s for sure,” he told Golf Saskatchewan. “I am happy with the way I played, I played with a lot of really good guys and had a good time. I played my practice round with a member there who was on the Ontario team so, he gave me and Rick Hillestad lots of good teams. There was lots of great guys out there, the comradery was really good.”

Arguably Hallberg was the most consistent Saskatchewan golfer at the event, although he didn’t reach par like Coben or Rodgers who also made the cut, he didn’t shoot hire than 78. Hallberg said limiting mistakes is key, but hole eight at Cedar Brae caused him some issues or his score potentially gets him inside the top 20.

“You try not to make any mistakes, if you get in a little bit of a pickle just try to play smart and settle for a bogey. I had a couple bad holes the first two days on the same hole, I shanked the ball off the tee both days which I don’t normally do. That cost me a double and a triple but, that’s golf. It’s not an easy game,” he said.

Travelling to Scarborough and playing Cedar Brae was a highlight for Hallberg as well. He said national events never disappoint.

“I’ve played a couple courses in the top-15 or so in the country and Cedar Brae was as good as anything I’ve ever played,” he said. “Spectacular conditions, excellent staff, back shop guys looking after our bags, the proshop people, everything as far as that was absolutely spectacular.”

Rodgers placed tied for 48^th at the event. Hillestad was a couple shots back of the cut line at 16-over. Wotypka, playing in his first national amateur in over 40 years finished at 20-over.

The Saskatchewan amateur senior Order of Merit season is over, Hallberg is the back-to-back champion. He’s the first defending champion since Coben won three straight years from 2011-13. Hallberg said he’s pleased to win the standings as he edged Coben by 50 points.

“I was happy with the way I played this year. I got to play with a lot of good players this year again. I got to play against Colin several times. It’s always tough to compete against him, he’s a good player and one of the nicest guys you will ever play with. All the guys at provincials too, Ken, Brent, great bunch of guys, I can’t imagine going to a golf tournament without those guys around,” Hallberg concluded.

Deer Valley’s Carey McLean made her collegiate debut for Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) on Sept. 14 and 15 at the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) North Regional in Edmonton.

McLean carded rounds of 83 and 80 finish at plus-19, 163 at the 36-hole tournament. She placed second overall in the event held at RedTail Landing.

Kennedy Turcotte won the event at six-over.

As a team the Trojans tied for second with Medicine Hat College.

The women’s ACAC Championship will be held at Coal Creek in Ryley, Alta. from Sept. 27 – 29.

Harcourt finishes with Minot State team low

United States college golf teams were on the course in various locations again to start this week.

On Monday, Sept. 16 in Grand Forks, North Dakota, Kipling’s Carson Harcourt helped the Minot State Beavers to fifth-place team finish at the King’s Walk Invitational. Harcourt shot a two-round total of 147 (72, 75) to finish in a tie for 13^th.

As a team the Beavers shot plus-22 for the event.

Next up for MSU is the Flyer Men’s Intercollegiate in Romeoville, Illinois on Sept. 29 and 30.

Muleriders place sixth; Johnson & Timmerman inside top-15

After missing an event dealing with a minor injury Yorkton’s Kade Johnson is back on the course.

The Southern Arkansas University senior ended the 21^st NSU Golf Classic in Muskogee, Oklahoma with a three-under, 210 (71, 68, 71) on Wednesday. Johnson finished tied for 11^th.

Saskatoon’s Roman Timmerman, coming off his first collegiate win tied for 15^th in the event. The Riverside Country Club member shot a 54-hole score of 211 (67, 68, 76).

The Muleriders finished in sixth place as a team at eight-over par. Their next action is Oct. 7 and 8 in St. Joseph, Missouri for the Central Region Invitational.

Sweeney picks up top-10 finish

Saskatoon’s Marc Sweeney picked up a top-10 finish on Friday, Sept. 13 in a single round event for the University of South Carolina Beaufort Sand Sharks.

Sweeney shot four-over, 76 to finish in a tie for 10^th while helping his team tie for first at plus-seven at the Battle of the Bridge at the Club at Savannah Quarters in Pooler, Georgia.

The Sand Sharks will host their annual USCB Innisbrook Invitational in Tampa, Florida from Sept. 29 to Oct. 1.

Kydd competes in Battle at the Rock

The Indiana Wesleyan men’s golf team was in action at the Battle at the Rock in Peru, Ind. on Sept. 16 and 17.

Jacob Kydd, a Royal Regina Golf Club member posted a round one score of 90 and followed that up with an 86 during day two. Kydd landed in 30^th at 32-over par.

Indiana Wesleyan had two teams competing at the tournament, their A team won the event at plus-42. The B squad (the leaderboard didn’t determine which team Kydd was competing for) finished in fourth place overall.

The Wildcats will now prepare for the Spring Arbor Bill Bockwitz Classic on Sept. 23 and 24.

You can follow along with all of the Saskatchewan collegiate players here.

This past Sunday at Eagle Point Resort in La Ronge nearly 40 junior players took part in the 2019 Fall Golf FORE Juniors event.

Golfers from three different age categories were eligible, there was a five to 14 par 3 division, a 10 to 18 age group, those players competed for the Eagle Point Junior Open Championship. They also had a collegiate division for players 19 to 23 years of age.

Organizer Devin Bernatchez spoke with MBC Radio sportscaster Braden Malsbury on Monday following the event, you can see more here.

OAKVILLE, Ont. – Wondering how Canada’s Olympic golf team will be selected? You’re not alone.

In 2016, golf made its historic return to the Olympic Games for the first time in 112 years, dating back to when Canadian George S. Lyon won gold for Canada at St. Louis 1904. A lot has happened since 2016 (new Rules of Golf and new PGA TOUR schedule just to name a few) and many golf fans have forgotten how Olympic qualifying works, which is why we’re writing this article.

The field for the 2020 Olympic golf competition will include 60 women and 60 men competing over 72 holes of stroke play in a men’s individual event (July 30-August 2) and a women’s individual event (August 5-8).

Athletes earn their spots on their respective Olympic Golf Team based on their standing in the respective men’s and women’s Olympic golf rankings. The final day for qualifying is June 22, 2020 for the men’s teams and June 29, 2020, for the women’s teams.

The top-15 players will qualify with a limit of up to four golfers per any one country. Any remaining spots will go to countries who do not already have two golfers qualified, with a limit of two per country. As well, the International Golf Federation (IGF) has guaranteed at least one golfer from the host nation and each geographical region (Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania) will qualify.

If Canada’s team was determined today (Sept. 12, 2019), Adam Hadwin, Corey Conners, Brooke Henderson and Alena Sharp represent Canada. However, there’s still plenty of golf to be played before the selection is made.

Golf Canada is the National Sports Federation and governing body for golf in Canada representing 319,000 golfers and 1,400 member clubs across the country. A proud member of the Canadian Olympic Committee, Golf Canada’s mission is to increase Canadian participation and excellence in golf. By investing in the growth of the sport and introducing more participants of all ages to the game, our vision is to be a world leader in golf.

Prior to being named to the final Canadian 2020 Team, all nominations from Canada are subject to approval by the Canadian Olympic Committee’s Team Selection Committee following its receipt of nominations by all National Sport Federations.

Golf Canada joins the entire golf industry in mourning the passing of golf industry veteran Ian Webb. After a brave battle with cancer, Webb passed away Saturday, September 7th, 2019 at the age of 54. He is survived by his wife Helen as well as his daughters Gillian and Allison.

Webb, a respected member of the PGA of Canada and the Canadian Society of Club Managers, was Chief Operating Officer of the Credit Valley Golf and Country Club in Mississauga, Ont. Before that, he spent eight years as Credit Valley’s Director of Golf. He had also spent time working as a golf professional at St. George’s Golf and Country Club, Peterborough Golf and Country Club and Bridgewater Country Club in Fort Erie over the course of his distinguished career.

In March of 2019, Webb was diagnosed with glioblastoma, the same aggressive form of brain cancer that took famed Canadian rocker Gord Downie of the Tragically Hip in October of 2017.

His impact on the game of golf in Canada and his industry peers has been significant. He has mentored several golf professionals who now hold Head Professional and Director of Golf positions in Western Canada, the United States and as far away as Thailand. Since his diagnosis, his fellow professionals and countless colleagues in the industry rallied around Webb with the hashtag #WebbyStrong on T-shirts and across social media as a tribute to their close friend.

The impact of Ian Webb has continued in force across a number of initiatives. The PGA of Canada renamed their national education program the Ian Webb Scholarship Fund in April 2019. The #WebbyStrong initiative online and through various activities has raised over $60,000 for the scholarship fund and for the Trillium Health Partners Foundation in Mississauga. As well, the members and staff of Credit Valley have donated over $75,000 to honour Webb with a memorial Verdin clock tower to be added to the practice area at Credit Valley Golf and Country Club.

Prior to his passing, Webb was also a driving force behind Credit Valley’s decision to host the 2019 Golf Fore the Cure National Event on September 23rd. The 144-player scramble tournament will welcome female golfers of all abilities from across the country in a fun golf event that raises awareness and funds for breast cancer research.

On Wednesday, September 18th from 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm Credit Valley Golf and Country Club will welcome its members, PGA of Canada Professionals and CSCM General Managers to share a story about Ian and toast to his impact, his legacy and love of the game.

If interested, donations to the Trillium Health Partners would be appreciated by the family.

GLENEAGLES, Scotland – Suzann Pettersen stood over the final shot of her golfing career, not quite realizing it also was the last shot of the most dramatic Solheim Cup ever played.

Europe’s players had their hands over their mouths, and their captain could barely watch. Blissfully unaware of what was unfolding was 1-year-old Herman, Pettersen’s first child who was also among the thousands around the 18th green at Gleneagles.

The putt was from 7 feet, slightly left to right, and it never looked like missing.

After being mobbed by her teammates on the 18th green, an emotional Pettersen held Herman in her arms and kissed him. The Europeans had regained the Solheim Cup and one of the stalwarts of women’s golf had her perfect ending.

“Yeah, this is it. I’m completely done,” said the 38-year-old Pettersen, confirming her sudden decision to retire. “It doesn’t get any better.”

On an afternoon of singles matches that pretty much had everything, Europe secured a 14 1/2-13 1/2 win over the United States to claim the biggest team prize in female golf for the first time since 2013.

The final act, spread over two holes with virtually simultaneous putts, could not have been more thrilling.

Just as Pettersen was addressing her putt at No. 18, U.S. player Ally McDonald slid a putt to the right of the hole at No. 17 and walked up to Bronte Law to concede the match in favour of the Europeans.

The score changed to 13 1/2-13 1/2 and – without her even realizing – the outcome of the contest hinged on Pettersen.

“I thought Bronte was in behind me on the (18th) fairway,” Pettersen said. “I actually didn’t know that it was THE putt.”

That it was Pettersen who secured the winning point felt apt.

She was a contentious wild-card pick by European captain Catriona Matthew because Pettersen had played just two tournaments – missing the cut in both – since November 2017. She had time off before and after giving birth to Herman, and then because of injury.

Pettersen also had a score to settle with the Solheim Cup. In her most recent appearance, at St. Leon-Rot in Germany in 2015, she refused to concede a short putt to Alison Lee on the 17th hole of a tight fourballs match before the singles on the final day. There were angry exchanges, and it stoked a fire inside the Americans as they fought back from 10-6 down going into the singles to win 14 1/2-13 1/2.

Pettersen later apologized.

“She gone from villain to hero,” said Laura Davies, one of the European vice captains.

Pettersen’s redemption story was delivered in Scotland, the home of golf, where the U.S. team hasn’t now won in three attempts. Playing in her ninth Solheim Cup, Pettersen won two of her three matches and is now a four-time Solheim Cup winner.

The day started with the teams locked at 8-8 after four sessions, and the first definitive break of the entire contest happened when the Americans took the lead for the first time since Friday lunchtime, at 12-11.

At 13 1/2-11 1/2, they needed just a half-point from the final three singles matches out on the course to guarantee retaining the cup, but then came the European fightback.

Anna Nordqvist completed a 4-and-3 win over Morgan Pressel. Then, on No. 17, Law sealed a 2-and-1 win over McDonald to tie the score. Pettersen delivered for Europe on No. 18, but only after her opponent, Marina Alex, slid a 10-foot birdie putt wide that, if it had found the hole, would have been enough for the U.S.

“I told them afterward, the sun’s going to come up tomorrow,” said U.S. captain Juli Inkster, when asked what she’d said to her players. “It was great for women’s golf. We played great.

“But you know what, the Europeans played great. You tip your hat. And you move on to Toledo.”

Inkster won’t be there in 2021, confirming afterward that she will not be captain for a fourth straight match. She finishes with two victories from three Solheim Cups as captain.

Two of the Americans, in particular, will still look back on the week with fond memories despite the loss. Jessica and Nelly Korda, the first sisters to play together in the fourballs or foursomes at the Solheim Cup, both finished with 3 1/2 points from four matches after coming from behind to win in the singles.

Nelly Korda, out in Match 2, was 3 down after nine holes against Caroline Hedwall but won 2 up. Jessica Korda, who at age 26 is five years older than her sister, beat Caroline Masson 3 and 2 after being 2 down.

Other key interventions for the U.S. in the singles came from Megan Khang, who birdied No. 18 to claim a half-point against Charley Hull, and Lizette Salas, who parred the last for a 1-up win over Anne van Dam.

But Europe, which had a historically inferior record in singles, managed to win the session 6 1/2-5 1/2 after victories in three of the first matches to finish – including Georgia Hall taking down world No. 3 Lexi Thompson 2 and 1 – and then those last three matches.

Hall and Celine Boutier, a 2-and-1 winner over Annie Park, both won all four of their matches.

Thompson, the highest-ranked player at Gleneagles, collected just two half-points from four matches.

Matthew, carried shoulder-high by her players on the 18th green, celebrated victory in her home country.

And Pettersen closed her career with 21 points in the Solheim Cup, the Norwegian described by Matthew as “one of the trailblazers in women’s golf.”

“Coming down No. 18, Beany (Matthew) said, ‘It’s why I picked you,”’ Pettersen said. “In your wildest dreams, especially where I’ve come from, I never thought I was going to do this again.”

We have two situations covered in this edition of Rule of the Week.

Situation 1

Ball is in the fence. You have to look closely, and you will see the vinyl fence has a base. No part of the ball would be touching the golf course if you ran a string/line up from the base. Unfortunately for the player but this ball is Out of Bounds and the player will proceed under Rule 18-2b, unless the Model Local Rule is in place.

Situation 2

In the picture below, the ball is lodged in a fence with no base, therefore, a part of the golf ball would be in bounds. The player could either play the ball as it lies or proceed under Rule 19 for an Unplayable Ball.

Rule 18-2b. What to Do When Your Ball Is Lost or Out of Bounds

If your ball is lost or out of bounds, you must take stroke-and-distance relief by adding one penalty stroke and playing a ball from where the previous stroke was made (see Rule 14.6).