Taking a "Drop".....Properly

This information was sent by the Louisiana Golf Association and is pretty self-explanatory.  We've seen all kinds of "drops" in our tournaments......and we could be penalized because of it.......

What is the proper method of taking a drop during the course of a round?

Dropping a ball during a round of golf is not uncommon. Whether taking free relief from a cart path or under penalty after hitting into a water hazard or deeming a ball unplayable, dropping is frequently the required method to put a ball back into play. Regardless of the reason for dropping, it is as much a part of golf as actually making a stroke. In fact, an entire Rule is dedicated to who, how and where to correctly drop a ball (Rule 20-2: Dropping and Re-dropping).

During the second round of the LPGA Tour’s season-ending CME Group Titleholders, first-round co-leader Sun-Young Yoo hit her drive near a bush on the 14th hole. After a failed attempt to move her ball down the fairway, Yoo decided to deem her ball unplayable, take a one-stroke penalty and drop the ball within two club-lengths of where the ball originally lay (Rule 28c).

When Yoo dropped the ball she held it at arm’s length and at a height somewhere between hip high and shoulder height. Rule 20-2a states that, “A ball to be dropped under the Rules must be dropped by the player herself. She must stand erect, hold the ball at shoulder height and arm’s length and drop it.”

While shoulder height allows for some latitude in where a ball may be dropped -- somewhere between the top and bottom of the shoulder – Yoo’s drop was clearly made from below where the Rules required, and since she did not lift the ball and correct her mistake (Rule 20-6) by re-dropping before playing her next stroke, Yoo was penalized one stroke under Rule 20-2a.

The current language requiring a player to drop from arm’s length and shoulder height was introduced in 1984. It was a simplification of the somewhat awkward previously required method of facing the hole, standing erect, and dropping the ball behind the player over the shoulder.

However, both methods were designed with the same intent: to standardize the method of dropping so different methods could not be employed to manipulate how much or how little a dropped ball might bounce and thereby either stay near the spot on which it is dropped or roll farther away from that spot. A player dropping from a lower height might find it easier to drop on a specific point and improve the chances that the ball will remain on the spot where it lands. Likewise, dropping from a higher point might allow the ball to bounce harder and roll further from where it strikes the ground.

While it is difficult to know whether Yoo actually gained any type of advantage from her lower-than-required drop, and she made it clear in her post-round comments that she had no intent to try to gain an advantage, the one-stroke penalty was still applied because dropping other than in accordance with the Rules could result in a player gaining an advantage.

SSWGA Turkey Shoot

The annual SSWGA Turkey Scramble was played again at Palmetto Country Club on November 13th.  Although there was a slight delay due to frost on the greens, twenty-seven ladies braved the cold weather to enjoy a fun day in this three- and four-lady scramble format.  It was probably a little more challenging for a couple ladies who forgot their clubs!

 

The winners were:

FIRST PLACE shot 67:

Cathy Buckley (BWGA), Grace Ireland (PCC) and Pat Miller (BWGA)

 

SECOND PLACE shot 69:

Moise Allen (STCC), Jimmie Zey (PCC), Pat Rice and Marie McFarland (BWGA)

 

THIRD PLACE shot 70:

Marianne Leslie (STCC), Becky Hollier (WGAS), Theresa Kruse (PCC), Jo Glezen (BWGA)

 

FOURTH PLACE shot 71:

Robbie Fisher (BWGA), Joyce Middleton (ERCC), Susan Berry and Janet Sabo (NHGC)

 

Closest to the Pin:

#3 Teri McGuire (WGAS)

#11 Marianne Leslie

#17 Jimmie Zey

 

The next SSWGA event is on December 4th for the Jingle Bell Scramble in conjunction with the SWGA group and will be held at Northwood Hills Golf Club at 10:00am.  BRING AN UNWRAPPED TOY FOR TOYS FOR TOTS.

 

SWGA Turkey Shoot

The annual Palmetto Turkey Shoot for SWGA members was held on November 8 at Palmetto Country Club, with forty-six ladies participating.  So much to be thankful for:  BEAUTIFUL day, really fun ladies, super fellowship, wonderful food, and prizes to half of the field.  We send a special thanks to Chef Danny Beavers and his crew for the delightful lunch and "chicken biscuits" for breakfast.  What more could you ask for?

I know....if you can't get a hole in one, how about an Eagle?  The first place team of Kathy Davis, Kathleen McCoy, Theresa Kruse and Julie Butterfield did just that: an eagle on #16, which ended up pushing them into first place, just one stroke ahead of second place team Buckley.

Other winners were:
2nd place: Cathy Buckley, Joyce Middleton, Phyllis Graybiel, and Donna Ihle (65)
3rd place: Suzanne Tinsley, Billie Jean Reasor, Linda Colvin, and Mary Moore (66)
4th place: Teri McGuire, Jerry Hobson, Bobbke Almond, and Susan Berry (67 winning the scorecard playoff with the
5th place:  Shirley Pettitt, Becky Farr, Phyllis Ryan, and Grace Ireland (67)
6th place: Jimmie Zey, Linda Heins, and Pat Rice (68)

The next SWGA event is the Jingle Bell scramble at Northwood in conjunction with the SSWGA ladies on December 4th with a 10am shotgun.  This one is also a 4-lady scramble, so sign up and join in the fun!  You need to bring an unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots for this tournament.

I apologize for the quality of the pictures.  I forgot my camera and had to borrow one, so I wasn't familiar with it and got some not-so-sharp pictures.  Enjoy what you can see!!!

Westwood/SSWGA Halloween Scramble

The annual Halloween 4-lady scramble was held on October 31st at Westwood Golf Club, sponsored by the Westwood Ladies Association in conjunction with the SSWGA group.  Once again, we had beautiful weather and wonderful food.  Approximately 40 ladies participated and enjoyed homemade goodies after the event.