Protecting the field

By Wayne Larsen

If your club’s February and March schedule of events looks anything like Skyview at Terra Vista’s, chances are you are going to find yourself playing a lot of “competitive” golf over the next few months. This is the time of year most clubs hold their club stroke championship, match play championship, partner’s better ball and a host of numerous annual invitationals.

Unlike playing in your daily foursome, where the occasional transgression from the rules is usually tolerated and putts are routinely given, playing in a competitive tournament or even in weekly men’s and ladies league play requires all golfers play by the rules and use the rules to “protect the field.”

In any competition that awards prizes to the winners, you simply have an obligation to, not only police yourself, but enforce the rules of golf with your fellow competitors.

“Protecting the field” means calling penalties on yourself and ensuring your fellow competitors, and yes, even your partners, are doing the same. Unfortunately for most people, “protecting the field” is a difficult proposition, because they do not want to “hurt anyone’s feelings” or be perceived as being petty.

Too often, players doing the right thing are made to feel guilty, accused of taking things too seriously or called a “know-it-all.” The player being questioned about the rules perceives they are being singled out and takes the question as a personal attack.

Often in competitions, you are paired with people you do not play with on a daily basis. The best way to avoid any confrontation or diffuse any potential tension with unfamiliar playing competitors is to clear the air before play starts. On the first tee, agree, as a group, any questions that arise about the rules are just that: questions.

They are in no way meant as a personal attack or done with any malice. As a group, decide to protect the field and hope other groups are doing the same. If every group in the field agrees to operate in this fashion, chances are all players will enjoy a fun, fair and competitive tournament.  Good luck in your upcoming events!

Wayne Larsen is the golf professional at Skyview at Terra Vista. He can be contacted via email at golf@citrushills.com.