Virtual Certainty

The 2008 Rules replaced the term reasonable evidence with virtual certainty. I was one of the referees for the western India Juniors in Pune.Aditya Suneja hit his tee shot which landed in the first cut and the landing was confirmed by all the players in the group. When he went to the ball, he could not find it , even after searching for 5 minutes.I was called at this stage. Inquiries revealed that nobody saw any crow picking up the ball. The fore caddy who was stationed also confirmed the landing of the ball, but did not know what happened afterwards.I applied rule 18-1 which demands knowledge or virtual certainty of the movement of the ball and not the landing. Otherwise , if the ball is not found, Rule 27-1 applies. As the case failed the test of virtual certainty and also the fact that this virtual certainty could not be confirmed within the 5 minute period,the stroke and distance 27-1 was applied.This displeased the player, but that was the only correct ruling applicable.

Flagstick----Double whammy

This incident occurred sometime in December, 2007 before the new rules came into effect from 1st January, 2008.The Western India Junior tournament was held in Bombay Presidency Golf course( BPGC). The final round leader pack consisted of the cream of the Indian junior golfers-Rashid Khan, Chikkarangappa and Rahul Bakshi. Rashid Khan was a clear leader and presiding over the concluding rites.The Indian Junior circuit has the stipulation that players shall not have caddies.On the 220 yard par 17th hole, Rashid,s tee shot was on the green, but nearly 30 feet from the flag fixed diabolically on the slopes on the top edge of the green.
Rashid removed the flagstick, put it on the edge of the green. His put was firm and the green was fast and sloping. The ball was careening towards the flagstick, after missing the hole.This was a double whammy situation-if the ball hits the removed flagstick, a 2 stroke penalty and if he moves the flagstick lying on the ground also a 2 stroke penalty under the then applicable rule. Rashid Khan was not aware of the implication of moving the flagstick lying on the ground. When he realized that the ball was heading towards the flagstick lying on the ground, he raced towards the flagstick and removed it. When informed, he still incurred the 2 stroke penalty under the then rule 24-1, he was crestfallen. Rule 24-1 is now amended with effect from 1-1-2008 to allow a removed flagstick to be moved when a ball is in motion.

Flagstick

Today was the final day of the South India Ladies Golf. My Home Club Bangalore Golf Club, was hosting this tournament. Our Ladies section led by Uma Maney , ably assisted by Bina Sridhar and Suparna Mahesh organized the tournament very well. Hats off to them, all the more for the reason that this is their first major effort.
I was given the responsibility of conduct of the tournament proper as Tournament Director. I was ably supported by Dasharathy and Krishna Prasad.
Gowri Monga won the tournament hands down with hardly any challenge.The ladies were required to tee off from the mens tee, as our course was short.Some of our local girls found it really tough.
The tournament went off without any major Rules incidents. However, an innocuous incident on the 17th green needs to be reported.On this par 5 hole, Maher Atwal, related to our reputed Indian Golfer, Arjun Atwal,chipped from the edge of the green.The ball missed the hole narrowly by a few inches, went past the hole and was still moving when the caddie of Gurbani singh, a fellow competitor in the leader group, pulled out the flagstick. As I was the referee with the leader group, I had observed this incident and after completion of the hole, investigated further with the concerned players. It was established that the caddie was not authorized to attend the flagstick.As the ball was drifting slowly past the hole, he just pulled out the flagstick.
I have to resolve the issue if the fellow competitor-Gurbani Singh was in breach of Rule 17-2-a penalty of 2 strokes.This breach is one of the few instances where the fellow competitor incurs a penalty in stroke play.In most cases, he escapes with the status of outside agency. Rule 17-2 condones this breach, if it does not influence the movement of the ball. If the caddie had removed the flagstick, before it crossed the hole, Gurbani would have incurred 2 stroke penalty, as there was a chance for the ball to hit the flagstick.This view is also supported by decision 17-2/2.
This incident also reminds me of another flagstick ruling where the Junior champion Rashid Khan was involved in BPGC. I will post this separately, if not done already.