THE SPIRIT OF THE GAME...

If you are lucky enough to have read the Rules of Golf (when it shows that you are a true golf enthusiast), you will see that the first thing the booklet deals with is "ETIQUETTE; BEHAVIOR ON THE COURSE", and then, after the introduction, the first topic it addresses, is "THE SPIRIT OF THE GAME" It reads: I always try to teach pupils that playing golf is more than just swinging a club, and, among other things, it is about personal responsibility and honesty. Both of my daughters have called penalties on themselves, not only during casual rounds, but more importantly, during tournaments, even when a penalty could be the difference between playing the next day or getting eliminated in a national championship. The same goes with friends with whom I enjoy the game, many of whom have come to me to say that their ball moved while addressing it, and I was 100 yards away and could not see, or that they moved a lose impediment in a hazard by accident; all of this, where I could not possibly known had they not told me. For some, these penalties have cost them a few bucks, and some much more, as it happened to an adoptive uncle when calling a penalty on himself, cost him $700.00! But the money lost could never compare with the reputation lost if anyone ever found out that they played outside the Spirit of the Game. Once someone is labeled as a cheater, it is very difficult, if not impossible, to shake the label! Here is the "rest of the story": this mistake, which carried a penalty of disqualification, cost his team 1st place (even with the par, they would have won by one), worth several thousand dollars in Calcutta prize money! What made it special was the following: First, he told me "Alex, I know what the Rules are. Do not worry, it's your duty to carry them out "that is why you are paid for"). Go ahead and do your job and do not feel bad for me. It was my mistake, not yours"; and Second; he offered to pay his partner, out of his own pocket, the share of first place that they had lost due to his mistake. Now tell me, hasn't the word "anyone" shrunk at least a little? I say, "not anyone would have done this!"

"Golf is played, for the most part, without the supervision of a referee or umpire. The game relies on the integrity of the individual to show consideration for other players and to abide by the Rules. All players should conduct themselves in a disciplined manner, demonstrating courtesy and sportsmanship at all times, irrespective of how competitive they may be. This is the spirit of the game of golf." Unfortunately, not all people who play the game (or play at it), abide by these wholesome principles, but we will leave those to play with each other. Lets see some positive acts that made me realize that Golf's spirit is not dead. To understand this a little more, you've got to see "The Legend of Vagger Vance" (Will Smith & Matt Damon).

So far, the the most notable display of sportsmanship in this topic that I have witnessed, was a few years ago. A competitor, (lets call him Frank, since no one who frequents the course these days, has that name) summoned me after scores were posted to tell me that he had signed an incorrect scorecard and that his team should be disqualified from the Elks Tournament. As it happened, he had made a long putt on #17 for par, which the other team thought was for a birdie and wrote down as such. Frank signed the scorecard without checking it. When he saw that his team's score on the board was one less than what he knew they had, he checked his scorecard and found the mistake, and came to tell me about it before I gave the prizes. You may say, "So what?, anyone could have done that!"