Recent content by mikejohnchapman

I think clubs need to take some responsibility here. I know I'm old but when we started to play we were taught the basic rules and etiquette before we were allowed to play in club competitions / matches. We now seem to expect new players to learn the rules and apply them with almost no help. I...

Oh some do complain that mainly their slope rating is too high (not so much course rating). Often it's either the men's or the women's SR that's questioned - rarely both. In these cases the rating information is reviewed by regional assessors as a double check.

True and it is also a fact that the club are asked for information relating to their course such as average rough height & stimp ratings which, although checked, tend to be used as they represent the normal playing conditions.

Whilst rating can be wrong due to interpretation on the day a great deal of the measurements taken are factual and usually double checked so it's unlikely they are incorrect due to errors in measurement. A couple of points not discussed: The rating guidance has changed over the 12 years we...

In as much as you can play it as it lies - yes, but a penalty area isn't an abnormal ground condition offering free relief.

It's that time of the year and bunkers are filling with water. A local rule has been applied which outlines a new procedure at our course. Bunkers affected are marked with a blue stake and a player is entitled to free relief under 16.1 - no problem here. However, the way the LR is phrased...

We have this situation in our inter-club leagues which are played on a Saturday afternoon (mandated). The course will always be crowded with 4 balls and despite being given a buffer of 30 minutes you catch the field by the 4th hole. We often agree with the opposition to play in 4's to avoid too...

It's a framework not a system. There are options and geographies can make decisions on implementation. It was ever thus and will continue to be so.

Brand new Mizuno T24 58 degree wedge in an early Black Monday sale for £109. Delivered free on Monday (hopefully),

Never understood this phrase. I would have thought a lead balloon would have gone down really well. Going up would be a problem!

We have a winter program underway but unfortunately several have been put at low points and so it's difficult to know how they can drain them to anywhere suitable.

We are a privately owned club that has lots of bunkers and hence the problem is neither simple or cheap to rectify.

Yes - absolutely.

We have a problem with several of our fairway bunkers that slope away from the green. Thus when there is standing water it's at the end farthest from the green and there is nowhere to drop no nearer the hole.

I understand your frustration and I suspect many others feel the same. The survey on WHS was conducted by the R&A and I understand they didn't release the detail to EG which was a great pity. They only allowed them to comment on the headline areas at the recent roadshow without going into the...