Are European Tour pro’s too spoilt when I comes to conditions?

[patricks148]

Just watching a bit on Sky, this week’s event from South Africa. It looks a bit breezy and they have been taken off the course as the conditions are too difficult.

I and many of the golfers I play with, would pretty much play in all condition and do quite regularly in Medals.

Surly golf all about playing different courses in different conditions. Wouldn't the best players should still be able to get round the course on a reasonable-ish score?

I don't get it!!!

 

[chris661]

Crazy that they get to walk off if its a bit windy. As you say we play in that regularly why dont they?

 

[Scouser]

Crazy that they get to walk off if its a bit windy. As you say we play in that regularly why dont they?

Do the rules of golf not say that play must stop if the ball is moving on the green as is the case there?!

could be wrong though

 

[jammag]

From what I see of it this morning the reason they come off was due to the fact that balls were starting to move on greens that were not even very quick on the stimp meter, only about 9 I think they said earlier on. Now for me it makes sense for these guys to go off, they are not playing for fun a lot of these are playing for a living and rely on placing in certain positions to be able to carry on. Now if your ball moves on the green due to wind and you get wrongly penalised for it then it would be guttering to lose a certain amount of money based on some wind. They expect it to die down later so I dont see an issue in letting them come off, did you see how the flag sticks were waving about I would say it was a little more than a breeze.

 

[Akie]

It's different I guess when you're playing in tournaments with thousands of pounds going to the winner rather than a weekly game with your friends. But I imagine it will be as mentioned above that the ball was moving on the green due to the wind but if I was in South Africa I'd play on

 

[Scouser]

but if I was in South Africa I'd play on

I know hats tongue in cheek....

But suppose you are on the last hole for the last put and the wind is blowing balls are moving and you have a put for say £30,000 or fall out of the money (figures are a guess) would you stop or put out......

 

[shivas irons]

I know the touring pro's are pampered nowdays but you cant play golf with the ball moving on the green.......

 

[patricks148]

Do the rules of golf not say that play must stop if the ball is moving on the green as is the case there?!

could be wrong though

I remember playing in an open at Fortrose a couple of years ago and you had to run to the green if you were close to the pin to mark the ball before the wind blew the ball off the green.

I thought they changed the rules about the ball moving ( after Paddy getting done in a comp) and you got to replace withought penalty, i could also be wrong though

 

[Scouser]

I remember playing in an open at Fortrose a couple of years ago and you had to run to the green if you were close to the pin to mark the ball before the wind blew the ball off the green.

I thought they changed the rules about the ball moving ( after Paddy getting done in a comp) and you got to replace withought penalty, i could also be wrong though

I was watching a game the other month and the commentators were urging the player to run and mark his ball in case it moved

 

[Akie]

I know hats tongue in cheek....

But suppose you are on the last hole for the last put and the wind is blowing balls are moving and you have a put for say £30,000 or fall out of the money (figures are a guess) would you stop or put out......

It was a joke and I guess I meant it more as in if I was playing a game in South Africa not if I was on the European Tour.

 

[Hobbit]

40-50mph wind is something you might play in once every few years. Its a 'ell of a lot more than your average breeze.

 

[Scouser]

It was a joke and I guess I meant it more as in if I was playing a game in South Africa not if I was on the European Tour.

Yeah i know thats why I said "tongue in cheek"

Was more aiming at people who think they would stay and play happily in those conditions for money!

 

[Akie]

Yeah i know thats why I said "tongue in cheek"

Was more aiming at people who think they would stay and play happily in those conditions for money!

Completely agree with that! Not much is going to stop me on Saturday from my round though.

 

[Imurg]

I remember playing in an open at Fortrose a couple of years ago and you had to run to the green if you were close to the pin to mark the ball before the wind blew the ball off the green.

I thought they changed the rules about the ball moving ( after Paddy getting done in a comp) and you got to replace withought penalty, i could also be wrong though

But what happens when it moves again and again after numerous replacings......

 

[HomerJSimpson]

With the money on offer, world ranking points etc if it gets to the point where it becomes a lottery on the green and the ball is danger of moving then it is the only decision

 

[palindromicbob]

I remember playing in an open at Fortrose a couple of years ago and you had to run to the green if you were close to the pin to mark the ball before the wind blew the ball off the green.

I thought they changed the rules about the ball moving ( after Paddy getting done in a comp) and you got to replace withought penalty, i could also be wrong though

Don't think it's changed that much. I'm pretty sure that if wind moves your ball you must play from where it ends up. There is no rule covering for a ball being moved by natural wind. What has changed is the penalty for a ball moving due to wind after address. Rule 18-2 states that if a ball moves after address there is a penalty of 1 stroke and the ball should be replaced. The exception to the rule being that it is virtually certain that the player did not cause the ball to move.

If a plastic bag, for instance blew across and moved the ball after address then rule 18-1 comes into play and the ball MUST be replaced as the bag is a outside agency. Natural wind is not an outside agency.

It used to be a penalty if the ball moved after address even if it was wind that caused the movement, hence the recommendation to hover the putter in windy conditions therefore not officially addressing the ball.

 

[thecraw]

Professional golf lost the plot a few years back in the Accenture World Matchplay. I think it was the semi final between Iain Poulter and Sergio Garcia that the players refused to play on because it was wet, windy and cold.

Pampered pooches.