Course specifying club use on a hole

[Neilds]

Not sure if this has been discussed before but came across a strange situation yesterday on a course I haven't played for many years.

On the 142 yard par 3, there were big signs around the teeing area stating that the hole was 142 and, due to some balls previously going into a garden 50 yards behind the green (couldn't see the house) then you were not permitted to use a club that went more than 142 yards. Irrespective of the fact that most golfers can thin most clubs this distance, are the club allowed to specify what club you can or can't use on any hole?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Not sure if this has been discussed before but came across a strange situation yesterday on a course I haven't played for many years.

On the 142 yard par 3, there were big signs around the teeing area stating that the hole was 142 and, due to some balls previously going into a garden 50 yards behind the green (couldn't see the house) then you were not permitted to use a club that went more than 142 yards. Irrespective of the fact that most golfers can thin most clubs this distance, are the club allowed to specify what club you can or can't use on any hole?

They may be able to specify which club to use, whether that is guidance is followed is open to debate

 

[Burnsey]

Driver excluded recently on a hole with houses running down the right side of the hole. Player sliced a 3 wood and made contact with a house. Member put the incident in an accident book.

Likley an insurance requirement rather than a courtesy, but expect it can be both.

 

[Neilds]

Driver excluded recently on a hole with houses running down the right side of the hole. Player sliced a 3 wood and made contact with a house. Member put the incident in an accident book.

Likley an insurance requirement rather than a courtesy, but expect it can be both.

Given the vast amount of other warning signs around the course, we thought the club may have had a few claims put in against them. There were multiple signs around greens warning of steep slopes and no entry/exit signs on some slopes, loads of signs about where buggies could go, and to go really slowly on some paths. Add in the signs on boundary fences about barbed wire and it was definite overkill.
On a different note, they also had nets protecting young trees (up to about 8 ft tall), including in the fairways and just off. Very risk averse club.

 

[Imurg]

I would suggest such a rule would make qualifying scores impossible...no idea of the rule number but it doesn't sound compatible

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I would suggest such a rule would make qualifying scores impossible...no idea of the rule number but it doesn't sound compatible

By can the club stipulate a club to be used? I don't know of a rule of golf and so surely it is a matter of choice for the golfer. How do the club or indeed many golfers know what club goes 142 yards. I would have a fair idea, subject to wind direction etc but I am sure many would just be guessing. Doesn't account for the flushed shot or the thin

 

[Lord Tyrion]

I've definitely played at clubs where you requested / told not to use driver in case the ball went into houses / caravans that lined the hole. Ironically, on the caravan example, I took an iron and the added loft enabled me to hit it over the protective net and right into the caravan site . My driver would not have had the loft to do this . Daft.

The not permitted wording is quite strange. That sounds very formal. I guess at least they leave it open to each individual golfer as to which club they can use. They don't say, 'maximum 7 iron' or whatever.

 

[Grizzly]

Think its the 9th at Finchley - par 5, sharp dogleg left - where there are signs prohibiting hitting over the houses that line the left hand side. Another rule that surely can't be enforced?

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Think its the 9th at Finchley - par 5, sharp dogleg left - where there are signs prohibiting hitting over the houses that line the left hand side. Another rule that surely can't be enforced?

Perhaps it makes the golfer liable rather than the club if they deliberately take that line and it causes damage?

 

[jim8flog]

They cannot have it as Rule of Golf but could make it a disciplinary matter if the 'advice' is ignored.

We once had a similar rule on one of our holes* on our 9 hole course and were advised that fact.

*The hole has a weir pool two thirds distance to the green with a river on the right. We had a number of complaints about balls crossing the river and landing near fishermen when players tried to clear the pool with a drive.

 

[Neilds]

I've definitely played at clubs where you requested / told not to use driver in case the ball went into houses / caravans that lined the hole. Ironically, on the caravan example, I took an iron and the added loft enabled me to hit it over the protective net and right into the caravan site . My driver would not have had the loft to do this . Daft.

The not permitted wording is quite strange. That sounds very formal. I guess at least they leave it open to each individual golfer as to which club they can use. They don't say, 'maximum 7 iron' or whatever.

I can't remember the exact wording, should have taken a photo - we were stood on the tee for long enough waiting for the group ahead to clear!

 

[Arthur Wedge]

A course near us wanted to apply a rule that stated that no drivers can be used to stop balls going into a garden

They were told the course wouldn’t count for any HC qualification if they applied the rule

 

[HomerJSimpson]

They cannot have it as Rule of Golf but could make it a disciplinary matter if the 'advice' is ignored.

We once had a similar rule on one of our holes* on our 9 hole course and were advised that fact.

*The hole has a weir pool two thirds distance to the green with a river on the right. We had a number of complaints about balls crossing the river and landing near fishermen when players tried to clear the pool with a drive.

How does that get enforced. Player picks a club, ball goes into garden, who is going to know what club was used and whether the shot was executed properly

 

[srixon 1]

There is a hole at Clevedon that has something along these lines to prevent going into some houses. If it’s that bad change the hole layout so that it can’t happen.

 

[jim8flog]

How does that get enforced. Player picks a club, ball goes into garden, who is going to know what club was used and whether the shot was executed properly

It is a simple case of player honesty. Householder complains the player gets asked.

 

[jim8flog]

There is a hole at Clevedon that has something along these lines to prevent going into some houses. If it’s that bad change the hole layout so that it can’t happen.

I am sure some courses have had to change after houses were built long after the course was. I think that there has been court rulings over such.

 

[wjemather]

There is a hole at Clevedon that has something along these lines to prevent going into some houses. If it’s that bad change the hole layout so that it can’t happen.

The "Castle Hole" at Clevedon would probably require moving the tee to the bottom of the hill; changing what is a spectacular looking but pretty rubbish to play par 4 into a fairly decent par 3 but without the views.
As it is, there's a sign on each tee advising the maximum distance the player should hit, which effectively bans attempting to drive the green and putting balls into the road/houses opposite.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

It is a simple case of player honesty. Householder complains the player gets asked.

And a players answers with 100% integrity? What about in a solo round when no-one os there to verify.

 

[srixon 1]

I am sure some courses have had to change after houses were built long after the course was. I think that there has been court rulings over such.

We had to change the 1st hole for this reason. Balls still go into the adjacent properties but nowhere near as much as they did 20 odd years ago.

 

[FuzzyDuck]

There is a hole at Leatherhead that says drivers are not to be used, the hole is bordered by expensive houses favoured by premiership footballers I was told.

They shortened the last hole at Torquay from a par 4 to a par3 to stop balls going into gardens.