'Elf & Safety on the course - odd rules

[GreiginFife]

Now don't get me wrong, I love my golf club and think it's one of the best in the area for numerous reasons.
But, yesterday, I had to question the sanity of the committee and in specific the health and safety convenor...
We have, on the old original 9, a 272yard par 4 which plays over a blind hill to a low green, very much driveable.
There is a bell next to the green and a very odd rule that you must ring the bell BEFORE you putt.
Never really paid any attention to it's stupidity before until yesterday when I was lining up a 7ft birdie attempt only to have a ball travelling close to the speed of sound (ok maybe not that fast but you get my drift), whistle past me at head height!
Couldn't say anything to the guy that hit the drive as he followed the rule to the letter (and as a visitor he may not have known the situation)...
I had a rant at the Pro though , it is a very daft rule in my opinion.

Anyone else have rules for "health and safety" that, in practice, are anything but safe?

 

[Doon frae Troon]

274 yards...head height.

Was it his second shot?

 

[GreiginFife]

274 yards...head height.

Was it his second shot?

No. My mate said he seen it come off the top of the hill just next to the green. Bear in mind though that I was lining up my putt so was bending down a bit. So probably about 4ft.

 

[chris661]

No. My mate said he seen it come off the top of the hill just next to the green. Bear in mind though that I was lining up my putt so was bending down a bit. So probably about 4ft.

What so your still only 4'6" lol.

Does seem a bit daft to ring the bell first if nothing else it may put you off having a ball land close to you.

 

[GreiginFife]

What so your still only 4'6" lol.

Does seem a bit daft to ring the bell first if nothing else it may put you off having a ball land close to you.

4' 6 snd a half thank you very much... Lol
Put me off? I nearly sh!t myself... Although I gathered my composure well to only 2 putt

 

[Dodger]

Surely if you have to ring it before you putt you have to then stand aside at the back of the green until the group behind have all driven and once they have you can proceed to putt??

If not I suggest your club look at this urgently as if something does go wrong I would suggest they would get slaughtered at a tribunal....seriously Greig I would ask the question.

 

[fundy]

Have to say, unless I knew that the group behind had no one who could get it out there more than 250yds I wouldnt be ringing the bell until after we had holed out. Not sure Id be too happy stood on the tee trying to knock it on knowing that the group in front were still there putting out either, expect Id end up hitting an iron more often than not - undoubtedly a stupid rule imho

 

[GreiginFife]

Surely if you have to ring it before you putt you have to then stand aside at the back of the green until the group behind have all driven and once they have you can proceed to putt??

If not I suggest your club look at this urgently as if something does go wrong I would suggest they would get slaughtered at a tribunal....seriously Greig I would ask the question.

Emailed the seccy today. He should pick it up in the morning. Problem with the hole is that even if you stand aside to let the group behind play you are still in danger of being hit, there is no cover around the green.

 

[duncan mackie]

you can understand the evolution of this - the bell is to indicate to those behind that you are all 'at the green', and the presumption now is that only a ball 'rolling onto the green' will actually strike a player.

for the majority of golfers, the majority of the time, this will work well

the alternatives are that you ring the bell when you clear the green - now those shorter hitters behind will either be guessing when people are out of range over the hill or waiting patiently for a lot longer than appropriate.

I've never been a fan of such holes; scarred for life learning the game on Braid Hills No 2/3 where everything seemed blind!

No easy solution - I would probably either lengthen it or put a huge deep bunker, high lipped, all the way across the front of the green to both dissuade players from 'going for it' and provide a little further protection to those on the green.

As it stands, at that length, it's a gamble all round - big hitters can do little more than give another 5 minutes after the bell before firing....

 

[Foxholer]

Simply change the instructions to 'Ring the Bell when the Green is clear' should be enough. It's certainly how I've seen it done elsewhere (e.g. Wentworth Edinburgh/South #4).

 

[Liverbirdie]

Simply change the instructions to 'Ring the Bell when the Green is clear' should be enough. It's certainly how I've seen it done elsewhere (e.g. Wentworth Edinburgh/South #4).

Agree with this, unless this is pointed out to every group by the starter/pro, 99% of golfers associate hearing the bell with meaning that the fairway/green is now clear.

Unless you put up a large sign on the tee, this seems daft.

 

[Slime]

Problem with the hole is that even if you stand aside to let the group behind play you are still in danger of being hit, there is no cover around the green.

Play with a fat bloke & stand behind him, obvious really .

Slime.

 

[Gazboy]

Anyone else have rules for "health and safety" that, in practice, are anything but safe?

Our 18th is mostly blind from the tee with a bell about 230 yards from the yellows which is within range of quite a few hitters, the green is 292 yards from the yellows, 301 from the whites and it isn't unusual for a tee shot to land on or near it. Imo the bell should be on the exit of the green.

 

[Doon frae Troon]

There is a hole like that on the old course at New Forrest.
You dong the bell when you leave.
First time I played it I took some good advice from a friend and walked over the hill to see my ball 6 past the flag and 20 foot short of the burn at the back of the green.
In between was a very large New Forrest pony.

 

[GreiginFife]

Agree with this, unless this is pointed out to every group by the starter/pro, 99% of golfers associate hearing the bell with meaning that the fairway/green is now clear.

Unless you put up a large sign on the tee, this seems daft.

There is a sign on the tee, it reads (not verbatim); In the interests of health and safety, players playing to the 6th/15th green are required to ring the bell before putting out. Please exit green to rear and do not walk between green and ladies tee"

I get the last part IF that was the only place you were in danger. Hopefully get a sensible response from the Sec tomorrow.

 

[Fader]

Never heard of ringing the bell before you putt. We have a bell on our 5th hole (par5) fairway which needs to be rung when you pass it to let those on the tee behind know they are clear to play, as the tee shot is played up and over a hill. We also have another bell that needs to be rung when leaving the 6th green, as the approach is back up the hill so tends to be blind even with the 8foot flagin sometimes you can't tell when the green is clear so hence ringing upon exiting the green.

The only other rule we have is that our long par3, 17th is a call up hole so once on the green, mark your ball and call the group behind down to help keep play moving.

 

[USER1999]

Never heard of ringing the bell before you putt. We have a bell on our 5th hole (par5) fairway which needs to be rung when you pass it to let those on the tee behind know they are clear to play, as the tee shot is played up and over a hill. We also have another bell that needs to be rung when leaving the 6th green, as the approach is back up the hill so tends to be blind even with the 8foot flagin sometimes you can't tell when the green is clear so hence ringing upon exiting the green.

The only other rule we have is that our long par3, 17th is a call up hole so once on the green, mark your ball and call the group behind down to help keep play moving.

I don't get call up holes. It's inviting people to hit balls at you. No thanks. Any where else on the course this is viewed as dangerous play. So it saves 5 minutes. Whoopee. Send up the fire works. I'm not doing it.

 

[MegaSteve]

I don't get call up holes.

Me neither... Pointless exercise...

As for holes with blind drives.... In this day of cheap 'n cheerful electronic 'wizardry' from the likes of Maplins... Surely it can't be too difficult to rig up a traffic light affair on the tee box with an operating switch adjacent to the fairway or exit to the green whichever is appropiate...

 

[Fader]

Me neither... Pointless exercise...

As for holes with blind drives.... In this day of cheap 'n cheerful electronic 'wizardry' from the likes of Maplins... Surely it can't be too difficult to rig up a traffic light affair on the tee box with an operating switch adjacent to the fairway or exit to the green whichever is appropiate...

thats not a bad idea, theres a course about 20minutes from where I live called Souther Valley (public course) but on there 9th tee they have a small phone box which has a direct link to the clubhouse so you can pr-order food for when you arrive at the 10th tee. If that can be done simply then surely the traffic light system you suggest or something similar is just as easily done.