Pro's sacrificing clubs

[Lump]

In the last two days we've seen 2 Pro's sacrifice a club in order to play a shot right next to a tree.
These guys will simply get another made up to spec and placed back into their bag before the next round.

IMO if you break a club in such a way you should not be allowed to replace the club and play the rest of the tournament without said club.
In my eyes its just bad sportsmanship, having a hack knowing full well that it won't cost you shots later on but may save you dropping a shot on that hole. Its just not cricket…:smirk:

 

[Foxholer]

I disagree!

And how can you consider it 'bad sportsmanship'!

Tennis players smashing a racquet on the ground is 'bad sportsmanship', but it costs them! And they (well, Pros) carry half a dozen anyway!

 

[KenL]

I also disagree!

A club can be replaced immediately if damaged in making a stroke.

 

[Lump]

They are taking a shot on knowing full well they are about to snap/ damage a club instead of punting back out into the fairway. How is the sportsmanship!?

 

[Garush34]

I don't see the issue either. Their playing the shot that they wish to hit, if they break the club so be it. I don't think they are setting out to break it from the shot.

 

[Lump]

I also disagree!

A club can be replaced immediately if damaged in making a stroke.

Unlikely it will happen unless they have spare clubs ready to go ( ruling is without undue delay)

 

[CMAC]

They are taking a shot on knowing full well they are about to snap/ damage a club instead of punting back out into the fairway. How is the sportsmanship!?

because they are trying to win, and equipment can be replaced

 

[Tiger man]

A pro's clubs are not his or hers pride and joy like they are to us hackers just a tool of their trade and if they save a shot by sacrificing a club it could be worth thousands of pounds, therefore well worth breaking an easily replaced club for.

 

[ruff-driver]

A pro's clubs are not his or hers pride and joy like they are to us hackers just a tool of their trade and if they save a shot by sacrificing a club it could be worth thousands of pounds, therefore well worth breaking an easily replaced club for.

:thup:

O.P, nothing on the tv tonight

 

[Lump]

Just me then... My moral compass must be broken😂

 

[SammmeBee]

If I broke a club and it was an important tournament I would have a replacement for the next day.......

 

[KenL]

Unlikely it will happen unless they have spare clubs ready to go ( ruling is without undue delay)

That is true but someone from the tour van could easily hand over a club on the next tee.

The pro game is so different to the one we play.

 

[Foxholer]

Just me then... My moral compass must be broken😂

No, just slightly distorted.

Another demonstration of the difference between the guys at the top and we plebs scurrying around below!

 

[stevelev]

The pro's prob have a spare set on stand by just in case they damage a club during a round, and a member of the support team would bring it to them on the course to ensure that they are without it for the shortest possible time.

Its the same rule for every golfer Lump so not sure what the issue is, like others say we cant just replace them willy nilly. The pro's can

 

[Maninblack4612]

What a very strange point of view. I can usually see the other side of an argument, by not on this occasion.

 

[Hobbit]

He sacrifices it for the round - in reality, how does he replace it "without undue delay." And we could replace it by the next round if we had a few pounds in the bank. But a question back at you. Do you want to see the best player win the tournament? If the best player breaks a club in round one he may not post the best score over four rounds if he can't replace it.

 

[chrisd]

I played a match against someone who I wasn't willing to lose to and sacrificed a 7 iron shaft on a tree in playing a shot that I pulled off. I won about £5 and paid at least 5 times that in getting the club reshafted - it was worth every penny!

 

[SVB]

There have been a number of threads on here where fellow forum'ers have discussed that they carry an old wedge or similar to play out of dry ditches / gash ground. Is that not just the same, but scaled down to an amater level (budget!)?

Simon

 

[palindromicbob]

Just me then... My moral compass must be broken😂

The fact this issue would even register on your moral compass may suggest it needs recalibrating.

Creates some exciting viewing when the pro's go for these shots. Sure as hell beats a little punt out or worse, declaring the ball unplayable. Can see that most Saturdays.

 

[backwoodsman]

Unlikely it will happen unless they have spare clubs ready to go ( ruling is without undue delay)

He sacrifices it for the round - in reality, how does he replace it "without undue delay." And we could replace it by the next round if we had a few pounds in the bank. But a question back at you. Do you want to see the best player win the tournament? If the best player breaks a club in round one he may not post the best score over four rounds if he can't replace it.

I think you'll find they can take as long as they like to replace it. It's not "without undue delay", it's "without unduly delaying play". As long as the player keeps playing while a minion goes off to get a replacement, there'd be no time limit.

I sort of see where the OP is coming from, but like others, disagree. Whilst to us mere mortals, deliberately allowing a club to be broken while playing a shot would not be natural, nor come easily, you can't really argue it's not "in the normal course of play". I'd suggest that the "normal course of play" is making a stroke in order to make the ball go where you want it to. Which is all the pro's are doing.