Take the Bower Back - Episode 49

I would like to welcome another Rules referee to this week’s podcast, and just like last week with Fraser Nicol, this week’s guest is all the way from the Northern Hemisphere.

Mr Gerry Bower, from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, not Quebec as Fraser stated. A passionate Rules comrade, and official in many regional amateur and professional tournaments.

Welcome Gerry.

Now before we get into the podcast, and hear more about you, let’s get the answer to Ep48 GRQOTW out of the way.

Episode 48 GRQOTW: Fraz & Blakey are playing against each other in match play. Fraz steps up on the 18th tee all pumped, as he's won the last four holes to get back to all square, and in his excitement plays from the wrong teeing area. His ball goes dangerously close to out of bounds, so Blakey does not recall the stroke. Fraz now realises he has played from the wrong teeing area and declares he will play a provisional ball.

How should Fraz proceed?

Rule 14.6b, Fraz may play a provisional ball, but must drop it within a club-length, no nearer the hole than where the original ball was played from. He is not permitted to tee it up because he didn't originally play from within the teeing area

So Gerry, welcome again, what is the time in Canada right now, and have you had a coffee?

Let’s start at the start:

You run an online Rules meeting/workshop during winter? Who usually joins you and how did you get that started?

Is it invite only?

What are the tournaments that you mainly referee and how did you get yourself into that?

Okay, now the tough questions:

Why are the Rules of Golf important?

What development in the Rules do you see, and is this good for the game?

What is your least favourite Rule?

And if it is different, which is the first Rule you would like to see changed come 2023?

I thank you very much for your time, and would you like to read out Episode 49 GRQOTW:

Fraz, Blakey and Rosco are playing the tough 17th hole with a hill on the right that is General Area and below the hill is a small Penalty area that isn’t seen from the tee.   Rosco hits his tee shot down the middle and both Fraz and Blakey pushed their tee shots to the right.   They go down and look around the area and Blakey finds his ball in the penalty area but Fraz can’t find his so says “it must be in the penalty area”.  They both take penalty area relief but Blakey and Rosco aren’t happy with Fraz also dropping as he didn’t find his ball.  They finish the round and Blakey asks for a referee.  How would you rule?