Ethics: Spirit of the Game

[Highway 101]

“Unlike many sports, golf is played, for the most part, without the supervision of a referee or umpire. The game relies on the integrity of the individual to show consideration for other players and to abide by the Rules. All players should conduct themselves in a disciplined manner, demonstrating courtesy and sportsmanship at all times, irrespective of *** competitive they may be. This is the spirit of golf.”
--The Rules of Golf, page 1.

I ask the board... What role does a sports reporter, covering an event, have in “The Spirit of Golf?”

I present a case of fudging the rules — not one where the golfer gained a stroke, point, or hole.

It is an instance where I witnessed a golfer violate tournament rules, and I pondered what I can do, should do, and will do through the remaining holes.

Background: This is an amateur Mid-Am and Senior event where players can earn GolfWeek points which help determine US and British Am fields.

Just before a group teed off in the first round, one golfer asked the Head Pro if practice putting is allowed. Considering this is a very difficult course, practicing would help any golfer, and the Pro said “No” per tourney rules.

In the final round today, while following the lead group, one of the golfers (Stephen) missed a 12-foot putt by the size of a grape. He tapped in for par. The other competitors putted out. As they were leaving the 12th green, Stephen dropped another ball from about the same spot he missed earlier and drained it. USGA rules officials were nowhere in sight.

Stephen “practice-putted,” by every conceivable notion of the phrase. Stephen then birdied the next two holes to tie for the lead.

When the final three-some reached No. 16 green I pulled aside another caddy in group - who I know well - and asked him about it. He said, “I was like, “WTF are you thinking?” So others in the final group knew about the practice.

The round carried on, and Stephen forced a playoff. He lost.

Should I have blown the whistle, or let those in his group do it?

 

[93Devil]

Say nothing.

Your job is to tell the story of the event or describe/record it. However you want to put it, but being an official is not your role.

I know in golf fans call from home to correct rules on the course, but let someone else do that.

No cheering the pressbox means silence, IMHO.

I was so anal about not being part of the game, I would never touch the ball if it was coming at me when I was on the sideline. I was that careful about not touching a ball in play or altering what was happening on the field. I never got a complaint for that stance.

 

[Highway 101]

Devil, I see your very good point of the reporter writing the results and the details about it.

But based on the honor code of golf — which no other sport carries — I'm still confused where that grey line has been set. Has it ben set at all?

The error goes beyond Stephen's score. It affected his place in this tournament and the number of points he scored on the world amateur rankings, which will affect who gets into other big tourneys and who doesn't.

So because of my silence, Dude may get into a USGA or an R&A field in which he doesn't belong. Therefore bumping somebody else who followed all of the rules.

 

[imjustagirl]

Wrong. Because the other caddy and god knows who else didn't speak up.

They were competitors. You were not.

 

[John]

Wrong. Because the other caddy and god knows who else didn't speak up.

They were competitors. You were not.

Tough position to be in, 101, but I agree with IJAG.

The golfer and his competitors are essentially the officials when one isn't around. Now, why one of them didn't say anything is another question.

 

[zebracoy]

Regardless of the rules/attitude/atmosphere, you're never supposed to get involved, as has been said many times. Yes, you know that he took the extra putt in violation of the rules, but nobody can be sure of how many other times it's happened and who has done it.

It's not on you to speak up. It's on the caddy and those in his group to say something. They didn't, and they're the ones who are going to face the most direct result from it happening.

It's a tough break, for sure. But you're there to watch, not to dictate the outcome.

 

[jgmacg]

USGA rules in effect? If so, Rule 7-2 allows practice putts on the green just played.

http://www.usga.org/playing/rules/books/rules/rule07.html#7-2

If the rule was suspended by the local committee for the tournament, then there's a problem.

 

[Highway 101]

USGA rules in effect? If so, Rule 7-2 allows practice putts on the green just played.

http://www.usga.org/playing/rules/books/rules/rule07.html#7-2

If the rule was suspended by the local committee for the tournament, then there's a problem.

The rules were suspended, as the Head Pro said on the first day, thus a violation of "quoted" Note #2.

Thanks to all who have set my doubts aside. Covering golf is much different than hoops, where I can tell Ted Valentine or Mike Wood "No. 35 stepped on the line right THERE, so it's a 2-pointer," and they'll check the replay.

 

[Moderator1]

You tell Valentine and Wood that?

If it is a USGA event, I'm not sure the pro has the right to suspend any rules. No way one of his competitors doesn't call him on it if he's violating a rule.

 

[Pencil Dick]

It's not your place to be calling rules violations, though it's happpened before.

Use "The Googles" and type in "Michelle Wie Michael Bamberger" or "Michelle Wie disqualified."

 

[Rhody31]

Just because the head pro says the rule was suspended, it doesn't mean it was. You should have asked the USGA officials.

 

[SF_Express]

Wrong. Because the other caddy and god knows who else didn't speak up.

They were competitors. You were not.

Yep. Others who were directly involved knew about it. Their place to make the call. Not yours.

And then I'm a little confused about your basketball reference, too. You'd get involved in whether a shot was a 2-pointer or a 3-pointer by calling something to the attention of the referee? I don't think that's your deal, either.

 

[SF_Express]

Just because the head pro says the rule was suspended, it doesn't mean it was. You should have asked the USGA officials.

Well, often, the head pro is part of the "committee" or head of it, and if he's not, he at least knows what the rules are.

 

[Highway 101]

I sent a copy of our original post to a USGA rules official who just finished working the NCAA ladies championship in New Mexico.

To help others — or confuse us even more — here is what she wrote:

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I think anyone who sees a violation should question it. Which you did with [the caddy].

What is disappointing is the fact that the other players were aware of the situation and chose not to say anything. They are the ones who have an obligation to protect the rest of the field. Stephen incurred a 2 stroke penalty for practicing when is was not permitted and in fact should have be DQ'd for signing for an incorrect score on hole 13 ( penalty applies to the next hole). His Marker ( the player keeping his score) knowing he should have been penalized would have also be DQ'd.

Did you know that the other players were not going to say anything before Stephen signed his card?? How do you think they would have felt if he had won the Championship knowing he incurred the penalty and should not have won. How would you have felt??

I definitely think you should have made a Rules Official aware of what you had witnessed and then he could have questioned Stephen and the other players before he signed his scorecard---especially since you knew they were also aware of what happened. Then he could have taken it from there. The Rules Official would not have had to say who questioned it---just that a spectator had questioned it.

I understand as a reporter it puts you in a tough situation. I'll be interested in knowing what the other reporters think. If you are interested the Local Rule is on page 518 of the Decisions Book.

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She points out that it is up the players to protect the field, but later says I should have spoken with a tournament Rules official and stepped aside. So I'm not sure that a USGA rules official has a clear answer to this ethical dilemma.

[My hoops reference makes little sense. I tried to convey the fact that covering the competition of other sports leaves much less grey area for a reporter. I think comparisons to other sports are for a different thread.]

Thanks,
Hwy

 

[Ty Webb]

I can't imagine a scenario in which this rule would be changed by the head pro as a local rule change. The understood stipulation in that rule is that you don't hold up play to practice putting on the previous green. I've seen it done at the US Open. Lord knows there is not a day of golf when time is more of a factor than the first two days of the Open.

 

[imjustagirl]

She points out that it is up the players to protect the field, but later says I should have spoken with a tournament Rules official and stepped aside. So I'm not sure that a USGA rules official has a clear answer to this ethical dilemma.

Hwy,

I don't think her response means anything. Because how she looks at it is for the keeping of the rules. Her USGA ethics have NOTHING to do with journalistic ethics.

You observe. You do not come into play. The end.

 

[awriter]

Why didn't the other golfers and caddies rat him out? Why were the USGA rules suspended? And what does the USGA think of that?

 

[Hammer Pants]

I definitely wouldn't say anything. It's tough, but I think it's always in our best interest to avoid becoming the story. I cringe when I see writers become the story.

 

[Piotr Rasputin]

No whistle blowing during the event. Not your call, not your business.

If his chicanery helped him get into a playoff, even if he lost that playoff, you write about the chicanery. As a neutral observer, with quotes from someone in the group, and from the main rules official.

 

[trifectarich]

First, you have to determine what the rules in this event permit. Someone said it earlier; just because the head pro says practice putting was not allowed doesn't mean he's correct.

But, if it's a case where you've seen the rules being broken, yes, you should have said something to an official. Then the official can check with the players to determine what action needs to be taken. The game permits others to help enforce the rules and that includes you, even as a reporter.

As a reporter, it also would have been your responsibility to ask the other players or caddies in this group, those who might have seen this, and ask them why they didn't show concern over what appeared to be someone breaking the rules. The responses you might have gotten could have been very interesting.

Sorry, you bogeyed this one.