In every sport that is officially registered in the world, of course there are competitions or tournaments that are competed. Likewise with the sport of golf. If Football has the World Cup or the Euros, then golf has the World Golf Championship or the US. Open as an official world tournament.
The purpose of holding an official golf tournament like this is to prove who is number one in golf, which is to globalize the sport of golf. Even holding a tournament like this, people are still not very familiar with the sport of golf, what if there isn’t one.
Not everyone who pursues golf activities intends to focus on this one sport. So don’t be surprised if world-class golf champions can be counted on the fingers. Even I only know Tiger Woods, hehehe. To take part in a tournament, of course, every player must know the system and procedures. The following are the Rules and Ethics in Golf Tournaments.
International Golf Tournament Official Rules
Not only golf, tournaments in every sport must have rules and procedures. However, the rules and procedures applied are different. And the rules in each tournament event also have some differences depending on several factors.
Here’s what you should know if you want to compete in an International tournament:
- No Anchor Putting
Anchor Putting is one way to hit other than using the normal swing technique. Usually players do anchor putting when the ball is not far from the hole. Sometimes players also do it in a broomhandle position, which is holding a stick like a broom handle. This technique has been clearly banned in the tournament since 2016, and those who violate it will be penalized with an additional 2 strokes penalty. - Ball Movement When Address
Address is the situation when the player finishes placing the ball and prepares to hit. In these conditions sometimes the ball likes to move on its own due to the wind. Therefore, in 2016 yesterday a new regulation was issued. New players are declared valid to hit if the stick hits the ball. The ball moves due to the wind does not count as a stroke. - Use of Extra Tools
The use of additional equipment in international golf tournaments is actually not prohibited. However, the tools used must be common and meet the standards that have been set. If a player violates this rule, he will receive a penalty of 2 strokes in Stroke Play. And if you do it again, you will lose. Meanwhile, in Matchplay, the player will immediately lose.
Ethics of Playing in a Non-International Tournament
In addition to the international scale, in golf there are sometimes amateur level tournaments or commonly known as Internal Tournaments. Indeed, this kind of tournament is mostly just a gathering event. Anyone can also take part in this tournament, no need to be an officially registered athlete.
Even if you are not bound by official rules and procedures, if you want to take part in a tournament you should comply with ethics or some kind of unwritten rule. This is aimed at the smooth running of the tournament without having to follow complex official systems and procedures but also keeping it organized unlike a football competition between villages.
Here are the etiquette to watch out for when you play in a golf tournament:
- Prioritizing a sense of friendship, honesty and health
- Arrive on time so as not to slow down the tee-off of the other participants
- Play quickly from one hole to another
- Jokes casually on the way to the ball, but maintains composure when hitting
- Responsible for each other’s scorecard
- Maintain honesty/fairness with
- No betting/gambling
Source: fourhillscc