The QATSPY GOLF Inside the Leather Sports Page
By: Charles W. Boatright
Author of The ESPY Golf Swing Coach, Delta Technique Geared for Distance and Control
The New Rules in 2019 Will Not Allow High Definition (HD) review of Rules Infractions
Starting in 2019, the new rules of golf, High Definition (HD) reviews of golf infractions will not be permitted.. Positive step in the game. Case in point, How can you ask a Ann Nordqvist in ’16 US Open if her club touched a few grain a sand, which was the case?
We must ask the golfer and viewer to use their eyes in real-time to detect infractions, and not HD, slow motion, time-lapse photography to determine this.
The Sportsmanship of Ann Nordqvist in the 2016 LPGA U.S. Open
The 2016 Women’s U.S. Open, played at CordeValle Reserve Golf Course in San Martin, California, ended in a three-hole aggregate play-off on Sunday, 10Jul2016. The playoff was between Brittany Lang and Anna Nordqvist, who played holes 16, 17, and 18. These are two well-seasoned players who are also great friends. The outcome of the playoff was decided on a two-stroke penalty assessed on the intermediate golf shot, out of the left fairway bunker on 17.
While addressing the ball in the sand bunker (considered a hazard), Anna unintentionally grounded her club on a few grains of sand. The sole of Anna’s club ever so lightly touched a few grains of sand that was caught on HD video. To the observer, this was not apparent unless the viewer freeze the frame, zoomed in on the incident than advance the video in slow motion, that how minor of an infraction this was.
Under Rule 13-4b, The player must not touch the ground in the hazard or water with the players hand or club.
If a player touches the ground in a hazard, while preparing to take a shot with their hand or club, the player incurs either a two-stroke penalty under stroke play or loses the match in match play. There are exceptions: one is actually making the golf shot, and another exception is allowing the player to brace themselves in case of a fall.
After the camera crew replayed the video of Anna preparing to take her golf shot, it was clear that the sole of the club made contact with the sand ever so lightly. After this, Anna was first to play her third shot into the green on 17. After her third shot on 17th, Anna was informed of the infraction of Rule 13-4b. This was before Brittany made her approach shot into the 17th green.
Brittany Lang won the Women’s U.S. Open, but this wasn’t what was significant about the competition between two great players. It was Anna Nordqvist’s response. She took responsibility for the infraction of the rules, revealing an important lessons that this great game teaches players, the importance of sportsmanship. Anna’s sportsmanship and character was of the highest caliber after the tournament. This was shown in her statement to Golf Channel where she said “Nobody should feel sorry for me! I’m proud of how I played my round and the tournament.” This goes directly to the idea that successful people are more concerned about their processes than their results.
The Character Sportsmanship that the Game of Golf Teach Us
If young people want to take something from this Women’s U.S. Open, it is not so much who won the tournament, but how it was played. This is why sports and especially golf is important to build character and instill sportsmanship as noted in my book, The ESPY Golf Swing Coach, in Section 5.5.
5.5 True grit, with sportsmanship, is easier for most people to grasp and understand than terms like faith and integrity. Sportsmanship centers on athletes taking responsibility for their own actions. When athletes take responsibility for their actions, the separation between perception and reality closes. True grit is being able to exhibit the quiet strength of perseverance, self- reliance, confidence, and integrity. Athletes understand that confidence is derived from the quiet strength of faith, referenced in Isaiah 30:15: In quietness and confidence shall be your strength. Keep in mind that more can be learned from a loss or failure than from a win, especially if the lesson from the loss is used to build confidence and gain experience.
Now if we can get our press that covers our government and political campaigns to be as diligent as the media coverage of the Women’s U.S. Open, we would have a more responsible government that actually works. Because our Government operates best when it is under scrutiny, as demonstrated on the 17th hole of the playoff. It would have been easy for the media covering the playoff to pick and choose what to scrutinize and not scrutinize. Even the official of the USGA did not see the issue with Anna’s shot out of the hazard on 17th hole, until it was brought to the USGA’s attention with HD slow-motion, time-lapse photography.
I Have a Dream Speech
There are no favorites in golf. The rules are equally applied to all. And the golf course does not show particularity between players. This is what is pure about game of golf and sports competition in general. The person is tested, based on what Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. stated in his I have a Dream Speech, “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” I would add to Rev. King’s statement, as it applies to sports– …..character, determination, Sportsmanship, and hard work.”
Anna Nordqvist, the golf world did not judge you based on the results of the tournament, but on the response of your character. Every young person and athlete learned a valuable lesson yesterday! It was that character does matter! Thank you for reminding us of this. Godspeed!
My book, The ESPY Golf Swing Coach, addresses the in detail fundamental mechanics and techniques of the golf swing, as well as, the golf game and how it should be played using the golfer’s character and mental ability. Please purchase your copy today!
The ESPY Golf Swing Book
By: QATSPY GOLF Approach
Charles W. Boatright
Madison, MS
1-888-514-1228
The ESPY Golf Swing Coach– Price for Paperback $15.75 and E-Book $8.99, Hardback is also available on my website OR your local bookstore and also:
Lulu Publishing: The ESPY Golf Swing Coach, Charles W. Boatright
Amazon.com www.amazon.com/The-Espy-Golf-Swing-Coach/product-reviews/1483416356
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Once you learn WHY, you don’t forget HOW!
YouTube Videos:
https://youtu.be/ZGVNrIw_wlo (Cam & Cam-over elements)
https://youtu.be/K2FDHZ3AX9w (Figuring your proper swing plane)
https://youtu.be/TO82PMO6G8M (Developing muscle memory)
Two decisions that you can make for yourself and your kids are to get a copy of my book and place the book and a golf club into their hands. You will never look back, but only forward. You will not miss with this for yourself and/or your kids.
A Recommendation for your Golf Game:
I would like to recommend a wonderful radio program that I regularly listen to on my I-Heart Radio app on KARN 102.9 FM station, out of Little Rock, AR. They air a golf show called “Arkansas Fairways and Greens,” at 7:00 AM CT each Saturday morning, hosted by Bob Steel and Jay Fox. Bob occasionally has on his show a guest named Shawn Humphries, a Professional Golf Instructor from Dallas, Texas. One thing that Mr. Humphries stresses is the mental part of golf, not focusing on the results but the process.
Until next time– Be Synched, Tee-to-Green, with The ESPY Golf Swing!