Rakes or no rakes

By Steve Gordon

Every golfer has an opinion on something to do with the game.

Water hazards are now penalty areas. I think that's dumb but that's me.

Some like the stroke and distance rule. I like the new rule that can be used as a local rule on dropping and hitting from a spot near a lost ball and a two stroke penalty. It's basically the same thing only you don't have to hit the shot you just mishit again. Certainly speeds up play and for the recreational golfer...well he is probably going to do that anyway under the relaxed rules local groups play by.

The list can go on about getting in a divot when you hit a good tee shot, hitting a ball off a root, loose impediments, etc.

How about the current situation where rakes have been taken away from bunkers? Do you like it or do you think rakes should come back? Should it be a course by course thing or universal for all courses?

Here is my take. I am sure I am probably in a minority but I like bunkers without rakes. A bunker is a hazard being strategically placed around the course to catch errant shots. Not every shot should find itself sitting up nicely on grass.

Imagine a course without any bunkers. Sure, there are holes (the 14th at Augusta National for instance) that have no bunkers but those are few. But an entire course with no bunkers? Even pitch and putt courses have some bunkers.

Back to my position. Without rakes you would potentially get a bad lie in a bunker. Yeah, so what. If you hit into the rough you aren't guaranteed to get a smooth lie and if you hit into the woods you aren't guaranteed to get a lie that isn't on a root or on pine straw or in leaves or a bush or underlying growth.

If you make a divot you are requested to fix it but not all golfers do. Same with ball marks, but we are allowed to fix those. My point is a player can smooth over sand after playing out of it with a club or a foot. I think I saw DJ do it in the skins game at Seminole actually.

I have heard comments about putting rakes in carts and that isn't a bad idea but what about people who still like to walk? Not everyone takes a cart. I have also heard some say no rakes but let people take preferred lies in bunkers. It's a hazard people. Do the rules let you improve your lie in the rough or move a ball out of a divot in the fairway?

Just my two cents.

Golf is back, but on a different level

By Steve Gordon

I think all 50 states have golf courses open now. As crazy as it seems politicians labeled golf a dangerous social activity even as doctors have said being outside is healthy and safe and golf by it's very nature is a social distancing game.

Even if four golfers hit on the fairway on the same hole they likely would all be way beyond the accepted six foot distance from one another. Players would be a little closer on the green but still outside the danger range. Even on the tee there is no crowding forcing players to break the invisible safe barrier.

It's all water under the bridge now as golf has reopened, but it is a far different game. For instance, in New Jersey, a neighboring state to where I live, there is a limit of two players on tee times instead of the normal four. As each state makes it's own rules there are some common things they all have.

1. No pre or post game gathering. One course near me won't let you into the parking lot if you get there 20 minutes before your tee time.

2. Stretched out tee times to keep groups from bunching up on each other. It's great in that it limits the number of players on the course for potentially a faster pace of play but overall groups will catch up and part of the strategy fails. One course I played in a foursome with 15 minute tee times and we finished in 3 1/2 hours. At another course with 12 minute tee times our foursome was on the course for almost 4 1/2 hours. Go figure? Of course owners are making less money so is it only a matter of time before the fees inflate?

3. One cart per player, but in some states if two people live in the same household it's OK for them to share a cart. Here's a question on that one. Suppose one player drops by to pick up another player and they ride to the course in the same care, or maybe the entire foursome rides to the course in the same car?

4. Clubhouses are off limits and some courses even have closed practice areas. No grill or restaurant service except for take out. Some offer sandwiches, some might have precooked burger or hot dogs while others only offer packaged snacks and bottled drinks. Some have traditional beverage carts and others just have a station set up at the turn.

5. Bathrooms are available, one person at a time, but on course portable facilities have been removed or locked. No on course facilities are always an issue and golfers do what they have to do but what do you do when a golf course is surrounded by houses as many newer ones today are? It's easier for men but what about the women?

6. Just about every place I have been in the two weeks since golf opened up around my area is cashless but not all. I can see that becoming permanent but we'll wait and see.

7. Masks are required when in close proximity to other players or staff just as out at the grocery store, etc. No real issue with that.

8. Tee times have to be made in advance and pre paid. The days of calling or walking up as a single to wait for a spot to open up are gone.

Those are the basics and I am sure I might have missed some.

My observations are that golf isn't the same. I played in New Jersey with the two player group rule and it was nice but just felt strange but it takes the social nature of a group of friends out for a nice day on the links away.

The one cart to a player might get more people to walk, but there are courses that are just basically unwalkable or too tough to walk for say...seniors. Then there is the vision of four carts for each group and you adjust your thinking that it isn't two groups backed up behind you or two groups hold things up in front of you. It might be good for the golf cart business however as I know of two courses near me that have brought in extra carts to accommodate this new normal. Other courses offering carts put out a disclaimer that depending on play carts might not be available.

Generally tee times are not that hard to get in my neck of the woods but with the limitations, stretching out tee times and more people not going to work if you don't plan ahead you aren't going to get out.

I am part of a group of eight retired guys and we travel around in various configurations to local courses to play. Before this virus stuff hit we all bought a local golf card good for greens fees at 12 local courses. The plan was for all of us to get together, have friendly competitions within the group and for 12 weeks we could travel to different courses, some we might not normally go to. Well good luck trying to get advance consecutive tee times because at least half of those places won't book more than two weeks in advance and those times go fast. Ever try getting eight people to confirm to a specific date on short notice?

All this reminds me of times past when tee times were limited until a couple new courses were built and the participation in golf declined. You could get one someplace on a day or two notice. Now you basically can't and calling some courses isn't even an option. It's all online.

Technology is wonderful but are we extremely too reliant on it now or is this the new normal like in the business world where people can work from home? I wonder what is going to happen to all that unused office space as things open up more and employers discover they may not need so much of it in a new world or doing things?

Anyway, I have been active and getting out after figuring how this all works but it just doesn't feel the same. It feels so impersonal. You wave to your playing partners leaving the 18th hole instead of a handshake, fist bump, etc. and exchanging nice game pleasantries. No gathering for a drink of a sandwich or dinner depending on the time of day.

Best case scenario is a vaccine will come out and things can return closely to what we knew as normal for golf. Until then...enjoy the game itself and keep it in the short grass.