Most people have found themselves stuck in traffic at some point on the way to the golf course. I know I have been stuck on I-225 many times on the way to CommonGround Golf Course in Aurora. And I’m not a huge fan of warming up prior to my starting time which means I cut it pretty close from the time that I arrive to the time I tee off. There is a big risk in getting caught in traffic whether it is construction or a 5 car pile up, if I show up late for my starting time I am penalized.
The Australian Masters is being played this weekend and Tiger Woods is playing for the first time in 11 years. The galleries are filled with people trying to get a glimpse of the #1 player in the world and maybe of all-time. On his way to the golf course prior to the first round, Tiger ran into some traffic. This wasn’t caused by road construction or an accident but, ironically, from all of the fans who were coming out to see him. Later when he finally arrived he was told that traffic was backed up for miles because of his popularity, to which he replied, “I know. I was stuck in it too.”
Luckily for Tiger that day he gave himself plenty of time to warm up and, although his practice routine was cut short, he was in no danger of missing his starting time. However, had traffic been even worse and forced him to be late for his starting time he would have been penalized. Rule 6-3 of the Rules of Golf deals with Time of Starting and states, “The player must start at the time established by the Committee.” This means that a player must be on the starting tee with a club and ball in hand ready to play at his group’s starting time. The penalty for breach of this rule is disqualification. However, the committee can use the Note at the end of Rule 6-3 that allows the player to start within five minutes after his starting time, but the player will receive a two-stroke penalty. I like to think of this as a “grace period”. But if the player shows up after this five minute “grace period”, he is disqualified. Almost all major events use this local rule.
If Tiger had shown up late to the first tee there are only certain circumstances in which committee would NOT have been penalized. For example if Tiger, while on his way to the golf course, had gotten out of his car to administer medical aid to someone in need, the committee would be justified in waiving the penalty. Being stuck in unexpected traffic is not a good enough excuse to avoid being penalized.
So the moral of the story is: If you ever get good enough to have a gallery, give yourself extra time to get to the course in case you get stuck in your fans’ traffic jam.
