Colorado is known for its kaleidoscope of weather conditions that can wreak havoc on players during a round. The elements that first come to mind are lightning, hail, and cloudbursts from afternoon thunderstorms. However, the one forgotten element that should be at the top of that list is the wind.
We all know that Colorado can experience some of the windiest conditions in the country along the hogback and across the eastern plains making golf extremely difficult, or impossible, to play . For example, during the recent U.S. Open Local Qualifying at Walking Stick Golf Course the state’s top players fought through sustained 40 mph winds with gusts over 50 mph, and even par was the low score shot by only two players. Additionally, the CGA Senior Four-Ball Championship at The Heritage at Westmoor had to be reduced from 36 holes to 18 because the wind blew so hard the second day (May 5th) that golf balls would not stay on the putting surfaces rendering the golf course unplayable.
Why is the wind so bad for your game? It can change the distance and direction you hit a particular club dramatically and unpredictably. It can throw you off balance mid-swing, and send your hat two fairways over. And it can cost you penalty strokes once you have addressed the ball.
By definition, addressing the ball means you have taken your stance and have grounded your club. If you have addressed the ball, and then the wind moves it, you must replace the ball and add a penalty of one stroke to your score. This mostly occurs on the green since the grass is so short it offers little resistance to hold the ball in place, and the ball is completely exposed to the wind. Jack Nicklaus was famous for not grounding his putter on the green”“he would actually putt the ball with the putter head hovering just off the ground so he would never address the ball and not be subject to the penalty.
Now, if you have not addressed your ball and it is moved by the wind you must play your ball from where the wind moved it to without penalty. As you can imagine, this could be bad. If your ball at rest is moved by wind into a water hazard, you have to play the ball from the hazard or take a penalty stroke and drop it out of the hazard. However, this could also be good. The wind could blow your ball on the green 10 feet closer to the hole making your birdie putt a whole lot easier. The wind could even blow your ball into the hole, meaning you have now holed out with your previous stroke!
Please note that wind is NOT considered an outside agency, which is why you play your ball from where it ends up after the wind moves it. If you have not addressed your ball and it is moved by an outside agency, such as a tree, animal or another person (other than your partner or either of your caddies) you would replace the ball without penalty to the spot it was before it was moved. The penalty only occurs after you have addressed the ball.
Weather conditions will always play a key role in golf, and will always raise questions when it comes to the Rules of Golf. Perhaps Bob Dylan said it best. “The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind.”
