golfrewind.com

The Rules of Golf state that “All players shall conduct themselves in a disciplined manner, demonstrating courtesy and sportsmanship at all times, irrespective of how competitive they may be. This is the spirit of the game of golf.” After observing Tiger Woods’ very unsportsmanlike conduct during and after his loss at the Accenture Match Play, including his blaming a ball mark for his missed putt and his refusal to provide an interview, I wondered about the penalties in golf for poor sportsmanship. I wondered if it wouldn’t be in the best interests of the “spirit of the game” for the USGA and PGA to institute stroke penalties for players who throw clubs, slam them into the turf, or throw balls into lakes in anger. Perhaps a penalty should be instated for refusal to provide interviews after an event, as is the case in some other professional sports.

In tennis, a sport not touted as a gentlemen’s game as golf is, there are penalties for cursing or making obscene gestures on the court, for throwing racquets or smashing a ball with the racquet in anger. For such outbursts you receive a point penalty for a first offense, a game penalty for a second and disqualification for a third. When I reviewed The Rules of Golf to see what system there might be to penalize players who violate the “spirit of the game,” I found that it is more condoned in golf to violate the spirit of the game and the rules of the game than it is in tennis.

If a player occasionally or sometimes disregards the rule and spirit of the game in golf, there appears to be no penalty. The rules state: “If a player consistently disregards these guidelines during a round or over a period of time to the detriment of others, it is recommended that the Committee consider taking appropriate disciplinary action against the offending player. Such action may, for example, include prohibiting play for a limited time on the course or in a certain number of competitions.”

The rules do not recommend that the committee take action unless a player consistently disregards the guidelines. And, the action that ought to be taken in response to consistent violation is rather vague and not at all in keeping with the way most rules of golf are written. As a general rule, a specific number of strokes or holes is listed as the penalty for violating almost all rules in golf except, it seems, the rules of etiquette and courtesy.

During my standing weekly date with the PGA on television, it is no rarity to see a professional throw a club, gouge the fairway with a clubhead, fling a ball into the water, or throw a mini temper tantrum on the course. If the camera happens to be on the offending player’s face at the time, it doesn’t take much lip reading skill to pick out the profanities spewing forth from angry lips.

As a result of the way the rules are written, professional golfers can be seen on television engaging in the behavior described above without penalty week after week. Such behavior displayed by the most admired golfers on the planet conveys the message to junior golfers and novices that it is okay to display your discontent with the way things are going on the course in ways that are less than courteous and sometimes detrimental to the course. It is a message that is inconsistent with the spirit of the game as described in The Rules of Golf.

There may be an individual (Saint Andrew perhaps?) who was never upset during a round of golf, but I have not heard of that individual. When you combine human nature with the nature of this great game, players will become upset on the course. But professionals are professionals, and as such should be charged with protecting the spirit and integrity of the game that provides their livelihoods. I am sure that even Bobby Jones and Jack Nicklaus may have thrown clubs or slammed a clubhead into the turf in anger. But just as golfers are penalized for violating other rules of the game, they should be penalized for violating rules of etiquette.

If, as in tennis, golfers were penalized for each breach of etiquette, then perhaps they would take the spirit of the game as seriously as they take the finances of the game. If a player curses audibly, throws a club or a ball in anger, or is otherwise found to be conducting him/herself in a less than professional and courteous manner, he/she should be assessed a stroke penalty for a first offense, two-strokes for a second and disqualified for a third

Most professional golfers conduct themselves with dignity and “…in a disciplined manner, demonstrating courtesy and sportsmanship at all times, irrespective of how competitive they may be. This is the spirit of the game of golf.” For those who do not conduct themselves in such a manner, perhaps a penalty that could result in the loss of thousands of dollars might constitute a not so subtle, but warranted, reminder.

The PGA already fines players for poor conduct during their tournaments, but does not make the fines public.

According to this article no golfer gets more fines than Tiger Woods himself (probably because he is on camera more than any other golfer)! (Something tells me he probably comes out 'ahead' from his participation in the tournaments though )

http://calsun.canoe.ca/Sports/OtherS...79535-sun.html (Woods)

Other references to PGA fines:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/golf/plus/2003/06/30/ (Kaye)

http://asp.usatoday.com/community/ta...RGINIA%20WATER (Garcia)

+ there are plenty more to be fined, err, I mean found!

first things first, tiger blamed the divot cause it was its fault, if it wasnt there tiger would of one, once he hit the putt he looked right at the divot, he just didnt see it.
Second off, for some of these people, its a natural reaction to do stuff like that, thats why it should be after 2 or 3 times the should get fined.
The USGA has everything under control you dont have to point out flaws that dont even exist.

Thanks for the links Straight! Good stuff. My education continues. However, private fines do nothing to influence how those watching the sport make sense of how players behave and how that behavior is perceived by the keepers of the game. Public fines might have more influence in impacting how a player behaves than private.

I agree. I believe that in pro tennis the fines are publicized. Is this correct?

I don't mind the occasional show of displeasure, shows they are human and do the same thing the average golfer does here and there. I don't think they should cursing on camera, but tossing a ball in the water, if done with some humor may help them blow off steam, and give the viewers a laugh too. It doesn't have to be so stuffy that they can't do anything.

I agree with the above sentiment, but on second thought, do we really need another money list for Tiger to lead, and another trophy at year's end (the new Tommy Bolt Trophy)?

fines have been proven useless. Tiger could pay any fine levied (and is willing to pay his caddie's fines). Start taking away a percentage of FedEx cup points.

I totally agree and I personally think that keeping them private is a better route than making them public. Its the same with the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL. If someone can make $20,000 in one half of play, why would they care about paying $10,000? Its the fact that the media makes such a big deal about fine that turns it from, "Hey, at least they're doing something" to "Oh, they're talking about fines agian on Sportscenter... I'll come back in 15 minutes."

To me I like to see that emotion. Whether it be in NFL, Tennis, Golf, NBA, etc... What makes them any better than us? They are human as well. I usually play alone and about 80% of the people they pair me up with will slam a club, curse, etc...

With someone that is so competitive (Tiger) I expect extreme emotion. That's what I like to see. I like to see someone choke under pressure and someone rise under pressure. Everyone loves Tiger, Phil, Payne when they make a huge putt to win the Major and they jump and scream b/c that's good emotion. It's still bad sportsmanship b/c you are showing up the rest of the field. It's like Chad Johnson scoring a TD. They call his celebration bad sportsmanship. Why isn't Tiger screaming and doing a massive fist pump (a celebration) called bad sportsmanship?

Please don't take emotion out of sports. It's what makes sports what it is. Whether it be good emotion or bad emotion.

Really? You must live in an angry place. I will not play with anyone who behaves that way, and I've left after nine because of it. I do like to see emotion in PGA events though, especially after good shots. There's no place for Pat Perez's tantrums though. The networks do a good job of steering away from that stuff, I mean when was the last time they even showed Perez?

I don't think there is a problem.

I will not let someone else mess up my afternoon or morning due a little bit of club slamming. That's their own prerogative, I do try to stay away from them while driving or walking. If someone tells me they've never slammed a club head on the ground in frustration I wouldn't believe them one bit. Humans are subject to frustration, stress and emotion. We act on this frustration by letting out, usually slamming a club head, throwing that ball into the lake, etc... I know my take will be unpopular as i'm playing devil's advocate here.

I bolded your truest statement. I don't see a problem with how anybody on the tour is behaving.

Yes Shooter, the tennis fines are public. The point wasn't the money (for those saying that the fines don't bother Tiger). Of course the money doesn't bother Tiger and that's why making the fines public would serve some purpose. Tiger would be much more protective of his public image (which influences endorsements) than his pocketbook (which floweth over). Emotion is great! I show emotion on the tennis court and on the golf course. However, if I behave like a brat (tossing things, cursing, slamming, etc.) I would expect to be fined or reprimanded in some way because I don't believe it is consistent with the spirit of the game as discussed in the Rules of Golf. This culture seems to revere people who act out (McEnroe in tennis for example), and people seem to believe that because we all have emotions it's good to have them displayed on TV. Well, if I had kids, I would teach them to control their negative expressions in public. Sure I cuss, I get upset, etc, but I should also be able to show a bit of restraint. That's a part of growing up. But that maybe cuz I'm old school. Publicized fines may not deter players from acting up, but it could convey the message that certain behavior is not accepted in the game.

Watching Tiger and few others today in person I noticed the club slamming a lot. Sergio did it a few times and Tiger did as well. These 2 players probably have to most emotion in the game.

It didn't bother me one bit watching this. Actually I liked it because it shows me that they aren't really going through the motions and actually caring how they play on a Thursday.

It doesn't bother me either way if they break a club over there knee and curse. All I care about watching is the golf.
CP