Golf Rule: Golf Ball On Golf Course - HONOR

Hole-In-One Situation and True Gentleman Golfers

The game of golf is a gentleman's game as it entails the discipline of honor, integrity and honesty. In keeping with the spirit of the game, there are the Golf Rules and Golf Etiquette to ensure fairness in playing the proper game of golf on any golf course.

This brings to mind an actual situation.

It happened during an Amateur Golf Competition and a 'Hole-In-One' achievement did carry a handsome prize. Most Golf Clubs offer valuable attractive prizes like Flat screen TV, home appliances, watches and paid vacations.

There was a flight of four in a Par 3 hole. Everyone declared their ball and teed-off towards the green. The golf ball belonging to Chappie headed straight towards the flag stick. All proceeded towards the green and saw there were no balls on the green. Each golfer soon managed to locate their golf balls except Chappie.

He was searching for his golf ball. Chappie went pass the green near the edge of the bushes shouted that he found his and pitched it to land the ball on the green a distance from the flag stick. His fellow competitors did the same.

It was normal that the golfer nearest the flag would remove the flag stick from the hole so that all players can 'hole out'. On doing that one of his fellow competitor saw a ball in the hole as he proceeded to remove the flag stick. It was of the same brand as the ball Chappie used. Chappie denied that the golf ball in the hole was his.

His admission made him lose his 'Hole-In-One' prize - a car in that Amateur Tournament. This made his 'gentleman' character questionable. Where did the extra ball come from? Some later said that he may have had a hole in his pants' pocket. Some asked what would ensue if he had claimed that the golf ball in the hole was his and ball he played out of the bush was a wrong ball....

The YouTube video demonstration 'Mikey Adams Cheating at Golf' illustrated some of the popular Golf Cheats of players with the use of Hand-wedge, Foot-wedge and Appearance of Another Ball.

Another situation was a true incident made into a movie.

In that movie the leading champion was on a slope at the edge of the golf course . He addressed his ball with his Golf Club and when he was about to hit, the ball moved an oscillation to rest in another spot. It was only seen by him and his caddy. It was a call to decide the winner. If he just proceeded and played on he would have won the competition. This is a Gentleman's game judgment call. He thought for a while and was persuaded by his caddy to play on. His caddy pleaded to him to play on as they were away from the crowd's and other golfers' view; where no one had seen the ball moved. No one could possibly see that the ball had moved. It was safe to play on.

He did what the game required and admitted the infringement and called the penalty on himself. He lost the game. He was pleased and continued to enjoy playing the Gentleman's Game, the way it was meant to be. This is the spirit of the game of golf. Be honorable! Be Sporting!

Below is another movie that captured the essence realistically.

Albatross Birdie

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