11/30/2023 - Golf Mart

My chipping has been so horrific lately that I was looking at getting a chipper.  Yes, I know people will make fun of me, but if it shaves strokes off my game...

So are they legal?

I couldn't find them in the USGA equipment database, but I don't believe that's conclusive.  I found this on the equipment FAQ:

Yes, chippers are iron clubs not putters, and therefore must conform with the requirements for woods and irons. For example, chippers may not have a putter grip, two striking faces or appendages for aiming purposes. See Part 2, Sections 1 through 5 of the Equipment Rules.

I browsed the sections referenced above, and the noteworthy parts are listed in the examples in italics above.

I looked at three different models, and here's what I found:

Ping Chipr - This seems to be the high end chipper.  And from what I could find, I believe that it's conforming.  I'll need to go back to double-check the grip.  Golf Mart had it for $119, which seems to be below list price.  Maybe it was a demo.

Pinseeker Chip 'n Run - The head appears to be conforming, but I'm pretty sure that there was a putter grip on the one I tried.  This would make it non-conforming.  Obviously the grip could be replaced, but that would take it beyond the $39 price tag.

Rezults Chipper - The head of this model had a protrusion for aiming purposes, so this one is non-conforming.  This one was also $39.

I have a gift card for Golf Mart, so I may have to invest in one of the first two and report back.

11/11/2023 - Admiral Baker South

I think it was Arnold Palmer who said that if he was playing a non-tournament round, he would carry 20 clubs, and practice different shots with all of them.

This didn't happen, but it came up.  What if you knowingly start a round with more than 14 clubs, and continue to play with more than 14 clubs?

If it was a tournament, it's two strokes per hole, with a maximum of four strokes.  So if you discover it and take excess clubs out of play after the first hole, it's a two stroke penalty.  If it's discovered on the second hole, it's four total strokes.  If no one notices until the third hole or later, it's the maximum of four strokes penalty, but you have to take the excess clubs out of play when it's discovered.  Failure to do so means DQ.

So what if you're playing a practice round using Arnold Palmer's philosophy?  I think the DQ equivalent for a practice round would be that you couldn't post that round for your handicap.  And if it was your career-low round, too bad, it doesn't count.

But if you get a hole-in-one under these circumstances, I'm going to say that you're still obligated to buy drinks.