Breaking the rules feedback
5/18/01

I’ve had a lot of feedback to my last two columns on distance measuring devices -- both pro and con. The first two letters in this week’s mailbag are representative:

Yes! Thank you for speaking so "Frankly" on the subject of distance measuring devices (May 4 and May 11). You are exactly right that rule 14-3b is silly. I break it every casual round I play. The answer is clearly for the USGA to drop their hypocritical and elitist stance and abolish rule 14-3b and allow any distance measuring devices players wish to use. I have written the USGA several times protesting this rule. Their stance is hypocritical because the best players in the game never hit a shot without knowing exact yardages. Their stance is elitist because it denies the average golfer the same information the elite tournament players have. Tournament players are thus playing a different game than the rest of us, and range finders only partly level the field (it is difficult to get exact front-of-the-green and back-of-the-green distances with a range finder). I hope your advocacy of fairness and sanity will finally produce a change in this, the silliest rule of all. Keep up the good work! -- Kevin W. Martin, Raleigh, NC

Kevin, there are so many golfers who agree with our position that they choose to ignore the rule. This is not good for the game and in itself is a good sign that something must be done.

A fundamental, inherent and intrinsic challenge in golf is determining how far you've gone and how far you've got to go. The distances the golf course provides are bad enough, but they are only a total number -- you don't know how far it is to those bushes by the water on that left turn, or how far that big rock on the right is from the pin. This should be left for the individual to determine. While distance measuring devices may be handy for those of us learning, there is no place for them in competition. When it's time to play it’s you, 14 clubs and a ball. -- Keith Fernandez

Keith, I appreciate your concern, which I share. But unfortunately yardage books, hole location sheets and well-informed caddies are permitted by the governing bodies of every major event. I too wish we didn’t have any of this stuff, but we can’t turn back the clock. And the way the rule is now, the USGA is turning otherwise law-abiding golfers into rules breakers, which in itself is bad for the game. Of course, if the fundamental challenge of the game is as pure to you as it is to me, don’t use any distance-measuring devices -- you are free to ignore caddies, yardages on sprinkler heads and 150-yard markers and simply "eyeball" each and every shot. There’s no law that says you have to use all the information that’s available to you.

I'm 42 and a starting golfer. I'm also left-handed, so it was hard for me to find a set of clubs. All I could find was an old set for $25 -- needless to say they aren't in the best of shape, but they were golf clubs and I couldn't afford new ones. The woods are old and the finish is wearing off. I was wondering what to do about that, if anything? I would appreciate any help you could give me. By the way, I think this is going to be a great hobby. -- Kent Hendley, Carlsbad, New Mexico

I would like to welcome you to the fold, Kent. I assume because the finish on your woods is in bad shape, they must be made of wood. Short of experimenting on your own with sandpaper and varnish, to restore these clubs properly you should contact a custom clubmaker in your area (although the finish may cost a lot more than clubs did). I suggest you contact a local pro for advice, the International Custom Clubmakers Association (www.icca.com), or companies like Golfsmith or GolfWorks (www.golfsmith.com, www.golfworks.com) -- they are parts manufacturers for custom clubmakers. This in itself is a great hobby! Good golfing.

What iron equates to a 7-wood with regard to loft and expected distance? -- Jim Venezia

Jim, this varies with the manufacturer of the club. However I have found the 7-wood to be equivalent to the 3-iron with regard to distance but very much easier to hit. So dump the 3-iron.

 

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This column appeared on golfdigest.com where Frank contributes on a weekly basis. Check it out every Saturday.