Golfweek Amateur Tour - The Podcast

Ryder Cup Reflections, Gear Tips & Nationals Prep — Where Amateurs Play Like Pros

• Tim Newman & Chris Rocha • Season 4 • Episode 23

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The Ryder Cup sting is still fresh, but it’s also the perfect reminder that preparation and focus separate winners from the field. In this episode, Tim Newman and Chris Rocha reflect on what went wrong in match play and how amateur golferscan apply those same lessons to their own game as Nationals week approaches.

Special guest Drew Flavell from the Jacksonville Tour joins the conversation to share his insights on golf adapters, a simple yet game-changing tool that allows golfers to swap shafts, adjust launch angles, and fine-tune tempo without the cost of a full new set. Drew breaks down how adapters work, when they make sense, and how to improve your performance with smarter gear choices.

Then Roger’s Rules returns with a clear and practical look at the “2-by-2” sprinkler head myth. Roger explains when relief really applies, how to find your nearest point correctly, and why two club lengths isn’t always the answer. The team also discusses how to use the USGA Rules of Golf App, when to play two balls, and how self-policing protects both your scorecard and your reputation.

As Nationals approaches, Tim and Chris share final preparation tips, covering time-zone adjustments, travel routines, and the mindset needed to finish strong. Whether you’re chasing a championship in A-Flight or grinding in C-Flight, this episode is your reminder that gear, rules, and preparation all play a role in performing your best.

This is Golfweek Amateur Tour – The Podcast, where Amateurs Play Like Pros.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • The Ryder Cup disappointment reminds players to control what they can.
  • Golf adapters offer affordable customization for better performance.
  • Understanding the rules prevents avoidable penalties during competition.
  • The Golfweek Amateur Tour community thrives on integrity, camaraderie, and competition.
  • Nationals week success comes from preparation, focus, and mindset.

CONNECT WITH US

  • Learn more about the Golfweek Amateur Tour: amateurgolftour.net
  • Explore the Senior Amateur Tour: senioramateurgolftour.net
  • Download the USGA Rules of Golf App for on-course rulings
  • Subscribe for the Nationals recap and future episodes

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SPEAKER_02:

Chris w welcome back. It's uh not happy. I'm happy to see you and happy to be back here, but but I I I've got a sour taste in my mouth and it'll probably be sitting around for a little while.

SPEAKER_05:

It will. It was a tough weekend to watch. Uh you hate to see it, you hate to see what the crowd kind of uh boiled over to. Um And we gotta wait another two years to get a little crack at it again.

SPEAKER_06:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

I I don't like it.

unknown:

I don't like it.

SPEAKER_05:

Nothing we can do about it right now. Hopefully, you know, they they bring more live guys to play. I know you I know you don't like them, but I think Brooks um could have brought some fire out there. I think Keegan should have played. Uh when you're number ten in the world, you should play. We need you. And um Yeah, I mean there's a couple other guys out there that could have played, but it is what it is.

SPEAKER_02:

Uh you know I don't know. I The guys we had should've won. And they should have.

SPEAKER_05:

You know, when I was watching, every putt was left short. And if you're putting for Birdie to win the match, you wanna get it past that gr past that hole.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06:

No.

SPEAKER_02:

And these guys know that. They should they should well they well, you know, it th they should it it it's it's very disheartening to watch to watch those to watch that to listen to that. I I I did more listening than I did watching. Um and it's a good thing 'cause uh you know there there's not much from a sport perspective that I that that I really invest my you know my my my time and energy and and emotions in. But but the Ryder Cup is one of them. Right. And it I mean it it it eats at me. Um you know, I'm I'm the same way, you know, when you know for for pretty much all n international competitions, you know, whether it's the Olympics, whether it's the World Cup or uh you know anything like that. And so I'm I'm perpetu perpetually uh disappointed with our men's soccer team. You know, or the US men's soccer team is just horrible. It's it's it's a laughing stock. We can't beat we we we can't beat uh the European team in golf. It's it's it's horrible. There's no excuse for it. It's no excuse for it. You know. You're you're probably not old enough to remember George Allen. Um legendary NFL coach, he said every time he loses, a little piece of himself dies inside, is what he said. And that's how I feel. You know, we're we're we you know it it it just it it takes its toll. But let's try not to talk too much about that. Um we we are we're we're kind of in that in that in that time of the year where uh it's over uh but it's still going on and it's not quite over yet. It's it's the it's the the law before the storm. It's our last regular season uh and regular episode of the year because the the the next episode will be after the golf week national championship is over.

SPEAKER_05:

Right. It's uh it's coming on again. It's I mean we keep we keep doing it and we keep enjoying it, but before you know it, we're already talking about national uh recap and having to set up all of those mics and fight with Facebook on how to get on there live properly and all that fun stuff.

SPEAKER_02:

That's gonna be awesome.

SPEAKER_05:

But I mean that's that's what we do it for you. We enjoy it.

SPEAKER_02:

Yes. Absolutely. And so let's just go ahead and and and roll with roll with this episode. We got two great guests, and uh let's just roll with it.

SPEAKER_05:

Let's do it. Let's go, let's do it.

SPEAKER_01:

Go for we can't church, probably amateur tour, walking upon all the things, go for week amateur tour, including the welcome back.

SPEAKER_02:

This is this is both a sad and happy day all at the same time. Right. Our last regular episode of the 2025 Golf Week Amateur Tour, senior amateur tour season.

SPEAKER_05:

That's what third season in a row? Third season closed?

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, third, fourth, fifth, whatever it takes. You know, we'll we'll be we'll be doing this for a while, I think.

SPEAKER_05:

I think so too. I think so too. So your bag packed are your bags packed? You ready to go? Uh no, they're not packed. Um, yes, I'm ready to go. Um I'm gonna start doing some some crazy things and waking up a little bit earlier just to get my body used to the time change. Um because I did get my uh email from Dennis, you know, after you do um an event recap. And uh he did say see in a few weeks to defend your tour director's cup and compete very high in the B flight nationals. So that got me a little pumped and ready to go.

SPEAKER_02:

Well, I I'm not sure if that means he he has faith in you or or not. He said to compete very high, not you know.

SPEAKER_05:

I think I think he has faith.

SPEAKER_02:

He does he have faith?

SPEAKER_05:

All right, he may not make another bet like he did last year, but at least he has faith.

SPEAKER_02:

Well we'll we'll we'll see. I I've got faith in you. I know you do. As as long as you get as long as you get to the first T one time on Friday morning, I got all the faith in the world.

SPEAKER_05:

I I'm pretty sure I will. Well, I I hope so. We'll find out.

SPEAKER_02:

Well, you know, I I I I'm still very upset about what happened this past week um with with Ryder Cup. I I it's it's you know, it is something that that truly, truly it eats at me and it and it it it deep it's a deep down inside bothers me. Deep down inside. Yes. Um you know, we we failed to we just completely failed to show up on Friday and Saturday.

SPEAKER_05:

Yes, completely agree. Um, you know, I I I actually had an event during the last two days, and we came in. I think the second group had maybe six holes ago, and seeing all that red was encouraging. But you know, seeing enough Rider Cups, you you know that it's pretty slim to come back from a lead like that, uh, especially when they already had half a point without even any balls in the air, uh, with with uh the injury. So um I was saying I wouldn't be surprised if Europeans said ten other guys were injured and can't play, and then they automatically win because all those half a points would have would have counted for it for a victory. So but I'm glad they went out there and played. Uh and it I mean, what did it conduct? The third to last group. Yeah. So at least at least we we fought. We fought, but it was it was gonna be tough to come back anyways.

SPEAKER_02:

You can't come back from that. I mean it's right because they they had to win two and a half points. Right. And you know I I knew after after the morning session on Saturday it was it was done because we we had no fire. We had we just had nothing. Right? Yeah. He's getting rolled up, ladies and gentlemen. He's getting rolled up. But yeah, we we we do have again, we we got really good guests uh uh in our in our last uh regular episode of the year. Um we'll have we'll have Roger on and he'll he'll he'll do a rundown for us of of rules you should know going into national championship. But uh we gotta we we've got a a a a new guest to to bring on and I'll just go ahead I'll just go ahead and bring him in.

unknown:

Come on.

SPEAKER_05:

We've done this before, we swear.

SPEAKER_02:

I know. There we go. All right. We got Drew Flavil from the Jacksonville Tour. Drew, welcome to the show, bud.

SPEAKER_03:

Thank you. Hey Tim, hey Chris, how you guys doing? Doing great. Doing good doing great. That writter cup of well, that's hard for me to watch too. Right there with you, Tim.

SPEAKER_02:

And it it's you know, for the most part, you know, this this weekend I was, you know I was in my office working, right? And and so, you know, the public couldn't hear me cussing and and carrying on. You know, but but but Sunday I was out in public and I and I had to keep it, you know, kind of kind of down. But you know, it's it's to me you gotta at least show up. It just you gotta try. Now now I'm not taking taking away Tommy Fleetwood I mean, he played the best three days of golf he's ever played in his life.

SPEAKER_03:

Yeah, he made amazing puts.

SPEAKER_02:

But you know Scotty Scheffler, uh Scotty Scheffler's group won, what was it, three holes in the first three? Yep. That's unacceptable. Yep.

SPEAKER_05:

Scotty Scotty hasn't won a team event in the last two writer cups. Nope. He's winless.

SPEAKER_02:

Well he beat the head he he he he beat Rory head to head to head, which he had to do.

SPEAKER_05:

I mean he does that on a week week in, week out basis. He better.

SPEAKER_02:

He just can't play with the team. Well, we we gotta get it together because we we we we can't lose three in a row. That that would be it'd be the end. So Drew, let's talk about you, bud, because I'm I'm I'm upset and but Chris and I hadn't had a chance to talk about you, and we'd still have more to talk about. But uh I don't want to start yelling at you. You you haven't done anything wrong yet. So everybody, well welcome Drew Flavel. He he's with the uh Jacksonville Tour, and he he's got he's got an interesting business call called the the uh golf adapter store. So Drew, t tell us a little bit about what what you're doing.

SPEAKER_03:

So uh I took ownership of the business about five years ago, five, six years ago, and we sell pretty much any golf adapter that you need for any of your clubs, ferrels, uh club head weights. It's all an e-commerce store, so it's all based off of our website or eBay, um, which will be presented. I'll be actually in person at national, so I'll have a lot of this information out for everybody on that registration for both regular and senior uh nationalist event. But basically, you know, this is I had a couple of them out. You know, this is where's my camera? This is this is a golf adapter. Some people are pretty familiar with them, some people aren't. This is for a ping driver. Um I have you know, it's just another variation. This is for a titleist driver. So, I mean, we carry everything from Catalade to Shrixon to Tour Edge. Um, any brand you need, we we can either either carry or we can get very easily. Um, and you know, say you break your club, um, whether on purpose or an accident. Um Chris, Chris continue. Um, you know, that obviously adapter is no longer you can take it off, but nine times out of ten, it it's not reusable. Um so you know, getting an adapter for a new shaft, for new clubhead, and all that stuff, uh, we sell those direct to consumer. We sell them to wholesalers, club fitters, um, putting it any money in the golf business, uh, we sell them direct to them through our website or um just you know through email or anything like that. And so uh I brought a couple, where's my one example? So this is what it looks like when it's actually on the shaft. This is just an old Nike one that I had laying around. So that's this obviously the clubhead would go on top of here then, and then you can adjust your lofts, your lies, your settings. It's different. Obviously, different brands have different ways of adjusting it. And some you can adjust more than others. Um it's all brand specific. And then this is obviously what it would finally look like at the end. There's your adapter with the club head, you know, already on it. So this is you can kind of it's kind of really hard to see, obviously, but this is in neutral right now. You can adjust it for a draw or for more of a fade, depending on your swing, swing speed, your swing plane, and you know, all those things. So that's the majority of our business. We also sell uh the fancy little colored ferrels, which are those little plastic things that kind of join the clubhead to the shaft. They're pretty much purely aesthetic, which uh, you know, some people like to spend the money on it, which is fine. Um, you know, look good to play good, so to speak. Oh, yeah, I love it. It's just it's you know, there's companies out there that now they make this they make them where they snap around where you don't have to take the clubhead off. Um, but there's been I mean, I've only ever tried it once, and there's just been a lot of bad reviews that I've seen that they fall off, they break, they're not made well. Um I'm not trying to talk bad about them. It's just you know, unfortunately, to get where it's gonna be right, you almost have to do it, take the whole club head off. And um, but you know, I've I've got I didn't take them out of the bag, but you know, I've got colors like that for your Georgia or your Ohio State fans. I figured you went at Lanez, so I figured you know, some red and black. Um I've got I've got pretty much almost any color you can think of. And if there's a color you I don't have, I can get in custom made. Um you know, I've been with the same manufacturer for over 10 years, so uh I've got you know my products are the same, they're very consistent. I have very, very few complaints. Um, and if it is, I get it fixed, you know, within one to two days as quickly as I can.

SPEAKER_02:

So so with the adapters, you know, who's your primary target with that? And is that something that let's just say, you know, you you've got you got state you've got standard ping head, you can go and take it to to somebody and put an adapter on, and now it's adjust, now it becomes adjustable.

SPEAKER_03:

Correct. I mean, pretty much these days, that's how most of clubs are sold, anyways, you know, with their drivers and woods and pretty much are hybrids now, too. Um, but if you don't like your shaft, you know, that you have say you need a shaft or you know, you know, you want to go graphite to you know, if you want to change something, unfortunately you have to change the adapter or buy a whole new setup. You know, this kind of cut down the cost versus buying a whole new setup when you can just you know change just a shaft or just a clubhead with you know with a simple adapter. You know, the adapter is the cheap part, unfortunately, all the work for it is the expensive part.

SPEAKER_02:

Right. And I guess you know, we we had uh the folks from uh Fuji Fujiara on you know a month or so ago. And so hopefully what we're gonna get people you know switch into into those shafts and and hopefully they'll they just go ahead and and buy your uh adapters right right there right next to them. Yes, sir. But but but I you know I I don't know how much you you you looked into the uh Fuji car and what they're doing. Um but the the guy the the number one fitter said he was fitting people with with shafts and in three swings. That's how good the technology is now.

SPEAKER_03:

Oh, I believe it in in those shafts. Yeah, I definitely believe it. Some of the dust shafts out there, so yeah.

SPEAKER_05:

Challenge accepted.

SPEAKER_03:

Um and and we'll be again we'll be on site during registration um at nationals on that Thursday, and then we'll also be set up uh Sunday afternoon at the closing ceremonies, and I'll have all my product on site. So, you know, have a probably special discount for uh the the national tournament. And um, you know, hopefully if people need to get set up during the offseason, then I've got the stuff to do it.

SPEAKER_02:

Well well, Chris, uh he he may not ask you, but I know he's gonna be looking for some burnt orange, you know, ferrels.

SPEAKER_05:

No, that that was the next question. Is if you can find me some burnt orange ones, I have burnt orange grips on my irons, and and I would not be opposed to putting some on those.

SPEAKER_03:

Good old Texas colors, huh?

SPEAKER_05:

Yes, sir.

SPEAKER_03:

All day, every day. I have some orange. It's it's it's a for some reason it's a hard color to do. I don't know what it is about it, but I've asked several times, and they always give me like they just give me the runaround. I'm like, it's not that hard of a color. Like, it's just die.

SPEAKER_05:

Colors of champions are hard to make.

SPEAKER_03:

Oh my god. I mean, but look at these nice Ohio State ones I have.

SPEAKER_05:

No, no, no. You're breaking up. You're looking a little blurry over there.

SPEAKER_02:

So, Drew, how did you get involved in in playing on the tour?

SPEAKER_03:

Uh random Google search, believe it or not. Um, it was two years ago. I just I was really fed up with I was going out and playing with the guys, but it it it turned in just too no, it wasn't really competitive. It wasn't, I mean it was fun, but it wasn't competitive. And I just I have a very competitive nature. So I just randomly searched um amateur tours near Jacksonville, and I think it was either the first or second one that came up um in the Google search and just looked more and more into it. Saw the sign-up button, and I think I signed up two days later, and that was just last year. So this is only my second season on tour, and um, I've just I I've enjoyed it every every tournament I've been to. I joined the Nationals last year. Um, I drive up to Hilton Ed probably three or four times a year to play up there. Um so it's it's it's been very enjoyable.

SPEAKER_02:

Well, yeah, you had a pretty good uh day on when was it Saturday, Sunday?

SPEAKER_03:

Saturday, yeah. Saturday? Yeah, I uh I I kind of I failed at the end, but that's alright. I was uh four I was four over after 16 holes and ended up 280.

SPEAKER_02:

That's all right.

SPEAKER_03:

That's all yeah, it happens, but how how'd you finish? Uh uh tie for third.

SPEAKER_02:

That's pretty good.

SPEAKER_03:

Yeah, there you go.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah. I I I know Dennis doesn't like when when other people come in and and uh take take money back to their home tour, but hey, I I tell Hiltneck guys to play better.

SPEAKER_03:

That's right. I wasn't getting any points anyways because Jacksonville tour ended early abruptly on a whole nother uh issue. So I was going out there just to for the competitive nature of it. Um I know some of the guys you know getting ready for nationals, and I was just kind of doing the same thing, so it was a good good day.

SPEAKER_02:

So did you bring a few guys up?

SPEAKER_03:

Uh I think there's three of us from Jacksonville that came up. That's awesome.

SPEAKER_02:

And and Hilton Hood Lake's not not a bad place to play.

SPEAKER_03:

No, and especially being right there off in '95, it took me not even two hours to get there from my house, so.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah. So so are so I'm I guess you're you're north of Jackson.

SPEAKER_03:

Yeah, I'm on on the north side of Jacksonville.

SPEAKER_02:

Awesome.

SPEAKER_03:

So what what's been your favorite course? Wexford. Wexford Country Club in Hilton Hood.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, that's uh but you made a good choice coming up for that one.

SPEAKER_03:

Yeah. I played in it both years, and it's it's it's definitely one of my favorite courses.

SPEAKER_02:

Yes. What about down in Jacksonville?

SPEAKER_03:

Um I got the chance to play Plantation. I mean, it wasn't a course on the tour. Um, it's a private course down here. That's but on tour, probably um Eagle Harbor.

unknown:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

What what do you like about it?

SPEAKER_03:

Uh, just the layout. Um, it's just there's challenging holes. There's uh, you know, blind shots. You kind of have to use every club in your bag. You know, and I like that about a course, so you have to you know think about a shot.

SPEAKER_02:

Right. And so so you just got bumped up, you know, I guess uh and in the season and into the B flight.

SPEAKER_03:

So um I was actually in B flight half of last year. Um and then I don't know what happened to my game, lost my game, and got moved back. Well, I asked you to move back down to C flight and found my game, and then got butt bumped back up just about, I don't know, two months ago, I think.

SPEAKER_02:

So well, that's that's good. I mean, I I let you I don't know where you say on this, but you know, the the more people get get bumped up because they're getting better or they've they found something that that that they that they lost for a while. This is really what what we're trying to do. Try we're trying to get better and and uh and and move up with flights.

SPEAKER_03:

Absolutely. I mean, and again, obviously the competitive nature of me, okay. I want I could go to C flight and I could you know probably finish in the top five or something without half you know, just half trying. It's like, but that's not what it's about, you know. I should have to grind, should have to compete. Um, you know, I I I I don't want an easy just tell, okay, here's a top five because you know you're you're better than half you know more than this field. Like let me go into B flight and be competitive. So I'm I'm enjoying it. Keeps me more focused too, because you know, if like what happened Saturday, you can't have a you know a little bulk. Cost you quick.

unknown:

Exactly.

SPEAKER_03:

You can get away with that in C flight, not in B flight. No.

SPEAKER_02:

Well, really, you can't get away from get away from it in any flight because it on it on any given tournament day, somebody is gonna have a good day. And in every single flight. And that and that goes goes for D flight too. And you know, so you you can't really play around. You can't say, okay, well, I'm I'm where I need to be at hole 15, I can I can coast in because you you tr you truly just never know, especially if you if you're in a rhythm. As soon as you start playing smart or you start doing something that you haven't been doing, you know, for four hours, that that's when you you really run into trouble.

SPEAKER_05:

Right.

SPEAKER_02:

So so you you and Chris probably don't end up being being paired at least on day day one, Chris. Yeah, you got a Chr Chris is famous for for you know throwing out the challenges. I am yeah, you are. I don't know all that, but uh I I sat around the table. I I sat around the table with you last year at no at at Nashals. I I had to I had to tell you to calm down.

SPEAKER_05:

No, I uh you know what? It'll be it'll be a good time. Um we we can talk about some things when we get there. Hopefully, I mean if if you know the the higher people who are doing the pairings, if they can pair us together, that'd be awesome. I wouldn't be opposed to that.

SPEAKER_03:

Same here.

SPEAKER_05:

So Tim, make it make it happen.

SPEAKER_03:

Dennis, if you're if you're listening.

SPEAKER_02:

Well, he Dennis actually does listen, and you know, you know, there there are times when I when I say stuff and he'll he'll send me a text. He says, Really, that that that's really what you want to do?

SPEAKER_01:

You know he's not wrong.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, and and just to just to double check that that he is listening, but but I know he always does. And um Yeah, oh I'm sure. He's uh he's been a big supporter of uh of the podcast, and um it it's it's been his support has been been phenomenal for us and and our growth, which really you know when we started this again, it's it was more done to help you all as players and and the tour. And uh we're wrapping up like Chris said, th three full years of it. It's been great.

SPEAKER_03:

Dawson. I appreciate y'all.

SPEAKER_02:

Well, Drew, thanks so much for spending some time with us, and uh we will see you. Use you're gonna be at registration and then on Thursday with with uh um with with product, and you'll be there Sunday, and then as as seniors, um we're gonna be broadcasting live on on Thursday, so make sure you stop by and at least say hi. We'll get you on there as well.

SPEAKER_03:

Absolutely. I appreciate it. All right, Drew. Take care. I'll talk to you soon, buddy. Thank you guys.

SPEAKER_02:

Let's take a break from the show to hear about Strixon's ZX Mark II drivers.

SPEAKER_00:

ZX Mark II drivers are for major players, major winners, major power. All new ZX Mark II drivers only from Strixon.

SPEAKER_02:

I just want to take a quick second to explain the next segment. We brought Roger in to do another uh segment of of Roger's rules, and uh for whatever reason, uh the first time we did the interview, we lost all the footage. So we we scheduled them again, and for whatever reason, again, uh uh the footage did not come through and was not was not usable. Um and just one wanted to uh let everybody know um that uh uh this segment we've we've played before, uh, but it's still got really good information for you. And uh you know, for for the last three years, almost three years to a date, uh we've we've been honest with you. And uh this is the first time in three years that we've done we've done an interview that hasn't take or not produced of uh let's just say a a full episode. But you know, we with with Roger, he's he always gives good information. So we so again we we've got a compilation of a of a previous interview going over some important things that we you all need to know as we head into the national championship. We're looking forward to seeing everybody and uh hope you enjoy the segment. Take care. As we wind down the season, obviously we wanted to have you back on and and go over some some rules as we as we head into the national championship. So what do you have for us this week?

SPEAKER_04:

Yeah, so uh there's been a video going around, and I know Chris had uh posted this somewhere or sent it to me about what they call the two by two rule. Uh Chris, you remember sending that video?

SPEAKER_05:

Uh I do, yes.

SPEAKER_04:

Yeah. So it's called the two by two rule because they're thinking uh and the video that you'd sent describes one thing, but it's really about something else. So this is about immovable obstructions, and they call that abnormal course conditions in the rules, rule 16, but it's really about like sprinkler heads by the putting green. Whether, if they're on your line of play, do you get relief from them? And in the video, they showed how basically not to do it. Uh, so there's a couple things about that. The actual sprinkler head has to be within two club lengths of the putting green itself, and then your ball has to be within two club lengths of that sprinkler head, also, and it has to be on your line of play. And think about uh if it if your ball's on the sprinkler head, it's really something else that comes into effects, and that's the abnormal course conditions. That means the sprinkler head is interfering with your stance or your swing, and under the regular set of rules, you get relief for an abnormal course condition. You find the closest point of relief, and then you get one club length. But let's say on your line of play, that sprinkler head is right there, but it has no effect on your swing or your stance. And people are thinking a lot of times, this comes up pretty often. They're thinking, well, I get relief, don't I? It's on my line of play. And under the normal, just the regular rules of golf, you do not get relief. That's not a regular rule, it's a local rule. And I like I've always said in the past, local rules, there's so, so many of them. And unless somebody tells me that there's a local rule in effect, then I would rule, no, you don't get relief. But there is a local rule, and it's uh local rule 5F5-1. Not that there'll be a quiz on that later, and that is if your ball is if the sprinkler head is within two club lengths of the green, and your ball is also within two club lengths of that sprinkler head, and it's on your line of play, then you get relief from that. But you just gotta remember that that's a local rule, it's not just automatic, and that's the biggest thing that my guys automatically think they get relief, and and they don't because it's not uh it's not a local rule. And I'm honestly, I don't know on our tour. I mean, some tours may play that rule, and other tours, I mean, you know, reasons. I'm not sure what you guys do on your tour. If you have that as uh as a rule.

SPEAKER_02:

No, we uh I hope other tours don't do it, but but we do.

SPEAKER_04:

So uh it does come up and it's the line of play. And and you remember that's pretty there's not a whole lot of area there when you talk about that. That's within two club lengths. So if it's a sprinkler head on your line of play, you know, out when you're pitching, you know, you're not gonna get relief for that. It's just it's on your line of play. And the reason that is instituted is because if it's that close to the putting green, a lot of times the choices uh a player will choose to putt the ball. And if you think a s if a sprinkler head is on that line, then that's definitely gonna affect being able to putt it. So that's kind of why they put that rule into effect. And what you do there, when they were talking about two by two, that the two is the within two club lengths of the putting green, and then your ball within that two club lengths. Not two club lengths away do you get to drop? That's what that video was showing. You again find your closest point of relief, and then you drop your ball. Uh, and that's you drop your ball from that spot, and that's your two two by two rule. Um, it's not two club lengths away, you don't drop two club lengths away, unless for some odd reasons two club lengths is the closest point of relief, then yes, but that's normally not the case. So it's uh that's the two by two rule. Yep. Um, so other than that one, I really just wanted to talk a little bit about things golfers can do in the offseason or things they shouldn't do also in the offseason. I've mentioned to you guys that the best the starting point, if you want to learn a little bit about the rules, is to download the USGA Rules of Golf app. I think every golfer on our tour should have that almost ought to be a uh that ought to be a a um, what do you call it, a qualification of joining our the golf week tour. Load that app to your phone. Maybe you guys can uh it's it's free, it's easy. There's a a regular, there's the app, and then there's an expert section which gives all the clarifications and all that stuff. And um it's downloadable on all your phones and uh it's it's pretty easy to use. It has you know all the rules, it has qualific uh uh which not qualifications, um clarifications, um, and it it pops up fast. You can there's a search bar in it. So like if you're not exactly sure where you're asking, you can put your search, you know, put a couple of words in, and it'll come back with what they think you might be asking about. So that's uh the the USGA rules of golf app. And on the opposite side of that, believe it or not, there's in you know what like uh internet trolls are, or people that just try to cause trouble, I'll put it that way. There's this one guy, and it's been going around, and he's called, maybe you guys could look it up, or anybody listening, he's called the footy golfer. And I think he came up with that name, like using a foot wedge to get your ball out of the woods or something, you know, give yourself a free. Yeah. So he posts videos, and the thing about it is he's so serious. And if somebody just came across him, he posts these videos and it looks legitimate, but the rules that he placed that he says are totally they're they're not within the rules at all. Like he'll say, Do you know if you're in a penalty area and the grass is long, if it's longer than say your knee length, you get a free drop out of that penalty area, and you don't even have to drop the ball, you can place it. And that's that is like one that we did recently, but he's so serious about it, and then he just like ends the video and he's like he looks like a normal guy, and then you just read all the comments, and everybody's like, You don't know what the F you're talking about. This this is not true. Why would you post it? And then but he he has lots of these, so um that's that's the other thing. I see you gotta be careful what you see on the internet, is what I'm saying.

SPEAKER_05:

Yes, you do.

SPEAKER_04:

Yeah. Uh and then, you know, on the flip side, there are, I mean, like there's tons of these out there, but there's Facebook uh chat groups about the rules of golf. One's called the Golf Rules Samaritan, and that's probably the highest level. It has officials that are USGA that I've seen, been to the workshops and the guys that make the comments, they are the top of the top. Um, and then there's one just called golf rules. It there's a bunch of them out there. And the only problem with them is I almost I I go on them occasionally when I'm kind of like, I guess when I'm bored, you know, golf nerd that I am, golf rules nerd that I am. But somebody will ask a question and it'll be a pretty simple question with a pretty simple answer. But people start going down rabbit holes, like they switch they they twist the question a little bit, and you might learn something, but you never like if you start reading these things, you'll get confused because there'll be a simple answer to a question, but then you'll have literally there'll be 75 or 80 replies because people will throw in things about local rules, or they'll throw in things about what about this or what about that. So what I really like to do is use that USGA website and use those videos that um oh shoot, I forget the guy, the the guy who does the great videos from the USGA. Um I can't think of his name right now, it'll come to me. But his little short videos are so good. Uh they really they really describe things the right way. And and you can go to just the regular old USG USGA website, and there are lots of videos that are very easy to understand and very easy to to learn. Uh learn a little bit about the rules. And they just instituted, yeah. Go ahead, sorry.

SPEAKER_02:

If there's gonna be some you know meh, some more technical or some more complicated issues, then you know that that's where the you're playing the two balls and getting rulings and and other people involved comes into play. But but knowing the basic stuff is is really what we need our our players to do.

SPEAKER_04:

Exactly, yeah. That yeah, and Safany, you mentioned about the playing two balls. That comes up a lot in these chat groups. They they say, you know, people don't do that enough, and they really should, because that you know, play two balls, and you know, yes, it's gonna take a little extra time, but that's probably the right thing to do. Um the only other thing, like rules-wise, uh, like our tour, we have a really nice three-day matchplay. It's not what we used to call the lava cup, we're doing something else. So learning a little bit about match play uh in the offseason is a is a fun thing to do too, because match play has its own set of rules. There, some of them, you know, that are unique only to match play. Um, and it's it's good to know those because those match play events are so great and so many tours are doing them. Um, and we don't discuss those that much because we don't play that on our tour. We do it outside, but it it's really good to know, and it's nice when you get to watch, you know, the president's cup is coming up soon. So it's it's good to know, like, you know, somebody just casual watcher might watch. Like, why didn't he have to put that one? And they don't realize, okay, you're allowed to concede putts and or whatever it might be. So um nice to learn about match play a little bit, uh, if you don't know about it. Um, so really that that that was it for that I was thinking about towards the end of the year here, just you know, learning the USGA rules website, download that app, and um it'll it'll really put you in a good place when you want to learn a little bit more about the rules.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, and and let me just bring up a a couple other, if you don't mind, Roger. Yeah. With with the tour championship that happened back at at East Lake a few weeks ago, that you know, there were a couple of of strange things that the committee did with making you know playing the ball out of one fairway uh actually out of bounds. Oh yeah, yeah. Can you talk about that a little bit?

SPEAKER_04:

So the course can have internal out of bounds. Um if uh so what they did, as I recall, they they had a um, I think they said it was really for uh spectator safety. They said I think they met, I think they what they declared was it was like the edge of a fairway. Anything past that was internal out of bounds, I think is what as I recall. And a committee can has the uh a committee has a lot of options, like they can set many things, and the committee is the committee, they're the ones that set these rules. And I remembered I didn't I remember seeing about the the out of bounds there, but you know, on on some courses, you know, you could hit it all the way across the fairway and you'd still be in bounds. But as I recall, I think what they did was say they didn't want players to be cut uh they were basically taking a shortcut, so they didn't want players to be taking a shortcut like it was let's say a dog leg, and you could go you if you went the normal route of the course, you know, you'd hit it out to the fairway and then turn right and hit it to the green. But they said, you know, they didn't want players just driving it right through the uh the the turn or whatever, so they made an internal out of bounds where if you you put it there, you're gonna be penalty, you're gonna be you're gonna be going out of bounds. Um that's how I recall it. And on my course, there's a one of the courses I play, there's a sign right off the T-box. Players are not allowed to cut cut across this lake for fear because there's a putting green to the right of the putting green of the hole that we're playing, and they're afraid people are gonna get hit on this other putting green, so they make it a penalty that you can't cut across this lake, basically. You have to hit straight to the fairway. Um, and so then that actually came up in one of these golf rules chests. Well, how do you avoid that? And it came up that a lot of that has to do with the design of the course, like why did they make it so that you could drive over that? And the suggestions were well, why don't they put up a fence next to the tea box so you can't like cut across? And a lot of courses don't want to do that for the aesthetics of it, it doesn't look good. And then other courses were like, We we put trees up there, we put a row of bushes, and that solves some of the problems. But like the course I'm at, they just put a sign up and said you you're not allowed to do it, so it's up to the player to yeah, you know, you police yourselves. So um that that's what I recall about that.

SPEAKER_05:

I think now with with the talent that players have, um being able to to think of of routes like that and driving it, I don't think they were expecting that when they built the courses, and now they have to put these new rules in to kind of help with the like I said, the aesthetics of the course and the way it's supposed to be played.

SPEAKER_04:

Exactly. Yes, that's that's exactly what uh this one was reminding me of. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

And then the the other one was so heath Tagala caught a penalty to himself because he he thought he may have brushed the sand when he was in the sand trap. I I thought that was um kind of interesting because he he wasn't even sure if he did it, but it you know, to put to play it safe, he called the penalty and it cost him a few strokes, and it didn't cost him the tournament, but it did cost a you know a couple spots in the money.

SPEAKER_04:

Yeah, and that's you know, it's up to the player to decide, you know, it's you know, the oneness is on the player, and kudos to him for doing that. The I I do remember seeing that though, and and other players like they never saw it, or it it was even hard to see like in the video or anything, or I don't even know if they had the video, yeah. But but he he said he did, so and who you know, who knows? But good on him if if that was the case. You know, you you the regular golfer is gonna be like, wow, that's just like I'd never call that on myself, but that is the rule. So uh, you know, you can you can take it, hit it in you can hit it in the backswing, but not while you're setting up for the ball, or or you know, because it might, you know, and the reason for that is they say it could improve your lie, uh some, you know, if you press if you put put the sand down a little bit behind the ball, then it might be easier to hit the ball, that kind of thing. And so, you know, a couple of pebbles of sand though, it's just wow, that was that was a tough one. Yeah. Yeah, it probably cost them with with that kind of money they were playing for in that tournament, it probably was tens of thousands of dollars. Yeah. Yeah. For sure.

SPEAKER_05:

Yeah.

unknown:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04:

I mean, that's just that's a player that's calling a group on himself. Yeah. So anyway, yeah, glad we're not playing for that big kind of well, maybe we are at Nasinals. How much are we playing for at Nassinas? Hope everybody's honest down there.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, me too. Well, Roger, thanks so much for everything you do for us. Uh, this year has been great.

SPEAKER_04:

And thank you guys very much. I appreciate all the time you've let me have on here.

SPEAKER_02:

All right, bye. Take care and we'll talk to you soon. Yep. Bye now. Bye. Let's take a break from the show to hear about Strickston's ZX Mark II Irons.

SPEAKER_00:

A great iron set needs more than good luck. It's gotta be fast and gotta be pure. But good luck's never hurt either. The all-new ZX Mark II Iron from Strickston.

SPEAKER_05:

It was awesome to to get Roger's rules back into the rotation. Um, I know we we missed him for a while, and we're glad it it his injury wasn't as worse or wasn't worse than what it could have been. Yeah. Um, because especially with what he's told us now with not wearing a helmet while he was riding, or allegedly not wearing one, um, that could have been pretty bad. So it's glad to have him back and clarify some of the little rules that might get overlooked at nationals. Um, I mean, you have all these golfers out there. Um, you would hope ha a handful of them would know all the rules, but just in case, we're here to get you covered. And uh there will be a quiz at no, I'm just kidding, there won't be a quiz.

SPEAKER_02:

But yeah, you know, right Roger does really he he does a great job for us all the all the time, and um and and the the the rules that he went over and brought up for us, again, we we we talk about about them at least once a year uh before national championship, and it sometimes for me it's it's it's crazy that people don't know. So some some of the basic ones. And and and I get it, you know, new golfers this or or what have you, but uh you know, we when you're coming down and and you're playing in a competitive event, you you really should be knowing the some of the basic, basic rules. And and if you don't, um make sure you ask.

SPEAKER_05:

Yeah, for sure. Ask anybody. Um I have the chances are that none of you four know the rules. Uh play two balls, please. We don't need to have people upset that they had that their their round went down the tube because um you were festering over a rule that you could have known or whatnot. Just play two balls. Uh but that's why I I was glad we were able to get Roger on because he he he's able to clarify in case there's anything, like fire ants or alligators or I don't know what else is out there. I try to start away from anything that's hazardous.

SPEAKER_02:

Well, you know, down down here now, um it's it's baby snake time.

SPEAKER_05:

Baby snake time.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, so the the uh uh we got a lot of copperheads around. Um and what what people may not know is we do have some rattlesnakes here.

SPEAKER_05:

I know what those are.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah. And so I I don't know if it's baby baby rattlesnake time, but it's definitely baby uh um copperhead time. Yeah.

SPEAKER_05:

Yeah. So just keep me away from those, please. Don't get mad at me if I'm not helping looking for your ball deep in the woods.

SPEAKER_02:

Oh, I'm with you, man.

SPEAKER_05:

I I'm not that quick, so what do they say? If you're running from alligator, make sure you have a slower guy behind you.

SPEAKER_02:

That's it. That is it. So that's why I don't get out of the cart. There you go. See? Smart. So so how how did your your last tour of the year wrap up?

SPEAKER_05:

It went very good. Um had a had some good point races that uh needed to be determined at those events, so it was nice to see that. Uh me personally had a great round day one, not so great round day two. Um but you know, it's bittersweet when when you have your tour final. I you love to see the season end and uh see who wins the points races and things like that, but you know it's gonna be what is it, October, November, December four-month break for us before we start another event. Um the guy, you know, the your players don't see what happens in the postseason uh to get everything ready for that, but um can't wait to get it started again, honestly.

SPEAKER_02:

But I I I still need a break.

SPEAKER_05:

You're doing a lot of other things, so I I understand that.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, I'll I'll still need a break, but but I'm looking forward to to see anybody national championship, seeing everybody seeing everybody um one on Thursday. Yeah, we'll be around all week. Um and seriously let's plan on sometime either Tuesday or Wednesday. It'll probably more likely be Wednesday, because you you don't get until Tuesday afternoon, right?

SPEAKER_05:

Um yeah. About three o'clock.

SPEAKER_02:

Yes, let's let's let's plan on sometime Tuesday going over to Stews.

SPEAKER_05:

You let me know. I'll be there Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. I mean, may go get one and you know, it's just a walk, uh what a five seven minute walk to the beach from his spot.

SPEAKER_02:

Oh, lesson.

SPEAKER_05:

Yeah. Right. So go enjoy a sub on the beach.

SPEAKER_02:

That'd be great.

SPEAKER_05:

And who knows? I uh honestly is it it's it seems like it's gonna be an easy trip for me. Uh don't have much golf planned. Um just because I've played every course out there, it kind of remember the ins and outs, but hit a range here or there, so you let me know and we'll make it work. I can't wait. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

We'll see what we can do. Um, but again, we're we're we're we're we're definitely doing live feed, live live podcasts on Thursday.

SPEAKER_06:

Yep.

SPEAKER_02:

4 30, 6 30 at the clubhouse at our at Arthur Hills. Um come see us when you check in. Uh bring ten dollars, enter the raffle.

SPEAKER_06:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

I'll have the the used uh clubs.

SPEAKER_05:

Thank you for using out there.

SPEAKER_02:

You should I? You want me to?

SPEAKER_05:

Uh no.

SPEAKER_02:

No, keeping the box up.

SPEAKER_05:

No, because then we have to get some new uh ferals from Drew. We don't need those.

SPEAKER_02:

All right, I'll bring the brand new clubs still in the box. I'll br I'll bring them and and uh hopefully we'll we'll we'll be able to give them away.

SPEAKER_05:

I think we will. I yeah, come. You know, the it's a good time because um most of the directors are there, so you can you get to see your directors. They usually have their team shirts there, they're handing out. Um you get to see guys that you met last year or previous years, or maybe at even some of these regionals uh that you haven't seen. And um it's just good to catch up. It's a little time to kind of just you know, the calm before the storm, I guess. Yeah. Um just get to relax a little bit and then you know, wake up Friday morning, hopefully on time, and uh make it to the course.

SPEAKER_02:

Hopefully on time.

SPEAKER_05:

I I'm gonna have an alarm set every 10 minutes.

SPEAKER_02:

I'm feeling good. Feeling good.

SPEAKER_05:

And an alarm set on my iPad too, so that I make sure it goes off. I have I'm telling you, I could have sworn I got up. I guess I I don't know. I'm just making excuses.

SPEAKER_02:

Hey, you made it there in time, that's all I care about. Just make sure you make it there on time this year, and it will you'll be good.

SPEAKER_05:

Yeah. Second year of the director's cups, which is gonna be fun. Um see who claims those. Hopefully, there's plenty of directors in each flight that that there's some competition out there.

SPEAKER_02:

Um, uh let me take a look at that real quick and and see. Do we have any directors that are in D flight?

SPEAKER_05:

You'd probably be able to spot 'em quicker than I could.

SPEAKER_02:

I'm looking. Oh yeah, but Tina. Oh no, she's in sea flight.

SPEAKER_05:

Bring it on.

SPEAKER_02:

Let's see here, who else? Vic, but he's a he's a senior. Arkansas tour director. But he's senior, so I don't I don't know if that counts. Oh yeah, we do have some. Thompson from DC. So one for sure, Dave Phillips, but he's senior, so I don't know if that counts.

SPEAKER_05:

DC Well it should count if they're playing in it.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, but but they're not golf week tour directors. That that that's that's what my question is.

SPEAKER_05:

Yeah, yeah, I guess I can see that.

SPEAKER_02:

They could be at me, I I just don't know.

SPEAKER_05:

We have a good amount of people on the wait list too. For A and C flight. So any of your C flyers that want to come tackle a B flight. Let's go. The more the merrier.

SPEAKER_02:

Brant, right? Well, okay, so uh unless I'm missing something. All right. And it's possible. Unless I'm missing something, and and that the senior tour directors aren't eligible for a golf week, then we already have a winner. Congratulations, Thompson. And again, I could I could be missing something. Yeah. So we'll so we'll see.

SPEAKER_05:

There might be a last minute entry.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, uh are are there any d spot d flight spots left? Two. No. Two? Yeah, two. Two D spots. Two D flight spots are left. Two C flight spots are left. And then uh a few B and a little little less than half of the champ, so that's that. But I'm looking forward to it. Got a lot of good stuff going on. Looking forward to seeing everybody. So this this uh again, the the episode after this, let's just make sure everybody's clear on this. That episode after this comes out on December the excuse me, December. December, wow. It's crazy. October 20th. So that's the weekend after uh golf week national championship. Um and right before the seniors start. So we will put something out. Uh what I don't know when something will come out. Something will something will come out, but it'll it it'll be um there there's just no way for me to turn something over on on Monday.

SPEAKER_05:

Uh yeah, we'll have we'll have something available. I'll tell you what, maybe we'll keep it a surprise.

SPEAKER_02:

We're let's maybe to to seriously let's just say for sure next episode will be October 27th. That way we don't promise something and and can't get it done. Um that just gives us gives us an extra week. And uh so next episode, next regular episode will be October 27th. Um and that'll that'll more than likely be be a round up wrap-up of uh of uh national championship and and a and a brief look ahead to uh 2026 season.

SPEAKER_05:

Yes, sir.

SPEAKER_02:

And in no time at all, we'll be we'll be sitting right back here next year. Let's go fly by.

SPEAKER_05:

Don't say that. Don't say that. Well, you know, it's right. I I'm ready to get this year by us. It's been it's been it's been a tough year. Yeah. I don't want it to go by too fast.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, the quicker we can get through some things. High school next year? Seriously? You gonna be alright?

SPEAKER_05:

No. I'm not right now.

SPEAKER_02:

Who's worse off? You're Diane.

SPEAKER_05:

Uh probably Diana, but Okay It's and I mean, you know, when as they get as they get older, you remember what you went through. Oh, I do so you've been there. You're a grandpa now. Yep. You're a pops.

SPEAKER_02:

A pops.

SPEAKER_05:

Pops. Pops. Yeah, you look like a pops.

SPEAKER_03:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

Don't don't get started. All right, but do me a favor, travel safe, and I will see you next week.

Head Shot

Tim Newman

Host
Head Shot

Chris Rocha

Co-host