Breaking a golf club in anger....

[Bulls9999]

I believe breaking a golf club in anger is a penalty, correct?

So when Charlie Hoffman in today's 2nd round of the Players' Tournament misses a 1 1/2-foot put and throws his putter in the water, is that any different? (he still had 5 holes left to play too), and later was putting with his wedge.

[Wazmankg]

I don't think either is a penalty. I think there are restrictions regarding the circumstances under which you can use a damaged club though. I think you can still use a damaged club if it's altered by normal usage only. I'm probably wrong about all of this, though, and I'm sure one of our rules gurus will be in here soon to straighten us out.

[ringin]

I didn't look it up to re-verify, but this has happened to me personally before when I was leaning on my putter and it broke. I was allowed to replace the putter during the match, without penalty, because it was considered broken in the normal course of play. However, if I had wrapped it around a tree, because I purposely caused that damage, I would not be allowed to get a replacement club, however no penalty would be assessed for snapping, losing or damaging your own club.

[atticusfinch]

Originally Posted by Bulls9999

I believe breaking a golf club in anger is a penalty, correct?

So when Charlie Hoffman in today's 2nd round of the Players' Tournament misses a 1 1/2-foot put and throws his putter in the water, is that any different? (he still had 5 holes left to play too), and later was putting with his wedge.

Throwing a club in the water is not the same as breaking a club in anger.

Why do you believe breaking a club in anger is a penalty?

[Keith]

Could he get penalized for testing a hazard?

[Bulls9999]

I must have been thinking of using a damaged club that was damaged by striking due to anger...that is DQ. I guess if you break it (in anger) and don't use it, it is permissible, lol. Stupid (on the part of the player), but permissible.

Originally Posted by atticusfinch

Throwing a club in the water is not the same as breaking a club in anger.

Why do you believe breaking a club in anger is a penalty?

[Fileygolfer]

He may have got fined by the PGA, if you want to call that a penalty.

[JPsuff]

.


The bigger question is: Does the lady who fished it out of the water get to keep it?


I say, "Yes".



-JP

[Leaguegolf]

Finders.....Keepers!

[bignose]

It's hardy a definitive reference, but didn't the main character in "Tin Cup" break every club in his bag except the 7 iron during one of the rounds and play the rest of the round with just a 7 iron?

[Will]

Originally Posted by bignose

It's hardy a definitive reference, but didn't the main character in "Tin Cup" break every club in his bag except the 7 iron during one of the rounds and play the rest of the round with just a 7 iron?

Indeed. He didnt receive any penalty for that in the movie. Course, this is also a movie where Kevin Costner holds the record for lowest round in the US Open, go figure.

[JungleJ]

No penalty for breaking the club, but DQ if it is then used or replaced.

Throwing in the water - no penalty, and I think he COULD have retrieved it and carried on using if it wasn't damaged, as long as he didn't delay play.

[Bolt Fore]

Years ago Ken Green threw his putter in the ocean at Pebble and was fined by the Tour. But then they were just looking for ways to fine him.