Quasi-Rules

The Fewest Putts

Award

“Official” Rules

There is only 1 rule as stated in section 128.52.1, Section B, Paragraph 1 which states:

“Only putts taken on the green shall be recorded to determine the winner of the “Fewest Putts Award.”

The controversial 2008 Assembly tried to rewrite the rules believing that some members may actually attempt to cheat to win the trophy. This audacious accusation met with failure as the members voted down the measure.

The proposed changes were as follows.

Rule 128.52.1, Section B, Paragraph 1 – Fewest Putts Award

Whereas, the “LBAGO Fewest Putts Award” is the most cherished of all sports trophies and is to be prized for the legacy of fair and even competition, all countable strokes taken within the “Scoring Zone” shall be recorded to determine the winner of the Award.

Rule 128.52.1, Section B, Paragraph 2 – Scoring Zone

The Scoring Zone, also known as the Giancarlo Zone, is the area within 100 yards of the center of the green as measured from the fairway of the current hole being played.

Rule 128.52.1, Section B, Paragraph 3 - Countable Strokes

A player may advance their ball from the tee toward the pin in any matter they so choose. In other words, they may play their own ball or play best-ball, until such time as they choose to hit their own ball into the G-Zone.

Once a player’s ball has passed the G-Zone boundary, the player’s strokes will be “countable.”

A countable stroke is any movement of the player’s ball in any direction and includes, but is not limited to, pitches, chips, toe-wedges, hand-wedges, penalty strokes, etc.

EX: Bob lines up on the 17^th tee and banana-slices his ball to the 16^th fairway as illustrated below. Measured as the greyhound flies, Bob is more than 100 yards from the center of the current hole, but is still located inside the G-Zone since his ball passed the G-Zone boundary on the current hole. Thus Bob’s stroke from the 16^th fairway back to the 17^th green shall be counted toward his score.

Once a player has hit into the G-Zone, all strokes count even if said player hits the ball outside the G-Zone in an attempt to gain some advantage by hitting from a better lie.

EX: Ken hooks one into the woods just past the G-Zone marker. He decides to chip back to the fairway and hits back towards the G-Zone line in an attempt to eliminate one pathetic stroke. Under this rule, Ken must count strokes 2 and 3.

Rule 128.52.1, Section B, Paragraph 4 – Par 3 Scoring

All players must count all strokes on all Par 3 holes. This rule, known as the Tomasic Advantage, avoids issues with short holes and clearly gives the only person who can hit a green from a distance greater than 150 yards a distinct advantage. But we couldn’t figure out how to deal with a situation where everyone decides to play best ball for the hole and use Ray’s shot.

Rule 128.52.1, Section C – Tie Breaker Procedures

In the unlikely event of a tie after 18 holes, the players (who are tied for the lead) shall proceed to the practice putting green for a sudden death playoff.

An Ad Hoc tie-breaker committee consisting of the losing players shall determine which pins and where the balls shall be placed for each round. It would behoove the tied players to be nice to said Ad Hoc committee so as the committee does not pick the most difficult pin placements and ball positions.

A coin toss, tee toss, or other game of chance will determine the order of play.

The players will alternate strokes until the hole is played out. In the event that the score remains even after a hole is played, play will continue until one player is victorious or we get thrown off the putting green for disturbing the other players.

After a few more beers, the Rules Committee further reviewed the new Rule 128.52.1, Section B, Paragraph 1 and realized that with the proposed changes, the title of the award should be changed to reflect these new rules and thus proposes the following amendment to the above stated rule changes:

Rule 128.52.1, Section B, Paragraph 1 – Fewest Chips & Putts Trophy

Whereas, the “LBAGO Fewest Chips & Putts Trophy” is the most cherished of all sports trophies and is to be prized for the legacy of fair and even competition, all countable strokes taken within the “Scoring Zone” shall be recorded to determine the winner of the Trophy.