Urban Golf, as played in Rochester Minnesota, has seen a steady growth in the last couple months. With growth, comes input from many sources. Today, I have decided to form the Urban Golf Coalition of Rochester Minnesota. You’re either with us, or you’re against us. The UGCRM will seek to demonstrate consistency in the rules pertaining to that of the Urban Golf environment.
Committee
First and foremost I must introduce the sanctioning body of the UGCRM. I, myself, am not even a founder of the sport in the Rochester area. The sport was introduced to me by the grizzled veteran, Karl Erie. “Back Nine” Karl has seen many rounds of Urban Golf, including the infamous final hole, hole-in-one at the 14th Street Golf and Country Club. These feats of prowess have cemented his legacy in the history books of Urban Golf.
Next, comes Josh “Backdraft” Herman. He’s the only left handed, right hand swinging player on the circuit. His cunning grasp of the ambidextrous swing has lent him the ability to play out of many predicaments. When focused, Backdraft can be a formidable foe.
Then comes me, Dallas McLaughlin. A relative newcomer to the scene, but my presence alone has propelled Urban Golf into the so sought after spotlight. I’m the Mongoose to your Snake, or the Snake to your Mongoose (whichever way that goes…). I’ve been known to jump out to early leads, and crack in the late stages of the game.
Then we have the many other supporters of Urban Golf who have all played parts in the early stages of Urban Golf. We got Dylan “Harvey” Oswald hitting minivans in the street (who drives through a Urban Golf course?), “Shirtless” Blaine Martin, Coley “Coletrain” Brogan, Jake “Popeye” Campion, and a few more nameless athletes.
Rule Set – Rochester Chapter
General
- The Golden Rule: You don’t need to be good to be an Urban Golfer. Anyone can do it.
- Contrary to other “Urban Golf” organizations. We play with real clubs, real balls, on real grass, and in real neighborhoods.
- Athlete (I’ll refer to Urban Golfers by this for now on) furthest from hole shoots first.
- Each hole is designed on the spot.
- Hole selection is rotated, giving each athlete an opportunity to design a hole suiting their skill set.
- “Holes” can include hitting a tree trunk, fence, fire hydrant, landing in pots, landing in flower beds, shooting through things, shooting over things, shooting between trees/objects, and anything else you desire.
- Tees are not used.
- One swing counts as one stroke. A ball must travel 3 feet to count as a stroke, unless “putting”.
- Each player must count their own strokes. We run on the honor system.
- Scores must be announced at the end of every hold, this includes the total for the hole, and the total for the round.
- A regulation round is a minimum of 9 holes. After that, the round can be extended as necessary.
- Don’t play any balls from out of bounds. This means, if the ball lands in a neighbors yard, a drop is encouraged. While we might enjoy Urban Golf, the neighbors might not be so enthusiastic.
- Fix all divets. This isn’t the public course, this is someones yard.
Clubs
- Each athlete may carry a maximum of three clubs per nine holes.
- Clubs must be retrieved within a reasonable amount of time.
- If you haven’t returned in a reasonable amount of time, your ball may be picked up by an opponent and tossed underhand no more than 20 feet from your current lie.
- Club substitutions can only be made before each round of 9 holes.
- There are no golf bags.
- Caddies are acceptable, but still may only carry the maximum club limit.
- If a club were to break while playing, the next closest club size can be substituted at no additional penalty.
- There are no club size restrictions.
Balls
- Currently no ball restrictions.
Etiquette
- Athletes must not take themselves serious. Competition is great, but don’t be a dick.
- Traditional golf etiquette does not apply.
- Smoking, drinking, swearing, and fight are all acceptable.
- Psych-outs may be played at any time.
- Talking during the back swing is acceptable.
- You may not interfere with the physical swing, or path of the ball.
Hazards
- A hazard is considered any position where your ball physically cannot be played from. This means under cars, under large trees, in the street, middle of neighbors yard, etc.
- A group vote will be conducted to deem what is and isn’t a hazard.
- If the ball is voted unable to be played, you are not assessed an additional stroke penalty.
- If the majority votes the ball as playable, you can take a drop for a stroke penalty.
- If you land in a hazard off the tee box, you must shoot again from the tee box.
- If you land in a hazard on any other shot, shoot from where the ball went out of play.
Drops
- No drops can place you closer to the hole.
- Following a hazard, a ball may be “dropped” at the spot the ball went out of bounds at no penalty.
- If the ball lands in a neighbors yard, a drop is encouraged and will be assessed at no penalty.
- If your ball stops on pavement, a typical hazard vote is conducted for the final ruling.
Property Damage
- Damage to property is frowned upon in the Urban Golf environment, especially property not belonging to the athletes, but accidents do happen. It’s the risk we run being athletes in our modern day sport.
- Damage is considered anything broken, mangled, crack, or otherwise unfixable.
- Any damage to neighboring houses, cars, windows, objects, counts as a +2 stroke penalty.
- Any damage is to be replaced at cost to the culprit.
Equipment
Every Urban Golfer needs to own, or at least have access to a few essential items.
- Golf club
- Holes are short, and grass is long. An iron is recommended, even more so a 9 Iron, Sand Wedge, or Pitching Wedge.
- Putters have little use. The grass is too long to get a sufficient roll.
- Karl recommends keeping a driver for his oft acclaimed, rarely executed “Bump and Run”.
- Ball
- Any standard ball will do. Cheap balls are a plus.
- Scorecard
- Not required, but it could come in handy.
- Friends
- Because Urban Golfing by yourself is about as much fun as I imagine drinking by yourself would be.
Courses
Urban Golf courses are everywhere. Look outside your window, that’s an Urban Golf course. Holes range in length from 20 to 100 yards. Nearly all holes can be completed in one to two strokes, but are more realistically completed in 4-5 strokes. The hole design is left to the discretion of the athlete who’s turn it is to design one.
- A few local courses do exist:
- 24th Street Golf and Country Club, a.k.a. Dallas McLaughlin’s house.
- 14th Street Golf and Country Club, a.k.a. Karl Erie’s house.
Summary
This completes the first draft of the Urban Golf Coalition of Rochester Minnesota Official Constitution. I encourage anyone reading this to get some friends together and experience Urban Golf for yourself. If you are interested in joining our Urban Golf league and playing a round, post a comment and we’ll be sure to get you involved.
October 12th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
first off, i have to say nice job dj, but first things first.
i want there to be a “supreme court” of urban golf rules. a panel that has the final say on the interpretation of the “Urban Golf Constitution” which is what the rulebook will now be referred to as.
we need to address “whiffing” when you take a real swing, but don’t actually hit the ball. i saw, if you don’t touch the ball, no harm, no foul.
also, scores must be addressed at the end of every hole, as to avoid confusion, remember yesterday josh didn’t really pay attention to his score, and that made it a little more difficult to handle, i think that all the players have to say their score at the end of the hole, and tha tit needs to be approved by at least one other player, a simple “i shot a 4″ and the other player going “altighty then” should suffice
balls can be played out of bounds, but a player has to use his/her personal judgment in deciding if the ball is playable, and if they should in fact play it. but in certain situations a drop is required, this is a rule that is open to interpretation.
also i want the club limit set at three, and that you don’t have to carry them with you at all times. that might be better when we are playing at 24th st, but when playing at 14th st its not necessary, due to the small size of the course, rather you have to declare what clubs you are going to be using, and when you require a club, you have 90 seconds to retrieve it, and if you do not do so in the allotted time, then you will be assessed a 1 stroke penalty, and your ball can be picked up by an opponent, and tossed underhand in any direction they see fit, not to exceed 20 feet from where the balls original lie.
and i say no to bags, but yes to caddies. i can see in my head a scenario where somebody dosent want to play, but just wants to hang out, most likely somebodys girlfriend.
i don’t have any suggestions for etiquette but i do want it covered more in depth
as for hazards i don’t want you to say that hazards are NOT assessed a stroke penalty, but to leave that one open for interpretation, as we can only address this when it happens or we’d be going over hypothetical’s for a millenia.
1 rule that must be added goes as follows “If a tee shot lands on a birds back, who then carries it out of bounds, but then is attacked by a larger bird who grabs the ball in its beak and drops it in the hole will be played as a hole in one.”
and if you land in a hazard off the tee box, if its a playable shot then you don’t get a do-over, you fuckin man up and take your second shot
also, we need to address what a hazard is, is it under a pine tree, on top of a car? what is a hazard,
also, damage has to constitute an actual broken item, not something that got dinged, or hit with a ball, and that a broken window that happens during the course of play results with a 5 stroke penalty, and a quick retreat to the clubhouse
other that that we need to get together and shore up these rules, its a good start, but i believe that we are far from finished
October 12th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
- Right, Constitution it is.
- Whiffing is covered in the “Shot must travel 3 feet” ruling.
- Score count, check.
- Out of bounds and hazards clarified.
- Switched to 3 club limit.
- I didn’t say 90 seconds, that’s getting a little deep. A reasonable time will suffice.
- Underhand rule in effect.
- Caddies are a go.
- Damage clarified.
October 12th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
good start, how bout a round this afternoon?