Barry Rhodes Interview-Rules of Golf

Home of Golf

Andy: Hi and welcome to episode 8 of Home of Golf. TV and today I’m joined
by Barry Rhodes the rules expert and we’re just a few meters away from
the R&A building on my left and Barry the first question I have for you.
How long have been the R&A have been administrating rules at golf and
has it always been that way?

Barry: No, it’s going back to the 18 and 17 or the 18th and 19th centuries there
were several different club with different rules and obviously this wasn’t
very convenient when they started playing each other in matches so the
leading clubs of that time are obviously R&A based here in St. Andrews to
unify the rules and come out with one set of international rules and they
did that in 1899.

Andy: Yeah okay, that’s it. And also what about the USGA, I mean there’s a bit
of confusion there how does that work?

Barry: Yeah, they picked up on the same rules. They agreed to take the St.
Andrew or the R&A rules in 1899. They published them themselves in
1900 but from then on to the next 50 years they went their own way.

Andy: Okay and are there any differences between the rules now or is it just
standing across both.

Barry: Well they did come back together in 1952 so there is one unified set of
rules that are used across the world and that has been the case since 1952
but there is still one rule which differs and unfortunately it’s not going to
affect most of us because it is to do with the hole in 1. In America and
Mexico if you have a hole in one there’s no maximum price that you can
receive but in the rest of the world those of us that play under the R&A
hospices the maximum prize is just 500 pounds or the equivalent in the
local currency.

Andy: That’s the one difference between them.

Barry: That’s the only difference between the rules and you know that is what
makes golf such a great game because we’re all playing to the unified set
of rules. If you’re playing any other games, even things like golf or soccer
or poker or even trivial pursuits. If you’re in the game long enough there
will be times where people are arguing about the next play on what the
rules are so you need to have a unified set of rules and that’s what we have
in golf and if you don’t like the rules then you’re not playing golf. If
you’re not playing golf, if you’re not playing to them you’re not playing
golf. If you want to play golf you play it to the one set of rules and that’s
what retains the integrity of this wonderful game that we play.

Andy: So Barry what’s the most confusing rule of golf that you find nowadays?

Barry: Well the one that I think confuses most of us is nearest point of relief but
I’m not going to go in to that now but that is an area that a lot of people
get wrong. But I think recently we’ve had a few tournaments where
players ball has been moved by the wind and the fact is that if you
addressed your ball, if you grounded your club and if you taken your
stance and the ball moves you have deemed to have moved it. A lot of
people think that’s unfair because it can be obvious that it’s the wind that
moves that you’re still penalized but that’s the way it is.

There is one way of if you like getting out of that. If you have taken your
address and you see your ball oscillating on the ground, the thing to do is
to quickly market again and lift it because as soon as you do that you have
cancelled the fact that you have addressed the ball. That’s the only you can
cancel it.

Andy: But Barry the number one question is, it’s so impossible to learn the rules
of golf, what have you done in the last few years to make it easy for us?

Barry: Okay, you’re right, Andy. And the easy answer to that question is to ask
everybody to take the rules of golf book with them wherever they go. To
take it out, read it and digest it but we know that’s not going to happen.

Andy: No.

Barry: So most people learn their golf through things that happen to them on the
golf course or things they see on the television when they’re watching the
tournaments and that’s a very good way to pick up the rules. They go in to
the bar, they talk about it or they go into the pawnshop and they ask a
professional there and bit by bit they will get to learn the rules. But I have
done something which I think will assist people to learn the rules; I have
written a book with 999 questions.

These are questions concerning things that happen on a golf course on a
day-to-day basis and of course there are answers there those references to
the decision or to the rule. There is even explanations where necessary and
it comes with a myriad of situations that might happen on the golf course.

Andy: That’s 999 questions and answers, is it like simple questions and the
complex ones?

Barry: Yes we’ve broke it out into 3 areas so those questions that everybody
should know if they play golf at all. The middle section is for golfers who
play competitively whether it’s a society or club golf and then those of
you that do know the rules as a 3rd section at the end which is more
advance questions and I believe by dipping in and out of this book you
will get to know your rules without really trying. You’ll absorb the rules
without really trying.

Andy: Brilliant, thanks Barry. So this is the book 999 questions on the rules of
golf. Barry where do we get it from?

Barry: Well if you Google 999 Questions on the Rules of Golf or Google my
name Barry Rhodes you will see that most of your bookstores are stocking
it. If you want a signed copy, well then just email me at
rules@barryrhodes.com and I would be very happy to sign it and send
your copy.

Andy: Really, say that again?

Barry: rules@barryrhodes.com.

Andy: Excellent, I appreciate it.

Barry: And at barryrhodes.com website it contains a lot of information for people
who want to improve their understanding of the rules of golf.

Andy: I really appreciate that so hopefully all you guys out there. This is the
book you need rules made simple with 999 Questions on the Rules of
Golf. So that’s the end of the show I hope you thoroughly enjoyed it and
Barry, we are going to ask you to day, what’s the most confusing golf rule
they have ever had so I can lead them down on the comment section and
we’ll have a good fun rating them and thanks very much Barry.

Barry: Don’t make it too difficult?

Andy: Thanks very much.

Barry: Thank you Andy good-bye.

Andy: And remember it’s nice to be nice.