February 21, 2013

SNOWSHOE, WV — The Captains Club announced today additional details surrounding the participant options for the 2013 Carl Spackler Open. The event will use the traditional participant option process to verify four basic golf rules with a goal to improve competition.

The core of the Carl Spackler Open includes competition. Competitions must have rules. The largest suggestion from the 2001-2012 events was to improve knowledge of basic rules and to provide clarity for golf rules that flex or adjust to ensure every single participant is playing the exact same of rules.

Flex or adjusted rules modify the USGA Rules of Golf to meet course conditions or the Carl Spackler Open structure.

As a start, the Captains Club will attempt to communicate four basic golf rules using the participant options. Each golfer has the opportunity to learn or verify basic rules, which is expected to be a step forward in improving the event.

"We are giving everyone the opportunity to help us improve our event," says Greg Long, Chairman of the Captains Club. "This is an opportunity to communicate to 65 golfers exactly the same way. This is just a start to addressing the verbal suggestion box."

The four basic rules to be verified or explained will include "hazard", "drop zones", "touching the ball", and "lost ball". The teaching process will include the definition of a basic rule, a mock situation with visual illustration, and then a simple multiple choice question to be answered.

Hazards marked by stakes are forest, ponds, marsh, wetlands, creeks, lakes, and rivers. They are normally indicated by yellow or red stakes (or lines).  The Carl Spackler Open has flexed the USGA Rules and handles both colors (yellow and red) exactly the same way. When no stakes or lines are found near an obvious water hazard, the hazard is expanded to include balls in water and unmaintained areas within 20 yards of the water.

What is expected of me when in a hazard? Option 1: Play the ball as it lies with no penalty. Option 2: Take one penalty stroke, designate the spot where the ball crossed into the hazard, and drop a ball (shoulder high) outside the hazard (two club lengths) no closer to the hole. Option 3: Use USGA Rules of Golf.

Golfers can receive Poststats Points for triple-bogey. Because drop zones are sometimes next to the green and sometimes on the fringe, no golfers are permitted to use drop zones regardless of 'golf course local rule' or USGA Rules of Golf. Golfers may use all other USGA rules of Golf. Golfers who hit a ball into the water are expected to move up a tee or use the water hazard rules.

Participants lose golf balls. What is expected when we lose a ball? Option 1: Take one penalty stroke and drop another ball from original spot. You are hitting your 3rd shot if tee shot was lost. Option 2: Take two penalty strokes, designate the area where your ball is likely to be lying, and drop another ball (from shoulder high) in the ROUGH no closer to the hole than designated spot. You are hitting your 4th shot if tee shot was lost. Option 3: Verbally communicate intentions to play a "provisional ball", which will be played if the ball from the previous shot is indeed lost. Your provisional shot is a backup plan so you do not have to physically return to original spot. A penalty stroke is required if the provisional ball is used, which means the actual provisional shot would be your 3rd shot if re-teeing.

The 2013 Carl Spackler Open will be held June 6-9 at Snowshoe Resort in Snowshoe, WV. There are 64 to 68 golfers expected to participate in the annual golf party. Participant options will be collected in March with outstanding balances due to be postmarked prior to April 16.