Section Announces Rule Changes

The Southern Section Golf Management Committee met April 27, and made three rulings that clear up some gray areas of high school golf.

The first, and most controversial, ruling stated that teammates are not allowed to give each other advice during a match.

The committee found that the USGA Rules of Golf define players on the same team of a stroke-play match as “fellow competitors” rather than “partners.” Fellow competitors are not allowed to exchange advice.

The ruling is in contrast to a common practice among high school players and the committee encouraged leagues that want the exchange of advice to remain legal to develop appropriate bylaws. These bylaws would then become local rules and permissible under the rules of golf.

The second ruling stated that 18-hole matches that are played as two separate nine-hole matches should be scored separately, then added together for a total score.

Some coaches were waiting until all 18 holes were complete before determining the best five out of six scores. With the ruling, the best five from the first nine would be added with the best five from the second nine. This allows free substitution for coaches hoping to get more players match experience.

A third ruling made by the committee says that players may not call penalties on fellow competitors for poor conduct, such as swearing or throwing a club. Penalties for such breaches can include suspension or revocation of playing privileges in events, but not penalty strokes.

Competitors may still call penalties for infractions of the rules of golf. Such penalties must be called at the time of the infraction.

HOME SWEET HOME

Servite players and coaches are resting a little easier now that they are sleeping in their own beds.

The Friars recently completed a golf trip in which they played 144 holes in 204 hours.

The trip began April 24 with match against Santa Barbara San Marcos at Sandpiper, which they won. The next day they ventured up the coast to the Carmel Valley for practice rounds at Carmel Valley Ranch and Blackhorse in Seaside.

Last Wednesday, they lost a match to Robert Louis Stevenson High School at Spyglass, but not before a practice round at nearby Quail Lodge. The trip continued Thursday with a victory over Menlo at Stanford Golf Course in Palo Alto.

Friday’s adventure was to a recently opened Bay Area course designed by Johnny Miller, Eagle Ridge. Finally, the Friars visited La Purisima in Lompoc on the way home Saturday.

“Now that’s a golf trip,” Friar Coach Tim Meagher said.

PLAYOFFS START MONDAY

Southern Section team playoffs begin Monday with eight divisional tournaments across the section. The top two teams from each divisional advance to the section final May 11 at Saticoy Country Club in Somis.

Most county teams are headed for the South Coast Divisional at El Prado or the Southern Divisional at Los Serranos. No. 1 Servite and No. 2 Santa Margarita, both Serra League members, will play in the Western Divisional at L.A. Royal Vista in Walnut.

The South Coast Divisional is comprised solely of county teams. No. 4 Newport Harbor, No. 5 Woodbridge, No. 8 Villa Park and No. 10 Irvine lead the way.

No. 3 Huntington Beach, No. 6 Brea Olinda, No. 7 University and Corona del Mar will be among the top teams in the Southern Regional, which also includes strong teams from the Moore League, Long Beach Wilson and Long Beach Poly. No. 9 Sunny Hills, a freelance team, plays in the Central Divisional at Sun Lakes Country Club in Banning.

Santa Margarita and Servite, the only teams to occupy the top spot in the county poll this season, are considered front-runners for a section title. To advance to the finals they must finish first and second in their regional.

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If you have an item or idea for the prep boys’ golf report, you can fax us at (714) 966-5663 or e-mail us at peter.yoon@latimes.com