Some suggestions and recommendations from the sports committee of Golf Pordenone to ensure that golfing is always an enjoyable experience.

The course has 18 holes. Normally, in and out of competition, the start is from Hole 1. It is not forbidden, in principle, to start from Hole 3, but it is mandatory to ask for permission from the Secretariat or the Sports Commission who will assess whether this is possible. This precaution is to avoid those players who have regularly started from Hole 1 and finished Hole 2 suddenly finding in front of them other players who have started from Hole 3, causing the first to stop and wait for the hole to clear.

It is especially recommended that divots on greens be repaired. An unrepaired divot means making the following players' putting less enjoyable, but more importantly it means "dying" grass with bad marks for many weeks. So, we urge you to repair not only your divots but also those of the "distracted" players ahead of you!

For the above reasons, repair the sod patches on the field!

Rake the bunkers after you make your shot! Even if it means having to take a few extra steps to go and retrieve a rake, maybe a little far away on the other side of the bunker, use it! Because, if no one likes to see their ball end up in the sand, they like it even less to find it sunk inside the footprint left by players ahead of them!

Dress code, or how to dress. On the field and Club premises, Members and Guests are expected to adopt decorous attire appropriate to the venue. Tank tops and collarless shirts (t-shirts) are not welcome. Sleeveless polo shirts for Ladies are permitted.

Tournaments: Subject to exceptions, it is possible to register for tournaments up to 12:30 p.m. on the previous day. The Secretariat and the Sports Commission will make every effort to accommodate players who have given preferences for starting times; players are also invited not to put too much stress with requests repeated every week and/or not compatible with the regularity of the game on those who have to fill in the departure documents.

As a rule, an attempt will be made to have 1st and 2nd category players playing in the first departures, followed by 2nd and 3rd category players. At some competitions, once a month or so, registration will be "free," with the player being allowed to choose starting time and playing partners.

Players booking a departure in the tournament will be allowed to remove themselves from the list only before the publication of the schedule of departure. Beyond this deadline, cancellation of participation in the competition will result in payment of the entry fee, except in special cases that will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Prohibition of the use of golf carts or adverse weather forecasts are not considered valid reasons for cancellation beyond the set time.

Use of cell phones: in competition, their use is permitted to members of the Competition Committee for service purposes only and to all players for emergency purposes only. Out of competition, it is recommended that its use be as limited as possible and in any case in a fashion that does not disturb other players. Please remember that you go on the green of a golf course to improve your game, and also (or especially!) to "escape" from the wear and tear of modern life! So, if you can, turn them off!

Behavior on the course : to make the game enjoyable for everyone, when on the course it is best not to shout, cackle or chatter loudly. As a rule, you will have the playing partner furthest from the green play first, but if that would waste time for any reason, let the others play in the meantime.

Always keep in mind that if, either in or out of competition, you are a whole hole or more behind the players in front of you and you realize that you will not be able to catch up on the game ahead of you, it is best to let the game that follows pass, without delay or shame.

When we miss a shot, it is easy to let loose with expressions of disappointment: let us try not to curse or worse yet, swear, especially loudly... Finally, if you see that your shot is heading dangerously in the direction of other players, do not hesitate to shout to warn them so that these players can take cover. The word you should use shouting is "fore!" but "ooop!" or "ball!" or even a good whistle is fine. Fortunately, it doesn't happen often to hit someone in the head, but if it does happen ... it hurts a lot!

Pets: small pets always on a leash may accompany you along the course, but not on weekends and competition days. It is the responsibility of the owner to provide a cleanup with a dustpan and a bag and to avoid any disturbance caused by the animal to other players.

Members are invited to read the "Rules and Regulations" in the "Club" section for further details.

ANGER ON THE GOLF COURSE

Anyone who plays golf regularly will almost certainly have experienced a few moments of anger on the course; probably after making a series of bad shots, or after experiencing seemingly unfair "accidental" deviations, or even after being the target of others' indiscretions. In such cases, it might be interesting to know a few rulings that apply when anger takes over the golf course. The following examples, by the general penalty, will cause a two-stroke penalty in stroke play or the loss of the hole in match play.

• After falling short with the putt, a player instinctively throws the putter toward the ball, missing it. Such an impulsive action does not constitute a stroke and is not considered to be an attempt to exert influence on the ball. There is no penalty unless the putter moves the ball, in which case the player incurs the penalty of one stroke and the ball must be reputted (Dec.1-2/4.5).
• After almost being hit by a ball played by someone in the group behind, a player hits that ball and sends it back toward the group from which it was played. This is not to be considered a practice stroke, but Decision 1-4/4 rules that, in Fairness, the player would incur the general penalty of losing the hole in match play or two strokes in stroke play.
• A player who breaks a stick in anger (i.e., not in the normal course of play), may not replace that stick unless he started with fewer than fourteen sticks, in which case he is allowed to add another stick by Rule 4-4a (Decision 4-3/8).
• A player takes a shot at his ball that is against a tree root, and it bounces into the air. In anger, the player tries to hit the ball as it falls back but misses. The movement made instinctively out of anger is not considered a hit and there is no penalty unless the ball is hit while in motion, in which case the player incurs a penalty stroke under Rule 19-2 (Decision 14/6).
• Angry at a bad play, a player lifts his ball and throws it into a nearby lake. Having regained his composure, he replaces another ball in the same spot. Although Note 1 to Rule 18 states that "if the ball that is to be replaced under this Rule is not immediately recoverable, it may be replaced with another ball," since the ball becomes irrecoverable only as a result of player actions after the Rule 18-2a infraction, Note 1 does not apply, and the general penalty is to be considered (Decision 18-2a/13.5).

Finally, what do the Rules regulate when a player's anger is provoked by someone else's actions? Many of us will have experienced situations where fellow players have caused moments of frustration; Rule 33-7 states that if a committee believes a player is liable for a serious infraction of Etiquette, a disqualification penalty may be applied. Decision 33-7/8 gives us two examples of what can constitute a serious infraction of Etiquette: intentionally distracting another player and intentionally offending someone. So, for example, when a player repeatedly breaks the guidelines on Etiquette, he or she may be removed from competitions for some time or may even be suspended from the Club itself.

In conclusion, all players should behave properly, always showing respect and courtesy to others, no matter how competitive they may be.
This is the Spirit of the Game of Golf.

Good golfing