The Rules of Golf- Still Absurd

I do love golf. I want to get that on the record, because this blog is in danger of appearing to be the farthest thing from a fan of the sport. Having said that, when something appalling just presents itself to me, I'm going to comment.

So golf is having quite a run. First, the PGA ruined its eponymous championship. And now, the absurdity of the rules and "integrity" of the game has surfaced once again in the story of Zach Nash. Young Zach, a 14-year old golfer, won the boys 13-14 age division at the Milwaukee County Parks Tour Invitational. Now, that's not exactly the biggest tournament on the golf calendar, but it was clearly a big victory for the youngster. Here's what happened next:

After his victory, Nash went to the Rivermoor Golf Club — where he played 36 holes nearly every day this summer — to practice more and talk to one of his mentors, Chris Wood, the club's head golf professional.

"I was showing everybody my medal and then Chris and I went and we were having a soda and he said 'Hey, whose club is this? And I said 'my friend's.' And he said 'This makes 15.' I was in shock after that," Nash said.

The penalty for breaking the rule, called rule 4-4, is two strokes for each hole played with more than 14 clubs, with a maximum of four penalty strokes. But since he didn't notice his extra club during the tournament, a penalty wasn't added. That meant he signed an incorrect scorecard, which he knew disqualified him.

Nash said golf prides itself on honesty and players calling penalties on themselves. While the decision was clear, he said he couldn't help but cry a bit in front of Wood. Wood had to call Nash's father, Bob, to pick him up.

Later that night, Nash called Andy Landenberger, junior tour director for the WPGA, to explain what happened. He sent back the medal, which Landenberger said he would present to runner-up Dane Reinhardt, who shot an 80.

Nash, who has been golfing for about three years, said a friend spent the night at his house before the tournament and left a 5-wood club, and he put it in his bag not realizing it made a total of 15.

Alright, this is unacceptable. I understand this kid is going to get on television and have articles written about him, so he probably ends up better off when all is said and done. Still, how does any of this make one bit of sense? A friend stays at your house, accidentally leaves one of his clubs with yours, you don't use it all day, a jackass club pro that is supposed to be your friend and mentor sees it and calls you out costing you your medal, and this is a feel good story? No way. Clearly the kid got no benefit whatsoever from the extra stick in his bag. Why would the club pro even point it out? What is he doing scanning the kids bag looking for infractions?

This is the kind of story that will get bounced around in golf circles and be breathlessly retold by Jim Nantz and Jimmy Roberts with melodic tunes in the background. Meanwhile, the rest of the world just keeps moving on down the road. Golf- doing it the right way, and becoming less relevant by the day.