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Golf Rules, Golf Instruction, Golf Games

theWEG.com is the official home of The Weekend Golfer. One of my special desires is to do a study of, and make special sections for some of the "classic" golfers like Bobby Jones, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Sam Snead, as well as some of the more interesting historical figures like Moe Norman, Lee Trevino, and others.

Two Ball Barcelona Gets Some Rules

When was the last time you played against Tom Cruise?

"Two Ball Barcelona" is a game Fritz and I invented a couple of years ago. It involves the age old practice of each player playing with two balls rather than just one.

The origins of the game go back many years...to about 2001. We often play as a twosome, especially later in the afternoon when there are not a lot of other golfers on the course. Like most normal golfers we occasionally will take extra shots.

Also like most normal golfers we occasionally feel guilty about these extra shots. There is always the possibility that the group behind will think hitting extra balls is holding them up. And of course there are the sticklers for the rules who think "when you're on the course you play according to the rules."
 

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Original Articles on Golf Swing Theory and Golf Travel - InternetGolfReview.com offers a unique perspective on the world of golf. Reviews of historically important golf analysts, golf players, and golf teachers such as Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus, David Leadbetter, and many more.

Golf Holidays and Golf Travel - Amost anywhere in the world is perfect for a golf holiday, but some places are more perfect than others. This site is about some of the most perfect golfing places in the world. It is a collectionof information I have compiled over the last few years and continue to collect about famous and not-so-famous golf courses, towns and villages, special people, local history. And it includes as many unique photographs as I can find. If you have articles, photos, or just tidbits of information you'd like to see included, please contact me.

To satisfy both groups we decided an official name was in order. Thus was born "Two Ball Barcelona", duly certified and sanctioned by the Royal and Ancient Most Honorable Burghers of Barcelona -- the RAMHBB.

Now if someone asks "Why are you hitting extra balls?" we can just say "We're playing Two Ball Barcelona." I can't recall anybody ever asking this question, but I assume if they did, they would find this a perfectly adequate answer. And if not, we can just give them the number of the RAMHBB.

Of course along with its official status came a new serious attitude and a detailed set of rules. In fact there are at least two sets of rules: Conestogo rules and Kitchener rules.

Both sets of rules share the following key points:

1. You must not make it obvious you are playing multiple balls, and you must not hold up the group behind. There is no better way to sully the reputation of the game than to be chasing from one side of the course to another after your balls while the group behind leans impatiently on their clubs while bad mouthing you.

2. You must tee off according to the normal "honour" system, but you must alternate. Player A hits his first ball, then Player B hits his first ball, etc. until all balls are hit. No "rapid fire" driving allowed. Each drive is to be savoured.

3. You must declare the kind of balls you are playing before you hit them. For example, "My A ball is a MaxiFli, and my B ball is a Top Flite."

4. Mulligans are allowed on any drive as long as both players agree to take a mulligan on the same drive.

6. If you are playing two balls then your A ball will have a score, and your B ball will have a score.

Now here is where the rules diverge...

Kitchener Rules look simple, but make allowances for "qualitative" variables...

K1. The winner of each hole is the person who gets the lowest aggregate score when counting all his balls. This is called "Two Ball Aggregate".

K2. Mulligans are allowed at any time, on any shot, including putts.

K3. Under some circumstances (as yet undefined), certain players are allowed three tries at each putt.

K4. When putting, the PuttsAid is allowed on the third try.

K5. Scores can occasionally be adjusted on the basis of "qualitative" considerations. If enough players agree that a given shot was "a shot of high quality", then the results of that shot can be adjusted. For instance, if "a shot of high quality" hits a tree or goes into the water, or bounds through a parking lot, the player can play as though it actually landed in the centre of the fairway, or on the green, right next to the hole. Alternatively, the player can continue to play his ball where it landed (with appropriate penalties) but the score can be adjusted for quality when being written down on the card.

Conestogo Rules adhere to "objective" facts, but introduce complications in other ways...

C1. You must play all balls as if they were each being played by a different player. You can even assign your second ball (or your first one for that matter) to another golfer who is not there. These "assignees" can be living or dead, e.g., Tiger, Vijay, Mike, Moe, or a friend, relative, celebrity, or someone you don't particularly like, e.g., Dave, Gary, Sean, Tom Cruise, the old Indian, etc., or to an entire group or association, e.g., "The Hustlers", "The Illuminati", "Team Canada". Politicians, suspected terrorists, and religious figures (e.g., Benny Hinn, the Pope, Moses, Tony Robbins) are not allowed.

C1. If you do not make assignments as per Rule 5 above, it is strictly A ball vs A ball, and B ball vs B ball. The winner of the hole can win either 1 point (by winning with one ball and tying with the other) or 2 points (by winning both balls.) This is called "Ball on Ball".

C3. If you do make assignments, then you play it like a 4 man skins game, e.g., Fritz vs Rick vs Tom Cruise vs the old Indian.

C3. Stymies are in play. No marking of the balls when on the green.

C4. When putting, intentionally hitting another player's ball in order to hole out your own is allowed, and even encouraged.

C5. The PuttsAid is allowed on certain putts if all players agree, and sometimes when they don't.

Have fun.

-- Rick

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Rick Hendershot is an avid golfer and student of the game, as well as a writer and internet publisher who lives in Conestogo, Ontario, Canada. He publishes several golf related websites and blogs, including Golf Articles and Reviews, Very Special Golf Travel. He also manages an advertising and link placement service called The LinkNet Network.

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