Youth Golf

I loved playing golf when I was in high school.  There were always summer tournaments to look forward to and new girls to meet.  I started playing competitively at an older age then the boys.  Thus, parents were not as involved as when Cal, Cameron and Meg started out.  The tournaments that they played in expect the golfers to keep their own score and to know the rules of the game.  I have never worried about my children posting an accurate score as I know they were taught by my Dad and there is no one that I believe knows the rules better than he.

Yesterday, was one of those days when Cameron learned that not all golfers know the rules and not all parents play fair.  He played in his first buddy tournament which was a two person best ball.  His partner was also a student at Bethany and Cameron was very happy to have someone he knew to play with.  They shot a 51 which wasn't too bad for their first time together and at Elcona Country Club.  It was a challenging course with lightening fast greens.

They finished early and waited for the last four teams to finish.  As the scores were read and Cameron realized that they finished third he was proud of their effort and ready to receive his medal.  That was until a parent stepped in and said, "Wait a minute.  My son didn't have a 7 on number 16.  He actually had a 5."  The person running the tournament said ok, and changed the score from a 52 to a 50.  Cameron and my Dad stood dumbfounded.  First, parents are not allowed to keep the score.  The two hour orientation and the five paragraph email I received every week from the tournament chair states that very clearly.  Second, the boys were supposed to keep each other's scores.  They kept their own.  Lastly, once the scorecard is turned in and signed they would be disqualified for admitting an incorrect score.

This sounds like sour grapes, but it is not.  Cameron was bummed that he didn't finish third, but fourth out of 8 with a weaker team was still good.  It was the lack of rule following that really bothered him.  He played fair and kept a correct score.  He knew the rules and the tournament director did not back him up.  Unfortunately, that is part of youth golf.  I learned that well with Cal.  It gets a lot better when the golfers get older.  Parents aren't as involved and the tournaments are run a lot better.