It’s that time of year again.
“Leaf rule” time.
It’s not an official rule of golf, but as sure as there is pumpkin-spiced everything this time of year, the so-called leaf rule has kicked into effect in friendly games across most of the Northern Hemisphere for one simple reason:
It’s necessary.
If you live in a place where the leaves don’t fall in autumn – we’re looking at you, Florida – it doesn’t matter. Almost every place else where the crunch of leaves on the ground gives the fall its own unique soundtrack, finding a golf ball can be almost impossible if it’s found its way under an oak or an elm dripping yellow, red and orange leaves.
Personally, the fall is my favorite season, and it offers ideal golf weather in much of the United States. Plus, October is the best sports month of the year here. The rough has begun to thin out, the greens are quick and you don’t start sweating while you’re putting on your golf shoes.
People build long weekends around leaf-peeping trips, and golfers build extra time into rounds searching for tee shots that are hiding under Mother Nature’s detritus.
You know it’s there, like the French fry that’s hiding after you dropped it while driving away from McDonald’s. You really want that French fry, just like you really want to find your tee shot, but golf balls tend to play hide and seek this time of year.
Rules geeks can point to Rule 18.2, which states that if you don’t find your ball within three minutes after commencing the search, it’s lost. Which is true. It likely won’t be found until a chilly breeze or one of those high-powered blowers uncovers it long after you’ve surrendered the hunt.
There is a provision for a local rule to deal with balls that are hiding under the cover of a leaf pile, and whether your club makes it official or not, most of us out for the fun of it use the leaf rule just like we knock away short putts.
Enjoy leaf rule season. It doesn’t last long because frost delay season will be creeping up soon.
Ron Green Jr.
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