Janzen DQed from US Open Qualifier for wearing steel spikes

[lagpressure]

[size=150]Janzen disqualified for wearing metal spikes[/size]

bloomberg.com/news/2013-06-0 … clubs.html

ROCKVILLE, Md. (AP) – Two-time champion Lee Janzen has been knocked out of U.S. Open qualifying for wearing metal spikes at a golf course that doesn’t allow them.

Janzen was at Woodmont Country Club for a 36-hole qualifier and opened with a 75 on the North course when it was discovered he was wearing metal spikes.

All players were informed in a May 20 letter from the Michael Cumberpatch of the Mid-Atlantic Golf Association, the official in charge of the Woodmont qualifier. The second item - right before the item that says shorts are allowed - said steel spikes were not allowed for the qualifying rounds or even the practice rounds.

Cumberpatch later said in an interview with Golf Channel that all but two sectional qualifying sites ban metal spikes for the qualifier. The exceptions were in Columbus, Ohio, and Memphis, Tenn., where the majority of PGA Tour players were competing. Metal spikes are allowed on the PGA Tour and the major championships, even at the U.S. Open.

Janzen said on Twitter he received the spikes rule in an email. ‘‘More concerned about my game. 71 1st round put me way back anyway,’’ he tweeted.

Only eight players from the Woodmont qualifier advance to the U.S. Open next week at Merion in suburban Philadelphia. Janzen won the 1993 U.S. Open at Baltusrol and the 1998 U.S. Open at Olympic Club.

Asked if there might have been confusion about the spikes because Janzen played a Web.com Tour event in the Washington area, Cumberpatch told Golf Channel, ‘‘The only confusion would be you didn’t read the documentation you’re required to read.’’

‘‘You’re responsible for knowing the conditions under which you’re playing,’’ Cumberpatch said.

Janzen was disqualified for the metal spikes nearly eight years after a short-lived debate about spikes on the PGA Tour. A petition in August 2005 sought support from the Player Advisory Council to get rid of the metal spikes. Janzen was quoted in a story in USA Today as saying, ‘‘It’s got no chance. You can’t ban metal spikes.’’

[lagpressure]

On a 36 hole qualifier… there will be no members playing this course today. Most private courses are closed on Monday. They would be mowing the greens tomorrow anyway if this were a members issue. Could members at these country clubs be insane?

What could possibly be the argument to not allow them on Monday qualifier? A two time US Open champion can’t wear the shoes he wore when he won a few years back in a qualifier? The purpose if this is what?

I sure hope this raises some debate… and things don’t just go back to Tiger and Sergio’s love spat.

How can a local rule from a club supersede the long standing rule of conforming spikes? They are still USGA conforming. THIS IS THEIR EVENT!! What are these idiots thinking?

Apparently Janzen was not a fluke US Open winner… he won it twice. He used steel spikes both times. Now he can’t qualify for the event using steel spikes? It would be one thing if they were banned… but they are not banned?

Am I insane or is the USGA insane?

THE USGA IS INSANE!!!
They are golf haters…

There are some great ball strikers who understood the importance of proper footing spinning in their graves right now.

[lagpressure]

Michael Cumberpatch,

It’s the player’s responsibility to know the rules

Steel Spikes are legal… Janzen knows the rules. Apparently Cumberpatch doesn’t.

Can someone find this guys email address for me? Been trying…
Send it over PM is fine… or post it here so anyone who cares can write this nut can.

[Nidan]

A similar thing happened to Steve Elkington a few years ago. He showed up to the qualifier wearing his steel spikes. When he was told that he couldn’t wear them, he withdrew and went home.

His home course (Champions in Houston) is one of the few left that permit steel spikes.

Of course, a local rule can supercede USGA rules. It is the players responsibility to read the local rule sheet and know the terms of engagement. Dumb rule aside, I can’t feel sorry for Jansen. He should know better.

[lagpressure]

The rules at the qualifiers should be universal across all the sites. How about a local rule that at Cowbell CC, all qualifiers must play with persimmon and blades pre 1980. Make it a local rule. Supersedes the USGA rule. Would be no different. Persimmon is still legal… so are frying pans, but can’t use frying pans because the local rule says so. Who is making the rules?
The local club? Is it arbitrary? The USGA? It’s their tournament. Not the local club.

It’s to the advantage of a golf club to HOST a USGA event… even a qualifier. It’s prestige for the club. The USGA never used to host events on crap courses. Any USGA qualifier I ever went to was on a respectable track if not a very good one.

“Hey Joe, hows that course you played last week down in Seacliff?” “Jim, it’s a great track… they had the US Open qualifier there two years ago…tough as hell”

Clubs benefit from this. A lot of the value of a membership at a nice CC is perceived and a lot of it is based upon prestige. Clubs should want this.

If the club won’t allow the Q … the USGA should go elsewhere. There are plenty of clubs that would love to host a USGA qualifier.

When does the local club cower to the USGA? Only if the actual US Open is played there? But not the qualifier? Where is the respect here?

[fontaine32]

The should give him a special exemption for winning the damn tournament twice… That’s what we should write the USGA about… Let’s start a petition…

[lagpressure]

Lee Janzen was disqualified from U.S. Open qualification for wearing metal spikes. (USATSI)

Lee Janzen was disqualified from a U.S. Open qualifier Monday because the two-time champion wore metal spikes.

Janzen had finished his first of two rounds at Woodmont Country Club in Maryland when he was approached by an official and asked if he was wearing metal spikes.

“He said, ‘You can’t wear metal spikes,’ and I was disqualified,” Janzen told PGATour.com. “I have never not worn metal spikes. I’ve played in U.S. Open qualifiers every year since 2009 in Memphis [Tenn.] and Columbus [Ohio] and always wore metal.”

Players had been emailed the course rules on May 20, which specifically said spikes were prohibited for the qualifying rounds.

“It never entered my mind,” he told PGATour.com. “Considering I’ve played professional tournaments every week for 24 years now, I had no reason [to look at the rules sheet] to see if I was conforming.”

Metal spikes are allowed at major events, including the U.S. Open, just not at most qualifiers.

Only eight players will advance from the sectional qualifier at Woodmont to the U.S. Open next week at Merion.

[ocat1979]

The entry form states that metal spikes are not permitted at the qualifying sites. However a club can chose to waive that rule and have a local rule in place for the qualifying day if they choose.

Madness! Blame goes to the USGA for this, it is their rule, in their competition. A smaller portion of the blame goes to the clubs for being lazy/stubborn for not choosing to wave this ridiculous rule

[PAUL_IOZ]

@lagpressure

Michael Cumberpatch,

It’s the player’s responsibility to know the rules

Steel Spikes are legal… Janzen knows the rules. Apparently Cumberpatch doesn’t.

Can someone find this guys email address for me? Been trying…
Send it over PM is fine… or post it here so anyone who cares can write this nut can.

I have it here Lag:

mncmagausga@prodigy.net
mcumberpatch@verizon.net

I hope he responds

Turns out he is the historian at the U.S. Naval Academy Golf Club…

[LipOut]

TGC interviewed the rules guy. He comes off like a pompous prick. He is justified in his ruling but seems quite cocky and unwilling to consider possible changes to improve the future of the competition. Some good questions were asked.

http://www.golfchannel.com/media/golfs-longest-day-int-janzen-dq-metal-spikes-060313/

[RangeRat]

C’mon Cumberpatch…get your head out of your rump and into the GAME!

Even those kids on the AT&T Wireless, Bigger is Better commercial have more common sense.

Not sure Spielberg could script this one any better.

[eagle]

…He comes off like a pompous prick…

gotta agree

[lagpressure]

Michael Cumberpatch of the Mid-Atlantic Golf Association

mncmagausga@prodigy.net
mcumberpatch@verizon.net

IronOfZion,
Thanks for researching this…

I wrote him a long letter hammering home my typical points not only on this issue… but the state of the game.

Please… ABSers, do take a minute and write this guy with your thoughts…whatever they are.

This is a disgrace to the game. He needs to know that there are other people who feel an injustice has been served.

[apples2967]

Hi Michael,

I am distressed at the ruling made regarding Lee Janzen in the recent US Open qualifying match.

Will players be allowed to use metal spikes when they contest the US Open later this month ???

Answer that, and you can see how ridicules the ruling you made is. How on earth can u argue, a local rule is above the very rules of golf.
Its madness.

Are metal spikes banned by the USGA or The RA ???

How dare you fail to adhere to the rules of golf, and attempt to protect a local rule, in a Nations greatest championship.

How will you feel when the winner wears metal spikes, yet u DQ a former champion because a local club rule had been breached.

I hope you inbox is going balistic.

Golf died a little with your ruling.

Beggars belief IMO

Steve Turner
Aust PGA ( former)

[lagpressure]

Mr Cumberpatch

Regarding the disqualification of Lee Janzen.

I respect that you are the ruling official appointed to this concern. I also understand
that you have a responsibility to enforce the rules of play for the event.

However,

I do not understand how the enforcement of using plastic golf spikes should be a condition of play in qualifying for our National Open. Being yourself a historian, I can only assume you have a deep respect for this game and it’s traditions. Metal spikes have been an integral part of this game for decades if not a century. The current USGA rules DO allow them for competition as well as the PGA Tour and the European Tour where most of the US Open participates play and make their living.

It is wrong that this is a condition of play. A player being disqualified should only accept the disqualification if they have clearly taken an advantage over the playing field in a way the violates the rules on engagement.

I should not have to remind you that golf shoes with steel spikes are golf shoes, and they are 100% conforming under the USGA rules.

Now, I understand that many clubs have banned the use of metal spikes for their member play. However, It should be understood that this is a qualifying for the National Open, and it should clearly be insisted by the USGA or any sanctioned organization hosting a local or sectional qualifier that if the course is to gain the notoriety of hosting such a prestigious qualifying event, that event must adhere to THE RULES OF GOLF as presented by the USGA.

In this case, we have not only a former US Open Champion, but a two time US Open champion, who won both of these events using metal spikes, as have most all of the past champions of this historic event.

For example, I have played the Olympic Club several times and they have a no steel spike policy for member play. However, they obviously must make this compromise to allow the use of steel spikes to host the US Open. Why would this
not be the case in a qualifier? Is the USGA actually this powerless on a the more local level?

Sir, rather than being part of the problem, I hope you consider taking this to heart and consider doing the right thing taking a stance to uphold the dignity of the great game.

In the bigger picture, the purpose of a governing body is the protect the ethics, fundamentals and values of this great game. That includes protecting the skill level needed to perform, making sure that the better players still have to play the game in a way the keeps historical relevance and that the great historic courses remain relevant moving into the future. This is not happening at it is an abomination to the game.

An organization that rather quickly over time is allowing the untraditional golf clubs such as the giant titanium drivers and plastic golf balls that now combined, fly nearly 15% farther than in the past, is disrespectful to both the game, the course designers who left their architectural legacies, and the players of the past whom left us their performance legacies.

As a former tour winner myself, I am more than disappointed with the direction of the game. Dumbing it down to make it more accessible to the masses of players does not make it a better game. This is like chess moving toward checkers.

The 10 four pars (typical par 72) on a proper championship golf course should present three long iron, four mid iron, and three short iron approaches, even for pro players. This is a fundamental tradition that has not been respected.

I of course have a lot more to say, but I only hope that you consider some of these points moving forward and look to help with the solution rather than contribute to the nonsense that has been forced upon this grand and traditional game.

Disqualifying a two time US Open Champion for wearing legal and proper golf shoes shows the absurdity of the state of this great game.

John Erickson

advancedballstriking.com

[Craig_Toone]

Its ridiculous… a qualifier should be played under the same rules as the event itself… if the club don’t like it I’m sure there is a queue of courses baying for the exposure & prestige

[lagpressure]

Mr Janzen, you cannot wear those kind of shoes to qualify for the US Open

But Sir, I won the US Open twice wearing these kind of shoes… what has changed?

It doesn’t matter what has changed. We make the rules and you as a player must abide.

What is the reason?

It doesn’t matter what the reason is, or even if there is a reason. We make the rules and you abide by them.

Ok, I’ll just do whatever you say because you clearly know what is best for me and for golf.

That is correct Mr Janzen. Just do as we say because we say so.

[BomGolf222]

This is the first I’ve heard of this, just shocking stuff! This makes zero sense.