Few sports activities supply extra jargon and slang than golf. From ‘the unmentionables’ and ‘chilli dip’ to less complicated phrases akin to Stableford, tee, birdie and bogey, the vocabulary of golf is a prolonged checklist.
Right here’s one other: shotgun begin. What’s a shotgun begin in golf—and do you could shout ‘fore!’ even louder than typical when it occurs?
There’s no want to fret in regards to the latter subject—effectively, not initially, anyway.
What’s a shotgun begin?
The time period shotgun begin pertains to 18 teams of golfers starting their rounds on the identical time.
It’s title for it, really, as if the teams have been fired out of a shotgun like pellets, touchdown in in any respect components of the course.
It’s a intelligent manner of creating competitions run effectively. Let’s say each group began on the first tee, and with 10-minute intervals between occasions, it might imply three hours between the primary and final occasions, which might clearly imply the primary group would end three hours earlier than the final one.
That’s hardly conducive to ambiance on the prize-giving dinner when the early teams will eat their roast beef after which promptly depart as a result of they know their 46 Stableford higher ball factors aren’t going to get the job accomplished.
With a shotgun begin, nevertheless, everybody finishes on the identical time. After all, which means essentially the most horrific combat for a towel, bathe cubicle, or 12 inches of bench house within the locker room—however that’s a small value to pay.
Shotgun begins are particularly fashionable on charity golf days
when there may really be extra than 18 teams to someway get on the
course.
Greater than 18 brings added problems to what’s already an advanced begin to proceedings. How so, you could ask…
Shotgun begin—the charity fourball
Image the scene. Your organization has purchased a fourball on a charity day, and also you’ve been chosen as one of many quartet.
It’s being held at an area course, however you haven’t performed there earlier than. Naturally, it’s good to play a brand new course, however your lack of awareness isn’t simply restricted to the blind tee shot on the 5th—you additionally don’t know the place the thirteenth gap is, which is a little bit of an issue as a result of that’s the place you’re ranging from.
However wait, assistance is at hand. Jeremy, who heads up the gross sales workforce, performed right here* “about 10 or 11 years in the past” and might keep in mind the routing of the course, so “we’re sorted”.
Turns on the market’s a shortcut down the facet of the first and
then a pointy 90˚ proper flip via some woodland. It appears a bit unlikely as
that land sits between the first and the ninth that returns golfers to the
clubhouse after the entrance 9.
However Jeremy is satisfied, and it “saves a minimum of 10 minutes’ strolling” in comparison with merely trekking down the tenth, eleventh and 12th (which was Alan from Accounts’ play-it-safe suggestion).
You’ve guessed it. Staff Aphrodite Alarm Techniques yomp for half-hour earlier than making it to the thirteenth tee. Nonetheless, a minimum of they’ve seen what the road to take is on that blind drive on the fifth and in addition had have a look at the again left pin on the seventh.
The hooter hasn’t gone to suggest the beginning but, to allow them to sit back and funky down for a minute or two earlier than enthusiastic about the primary shot.
Oh no, wait, the thirteenth is a par 3, and the organisers have reckoned the quick holes are those to get the 5 further teams out on the course.
So, sweaty and flustered, Staff Aphrodite has to mutter one thing about “it being a maze out right here” to Staff FastFirst Haulage & Logistics—who’re all disdainfully leaning on their 6-irons in the back of the tee—whereas rummaging for balls and tees.
The FastFirst lads, nominated as Staff 13B, so the second to tee off, are clearly all fixated on watching Aphrodite tee off, too, and inevitably, not one of the 4 balls discover the inexperienced. Jeremy’s 9 handicap seems iffy, too, and there are fears that the spherical 10 or 11 years in the past might have been his final.
Alan scrambles some extent with a courageous putt, however it’s a sluggish begin for Aphrodite, they usually don’t hassle the prize-giving. Nonetheless, it’s a enjoyable night afterwards, made attainable solely due to the shotgun begin.
*It later transpires he had performed at Gracewood Park. That is Gracewood Corridor.
Whether or not you’re taking part in to a shotgun begin or not, you could need to take into consideration defending your self and your gear with specialist golf insurance earlier than your subsequent spherical.
With Golf Care, insurance policies embody Tools Cowl as much as £7,500 and Public Legal responsibility as much as £10m, so you’ll be able to play with peace of thoughts.
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