Bret Lasky, Media Coordinator Epson Tour, will be sharing his adventures throughout the season from his typical day in the mobile office (his traveling office) to his on the course experiences. If you, the fans, have a question, topic or something you'd like Bret to cover while traveling on the Road to the LPGA, just e-mail us at Epson Tour.

Getting the Course Ready for Play

June 20, 2014

After our quick 8:30 a.m. Tuesday staff meeting, Annie grabbed a cart and off we went. In the back of the cart was a long measuring tape roll and spray paint. We were ready or I should rephrase and say Annie was ready.

Janet Lindsay rode out with us in a separate cart. The task on Tuesday was to measure the greens and put down circle dots on the front and back of the greens.

The dots indicate where the front/back of the greens are and serve as a point of reference when reading a pin sheet.

So, we drove to the first green. Annie walked to the back with the roll of measuring tape in hand and Janet was at the front with the other side of the tape.

In laymen’s terms, they split the green in two and angle the two spray painted dots on the front/back towards the angle of approach or in the case of a par-3 – the tee box.

Then – when they do pin placement, they count the yards from the front and then to the left or right so players know the exact distance to the pin.

I forget what hole we were on, but Tiffany Tavee was on the green putting and Annie asked Tiffany where the players would be laying up because it was a wide fairway and an oddly shaped green. This way Annie knew exactly what the point of attack would be.

Let me track back to Monday for a second. Annie, the advance official, came to the course and put down white lines on the tee boxes for players that were playing early Tuesday. The lines indicate to the players the furthest possible distance that the hole will be played.

They do that on every single hole.

The simple concept Annie explained to me as to how they decide on how far or short holes are going to play is basically – you don’t want them to constantly have a 7-iron into greens.

Annie explained a few things about what the role of the “advance official” really is. In a nutshell, the advance official coordinates with the superintendent at the course and gives the Tour’s expectations for course conditions. For example, the Tour wants the greens running at the same speed on Monday that they will be running on Friday. This way the players can get comfortable with the speed of the greens early in the week.

Annie will set up the back nine this week – Janet will set up the holes on the front nine.

While Annie and Janet were measuring greens, Kelly and Marty were out marking the course. Red spray painted lines indicate the hazards. At one point – I think on hole nine – we caught up with them. Kelly’s shoes were red after nine holes of painting lines. I mean – they were red. Part of the job – they all have specific painting shows. Marty actually had these rubber shoe shaped covers that keep his shoes clean.

Early start to the day on Friday. Annie drove me to the course at 6:00 a.m. and got right to work.

More updates on Saturday.

Lasky Learns the Rules

June 14, 2014

So, who governs the game of golf? The broad answer is the USGA. But, how about a Epson Tour event or an LPGA event. The answer – rules officials.

In South Bend at the Four Winds Invitational, Lasky on the Loose is back and I will spend time shadowing the rules officials – specifically Annie Giangrosso.

I’ll hope to spend time with Kelly Wergin and Jane Reynolds as well – those two have been around the game so long it would foolish for me not to spend some time soaking up knowledge.

Annie made most sense because she is what is referred to as the “advance” rules official.

So, what exactly does a rules official do? That is what I am going to be investigating next week. They arrive on site seven days in advance and seem to be busy just about everyday.

I’m going to shadow Annie when she sets up the course beforehand and during a tournament round when she is actually on the course handling rulings.

It seems like a pressure packed job, no? I mean – they are really responsible for everything that goes on around the course. What if a player needs a ruling on the 18^th fairway on Sunday when they are tied for the lead? Talk about pressure! That player has a shot at $15,000!

The interesting thing to me is that they are very different from an NBA official or an NFL referee who are involved in every sequence, play and so forth.

To a degree – golfers govern themselves as much as the rules officials. I want to learn more about that as well.

Annie was telling me last week at dinner that there are 13-pages in the USGA rule book dedicated to how to give a player relief in the case of a grandstand on 18. Are you kidding me?! 13 pages! So, obviously there are a lot of different circumstances and things to think about before making a ruling. It’s definitely not cut and dry.

Another thing I’m interested in finding out about is all the pace of play stuff. In my short time around the game of golf, it seems that improving pace of play is a big emphasis. So, how are they trying to do that and how much time do players get before they are “put on the clock”.

It’ll be another course in the finer points of golf for me.

Well see how it goes next week!

May | June

Lasky on the Loose: Know the Rules

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