Few sports activities provide extra jargon and slang than golf. From ‘the unmentionables’ and ‘chilli dip’ to easier phrases comparable 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 it’s essential shout ‘fore!’ even louder than typical when it occurs?
There’s no want to fret concerning the latter situation—properly, not initially, anyway.
What’s a shotgun begin?
The time period shotgun begin pertains to 18 teams of golfers starting their rounds on the similar time.
It’s a superb 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 approach of constructing competitions run effectively. Let’s say each group began on the first tee, and with 10-minute intervals between instances, it could imply three hours between the primary and final instances, which might clearly imply the primary group would end three hours earlier than the final one.
That’s hardly conducive to a superb environment on the prize-giving dinner when the early teams will eat their roast beef after which promptly go away as a result of they know their 46 Stableford higher ball factors aren’t going to get the job performed.
With a shotgun begin, nevertheless, everybody finishes on the similar time. In fact, which means probably the most horrific battle for a towel, bathe cubicle, or 12 inches of bench house within the locker room—however that’s a small worth to pay.
Shotgun begins are particularly widespread on charity golf days
when there would possibly really be greater than 18 teams to someway get on the
course.
Greater than 18 brings added issues to what’s already a sophisticated begin to proceedings. How so, chances are you’ll 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 fifth—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 staff, 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 by way of 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 not less than 10 minutes’ strolling” in comparison with merely trekking down the tenth, eleventh and twelfth (which was Alan from Accounts’ play-it-safe suggestion).
You’ve guessed it. Group Aphrodite Alarm Programs yomp for a superb half-hour earlier than making it to the thirteenth tee. Nonetheless, not less than they’ve seen what the road to take is on that blind drive on the fifth and likewise had a superb have a look at the again left pin on the seventh.
The hooter hasn’t gone to indicate the beginning but, to allow them to relax and funky down for a minute or two earlier than serious 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, Group Aphrodite has to mutter one thing about “it being a maze out right here” to Group 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 Group 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 appears to be like iffy, too, and there are fears that the spherical 10 or 11 years in the past might have been his final.
Alan scrambles a degree with a courageous putt, however it’s a sluggish begin for Aphrodite, they usually don’t bother 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.
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