Image Up Advertising & Design

12 | SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | AUGUST 2016 | Golf & Pro Shop News If you have questions about golf in Sun Lakes, please call the Main Pro Shop at 845-2135 or the Executive Pro Shop at 769-8444. By Al Vallecorsa, PGA Director of Golf The 2016 US Open was going to be one for the books. I loved seeing Andrew Landry, who?? leading half the tournament. Some of the best to never win majors, including fan favorites Dustin Johnson, Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia were in contention on the final day. Oakmont was in great condition and, despite the rain, it proved to be a tough but fair test for the best golfers in the world. The back nine on Sunday began with as much tension and great golf as would be expected from the final round of a major. The cauliflower greens and concrete fairways that marred the 2015 Open in Chambers Bay were fading into the past like a distant memory. Then it happened. The USGA managed to foul up again and send the US Open down the rabbit hole of controversy. On the fifth hole, Dustin Johnson was about to address his ball when it rolled backwards just a fraction of an inch. (Not sure you can move a ball when it rolls back?) He did the right thing and called over the official to alert him of the problem. Because it was clear that Dustin had neither touched his ball nor caused it to move when he soled his putter beside it, the official instructed Dustin to play the ball from the new spot and that he would not incur a penalty. However, on the twelfth tee, an official approached him and informed him that after video review, he may be penalized for the ball moving back on the fifth hole. Not that he would incur the penalty, but that he might…. My first reaction was confusion. How could there even be a thought of a penalty if the video evidence was so clear? The greens were fast, as is usual for a US Open, and the ball was resting on a severe slope, so clearly it was just a side effect of course conditions. The same exact thing happened earlier in the day except he had actually addressed the ball before it moved. Johnson's putter was still about a half an inch off the ground, yet the USGA penalized him and not the other player. Then, when it was quite clear the USGA rules heads intended to penalize Johnson regardless, but left the decision up in the air through the entire back nine, the confusion turned to outrage. There were even texts sent from other players: Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth, and even Ernie Els, THE BIG EASY, were upset. In my eyes I think telling a player mid-round about a potential one shot penalty would cost most players about 4 shots in anxiety. Luckily for the USGA and the rest of us, Johnson was totally unflappable and managed to finish the round four shots ahead of the field. Even though the USGA did end up enforcing the not-a-penalty penalty on him, it wasn't enough to affect the outcome of the tournament. Whew! If the outcome had been different there would have been huge controversy. With that being said, the USGA, and the game of golf itself did not escape Sunday unscathed. The real victim was the game itself. There has been such a huge push to "grow the game" and inspire kids and more to play. How about the commercials which were claiming "everyone's game"? However, how many woke up the next day and said, I really want to play golf now. It seems like a fun thing to do! The good thing is we all learn from mistakes and the USGA will only get better from the last few years of controversial tournaments, but they need to start getting it right. Even through the ball moving controversy I thoroughly enjoyed the course and the toughness a US Open brings. I can't wait till next year to see Erin Hills in Wisconsin show its teeth! On another note, thanks to everyone for a very successful Charity Week. I would also like to thank my staff for all their efforts help coordinating this year's events and to the maintenance staff for having both courses in great shape. As always, please feel free to contact the golf shop with any questions, comments or feedback. I hope you enjoy the golf course, the club and the camaraderie of each other. Thank you for your continued support and we look forward to the rest of 2016. Thoughts about the USGA inspired by the US Open controversy

• Cover