Dustin Johnshon with rules official David Price on the 18th hole during the final round of the PGA Championship-via Reuters

With all the hoopla that overshadowed Martin Kaymer’s 3-hole playoff  victory over Bubba Watson, here are the 8 things I learned from Bunkergate.

1. Dustin Johnson displayed the epitome of honor and good sportsmanship, after being eliminated from the playoff for grounding his club in a bunker. To paraphrase Ron Burgundy, “He kept it classy.”

2. It’s only a matter of time before Dustin Johnson wins one of golf’s majors. This is the second time this year he has come so close to winning, but it eluded him once again in the home stretch.

The bunker that cost Dustin Johnson two strokes and knocked him out of the playoff for the PGA Championship-via ESPN.com

3. Rules are rules, no matter what. There is no grey area in the rules of golf for grounding your club in a bunker. Even, if you don’t know you’re standing in a bunker that spectators where just in. To quote David Feherty, “But it looks more like, I don’t know—a manger?”

4. Whistling Straits needs to hire Shane Bacon to label all the bunkers.

5. I’m getting used to unknown golfers winning majors and learning to pronounce and spell their last names. Oosthuizen!

6. Four of the players who were in contention to win the PGA Championship all wore flat front pants. Steve Elkington, it’s time to lose the pleated pants and update the wardrobe.

7. “This totally reminds me of when Twitter blew up after the Roberto DeVicenzo incorrect scorecard incident at the 1968 Masters.” Jason Sobel via Twitter.

8. Kaymer’s caddie Craig Connelly goes by the nickname “Wee Man.”

What do you think people will remember most about the 2010 PGA Championship?

Golf Rules Quick Reference 2008-2011

Have you ever tried reading the “Rules of Golf”? I have and I find it to be quite a daunting task and difficult to use. Who has the time, to sit down and try and interpret the rules, let alone find the one that is applicable to your situation? I think a lot of golfer’s feel the same way and probably don’t even bother with learning the rules or carrying the rules book. I think that’s about the change, with the completely revised edition of the “Golf Rules Quick Reference 2008-2011. A practical guide for use on the course” by Yves C. Ton-That. The author has entirely revised and updated “Golf Rules Quick Reference” to include the new rules that taken effect on January 1, 2008. The “Golf Rules Quick Reference” is based on the “The Rules of Golf” and “Decisions on the Rules of Golf,” which are published by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews and the USGA.

“The fact is, most golfers, including many tour professionals, don’t have a thorough knowledge of all of the Rules of Golf, other than the basics,” says Yves C. Ton-That, “Golf Rules Quick Reference 2008-2011” author and an international rules official for more than 10 years.

The “Golf Rules Quick Reference” provides quick answers to rules questions thanks to its 170 illustrations and easy-to-understand language instead of dry, legal verbiage nobody understands. Storing “Golf Rules Quick Reference” in your golf bag will enable you to avoid embarrassment and arguments, and will also allow you to take full advantage of the various relief procedures and free drops you weren’t aware of before.” The book is very compact and measures 4.1 x 5.8 inches, which makes it easy to fit in your golf bag. The handy, plastic-coated flip guide answers every rules question at a glance, as each rules situation is illustrated. This is a great feature, because when your on the golf course, you don’t have the luxury of time to find the proper ruling and the “Golf Rules Quick Reference”, does an excellent job of explaining the rules in plain English and avoids the use of dry legal language that you find in the “Rules of Golf.”  And it has over 170 illustrations, that make using this book a breeze to use. I’m a visual learner and love being able to see an illustration next to rule being described, like they say, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” What I also liked about The “Golf Rules Quick Reference”, is the fact it’s organized into eight sections, just like how a golf course is layed out, among them “Tee,” “Fairway and Rough”, “Bunker,” “Water Hazard” and “Green.” In fact, one of the most innovative features of this booklet, is the overview chart on the back of the booklet, which answers 80 percent of golfers’-questions without ever having to open up the book. I think you’ll find this to be invaluable, because you don’t have to waste time trying to look up a rule to resolve those relief procedures. In the event you need you need to consult official rule book, the official rule number can be found  in brackets after each heading, thus making it easier to find. Gotta love, the foresight and consideration by Yves C. Ton-That, to make this booklet so simple to use.

The 2008 edition’s most important changes include:

• Conforms to the new 2008-2011 Rules of Golf

• 48 pages (the original edition had 40)

• More than 170 illustrations (previously 36). Every scenario in the book is illustrated for solutions at a glance

• Includes the rules for both stroke and match play (previously only stroke play)

You really have no excuse, not to carry the “Golf Rules Quick Reference” in your golf bag, even I carry a copy in my bag and so should you.Golf Rules Quick Reference 2008-2011. A practical guide for use on the course” by Yves C. Ton-That, 48 pages, 170-plus full-color illustrations, plastic coated, spiral binding, Artigo Publishing, 1 edition 2008, ISBN 978-3-909596-16-4, $9.95.