PERSPECTIVE FROM THE 19^TH HOLE: This is the title I chose for my personal blog, which is meant to give me an outlet for one of my favorite crafts – writing – plus use an image from my favorite sport, golf. Out of college, my first job was as a reporter for the Daily Astorian in Astoria, Oregon, and I went on from there to practice writing in all of my professional positions, including as a Congressional press secretary in Washington, D.C., an Oregon state government manager in Salem and Portland, press secretary for Oregon’s last Republican governor (Vic Atiyeh), and a private sector lobbyist. This blog also allows me to link another favorite pastime – politics and the art of developing public policy – to what I write.

Last weekend, separated by half a world away, there were two fascinating developments on the golf course.

At least fascinating, if you love golf as I do.

And, as I write this, I am still reflecting on last night’s State of the Union address, which, of course, to me, is of lesser importance than golf. So I won’t write about it yet.

In one case of a fascinating development, pro golfer Rickie Fowler defeated his demons on a course in Scottsdale, Arizona, that had his number in the past. Plus, he was able to surmount incredible obstacles and win the tournament after a golf rules fiasco that would have thrown most of us – though we, obviously, are not pro golfers – into a funk.

In the other case, Spanish golfer Sergio Garcia displayed his passion in a very abnormal, over-the-top way. He wreaked havoc on a number of greens in a tournament in Saudi Arabia, so much so that tournament officials had no choice but to disqualify him, a very severe penalty in the world of professional golf.

There was no video of the damage Garcia did to an estimated five greens, but players behind him noted that he scuffed up greens with his shoes and his putter. They complained, which resulted in the DQ.

The only video available was of Garcia in a bunker. After he hit a bad shot out of the bunker, he was shown taking it out on the sand by swinging angrily several times sending sand flying. He was irritated at a lie he had in the bunker, the character of the sand in the bunker, or both.

But guess what?

Under the revised golf rules, which were effective as of January 1, 2019, Garcia’s action in the bunker was entirely within the rules.

Here is what is stated in golf rule 12:

“The following actions are allowed in a bunker…striking the sand in frustration and anger.”

Well, it’s stupid to have this phrase in the official golf rules, but that’s exactly what Garcia did on camera.

So, that was not the reason for his penalty. His petulant attitude on several greens did the deed.

In the rules case involving Fowler, he hit a bad shot over a green and into water. He then took a drop on a hilly area heading into the water and the ball came to rest. But, as he and his caddy headed up to the green to get a look at what the ball might do when he would hit a chip shot, the ball started moving on its own and plopped back into the water.

Fowler looked surprised, but re-dropped and hit his next shot. It went 30 feet past the pin and, then, to his credit, hemade the putt for a three-over seven.

Most of us probably would have walked in after such a situation. And, to me, as one who follows golf rules – know that, in retirement, I have nothing else to do – the best approach would be to change the rules so that a dropped ball that comes to rest, but then heads into a hazard, would not incite an additional penalty. Just re-drop.

These two developments – Fowler in Arizona and Garcia in Saudia Arabia – speak volumes about the attitude of both golfers. Fowler doesn’t over-react to unfairness on the golf course. He surmounts it. Garcia shows the bad side of his passion.

So, kudos to Fowler who remains good for the game, including as young people follow him on the golf course and might even grow to love the same as he does.