Minnesota Golfer - Summer 2011 - 16

(ask the expert
)
Double the Fun
MGA's Lisa Overom scores 100 on the rules test-twice!
Interview by Joseph Oberle
L
isa Overom is MGA's assistant executive
director and operations
director who has also worked
numerous national events as a tournament
offi cial. She recently recorded her second
perfect score of 100 on the PGA/USGA
Rules test, a feat that is tough to accomplish
even once. The humble Overom, who
was quoted in Golf World magazine about
the achievement, talked rules and offi ciating
with Minnesota Golfer.
Q How did you come to know the rules
so well?
A When I started at the MGA we had
a staff of fi ve, so everyone had to do
everything. I attended rules workshops,
which gave me a lot more confi dence
to run events on my own. Rules are not
a major part of my job now; I just jump
back into it every three or four years and
take the test. The people in our rules
department often are out of the offi ce
running tournaments, so I wind up getting
a lot of rules questions.
Q What does the test consist of?
A It's 50 questions closed book, and
the next 50 are open book-you can use
everything except electronic devices.
You can use notes, a rules or Decisions
book or other printed materials. You
can't use a laptop, and you can't phone
a friend. The fi rst part is defi nitions and
standard questions you should be able
to answer without referencing materials.
The second half gets into more complex
situations. It's different from offi ciating
because you are given four choices
for an answer. When you're out on the
course, you don't have that luxury.
Q What are your thoughts about getting
another perfect score?
A The fi rst time I did it, that was a goal
and I was kind of surprised. It was very
satisfying-I wanted to repeat that feeling.
It's just nice to have the time I put
into studying and preparing pay off.
Q What's the most memorable tournament
you have offi ciated?
A The U.S. Women's Open was at
Interlachen in 2008; I was assigned
to Annika Sorenstam's group. It was a
privilege to walk around the golf course
with her for an entire round and see
Lisa Overom
14
MINNESOTAGOLFER Summer 2011
www.mngolf.org
how she managed her game and all the
demands the fans put on her. It was her
last major championship, and it was
great to be part of that.
Q Most memorable ruling?
A At the 2006 U.S.
Amateur at Hazeltine,
I was refereeing Trip
Kuehne's match when he
shanked a shot into Lake
Hazeltine. This is an order
of play ruling that rules experts would
know, but other people might not. As
it turned out, Trip chose the stroke and
distance option under the water hazard
rule. Even though the golf ball of Trip's
opponent, John Kelly, was closer to the
hole after Trip dropped at the spot from
which he just played, John played next.
As Trip had more than one relief option,
the spot where his ball lay in the lake
was used to determine who played next.
It was the correct ruling, but there was
a lot of talk about it on our handheld
radios and on TV.
Q Do you think players have a good
knowledge of the rules?
A It's surprising that players who are so
serious about all aspects of their games and
practice many hours to lower their scores
don't take the time to learn the rules by, for
example, attending a rules seminar.
Q Is it fun being tested on the rules?
A The test is a challenge. I wouldn't
call it fun by any means. But it is
rewarding being a rules offi cial. I have
been fortunate to be " inside the ropes "
at many great courses with many outstanding
players. Offi ciating is kind of
like playing goalie. You can go for long
stretches of time without anything happening
and then bam, it's a two-on-zero!
PHOTO BY PAUL MARKERT
http://www.mngolf.org
Minnesota Golfer - Summer 2011

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