Golf without spectators or television cameras

Welcome to the real world.

That was the thought that rang through my mind when watching the aftermath of Bryson DeChambeau losing a ball at the Masters Tournament in the United States last month.

DeChambeau lost his ball on the third hole in the second round at Augusta National when it became plugged in soggy ground near the fairway.

He went on to score seven for the par four hole, scrapped through to make the cut and never really contended for the lead.

Television commentator Brandel Chamblee described the lost ball as ``the worst break I've ever seen.''

I agreed it was a bad break but I've seen worse.

I was caddying for a friend in the Wellington Championships at Royal Wellington Golf Club several years ago when a playing partner, named Marc, powered his tee shot down the middle of the fairway.

When we got to where we thought it would be, we could not find it. There was soggy ground in the middle of the fairway after wet weather during the week and we looked and we looked but to no avail.

Marc headed backed to the tee to play his third shot. Several holes later a player from a group behind us came up to Marc and presented him with his ball. He knew it was Marc's ball because he recognised the markings on the ball.

We asked him where he found the ball. In the middle of the fairway, plugged in that soggy ground, he replied.

Lost ball in the middle of the fairway. Perhaps, the worst break I've ever seen. I know the Wellington Championships is not the Masters but Marc took it on the chin.

But that's not the only time I have witnessed a lost ball in soggy ground on or near the fairway. I have probably seen it happen to playing partners three or four times. It is just the way it is in New Zealand. We gets lots of rain and therefore puggy ground on the golf course is not uncommon.

Chamblee also bemoaned the fact there were no spectators to help DeChambeau find his ball. Welcome to the real world, I said to myself.

For 99 percent of us who play golf, we have no spectators. There is usually just yourself and three playing partners.

Chamblee also bemoaned the fact that the time allowed to look for a ball had been reduced from five to three minutes. He said that did not leave enough time for someone to rush to on-course television vans and view footage of where the ball went. Welcome to the real world, I said to myself.