Legendary GolfWRX rules guru Sawgrass has passed away…

[Frankensteins Monster]

Here is a link about Howie, his book, and an Amazon link to his book.

 

https://www.greenwichtime.com/local/article/Apostle-of-the-Rules-Stamford-s-Meditz-writes-11944711.php#taboola-1

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B072593D5P/ref=cm_cr_arp_mb_bdcrb_top?ie=UTF8

[sui generis]

3 minutes ago, Frankensteins Monster said:

Here is a link about Howie, his book, and an Amazon link to his book.

 

https://www.greenwichtime.com/local/article/Apostle-of-the-Rules-Stamford-s-Meditz-writes-11944711.php#taboola-1

 

Thanks, hadn't seen that. 

 

Howie had another book, too. 

 

Get a Grip on the 2019 Rules of Golf

https://smile.amazon.com/Get-Grip-2019-Rules-Golf-ebook/dp/B07N6GB928/ref=sr_1_3?crid=37RD0JJMKCF1Q&keywords=meditz&qid=1661117202&sprefix=meditz%2Caps%2C197&sr=8-3

[wobgon]

Sorry to hear this.

[mdgboxx]

I have not been on the Rules thread in years, many years. By curiosity, I come on and...BAM!

Really sorry to hear about his passing. 

To my surprise, I recognise a whole bunch of names in the thread. No other board has a Rules section like this one.

In 2011, I became my wife's full time caregiver. My 2010 Toyota Corolla, bought new, has yet to see a golf course parking lot.

My sincerest condolences to all of you who were so close to him.

We always think of the immediate family, but forget the parallel family of close friends. 

Edited August 22, 2022 by mdgboxx

[Halebopp]

This is truly sad news and something that has been on my mind ever since it came apparent he was not actively contributing to the forum any longer.

 

He was a well-mannered man with an exceptional understanding of the rules of golf. He has most definitely affected my personal interest in the rules and my journey from merely asking questions here to refereeing in national championships, and still asking questions here.

 

May he rest in peace and my sincere condolences especially to those who knew him personally.

Edited August 22, 2022 by Halebopp

[BlackDiamondPar5]

Very sad Frankie! Thanks for letting us know.  I learned a lot from his very thoughtful engagement here on WRX.  We even PM'd a time or two numerous years ago and he seemed so kind.  May he RIP.

[SheriffBooth]

A member here for 13 years with over 16,000 posts, almost exclusively about the Rules of Golf.  What an asset we've lost.  Rest in peace, Sawgrass.

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

This is sad news. I read the Rules forum to learn, and I read a lot of his posts; he was a great teacher.

 

Thanks for all the insights, and Godspeed, Sawgrass.

[Mitchell]

Rest well, my friend, we are all better for having known you and look forward to sharing your company again.

[naval2006]

Sorry to hear that.  Sawgrass belonged to the little bunch of rules experts here and his explanations were enlightening and straight to the point.  RIP.  

[DavePelz4]

This is terribly sad.  Howie and I communicated for many years and he was the unofficial rules consultant for our competition for years.  He always made time not only to explain the rules, but how to also interpret some of the decisions associated with it.  He always was responsive, respectful and genuinely a good guy.  Our loss is Heaven's gain and hopefully Howie is getting a few rounds in on his fave courses.

 

Blessings to Howie's family.

[bobfoster]

Oh my goodness. Really sad to hear this. The OP got it spot on right: "Legendary GolfWRX Rules Guru". 

 

Made me think about WRX (have been here off and on for a long time). It has thousands of people with accounts, and probably decent churn. But the number of people that post more than once a year probably number in the hundreds or couple of thousand. And those that post a lot (multiple weekly) probably number in the dozens. They actually make the board what it is (and are why the tens of thousands read it now and then).

 

Then there are a rare few. So knowledgeable about their forum, so thoughtful and articulate about their specialty, and so elegant in its expression that their breadth of knowledge somehow made people feel good about learning more, instead of making them feel stupid. 

 

There's a couple guys in Club Tech that are real live techs. Do it for a living. I've learned a lot from them. We have some pro caddies that contribute here. And even a couple of pros. Then there's ya'know, like Ferguson. No freaking clue if I've ever actually learned anything from him, but he's just Ferguson and is simply fun to read. Sort of like the thumping bass line of the daily WRX rock song.

 

Sawgrass? Whole different level. I'm actually usually seen as the rules expert in most of the groups I play with (in truth, very few average weekend golfers even could tell you the difference between handling red and yellow stakes, let alone be aware of the major 2019 RoG changes). I swear the dude knew not only the Rules, but the nuanced interpretations of the Rules at levels far beyond what the idiots in the GC/NBC booth did. 

 

BUT! Even beginners would ask the most idiotic questions in the forum, and Sawgrass was always calm and patient, and polite. He wouldn't say "just Google it you idiot", his SOP was to send a link to the relevant RoG, but then try to explain it in simple English.

 

So he not only set the standard for knowledge of the Rules, he set the standard for how to communicate the knowledge in a way that made people feel happy about learning, instead of demeaned for not knowing.

 

FM? Please do keep us informed. Hope his family has designated a non-profit (and knowing Sawgrass, I'm pretty sure he did). Totally want to make a donation in his name.

 

 

Edited August 26, 2022 by bobfoster

[Frankensteins Monster]

The family has chosen to keep everything small and with the family only. I don’t believe there will be any “in lieu of” as of right now. If there are at some point, I will pass it along. 
 

I am sure you can make donations to the USGA in Howie Meditz’s name and he will be smiling with approval. 

[LeoLeo99]

I learned that Sawgrass was ill a few months ago after I noticed he was no longer posting. He was a great guy. What I didn't know was that he was a published author.  Fairways and greens in heaven.

[nitram]

So sad to read this today. Howie was the best at explaining the rules and helped anyone who asked. We lost a good one folks!

[TerpFangolfer]

Very sorry to hear this news. Although I did not interact with him as closely as many of the others here, I definitely recognize the username, and I knew to read his responses to rules issues very thoroughly - as they would always be well thought out and concise.

 

RIP Sawgrass ☹️

[golfortennis]

My word, came here to post a rules question, and since I haven't been here in a while, come to learn this.  Horrible news.  Like was mentioned before, the biggest takeaway from me was how Sawgrass never played the "this question again? Do a search!" game.  Was always patient and willing to explain.  He will be missed.

 

Now, I'm on the fence with what I am about to propose.  There is a hockey board similar to this that I frequent, and one of the large contributors to a sub forum passed away suddenly, and in her honor they named the subforum after her.  Having said that, and this is in no way a reflection of, nor a slight towards Sawgrass, I could also see it being considered an emotional response rather than a logical one, and I am sure the powers that be would want to be careful about setting precedents as well.  So I am just posting as food for thought, but not as a formal request.  Whether doing so is the right thing can be debated, but I do think Sawgrass has earned the respect that it could be a discussion.

[sharkiesj]

OMG.  So so sad to hear this.  Sawgrass was spot-on, gracious, kind, helpful beyond the universe and most of all…a BELOVED Wrx’er.  Thank you so very much Saw, for sharing so much of your goodness with all of us here.  We’ve all been enriched by your knowledgeable kindness and humble graciousness.  RIP and god bless your entire family. 

[Forged4ever]

Howie, along with being THE Top rules Apostle, was an amazing Gentleman!! We had exchanged numbers back in 2014-2015, shortly before my first TIA and he would check in to see how I was doing. We actually discussed business more than golf rules when we spoke, as Howie was in the Marketing/Advertising/PR segment and he was as sharp in that area as he was in the rules of golf, which I told him greatly surprised me cuz most Advertising guys/gals are clueless regarding marketing/strategy and he was actually one of three that I've met in my 35+ years in business that was knowledgeable regarding strategic drivers. He was just sharp as a tack and could go right side brain as easily as he could left, which is about as rare as a world class ambidextrous athlete. 
 

Now I'm obviously sorry that we did not keep in closer contact though we spoke over the Holidays this past year, and I'm at ease with Howie knowing how much that I thought of and respected him as a person. 
 

That said, I was insanely jealous of his mane, hahaha. I didn't do the bald thing for any reason other than my hair was clumping during my first chemo so I just shaved it off though I didn't have much to start with, lol. If I'd have had Howie's locks, I could've played harder to get with Madison, that much I know, lol

 

Thanks so Much for posting this @Frankensteins Monster👊
 

Superb post @bobfoster!!

 

Very Nicely Played!!

 

And to Howie, I know that you're up there, teaching the young 'uns and keeping the dinosaur's🦖 like me in line, so I'll just say Thank You and I'll most definitely see ya on the other side my Friend👊
 

Rest Easy Brotha and may you have Fairways Greens & Fair Skies 4ever⛳️
Richard 

Edited September 11, 2022 by Forged4ever