The CSGA Links Volume 2 Issue 2 April, 2014 | Page 21

Over your many years playing competitive golf,
what has been your favorite tournament to play in?
A: Well, it’s actually my fiftieth year playing in tournaments. My first
tournament was the 1965 State Junior- I happened to do very well
and I made it to the finals. It still haunts me to this day, you know,
not winning that. But I would have to say my favorite tournament
to play in is the Father & Son Championship. I was fortunate to
win with my dad in 1976, and thirty six years later I won with my
son, Brendan, in 2012 at Wampanoag. That tournament has been
very good to me and we have always really enjoyed it and we look
forward to playing it on a regular basis.

What has been your favorite tournament to work
as a Rules Official?

Pictured: Bob Ruby, Jr. (right) with
son Brendan Ruby (left) holding the
Champions Trophy at the 2012 Father
& Son Championship

A: I started studying the rules right around 1995. I did it for personal enjoyment, and it morphed into
officiating, which I have really enjoyed. The people that I have met have been incredible and it has only
enhanced my enjoyment of the game. In Connecticut, my two favorite tournaments to officiate are the
match play rounds of the State Junior and the State Amateur. But the highlight would have to be last
year when I was able to be an official at the U.S. Open at Merion, and as a little bonus I was able to be
an official at the Walker Cup at National Golf Links of America. Those would certainly be my highlights.
I recently received my invitation to return to the U.S. Open at Pinehurst, so I will be there this year. The
media coverage, the players that are there, is incredible. It’s Rory McIlroy, it’s Tiger Woods. And you’re
walking with these groups, and other than playing with them, there is nothing quite like it.

What are the keys to being successful on the Rules of Golf Test?
A: I think early on, some people have an aptitude for studying the rules and taking the test, and I have
seemed to fall in to that category. I study a lot and I work at it- you have to work at it if you want to do
well. Along the way, you definitely have to have some mentoring and you need someone who knows the
rules very well. When you do have questions, its important that you can get them answered accurately
so you will have the proper understanding of a particular rule or concept.

How have you enjoyed being the CSGA Team Captain, and what’s your plan for
the upcoming season?
A: Being the Team Captain for the last two
years has been a real highlight for me. It has
been an honor and a privilege, and I have really
enjoyed being the Captain of the team. It’s a
lot of fun to be around the players, the players
have earned their way onto these teams and it
is great to be around that. I’m going to try this
year to get the players together for at least one
official practice round, where we can meet at
New Haven CC, play, and have lunch. The same
goes for the Tri-State Matches, because they
are at Tumble Brook, so we certainly should be
able to get together before the event.