Dear Steve,

Truly sorry to hear of your misfortunes - and I agree that the rules relating to scorecards should be more pragmatic as well as taking account of current technology.

However, once again the R&A/USGA failed to take the opportunity to modernise this aspect of the rules when they introduced their amendments effective 1st January this year.

As I understand it, you failed to sign your card -   and as things stand at present, irrespective of the reasons and circumstances, that is a capital offence and you were properly disqualified.   Entering scores into a computer is not recognised by the rules -   indeed the exact opposite applies in that under the rules of golf the Committee may not require a competitor to enter his score into a computer.

Unjust, impractical, illogical and archaic -   welcome to the rules of golf in the 21st century!

Best regards,

As far as Ricky is concerned........stakes marking water hazards are moveable obstructions and relief without penalty is therefore available.

Regards,
Hadyn

Regarding Kevin's question I think I will have to call Peter, because on the face of it the decision seems wrong!

If the ball is not in the bunker, there is no offence in testing the condition of the bunker - e.g. by having the caddie rake the sand.   The only thing I can think of is that it may have been related to improving his area of stance or possibly building a stance.

Thanks for the question from David.

The last time I played the Road Hole with my brother-in law he was on the green in 2, putted into the bunker and ended up with a 7!!

But this is a perfect illustration of the complexities - and illogicality of the rules.

Rule 13.2 - if there is a bunker between David's ball and the hole and he rakes the bunker, he is deemed to have improved his line of play and therefore incurs a penalty.   However........ Rule 13.4 - if he plays out backwards and rakes the bunker, even though it then transpires that the area he has raked is on his line of play, he does not incur a penalty as rights under R13.4 override any considerations under R13.2.

What happens if he plays out backwards, doesn't rake the bunker but then goes back in and rakes it when he realises it is on his line of play........??? 13.2 - penalty, or 13.4 no penalty??

Don't ask me to explain - 'cos I don't know ; only the great and good at the R&A / USGA can answer that one.

Equally, I don't know why that was the ruling in the tour event at the Road Hole - as it would appear to contradict R13.4.

Anyway, it is probably better to play out sideways towards the 18th tee!!

Regards,
Hadyn

This is not a matter of the rules of golf but of the rules of the competition.   It should have been sorted out by the Committee as part of the conditions of the competition.

A common arrangement is to adjust the par / sss so that they are the same for men and women, or alternatively to give courtesy strokes to the ones at a disadvantage.   I can't see how a stroke play competition in these circumstances could be fair - if it is not a 'level playing field' it is hardly a fair competition!!   Perhaps stableford scoring would work.

Regards,
Hadyn

Q 233.   From Marty:

Marty needs to replace the ball on the tee - but he is hitting 3, not 2.   The whiff counts as a stroke, but hitting the ball on the way back doesn't, because a stroke has to be with a forward movement of the club.   However, moving the ball accidentally with the back of the club incurs a 1 stroke penalty and the ball has to be replaced.

Hadyn

Q 232.   From Brigid:

Hello

Can you clear hailstones along the intended line of your putt?   My understanding is that you can define hailstones as loose impediments and you can clear them provided you do not press down on the green.   Am I right in saying you can clear them with anything?

Regards
Brigid Kennedy
Stillorgan, Co Dublin

Regarding Brigid's question......only the Irish would play through a hailstorm!!

However, hail can be treated either as a loose impediment or as casual water and relief taken accordingly.   If she takes relief as a loose impediment it can be removed from her line of putt by any (reasonable) means provided she does not press anything down and thus improve her line of putt.   Using a cap, towel or back of the hand is normal ; using a snow blower would not be considered reasonable!

Regards,
Hadyn

Q 231.   Fron Trevor:

Six months ago I played in a 36 hole stroke tournament and was given the first prize for having the best stroke for 36 holes (18 holes per day for 2 days).   Later found out that the person who scored my card had dropped a ball out of the rough that he had lost and not gone back to the tee to play another ball.   He then went on to say I had done the same thing so I should be disqualified also.   Well as far as I am concerned I played the game according to the rules and did not do this.   As there were only two of us plaiyng together there is no other person to vouche for me.

Thanks for the question from Trevor - an extraordinary result!!

If there was an alleged breach of the rules it should have been sorted out at the time.   It is not clear what was the decision of the Captain / Committee that enabled Trevor to keep the prize but not be recognised as the winner.   It is incumbent on the player to declare a penalty against himself - and if Trevor says he didn't do it, then that is an end to the matter.

The rules specify that once a competition is closed and the result officially announced a penalty cannot be subsequently imposed.   There are a number of exceptions but there is nothing in Trevor's situation which would bring it under any of these exceptions.

To clear his name, Trevor should demand that the Committee refer the matter to the R&A for an official ruling.

Best regards,
Hadyn

Thanks for the question from Alan - he seems to have outlined all the considerations, so not much for me to add!!

It is very much a judgement call - and if in doubt, play a second ball and let the tournament committee make the decision.

However, he should bear in mind that the cuttings will also be loose impediments, so it may be possible to obtain relief under that procedure.

Q 229.   From gg:

Question regarding Interpretation on rule 27.1

The breach of the rules is in not adopting the correct procedure.  The procedure he should adopt depends on where the ball is lost as a result of the dreaded slice.

However, I think 'gg' is asking what if he simply ignores all the rules and procedures and does his own thing - does he incur only a 2 stroke penalty.  If his playing partners are nice people - and he is therefore still alive despite deliberately flaunting the rules - by not adopting the proper lost ball procedure he will be deemed to have played from a wrong place.

If he does not immediately correct his deliberate mistake and play from the right place - i.e. adopt the correct procedure, this is considered a serious breach of the rules and he will be branded a 'very bad boy' and will be disqualified under Rule 20.7c for deliberately ignoring the rules and thereby gaining significant advantage as a result of playing from the wrong place.

Q 228.   From William:

Dear Hadyn,

Good question from Malta - it almost prompts me to launch into my 'campaign for simpler rules of golf' diatribe.   We have 546 pages of rules + decisions from the USGA/R&A and the more they try to clarify, the more they succeed in confusing.

The simple rule in William's case is that B can ask A to mark his ball if he thinks it might affect his shot (e.g. he might hit A's ball).   Equally, A can mark and lift his ball if he thinks that leaving it in place might assist B.

However, neither of these can be done 'when a ball is in motion', so it would appear that the answer is that once B's ball is in motion, A cannot mark his ball - and if he does so, he incurs a 2 stroke penalty.

Alas, there is no further clarification in the rule book as to what would be the outcome in the circumstances described by William.   It seems illogical that A should incur a penalty because there is absolutely no advantage to him in marking his ball - if B's ball hits it, then A can simply replace it without penalty.   Equally if B has asked him to mark his ball, but B becomes impatient and plays his shot anyway, it would seems very unfair to penalise A.

Or perhaps it is a question of intent...if A marks his ball simply because he wants to and with no thought as to whether it might or might not assist B, can he avoid the penalty even if the ball is already in motion??

Sadly, only the USGA/R&A know the answer to these questions - and thus far they have not shared them with the rest of us.

Interestingly, they did decide that when a player marked his ball, lifted it, replaced it and then marked and lifted it again because an incoming ball (in motion) was going to hit it, he did not incur a penalty - so from this we might infer that there would be no penalty in William's case.   However, the USGA/R&A specifically ruled that their decision related only to Rule 16.1.b (lifting and cleaning) and not to Rule 22 (lifting a ball which might assist / interfere with play).

This rule is understandable from B's point of view because if he hits A's ball his own ball may cannon off anywhere and he has to play it from where it comes to rest, but a pretty pointless rule in respect of A!!

Well, that's my opinion anyway!!

Q 227.   From Rick Russell, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia:

Another One for the 'Honesty Box'!!

The most important thing to remember in any consideration in the rules of golf is that it is incumbent on the individual to declare penalties against himself.

In Rick's case, if his friend declared that he had found his original ball, then that is the end of the matter - and no ruling is required, unless Rick could conclusively prove otherwise.   However, I was equally unimpressed with the arbitrary imposition of a 1 shot penalty - either play by the rules and apply them correctly, or accept the fact that the friend had found his original ball, in which case there was no penalty.

Must remember to get character references on the locals next time I play golf in KL!!

Best regards,

Hadyn

Improved Bunker?

Thanks for the question from Daz.

Definitely best if he doesn't go in - as under the ball unplayable relief options he can't drop out of the bunker if the relief he chooses is the 'within 2 club lengths' option or the 'drop on the extension of the line from the hole back through the unplayable spot' option.   However, he can take the 1 stroke penalty and play again from where the previous stroke was played from - which would get him out of the bunker without any additional penalty!

Best regards,

Q 225.  From Phil:

Good question from Phil -

To be honest, I am not sure that the rules authorities have ever considered such a situation.   The Club / Committee can make local rules for abnormal conditions but they have to be consistent with the policy established by the USGA / R&A.

Regarding poor conditions, the recommended local rule is to allow players to lift and place the ball within a defined distance of the problem area - I have never heard of anything approving the use of mats as an alternative.

[n support of the use of mats - I have played on sand courses in the Middle East where you carry your mat around with you and simply lift the ball out of the sand and play each shot off your mat.   It is the only way you can play in such an environment - and nobody cares whether the USGA / R&A agree or disagree!!

Best regards,
Hadyn

Q 224.  From Alan:

it clearly says in the rules, your allowed to repair pitchmarks on the green, on your line.  We had a debate in the Clubhouse, about how you should ask your marker/opponent, to confirm its a pitchmark, before repairing it.   I actually thought it was a rule, but I cant find it.  You clearly see the Pro's asking, but is it just good practice?   What is the situation about pitchmarks, and how do you deal with a 'dispute'?

Re Alan's question - you can repair pitch marks and damage from old hole plugs - but nothing else.

The normal practice is simply to ask the interested parties to agree that the damage is from one of the above.

If there is a disagreement then in stroke play the player can invoke the second ball rule and nominate which ball is to count if it ultimately transpires that both balls have been played in accordance with the rules - presumably he would nominate his second ball in such circumstances.   He should take his putt with his original ball before repairing the damage to the green.   Whether or not he sinks his first putt, he must then repair the damage and putt with his second ball.   He should refer the matter to the Committee for a decision at the end of the round - the big problem is that if the Committee decides he was entitled to relief, his score with his second ball will count in the circumstances outlined above (and he may have sunk his putt with the original ball but missed the putt with the second ball). It's a bit of a gamble!!

Big problem if it is matchplay - the second ball procedure is not available.   The aggrieved party has to immediately make a 'claim' and should get a member of the Committee to come and adjudicate on the issue.   However, this is not always practical and all that can be done is either to play the ball as it lies without repairing the damage, or to take a chance, repair the damage and then report the matter to the Committee at the end of the round in the hope that they adjudicate in the player's favour!!

Not exactly satisfactory is it???!!

Best regards,
Hadyn

Q 224.  From Doc. Weiss:

They have just redesigned our golf course.   They planted native grasses around the perimeter.   We are not allowed to hit out of the native grasses.   We are supposed to take a drop with a one stroke penalty.   i maintain it should be treated as ground under repair with no penalty as we are not allowed to hit out of the native grasses.   There is no out of bound stakes in question.   Am i right?

I do believe that the good doctor has a point, albeit that his solution is not correct either.

If there are dry 'environmentally sensitive areas' on the course the Committee / Club should declare them to be either GUR or OB.   The R&A /USGA have determined that where the ESA's are extensive (as in the present case) they should not be designated GUR as it would be 'unduly generous' to allow relief without penalty!!   They should therefore be designated OB ; they also recommend that they be fenced off and clearly marked as appropriate - i.e. with white posts.

As always there is a get out clause in that this rule applies if the ESA has been so declared 'by an appropriate authority'- but the golf regulators do not indicate what they consider to be an appropriate authority - do they mean the humble Club Committee or something akin to the mighty Environmental Protection Agency??

Dr. Weiss should return to his Club armed with this e mail!!

Best regards,
Hadyn

Q 223.  From The Great Chainsaw:

Please detail rule/rules decisions that cover the grip of the golf club, e.g., materials that can be used and the materials allowd in a golf glove.

Love your site!

Thanks for the question from 'The Great Chainsaw' - is it safe to answer??

Nothing in the rules deals with what golf gloves are made from.   However, regarding equipment, there is an entire committee of the USGA/R&A that deals with exciting issues such as the grip of a golf club, although there does not appear to be any specific reference to the material from which a putter grip may be made.

In summary, the grip of a putter:

- must not be molded for any part of the hand
- may have a non circular cross section,
- may not have any concave surfaces
- should be generally the same along the entire grip
- must not have a cross section greater than 1.75 inches

Oh yes - and it should be capable of withstanding a Chainsaw assault!!

Regards,
Hadyn

Q 222.   From Mike:

My friend and I are having a dispute, if his second shot goes into the woods, that isn't a marked hazard or out of bounds, and he can't find it he must return to where he hit it from and play another ball.   I say he is hitting his fourth shot because rule 27-1 says you must return to the spot the ball was hit from, and under the penalty of one stroke, play another ball.   He says he is hitting his third because the lost distance is the penalty.   Who is correct?

Mike is correct - the penalty for losing the ball is twofold - 'stroke and distance' - you go back to where the previous stroke was played and also incur a 1 stroke penalty, so in the circumstances described he is playing his fourth shot.

Best regards,
Hadyn

Q 221.  From Joe:

What'a the rule on chipping between holes during play?

Thanks for the question from Joe.

The rule is that during a round a player must not make a practice stroke during the play of a hole.   So,during play, practice chipping and putting is not allowed.   However, between holes is not considered to be 'during play' (e.g. when waiting on the tee) so practice chipping and putting is allowed - but only if it is near the green just played or the next tee to be played.

Best regards,
Hadyn

Q 220.  From Mark:

I have a question.

I remember a few years back playing in a comp, and I had a plaster on my finger.   Are you allowed to put tape around you fingers in addition to a band-aid?   Or is this against the rules ?

Hi Mark,

If there is medical justification for the additional tape it is OK - if not, it is deemed an 'artificial device' intended to assist with gripping the club and results in disqualification.

Best regards,
Hadyn

Q 219.   From Ben:

The ball lies in the rough amongst leaves, twigs and dead weeds.  The player removes these loose impediments (without the ball moving) but may have pulled a dead twig/weed from the ground.If so is that a penalty? .

To paraphrase John Wayne, 'the only good twig is a dead one'!

Natural objects which are not fixed, growing or solidly embedded are 'loose impediments' and can therefore be moved without penalty..  In the present case it seems that the items were not growing or solidly embedded, so there should have been no penalty.

Best regards,
Hadyn

Q 218.   From Hinksy (Australia)

A question that needs to be answered.   A ball was deemed unplayable, it skipped the dam water from tee off and landed on the far side of the dam on the bank in an unplayable position, so a one stroke penalty was taken.   The ball was dropped behind the point of the unplayable spot, but when it was dropped it rolled into a dam which is not marked as a hazard with any pegs.

Does that incur another penalty as the ball was unrecoverable?   Or is he entitled to another free drop using a substitute ball without penalty, as the original ball is now lost in deep water?

Thanks for the question from Hinksy!

Must have been some drive - most dams I have seen are at least half a mile wide ; plus, if it was Down Under, the ball should have rolled away from the water??

Anyway, as it was a dam and contained water it clearly constitutes a water hazard, whether or not it is marked.   That being the case, if the ball rolls into the hazard the player must redrop with another ball and without penalty, and if it still rolls into the hazard, he can then place the ball.

It seems to me that he probably adopted the wrong procedure in the first place - presumably he dropped within 2 club lengths, hence the slope into the dam.  However, having declared his ball unplayable he could have hit another one off the tee or taken the drop anywhere (presumably on flat ground) on the extension of a line back from the hole through the spot where the ball originally lay.

Regards,
Hadyn

Q 217.  From Ralph:

When you hit a ball over a water hazard and it goes beyond the red line, hits a tree and bounces back into the water hazard, where do you drop your ball?

If it hits inside the red line and bounces back into the water hazard, where do you drop your ball?

Thanks for the question from Ralph.

The answer is the same for both questions - he has two options.   Either play again from the spot from which the previous stroke was played, or take a drop anywhere (but not nearer the hole!) on the extension of the line from the hole back through the point where the ball last crossed the margin of the hazard.  The important word is 'last'!!

Best regards,
Hadyn

Q 216.  From Jacques:

Recently my golf club introduced a rule which prevents male members from using anything other than an iron club from the 18th tee.   Anybody breaking this rule will be disqualified from the competition and possibly expelled from the Club.   Is this against either CONGU rules or the Rules of Golf.   I have been told that Club committees using the CONGU system cannot restrict the use of the golf club of the individuals choice. Is this correct?   Please help to sort out this problem for me.

Possibly a contender for the most interesting question ever!!

I honestly don't know the answer and would recommend that it be submitted to the R&A for an authoritative ruling.

The only comments I can make are that I don't see how CONGU, which is a handicapping organisation, can impose any restriction on which club is used.

As far as the committee of the golf club itself is concerned, it has the authority to make local rules and to define the rules of competitions held at the club.   There is no doubt that under Rule 33.1 it can specify the type of golf ball which can be used in a competition, so by analogy it may be possible that it can specify that only irons may be used on a certain hole - although I know of no rule which confers such authority!   Presumably there is good reason for this restriction - for example the use of a driver may endanger players on another hole.   On the other hand, some people can hit a 6 iron further than others can hit a driver, so any such restriction for this reason would seem illogical!!

I will be interested to know the outcome!

Best regards,
Hadyn

Q 215.  From George:

Good Day Haydn,

This concerns rule 19-2.   I am not aware that this rule has been changed.   I hit my partner’s cart and penalised myself according to the rule.   My opponent informed me that I was wrong and did not need to penalize myself.

I have checked up on the rule and found no change.   The R&A site is in disarray today so I can’t check there either.  2004 was a long time ago.

Please have there been changes that have happened.

Cheers,
George Haskins

Glad to hear George is alive and well ; I think we should club together to buy him a few golf lessons as he seems to get into terrible trouble by not hitting the ball straight!!

Anyway - the issue is whether the golf cart is deemed to be the equipmentof himself or his partner.   He clearly states that it belonged to his partner, in which case he incurs a 2 stroke penalty (or loses the hole in match play) under Rule 19.2 - which, as far as I am aware, has not changed in recent years!

Best regards,
Hadyn

Q 214.  From Ryan:

Please tell me - If a ball lands in a bush on the edge of the fairway and is unplayable, What do you do?

1. Drop ball two club lengths with a one shot penalty?
2. Pick ball up and go as far back as you like within the line the ball entered the bush?

If Ryan knew the rules he would probably announce his intention to declare it unplayable and incur a 1 stroke penalty whereon he has 3 options:

1. play a ball as near as possible from the spot where his original ball was last played before it landed in the bush or
2. drop his ball within 2 club lengths of where it lay in the bush when he declared it unplayable (but not nearer the hole) or
3. drop his ball any distance behind the spot where it lay when he declared it unplayable but on the extension of an imaginary line drawn from the hole through the spot where the ball lay.

See - easy really!

Best regards,
Hadyn

Q 213.  From Denise:

Is it in violation of the rules of golf to use an IPOD during a tournament round of golf?

Must be an anagram......or do I mean gramophone?

Anyway, to answer Denise's question - no problem with listening to her Ipod as far as the rules of golf are concerned, unless she has downloaded some course information or a coaching manual which might assist her with her game.

Best regards,
Hadyn

Q 212.  From Dave:

I see all sorts of references to nonconforming tees but no examples of which ones are nonconforming.   My playing partners use all kind of weird shapes so how does one know if the tee is legal or not?

The only regulation governing tees is that they should be no longer than 4 inches - what difference that makes to anything is beyond my comprehension!

So, that's work done for the day - must be time for a cup of..............tea!!

Best regards,
Hadyn

Q 211.  From Vance:

Three competitors are playing a golf match.   After completion of a hole, one competitor claims one of the other competitors nicked the sand in his backswing.   The other competitor did not see the event.   The accused competitor did not believe he committed the offense.   Is there a 2 stroke penalty?

Back to the good old honesty box again.

Golf is the one sport where it is incumbent on the player to declare penalties against himself.   If he said he didn't do it, then he didn't do it - therefore no penalty!!  In addition, if the complainant felt there was an issue, he should have said at the time - but in the absence of a referee, spectators or TV cameras it is down to the honesty of the alleged offender.

Best regards,
Hadyn

Thanks for the question from Don.

Sadly, under Rule 13.4, touching the sand during the backswing is deemed testing the condition of the bunker and therefore incurs a 2 stroke penalty (or loss of hole in matchplay).  : What advantage you gain by touching the sand in such circumstances is beyond my comprehension - but that's what it says in the rules!

Best regards,
Hadyn

Q 209.   From N J Shaddock:

A question which has come up several times in stroke play, but we cannot find a proper answer in the golf rules.   You hit a ball and it comes to rest against the rake handle which is laying outside the bunker.   When the rake is picked up the ball moves from its original place.   Is this a penalty, or do you replace the ball?

Mr S probably couldn't find it in the rules because, being written by lawyers, a rake is not a rake, it's a moveable obstruction!

Anyway, the answer is indeed to remove the rake and replace the ball in its original position - and there is no penalty.

See The Golf Rules Dictionary section R1 Rake!

Best regards,
Hadyn

Q 208.   From Stuart:
Ganstead Park Golf Club, Hull England

We were in the golf club the other night and we were talking about Sergio getting disqualified for not signing the correct score.   Can you tell just to stop the arguing amongst us, do professionals mark their own score card or is like the club golfer whose playing partners mark each others cards?

Thanks for the question from Stuart.

I believe that for once the pros are actually treated the same as us mere mortals - and suffer the indignity of having to swap scorecards and record each other's scores.

Regards,
Hadyn

Another question for the 'honesty box'.

Matters relating to handicaps are not governed by the rules of golf.   These are usually the domain of national golf unions and the like, so can vary from country to country.   As the handicap system in the UK differs hugely from that in the USA I would not be so bold as to offer any definitive opinion - or more accurately, the real reason is that I have never studied the different handicap systems in any detail!   From my cursory readings, the UK system is even more complex and less logical even than the rules of golf.

However,.................... if I were Stuart I would feel most aggrieved, as the very fact of questioning the veracity of the scores which he attested is questioning his honesty - and presumably he is a member of the golf club in question!

Best regards,
Hadyn

Q 206.   From Ray:

Hello Hadyn:

My question probably doesn't arise when decent players compete --but at my standard it occurs all too often.

MULTIPLE PROVISIONALS OFF THE TEE

Is there a numerical limit ?

Presumably if all are identifiable and say the third (third tee shot that is - 5 off the tee) is found, the rules are as commonsense would dictate and the player is then playing six.

Have you any further comments   We should note re multiple provisionals, e.g. we go on the basis that once one is declared provisional the successive others do not need to be ..is this strictly correct ??

Thanks

Ray Sanders   (still a non- golfer)

Thanks for the question from Ray - unusual to say the least!!.

There is specific approval for the use of a second provisional within the rules, so I see no reason why further provisionals cannot be used.   However, I think that the procedures applicable to the first provisional would have to be applied to subsequent provisionals.   It might also be adviseable to take a notebook to keep track of which ball is used as which provisional, so that if one is eventually found, it can be identified and the correct score can be recorded!!

Best regards,
Hadyn

Regarding the abandonment, this is not a matter of the general rules of golf, but rather the specific rules of this competition, so Elizabeth should take it up with the Committee.   However, in the interests of fairness it is customary to provide that in such circumstances either that the entire competition is abandoned, or more commonly that it is decided by the scores over the number of holes completed by all competitors - if at 4.45 pm the last group out had played only 11 holes, then reduce it to an 11 hole competition.

Similarly the handicap issue is not a matter of the general rules of golf, but rather one for the Handicap Committee at the Club.   My personal view is that if the entire competition had been abandoned then all the scores were null and void and should not be relevant to establishing the handicaps the next time people played.

Best regards,
Hadyn

Following the recent storms much of our country looks like a water filled bunker!

Thanks for the question from Stu - this one comes up with alarming regularity, so this is what I wrote last time!!

There are 4 options in these circumstances:

1.   Play the ball as it lies,
2.  Drop without penalty in the shallowest water in the bunker - but not nearer the hole,
3.   Take a 1 stroke penalty and drop outside the bunker on the extension behind the bunker of an imaginary line drawn from the hole back through the point where the ball had lain in the bunker,
4.   Declare the ball unplayable, take a one stroke penalty and then adopt one of the further options available under this relief, namely, drop within 2 club lengths of where the ball last lay in the bunker (assuming this will enable the ball to be dropped outside the bunker) or play again from the spot from which the ball was played before it went into the bunker.

I always have thought this to be grossly unfair as the player is either faced with an impossible shot out of water or alternatively penalised because of circumstances entirely beyond his control ; except, of course, that in theory he should not have been in the bunker in the first place!

However, if Stu proceeds as described, takes the unplayable option and incurs the penalty he is permitted the consolation of cleaning his ball.

Best regards,
Hadyn

Thanks for the question from Jamie.

In fact he incurs a 2 stroke penalty in stroke play as he deflected a moving ball - albeit accidentally - and the ball must be played from where it lands.

Reminds me of a personal encounter with this rule - I splashed a shot out of a bunker, but apparently opened the face of the club too much and the ball went straight up in the air.   I looked around to see where the ball had gone and one of the other players yelled, 'Mind you head!!'   I looked up just as the ball dropped towards my head and instinctively raised my hand and caught it in order to stop it hitting me.   Realising the penalty issue, I then quickly dropped the ball - and called a 2 stroke penalty against myself.   However, when I put my card in, I described the situation to the Committee member - and he immediately disqualified me as my deflection of the ball had been deliberate as opposed to accidental!!

The good news was - I avoided a trip to the hospital!

Best regards,

Hadyn

Thanks for the question from Conor - he must be indoors sheltering as I was just watching the tournament from the K Club near Dublin ; torrential rain and high winds.   We love summer over here!!

You may remember that I published a damning condemnation of the Roe/Parnevik ruling at the time.   I was pleased that the rule was amended - but still not amended enough, in my opinion!

However, to answer Conor's question, I know of no authority that says you have to record the scores in the columns above which the appropriate name is written.   If the names are not crossed out but different initials are entered, then one of the players should have clarified it with a committee member as being 'a doubtful point'.   The players obviously did not consider it to be a doubtful point and clearly the Committee didn't if they didn't raise it with the players under the 'get out' provision.

In any event, on the face of it, in the circumstances described and in my opinion, common sense would dictate that the gross scores to count were individually identifiable from the initials and therefore the scorecard was OK, so there should have been no question of disqualification.

My usual caveat - the 'powers that be' may take a different view!!

Best regards,
Hadyn

Hello Ben from Maui,

I have copied our authority on golf rules, Hadyn Rutter.   Hadyn lives near London so he is really on the opposite side. Now I am going to take a cut at your question. Then Hadyn will set us straight.

You can't do anything to the leaves or branches to improve your swing.   Let them be and swing away.   You may remember a few years ago at the PGA played at Medinah, Sergio played from behind a tree and banged his club into it.   Tiger broke a 5 iron during the Masters banging into a tree.   In both these cases they knocked some bark loose.   What you cannot do is have your caddy or anyone else stand where they move the branches and hold them so they don't interfere with your swing.

Here is one I'm not sure of.   When taking my normal stance I move a branch, or putting it another way, if the only way I can take my stance is among branches which move now what?   I can remember an Open Championship where Arnold Palmer was off in a thicket or some kind of bush and he went in somehow and played a wonderful shot and went to win the Open.   He had to move branches to get into the bush.   Let's see what Hadyn says on that one.

Best regards,
Don

Don, you seem to have taken this one to heart!!

Anyway, Ben (and Don)...........the rule is that there is no penalty if the player improves his area of intended swing (i.e.knocks down a few leaves or twigs) when he is 'fairly' taking his stance or if he is making a stroke or making the backward movement of the club for a stroke.   'Fairly' allows you to back into a branch if it is the only way you can adopt your normal stance.

If it is only a practice swing and leaves or twigs are knocked down, he may be penalised for improving his area of intended swing - but this is a question of fact and degree as to whether the area was actually improved.

Hope this keeps you both happy!

Best regards,
Hadyn

Q 200.   From George:

Dear Hadyn,
Your answer to Jeff [Jeff's question is below] said that if his ball is hit by his opponent’s on the putting green, you said that was no penalty to either player.  Are you saying that rules 19.5 no longer exists?

If this is the case, when was it changed please?  Rule 18-3 then also comes into question.   Jeff did say he was playing a stroke play competition.  In match play your answer would be correct.
Thanks,
George Haskins

P.S.   I know we are behind the times in South Africa BUT we are not that far behind.   Internet is as up to date as can be.

Good job George is there to keep me honest!!

I guess I assumed (wrongly) that as the question was so obvious, the player had made his putt from off the green.   Having re-read the question, it is not stated from where the putt was made - so if it was from the green then as Jeff makes it clear that it was stroke play, George is absolutely correct that rule 19.5 applies.   My answer to Jeff is still correct in that he is not penalised - but his fellow competitor should have incurred a 2 stroke penalty.

However, George does refer to Jeff's 'opponent', which is a match play term - and if it were match play then as George states, there would be no penalty against either player.

Apologies to my reader - and my thanks to George!

All the best,
Hadyn

Q 199.  From Patrick:

Is a practice swing allowed in a bunker.Or would it be deemed to be testing the sand?.

Thanks for the easy one from Patrick!

If he hits the sand with his practice swing, it is indeed deemed to be testing the condition.

Best regards,
Hadyn

Q 198.  From Jeff:

In stroke play, I did not make my ball on the putting green.   My competitor hit my ball when he putted.   My ball was located 10 ft. past the hole in his putting line.   He did not ask me to mark my ball.

Do I get a 2 stroke penalty for not marking my ball?

Regarding Jeff's question -   he is under no obligation to mark his ball, and if it is moved when another player's ball hits it he must replace it in its original position.  The other player's ball must be played as it lies - and there is no penalty against either player.

Best regards,
Hadyn

Q 197.  From Bill:

I chipped up to three inches from the pin. I putted it in without taking out the flag to speed up play.   The ball did not hit the pin.   Am I penalized, and if so, what?

My note to Hadyn:

Hi Hadyn,

Bill should find someone else to play with.   The penalty is a round of drinks paid by his opponent for not tossing him the ball or saying, "pick it up, that's good!"

Best regards,
Don

Hi Don,

Excellent answer - and mine's a large one, please!

Sadly for Bill, the 'authorities' deem that it is impossible for a ball to fall into the hole without hitting the flagstick if the flagstick is also in the hole.  As the rules impose a 2 stroke penalty for hitting an unattended flagstick when puting from the green, Bill would therefore be penalised accordingly.

Best regards,

Hadyn

Q 196.  From Chuck:

My opponent marks his ball on the green with a golf tee placed in the ground vertically.   My putt not only hits the tee but its speed is impeded considerable and stops well short and off line.   What rules, if any, are breached and what are the penalties, if any?

Are there restrictions to the type, size and/or configuration of a marker?   Is this more of an etiquette thing and it's my responsibility to have him change the marker?

Note: I always guess at the answer before I send these questions on to Hadyn.   Occasionally I'm right! - Don

Hi Hadyn

I thought you asked for the marker to be moved and then you're on your own. ???

Best regards,
Don

Hi Don,

Sorry for the delay in replying - short holiday skiing the golf courses of Colorado!

Re Chuck's question - your answer summarises it admirably!   The tee as a marker is perfectly acceptable and as such is a moveable obstruction so the player can ask to have it moved without penalty.   If he doesn't - and if the ball hits it - no penalty and he must play the ball as it lies after the deflection.

Best regards,
Hadyn

Hi Hadyn,

This came in for Scott who would not know the shoe rule, assuming there is one.   Especially in Bulgaria.   Everywhere I've played there is some kind of proper dress rule, determined by the club and enforced maybe the local pro but usually by a marshal.

You have my curiosity up; what is ?
"... decision 24.2b 14 by the USGA passed into law the very circumstance you described which Gene encountered!!"

[Note:To put the above in context, I commented to Haydn that Gene Sarazen considered his greatest golf shot one he played during a Ryders Cup match, not his double eagle at the Masters.

Gene was down a hole or two. His opponent was on the green in 2 while Gene's second shot ended up inside a refreshment stand nearby the green. Under the circumstances Gene decided to play from inside the stand off the concrete floor. He hit the ball through an open window stiff to the pin. Gene's opponent 3 putted, Gene made his to win the hole and he went on to win the match.]

Another "Sarazenism" for you -- Gene always thought golf would be a better game if played to 12 holes instead of 18.

Best regards,
Don

Hi Don,

I like the 12 hole rule - if it were any 12 of 18, I would be a pro by now!!

I also believe that there should be only 15 simple rules - instead of 34 + over 120 sections + over 100 subsections + over 4000 decisions interpreting the rules.   It is a sad condemnation of how bad the rules are when 3000 decisions have been necessary to interpret them!!

24.2b/14 - player hits his ball into the clubhouse, opens a window and then chips out on the basis that although the clubhouse was an immoveable obstruction, a window is a moveable obstruction and opening it constitutes moving it within the limits of the rules. R&A / USGA agreed - so no penalty was incurred.

However, moving on to something simple - there is nothing in the rules of golf requiring or regulating the wearing of shoes.

Best regards,
Hadyn

Thanks for the question from Alex.

He is obliged to go over and identify it ; if it is his, he is also obliged to play the original ball and cannot simply opt to play the provisional.

He cannot simply declare the provisional to be a substitute.   His original ball is only lost (and therefore cannot be played) if it is not found within 5 minutes or if, before his opponent found it, he has treated it as lost by playing a further stroke with the provisional.

Best regards,
Hadyn

Q 193.  From Arjun:

Dear Mr Hadyn,

It is great pleasure that I am mailing you.   I am from India and play an handicap of 6.   Today we have an issue in our 4 ball.

My opponent 's ball was laying in the fairway but there was a stone under it .....does he get a relief for it or does he have to play as it lies, and what if the same sitution was if one's ball is on the stone in the rough?

Thanks,

Arjun Kuchhal
Copper Chimney Restaurant
Jaipur

In answer to Arjun's question - stones are 'loose impediments' and may be moved without penalty.   However, if in moving the loose impediment, the player also causes the ball to be moved, then he incurs a 1 stroke penalty and must replace the ball in its original position.   So in the circumstance described he would probably have to play the ball as it lies - and the same rules apply if the ball were in the rough.

This is another rule which I consider to be unfair - if you have put the ball in the fairway, which is the object of the game, why should you be penalised in such circumstances.   If the stone were not a natural object but a man made object (such as a brick) and the ball lay on it, as it is then an 'obstruction' the player is entitled to lift the ball, remove the obstruction and drop the ball in approximately the same place - all without penalty.   Totally illogical!!

Best regards,

Hadyn

Nothing in the rules specifically prevents such a stroke - provided that it cannot be considered testing the surface (unlikely, as this normally only applies if using the ball or hand) or damaging the green (this is a matter of etiquette, not a rule).   Also, it should be borne in mind that to be a valid stroke the ball must be hit and not pushed.

Best regards,

Q 191.  From Adam:

Imagine a "c" shaped pond in front of the tee with fairway in the centre of it.   Now if I hit my shot travelling over the bottom half of the "c" shaped pond and land in the top part without bouncing, were should I drop?.

My understanding is at the point I "last" crossed the boundry of the water hazard.   This would be just inside the top of the "c" shape.   Arguments have started whilst discussing this as some people think it is the point at which you first crossed the hazard. In this example it would mean playing from back at the tee area.

Any help with this would be appreciated.

Adam is right - the key word is 'last', so in his case the ball last crossed the margin of the hazard at the point he indicated, so he can drop the ball at any point on the extension of a line drawn from the hole back through the point where his ball last crossed the hazard.

However, this is an 'either / or' situation so ironically, his friends are also right - the other option (and the choice would be Adam's) is to play the ball from the spot where the original ball was played - i.e. the tee!!

Best regards,

Hadyn

Q 190.   From Daniel:

I have a question about the rule 16.2 ball overhanging hole.

If I putt for par (par 3) and the ball overhangs and finally falls in after the 10 second rule.   I believe I have a score of 4 but my friend said it is a 5 .   Who is correct?

The player is deemed to have holed out with his 3rd stroke but has to add a 1 stroke penalty - total 4.   But remember - the 10 seconds only starts when you get to the hole, provided you take a reasonable time in getting to the hole from where you putted.

Regards,

Hadyn

Does the Spider Move Make It Legal?

Your opinion, kind sir.

To answer Bucky's question, the line of putt extends only from the ball to the hole, so crouching down etc. behind the ball to establish the line prior to making a stroke is permissible - as long as it does not constitute testing the surface of the green or damaging somebody else's line of putt / damaging the green.

The last two, provided they are not deliberate, are offences against etiquette rather than against the rules of golf.

Best regards,

Hadyn

Q 188.   Follow up from Tony on his question last week.  Tony took Hadyn's advice and asked the R&A.

Hi Hadyn,

Thank you for you response regarding a player playing off a wrong handicap in a stableford comp and claiming more shots than he was entitled to.   Since writing to you we have had a response from the R&A as follows.

I would confirm that the interpretation of the phrase “effects the number of strokes received ” in the context of rule 6-2b is whether the competitor was allocated more shots than he would have been entitled to if he had declared the correct handicap.  Whether the additional stroke or strokes are used by the player during the round, or whether the player gets any benefit from the stroke or strokes ,is irrelevant.   Therefore in this case the committee correctly disqualified the player under rule 6-2b."

Thanks for the update from Tony - exactly what I would have expected from my 'learned' friends at the R&A.

Why make a logical and sensible ruling when you can make life confusing and difficult for the average golfer.   If I were a cynic I might contemplate that if the rules were clear and simple, the R&A / USGA wouldn't need a whole raft of staff and members to make up their rules committees. Fortunately, I am just a simple golfer!

Do you 'receive' 10 handicap strokes when on that particular course it is only possible to utilise 9??  Of course not - a player cannot receive what cannot possibly be given!

In a very similar case a 9 handicap player mistakenly declared a 10 handicap, used all 10 strokes and won the competition - but nobody noticed the error until after he had been declared the winner ; this was referrred to the R&A who decided........that the result should stand!! Common sense and consistency??

......and before anyone tells me that the above case was decided under a different rule which says that a penalty cannot be imposed after the competition has closed unless the player knowingly played off a higher handicap - I already know, but still disagree with the R&A's view of Tony's case!!

Best regards,
Hadyn

Please clarify.

Good question from Tony Williams - and of sufficient complexity to warrant a referral to the R&A for an authoritative answer.

My humble opinion is..............under Rule 6.2b, it is the responsibility of the competitor to record his correct handicap on the scorecard.   If he records a higher handicap and this affects the number of strokes received, he is disqualified from the competition.  If it doesn't affect the number of strokes received, then the score stands.

It is not clear whether 'strokes received' means strokes to which he is entitled, or strokes actually taken.   In the present case, he was entitled to 10 strokes, but could only actually take 9 because of the problem with 2 holes.   So (fortuitously) he actually benefited from the correct number of handicap strokes as if he had declared the correct handicap.   I would take the pragmatic view that he secured no advantage from the error and therefore he should not have been disqualified.

However, there is no guarantee that my colleagues at the R&A / USGA would take the same view.

Best regards,

Hadyn

Q 186.   From George:

Good Day Haydn,
I landed in a mud patch the other day.   There was still a little water in this patch.   Nobody, in my club, has come up with a suitable answer.  I played the ball as it lay and then played a second in the hopes.   This mud was on the entrance to the fairway at the end of a mown path between the rough.   As mud is a mixture of water and sand does this constitute casual water?  If it is, I was spattered with this muck for nothing.

Thanks,
George Haskins

George certainly comes up with some good ones!

To constitute casual water, the water must be visible before or after the player takes his stance ; if he can see it, then it is probably casual water from which the player is entitled to relief.

Best regards,

Hadyn

Q 185.   From Patrick:

A player sets his ball up on the tee.   He takes his stance preparatory to making a stroke.  He then decides (according to his own admission afterwards) to take a practice swing from this position.  In doing so he strikes the ball sending it several yards off the tee.   Should his ball now be considered in play?

Thanks for the question from Patrick.

If it was indeed a practice swing and the ball was struck accidentally, then as the ball was not in play at the time of the swing,   it is not considered to be a stroke.   So, the ball was not in play, there is no penalty and the ball must be replaced on the tee!

Back to watching golf on tele!

Best regards,
Hadyn

Thanks for the question from Pete - don't quite understand it, therefore the answer must be 'No'!!   I think he must have read the rule book after a couple of beers.

Equally I don't think either common sense or morality are reflected in the rules of golf!!

If indeed there were 2 competitions - morning and afternoon - then they are precisely that, and the card from one cannot possibly count in the other.   If it were one competition with the option of morning or afternoon start times then, equally obviously, either a morning or afternoon card can count.

Decision 32/1/1 is not relevant as that is case specific and relates to playing simultaneously in two different types of stroke play competition i.e.scoring stroke play and stableford from the player's scores in one round. Likewise 33.3 does not apply as it relates only to times of starting and group pairings.

Best regards,
Hadyn

Thanks for the question from Bill - glad he addresses me with the respect I deserve (as I don't get that at home!)

Bill and his friends are obviously very forgiving people.   Once a ball is in play and the player causes the ball to move with a practice swing he is in breach of Rule 18.2, he incurs a 1 stroke penalty and must replace the ball in its original position.   The fact that he may not have addressed it is irrelevant.   It does not count as a stroke because he didn't intend to strike the ball - hence he has to replace it ; if it had counted as a stroke he would have had to have played it as it lay.

See The Golf Rules Dictionary section P12 Practice swing.

Best regards,
Hadyn

Q 182.   From Alan:

I have just bought some tee pegs which state on the packet ”conforms to the Rules of Golf”.   I did not know there were rules about the type of tee pegs.   What are they?

Thanks for the question from Alan -   unbelievably the R&A/USGA did decide in 2004 to legislate on the exciting subject of tee pegs - and decided on just one rule, namely that they should be no more than 4 inches in length!   These guys really do need to get a life!

Best regards,
Hadyn

Whilst playing in a foursomes match recently, one of my opponents was putting on the green and his partner stood behind the hole watching his line of putt.   is this allowed as he would be able to see any movement of the hole if his partner did not sink his putt.?

Thanks for the question from Trevor.

In foursomes the nature of the game is that each side plays only one ball and the players play alternate shots in turn, so there would be no advantage in the partner standing behind the hole to see the line of putt.

I assume Trevor means fourball better ball - but in either case there is no penalty against the player or his partner in these circumstances provided that the line of putt is not touched.   This would be deemed either obtaining advice by observation or, even if the partner specifically pointed out on the line of the putt , this is permissible in a team game.

Best regards,
Hadyn

I see the words 'common sense' and 'logic' - neither of which can be assumed in anything to do with the rules of golf!

I am confused as to the precise circumstances giving rise to the question from PeterLaneontheMurrayRiverdownunder.   As the hole in question seems to have been halved - whatever the score -  I assume it was a match play situation.  If so, the recorded score is irrelevant as match play is scored by 'hole won', 'hole lost' or 'halved'.

If it was a strokeplay or stableford competition, then the player would be disqualified if his card as submitted recorded a score lower than that actually taken at the relevant hole.   There is an exception if it was a stableford competition and if the gross score does not affect the stableford points scored - for example, if the 6 or 7 was taken at a par 3 hole where the player received only one handicap stroke, he would not be disqualified because the stableford score would be 0 points whether it was a gross 6 or 7.

Hope that this covers most of the bases!

Best regards,
Hadyn

Thanks for the question from John.

As the local rule prohibiting play from an area which is ground under repair is one which complies with the specimen local rules approved by the R&A/USGA, breach of it incurs a 2 stroke penalty in accordance with Appendix 1 Part B 1(a) of the Rules of Golf.

Best regards,
Hadyn

hanks for the question from Alan. . Rule 6.2b specifies only that the handicap must be correctly recorded on the score card - as I assume 'correctly' refers to the accuracy of the handicap and not the position on the scorecard, the rule doesn't specify where, so I believe Alan complied with the rule (albeit inadvertently!)

Incidentally, he need not add the scores and apply his handicap deduction, as that is the reponsibility of the Committee which organised the competition.

Best regards,

Hadyn

Always good to hear from George, especially when he gives the wrong ruling!

Hard to believe, this sort of thing has happened before!

The player who played the stroke has 2 options under Rule 19.3.  Either he can cancel the stroke and play again from where the previous shot was played, or, as in George's situation, he can take a drop - without penalty - dropping the ball as near as possible to where it was when it ended up in the pocket.

For a full explanation see The Golf Rules Dictionary section B8 Ball deflected or stopped.

Best regards,

Hadyn

Q 176.   From Jennifer:

While playing in a amateur tournament, I putted and left my ball about 10 inches short of the hole.  I asked and was allowed to putt out.  In order not to step on the line of another player's putt, I widened my stance.  The width of my stance caused one foot to be past the hole, but both of my feet were behind the line of my putt.  I know that you can't stand astride of your own line, but my fellow competitor said that you have to have both feet on the same side of the hole as your ball.  I can't find this in the rules.

I agree with Jennifer, as I can't find it in the rules either!

Maybe her fellow competitor was confusing it with the rule which does not permit the player to make a stroke from a stance which touches the line of putt or its extension beyond the hole.   However, this does not prohibit having one foot on either side of the hole - as long as the stance does not touch the line or is not astride the line, or its extension beyond the hole.

Best regards,

Hadyn

Q 175.   From Robert:

Playing in a foursome Stableford competition, unfortunately during my back swing with a driver off the tee the head completely detached itself and before I could stop.   I continued with the down swing.  One of my opponents, not with standing the fact that the club head narrowly missed hitting him on the head, just muttered, "you're playing two off the tee".

Is he correct?.

Thank you and keep up the good work

Robert Bruce

Thanks for the question from Robert Bruce - is he related to the legendary Robert the Bruce (for those with Scottish ancestry)? The answer to the question does not depend on ancestry.  The 'stroke' is not counted as a stroke - because a shaft without a head on it is not considered to be a club with which the player is capable of making a stroke.  So no stroke, no penalty and start over again.

See The Golf Rules Dictionary section S26 Stroke.

Best regards,

Hadyn

Thanks for the question from Bill - glad he addresses me with the respect I deserve (as I don't get that at home!)

Bill and his friends are obviously very forgiving people.  Once a ball is in play and the player causes the ball to move with a practice swing he is in breach of Rule 18.2, he incurs a 1 stroke penalty and must replace the ball in its original position.  The fact that he may not have addressed it is irrelevant.  It does not count as a stroke because he didn't intend to strike the ball - hence he has to replace it ; if it had counted as a stroke he would have had to have played it as it lay.

See The Golf Rules Dictionary section P12 Practice swing.

Best regards,
Hadyn

Q 173.   From Evelyn:

When your ball is hit on the GREEN by another player, you place it back as near as possible to where it had been lying.

If your ball is hit on the FAIRWAY, and it is hard to see from where the ball originally lay, does the same rule apply?

Thanks for the question from Evelyn.

The answer is 'yes' - except that if the exact spot cannot be determined the ball must be dropped (not placed) in approximately the same location.

See The Golf Rules Dictionary sectin B18 Ball moved when stationary.

Best regards,
Hadyn

Thanks for the question from June Simons.

Alas, the road to Hell is paved with good intentions......and the rules of golf occasionally punish courtesy! Under the interpretations of Rule 13.4 a player was deemed to have tested the condition of the bunker when he stuck the rake handle in the bunker prior to playing his stroke - so I have no doubt that June's courteous raking prior to playing her stroke would similarly incur a penalty.

See The Golf Rules Dictionary section B33 Bunker.

Best regards,
Hadyn

Q 171.   From Mike:

Thanks for the question from Mike.

If he brushes sand on the green on his line of putt with his hand there is no penalty.   However, if he does so off the green he has touched the line of putt and incurs a 2 stroke /loss of hole penalty under Rule 16.1a.

See The Golf Rules Dictionary section L7 Line of putt/play

Best regards,

Hadyn

Q 170.   From Niall:

I have discovered while on the putting green that rather than pick a marker on the green for my line that if i rest my putter between the hole and the ball I get a better line which has improved my putting immensely, is this allowed under the rules of golf?

I would be grateful for any help in this matter.

Thanks for the question from Niall.

The answer depends on where he touches the green between his ball and the hole.

The general rule is that a player may not touch the line of his putt - and if he does there is a 2 stroke / loss of hole penalty under rule 16.1.  : However, there is an exception which permits him to touch the line of putt without penalty if it is as part of his address routine, involves placing his putter head immediately in front of the ball and does not result in pressing anything down (so as to improve the line of putt).

For a full explanation see The Golf Rules Dictionary section L7 Line of Putt

Best regards,
Hadyn

Q 169.   From Alan:

Our golf society were playing on our local course and one of our players hit his ball into a Bunker and into a hole in the bunker about 6 inches into and under the lip of the bunker.   A friendly discussion occurred as to a ruling .   If it was classed as a rabbit scrape/hole could he have dropped his ball on top of the bunker, nearest point of relief . or as 95% of us believe, he must drop into the bunker .  Please help !

I am always up to date on rabbits - rabbit pie is one of the delicacies at our local golf club!

Thanks for the question from Alan.   He can drop in the bunker without penalty - but not nearer the hole than where the ball originally lay, or outside the bunker with a 1 stroke penalty - and if he drops outside it must be on the extension of the line from the hole back through the spot in the rabbit hole where the ball originally lay.

Freedom of choice is a wonderful thing.

Best regards,

Hadyn

I quite like the idea of a book - Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Provisionals, But Were Afraid To Ask??

Thanks for the question from Craig.

If people are thinking how they can abuse the rules, then they shouldn't be playing golf in the first place.   As that great English golfer, William Shakespeare, wrote in one of his plays, 'We are all honourable men!'

However, R27.2 should not really be capable of abuse, even by those evil people who would wish to try.  A provisional is a time saving procedure and can be used only if the original ball is / may be lost or out of bounds.  Having not declared it to be a provisional, it does indeed become the ball in play, but the player incurs a 1 stroke penalty.  In the 'Scenario', the original must be looked for and if the original is found, it must be played and the 'provisional' cannot then be used.  Also, when the original is found the penalty incurred with the 'provisional' is cancelled and play resumes with the original.  If it is genuinely lost - i.e. cannot be found within 5 minutes - then the provisional must be used, and the player incurs both the lost ball penalty and the penalty for failing to declare the provisional.  A player cannot simply treat a ball as lost by declaring it to be so.

So, there is no real opportunity for cheating, unless the player finds it but doesn't declare that he has found it.  If someone is determined to cheat then the rules are almost irrelevant - particularly in golf where it is incumbent on the player to abide by the rules and declare any breaches himself.  There are no referees looking over his shoulder, although his fellow competitors may well be keeping a keen eye on him!

Best regards,

Hadyn

Loved every minute of the US Open - proper golf at last, none of this 26 under par rubbish!!   Felt sorry for Monty - but I suspect he psyched himself out of it ,and made the fatal mistake of changing his mind.

Re Question 1 - the answer depends on where the ball was lost!!.

If it was in abnormal ground conditions, the player must determine the spot where it entered the ANC, establish the nearest point of relief to that spot and then drop within 1 club length of the nearest point of relief.

If it was in a water hazard, he can either determine the point where it entered the hazard and then drop behind the hazard any distance on the extension of the line from the hole back through the entrance point, or he can take the stroke and distance option and play from where the previous stroke was played.

If lost in a lateral water hazard, in addition to the water hazard options, he can opt to drop within 2 club lengths of the point where it entered the hazard or within 2 club lengths of a point on the opposite margin of the hazard opposite to where it entered.

Finally, if it was lost anywhere else, he must take the stroke and distance penalty and go back to where the previous stroke was played from.

Question 2

The player has 3 options :

1. Stroke and distance
2. Drop within 2 club lengths
3. Drop back on the extension of the line from the hole through the unplayable lie.

If he adopts 2 or 3, he must drop in the bunker.

Hope that clears it up - especially for Evelyn!!

Best regards

Hadyn

Not desperately important but my friends and I are in dispute over how the "honour" is determined in Stableford competitions.   My (pre 2004) edition of "The Golf Rules Dictionary" states that in these competitions order of play is decided by net score.   In general strokeplay it is by gross score. Rule 10 does not mention how order of play is determined in Stablefords but indicates that in all strokeplay competitions it is only gross score which is ever taken.   Was there a change in 2004?

Thanks for the question from Paul.

Whilst Rule 10 does indeed deal with Order of Play, and whilst it would have been logical to include the rule relating to the honour in Stableford, in order to confuse us mere mortals the R&A/USGA hid this in Rule 32 (dealing with Stableford).  To make life even more difficult, it is not actually specified in the rule itself, but in a decision interpreting the rule!

The procedure is still the same post 2004.

Best regards,
Hadyn

Can a person go with them if they are playing in the competition?

First an update from London, then Pam's question.   Things here are just wonderful - summer arrived a couple of days ago and should last for another week!   I try to avoid the madness that masquerades as news / newspapers.   For the next month we are swamped with World Cup soccer coverage - I love football, but 24 x 7 of anything is not good.  I think with my 'Bah, humbug' attitudes I would make an excellent Dickensian recluse!

As far as the question from Pamela is concerned - it does indeed depend......................................... but on the rules of the competition in which she is playing, as opposed to the rules of golf, which do not deal with who can and who cannot ride on a buggy.  In the absence of anything specific for the competition, I guess she can do whatever she wants to!

That's about as technical as I can get on this one!

Best regards,

Hadyn

Part III: Please explain "stroke and distance" penalty.

Thanks for the questions from John McLeish.  Re parts 1 and 2, the procedure is the same whether it is lost out of bounds or in the rough.  Once the original ball is lost, having played a provisional ball it becomes the ball in play and it lies 3 strokes - i.e. the next stroke will be the fourth.

'Stroke and distance' is a popular description of the normal lost ball procedure under which, once the ball has not been found within the 5 minute search period the player adopts the penalty procedure under Rule 27.   He takes a 1 stroke penalty and plays another ball from the spot from which the original ball was played.   The 'stroke' is the penalty stroke and the 'distance' is going back to where the original ball was played from.   When he again plays from the original spot it is his 3rd stroke.

The provisional ball procedure is an attempt to save time instead of going through the above procedure and having players going back 200 yards or so to the tee having already spent 5 minutes searching - but the end result is still the same.  If the provisional ball is eventually adopted because the original can't be found, the first stroke with the provisional ball is the third for scoring purposes.   A couple of relevant points - you can't simply declare a ball lost. It is only lost if it isn't found within the minutes or if the player has treated it as lost by playing another ball before the 5 minutes has expired - e.g by playing the 4th stroke with the provisional in John's case.

Also, The procedure is different if the ball is lost in a water hazard or in abnormal ground conditions.

Hope this answers the questions!!

Best regards, Hadyn

He was hitting his 3rd from his dropped ball.   Are there any ramifications to playing a provisional ball because you think you are OB, only to find it as lateral hazard?   I was confused and thought maybe since we never actually found his tee shot, that he would be required to play the provisional since he hit a provisional.   But, I didn't say much other than barely asking if they were procedurally correct.   This took place in a stroke play competition.

Ummmm............why don't they just hit the ball straight and then these issues would not arise??

Alternatively, if I were King of the USGA the rules would be simple - there would be no such thing as provisional balls, water hazards, lateral water hazards, out of bounds, lost ball or stroke and distance.  If the ball wasn't in the fairway, the player would have 3 choices -

1. play it as it lies without penalty or,
2. drop it within 1 club length of where it lay with a 1 stroke penalty or
3. drop it (or if it can't be found or picked up, drop a replacement ball) back in the fairway with a 2 stroke penalty.

The answer to Ted's question is that if, having played a provisional, it then transpires that the original ball is probably lost in a water hazard, he must pick up the provisional and take the relief and penalty specified by rule 26.1 - so in the circumstances it looks as though he did adopt the correct procedure.

Same answer if he believed it to be OB - but then found it in a water hazard.

: See the good old Golf Rules Dictionary sections L10 Lost ball and P16 Provisional ball!!

Best regards

Hadyn

What happens if you chip your ball onto the green and it hits an opponents ball, knocking it in?   Is it a score for the opponent, or does he have to take the ball out of the hole and rehit it, or do you (the hitter) score on the shot.

Thanks for the question from Nancy.

Nancy's opponent has to take his ball out of the hole, replace it and play it from where it originally lay, but Nancy has to play her ball from where it came to rest.   There are no penalties.

See The Golf Rules Dictionary sections B8 Ball deflected or stopped and B18 Ball moved when stationary

Best regards

Hadyn

Can you rule on this one for me.   I am on the green and address the ball with my puttter.  Threre is a gust of wind and the ball blows backwards onto my puttter.  Should I be penalsied regards this? and if so what penalty?

A lot of hot air around in London these days!

To answer Dave's question......it's a good news and bad news situation.   When the ball is moved by the wind it must be played from where it comes to rest and usually there is no penalty.   However, if the player or his equipment then stops the moving ball - even accidentally and whether or not he had addressed it - he loses the hole inatch play ;  in stroke play he incurs a 2 stroke penalty and must play it from where it lies.

See the Golf Rules Dictionary sections B8 Ball deflected or stopped and B18 Ball moved when stationary

Best regards,

Hadyn

Ball is on the green.   My partner takes some practice putts a couple of feet to the side of the ball and touches his club on the green while practicing.   He takes his stance to putt the ball but had not completed his address because he had not grounded his club.   The ball moves about 2 to 3 inches toward the hole.   There was no wind or outside agency to cause the ball to move.   He did replace the ball and putted.   Does he incur a stroke penalty for the ball moving?

Thanks for the question from Harvey.

We live in a haunted house - if that is any use??  Sadly, there is not much in the rules under ' ball moved for no apparent reason'!!

However, if the player did not cause it to move, if he hadn't addressed it and if it wasn't moved by the wind, I guess it can only be deemed to have been moved by an outside agency - in which case the ball should be replaced without penalty in its original position and played from there.

See The Golf Rules Dictionary section b18 Ball moved when stationary.

Best regards,

Hadyn

George

To paraphrase the words of (another) great Englishman .   'The rumours of my demise are greatly exaggerated'!! .  I am well and currently commiserating quietly- but not alone - with an excellent bottle of Argentinian Chardonnay.!

I think the answer lies in George's e mail address..   george@insomnia.co.za

Best regards,

Hadyn

I have one simple question, but cannot find it in the rule book at all.  We were wondering when a player is taking a practice stroke and accidentally hits his ball does he get penalized or does he just retrieve it and place it in its original spot?   Also, When he addresses the ball and it moves does he get penalized?

Thanks for the questions from Bill,Jill and Jacob!!

The answer is..............it all depends on the circumstances!   Normally, if the incident is on the tee and the ball is moved by a practice swing before it is 'in play', there is no penalty.  However, if the ball is 'in play' then it is deemed to have been moved by the player and he incurs a 1 stroke penalty - plus the ball must be replaced in its original position before the next stroke is played.

It is the same deal regarding moving the ball after having addressed it.

See The Golf Rules Dictionary sections A2 Addressing the ball, B18 Ball moved when stationary and P12 practice swing.>p> Best regards,

Hadyn

What happens if you chip your ball onto the green and it hits an opponents ball, knocking it in?   Is it a score for the opponent, does he have to take the ball out of the hole and rehit it, or do you (the hitter) score on the shot?

Thanks for the question from Nancy..

Nancy's opponent has to take his ball out of the hole, replace it and play it from where it originally lay, but Nancy has to play her ball from where it came to rest.   There are no penalties.

See The Golf Rules Dictionary sections B8 Ball deflected or stopped and B18 Ball moved when stationary.

Best regards,

Hadyn

Can you please let me know the exact player responsibilities and if the competition committee has acted in the correct manner?

Thanks for the question from Tony Dunstan - ridiculous !!

I can't believe that this could possibly have happened.  The player's responsibility is limited only to ensuring that his correct handicap is recorded on the card, the correct gross scores have been recorded and that the card has been properly signed.

The committee can only disqualify a person in the circumstances set out in the rules of golf - and failing to fill in the date definitely does not fall within those circumstances.

We are dealing with the sport of golf, not form filling ; there must be some other reason for the disqualification - if not, this committee should be banned from holding any positions of responsibility in golf - for life!!

Best regards,

Hadyn

What is the rule?

I'm not impressed with the Pro who made the ruling in this case!

An artificially surfaced cart path is under normal circumstances an immoveable obstruction - from which a player is entitled to relief without penalty if his ball is on it or is so close to it that it interferes with his stance or area of intended swing.

This relief is not dependent on the player advising anyone else - so he should not have been penalised for not informing his side's opponents.

See the Golf Rules Dictionary section O3 Obstructions

Best regards,

Hadyn

My question relates to the whether their was any penalty at all as the second player had not put his own ball into play.   Could it be that player 1 had only to replace his ball, with no penalty to him or player 2.

Thanks for the question from Neville Crane - probably sufficiently complex to be referred to the R&A for a ruling!!

My view is as follows!  This was fourball stableford - each player plays his own ball, the better ball on each team counts for scoring purposes and the worst score on each hole is 0 points.

Once player 2 had moved player 1's ball, the proper procedure was that player 1 incurred a 1 stroke penalty and should have replaced it where it lay after his first stroke and played his 3rd scoring stroke from there ; the fact that player 2 moved it several times is irrelevant.   The penalty was incurred by player 1, even though it was player 2's action that caused the penalty.

Player 2 incurred no penalty and provided the alcoholic haze permitted him to score reasonably well on the hole, presumably his score would have counted as the team score on that hole.

My alternative view............stay off the Castlemaine XXXX.

Best regards,

Hadyn

Thanks in anticipation.

Mine's a Guinness, please!!

Peter should probably stick to buying the pints - as at least his colleague was half right!

A provisional may only be played when the original might be out of bounds or lost somewhere other than in a water hazard.  If, as in Peter's case, it could only have been lost in a water hazard then the other ball is not a provisional.

However, contrary to his view, he most certainly did need a ruling.

The bad news is that the second ball becomes the ball in play and he can't then play the original ball.   The even worse news is that he should have played from the spot from which the original was played and incurred a 1 stroke penalty.  Having played from considerably nearer the hole than the original spot and then having played the original ball when he wasn't entitled to, Peter would have been considered to be in serious breach of the rules and should have been disqualified.

But as it was a game between friends.........!!

Best regards,

Hadyn

Is it true you cannot be disqualified from a comp once the result is posted on a noticeboard at the completion of the final round?

Thanks for the question from John Miles.

Alas, not quite as simple as you'd think!   A player may be disqualified after a competition has closed (meaning when the result has been officially announced) but only if he has returned a score lower than that actually taken, knowingly declared a wrong handicap or agreed to the waiver of a rule or knowingly have been in breach of any other rule for which the penalty is disqualification.

See Tha Golf Rules Dictionary section D7 Disqualification

Best regards,

Hadyn

This only came to light four days, after the competition results had been posted, in casual conversation.   This player actually won the Stableford competition by one point. The committee would like a discussion as to whether he should be disqualified completely, or due to the time delay should the result stand.   His only crime was that he played the provisional ball from an incorrect position which was nearer the hole.

Thanks for the question from Alan Amor.

I don't think there is any need for discussion or disqualification - the result stands!!.   As the original ball was found, it became the ball in play and the score with the original ball counted.   The provisional ball could not be used once the original ball was found - so under Rule 27.2c any penalties incurred in playing the provisional ball are disregarded.

See The Golf Rules Dictionary section P16 Provisional Ball

Best regards,
Hadyn

I was recently told by a PGA Tour caddie that the rules regarding the flag are the same for a ball off the green as on the fringe.  Is this correct?

Thanks for the question from Rick.

Clever guys (and gals), these caddies.   Under R17.1 the player can have the flagstick attended, left in or removed no matter where he plays from.   The penalty for striking an unattended flagstick only applies if the shot is made from the green.

See the Golf Rules Dictionary section A14 Attending the Flagstick.

Best regards,
Hadyn

Thanks very much!

Thanks for the question from Mark Pilling.

As long as the club is a 'conforming club' - i.e.its design falls within the club specifications set by the R&A/USGA - the player can strike the ball with any part of the club head, so in Mark's case using the back of the putter head is OK, as indeed is playing a stroke with the back of an iron or wood .   The relevance of the face of the club is only in respect of whether or not it 'conforms' - and assuming it is made by a reputable manufacturer, it probably will!!

See The Golf Rules Dictionary sections P17 Putter and S26 Stroke

Best regards,
Hadyn

If you hit into a lateral hazard from the tee box, are you allowed to use a tee if you choose to replay from the original spot?

Thanks for the question from Stephen.

In the circumstances described the ball may be played from a tee.

Best regards,
Hadyn

Could you please advise on the positioning of the pins on greens.   I believe there is an advisory guideline from The R&A , but I have not been able to find it.

Nothing to do with the rules - I can't think of anything less necessary than guidelines as to pin placements ; whatever happened to common sense!!

Regarding the R&A - you (Peter) kindly published my article criticising the basis of the disqualification of Parnevik and Roe at the Open a couple of years ago ; well, yesterday the R&A / USGA announced that they were changing the rules so that there would not be a repeat of this episode.   I am well pleased - it is the equivalent of moving a mountain!!

Best regards,

Hadyn

My question is a ball has come to a stand on the green and is struck by a opponents ball chipping onto the green.   What must be done to the hit ball?

Thanks for the question from Colin.

The ball that came to rest on the green and was subsequently hit by the chip shot must be replaced without penalty (Rule 18.5) ; the ball that was chipped from off the green must be played as it lies - again without penalty (Rule 19.5)

For a full explanation see The Golf Rules Dictionary sections b8 Ball deflected and b18 Ball moved when stationary.

Best regards,
Hadyn

2.    Can I mark ball (on the putting green) only with 'ball mark repair tool' sticking in the green?

Thanks for this question - as long as the repair tool is removed prior to playing the stroke, under Rule 8.2a there is no penalty (in English or in any other language) in the circumstances as described.

See The Golf Rules Dictionary section l7 Line of putt.

Best regards,
Hadyn

The 17th hole at our club has a lateral down the left side that starts close to the tee box.   If you hit a snap hook off the tee box, the best option is to play from the previous spot.   This is because the ground slopes severely at the hazard boundary.   The question is, if you play from the tee box, can you tee the ball or do you have to drop it.   Also, what is the answer if the ball landed out of bounds on the tee shot instead of a hazard.

Thanks for the question from Steve.

If the player opts to replay from where the previous stroke was made he can tee the ball up anywhere within the designated teeing ground -it does not need to be from exactly the same point where the previous shot was teed.   It makes no difference if he is replaying after going OB or going into the lateral hazard.

See The Golf Rules Dictionary section T4 Teeing Ground.

Best regards,
Hadyn

Am I right in thinking this is a 2 shot penalty, but had it happened in match play my opponent could have asked me to play the first ball (if for example I had topped it 50 yards into deep heather)?

Thanks for the question from Alistair - he has answered his own question correctly, so not much else I can add!!

Best regards,
Hadyn

My understanding is that there is no relief from sprinkler heads except if you actually lie on or are in contact with one.   In this instance I made my opponent play out from where he lay. Was I right or wrong?

Thanks for the question from George Haskins - alas I think he did his opponent a disservice!

A sprinkler head is an immoveble obstruction from which the player is entitled to relief without penalty if it interferes with his stance or area of intended swing (but not if it is merely on his line of play).   In a bunker he must determine the nearest point of relief in the bunker which is not nearer the hole then drop the ball within 1 club's length.

For a full explanation see the Golf Rules Dictionary section O3 Obstructions.

Best regards,
Hadyn

If during a practice swing, the club touches a branch and one leaf falls off, does this constitute a penalty, even if both players agree there was no benefit to the player taking the practice swing?

Thanks for the question from Ralph.

One swallow doesn't make a summer - and one leaf would not normally incur a penalty for improving the area of intended swing!

Best regards,
Hadyn

Thanks for the question from Sanjiv.

I didn't quite understand his interpretation of R33.1.  The Committee has no power to waive the rules of golf - or to impose a 'discretionary' penalty in the circumstances described.

Under Rule 33.5, in Stableford competitions, the Committee is responsible for applying the handicap recorded on the score card and therefore for determining the result of the hole.  The player's obligation is only to record the correct gross score - the Committee has to calculate the net score, so it certainly cannot impose a penalty if the player has calculated the net score but got it wrong!

Best regards
Hadyn

Thanks for the question from Anne Burns.

In a word - 'No'!!   Anything that says you can disregard a bad score if you don't like it is certainly nothing to do with the rules of golf.   Could be some 'way out' regulation re ladies' handicapping.

Best regards,
Hadyn

Thanks for the question from Judi - maybe a ditz is a local alcolholic brew or such like??

Sorry to say, she needs something in which to drown her sorrows.   She must either play it as it lies or again declare it unplayable and take a further penalty.   Maybe the ditz element arises because prior to her first drop she did not consider the alternative relief options under Rule 28 which were possibly less risky - playing again from the point from which the original stroke was played, or playing on the extension of the line from the flag back through the point where the unplayable ball lay.

It must have been an adventurous round.........as far as the sand bucket is concerned, I assume that this was on the golf cart, in which case it is deemed to be part of Judi's golf 'equipment' so she suffers the penalty for having her moving ball stopped by her equipment - and in match play she loses the hole., unless....................
.............. if at the time the cart was being driven by her opponent, then there is no penalty and the stroke must be replayed from the point at which the ball originally lay.

For a full explanation see The Golf Rules Dictionary section B23 Ball unplayable and section B8 Ball deflected /stopped.

Best regards,
Hadyn

Thanks for the question from 'Coach'.

It's all a question of intent - a bit like murder / manslaughter!

If the other player deliberately failed to pull the flagstick then he would be disqualified and Coach's player would have to replay the stroke without penalty.  However, if there was no malicious intent - e.g if the flagstick was stuck or if the attender just wasn't paying attention - then, sadly, the 2 stroke penalty under Rule 17.3 applies.

As a personal opinion, I think this is one of the (many) rules which is unfair and needs amending.

For a full explanation see The Golf Rules Dictionary section a14 Attending the flagstick.

Best regards,
Hadyn

Thanks for the question from Keith Ware.

The answer is spot on - nothing further I can add ; good job, Keith!

Best regards,
Hadyn

My ball lands on the top of a gravel bridge across a hazard.  Do I get relief from the bridge or is my ball considered inside the hazard and I have to either take a stroke for the lift or play it as it lies?

Shawn should talk to Keith Ware - they both had the same problem and both knew the answer ; play it as it lies or take relief as if in the hazard!

Best regards,
Hadyn

Thanks for the question from Peter.

If an itinerant rules official happens to be watching................the correct procedure if the ball will not stay in its original position is to place it in the nearest similar position where it will stay, and of course not nearer the hole.

For a full explanation - Golf Rules Dictionary section P8 Placing and replacing the ball

Best regards
Hadyn

Thanks for the question from Artie.

As far as I know there are no exceptions to the provisions of rule 15.3a, so any strokes played at a wrong ball in a hazard do not count in the player's score even if his own ball is then found outside the hazard.  Consequently, if he subsequently finds his original ball outside the hazard (provided that it is not by this time a lost ball) and goes on to win the hole, he suffers no penalty.

Best regards,

Hadyn

Don

Dear Dr Kaufman,

Thank you for your email of 17 July.

The incident that you describe would be a breach of Rule 13-2, irrespective of whether the post was replaced before or after the stroke was played.

Yours sincerely
KEVIN BARKER
Assistant Director - Rules
The R&A, St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland

Don,

I suspected that this would be the result - hence the careful wording of my original response!!

However, this is one of several issues on which I believe the R&A are wrong!!

They rely on a decision made when a player removed a boundary post - and they decreed that once he had moved it there was nothing he could do to avoid the penalty.  I should point out that a player is not under any circumstances entitled to relief from a boundary post.

Rule 13.2 prohibits the player from improving his line of play - not from attempting to improve his line of play.  : If he can show either that the obstruction was not on his line of intended play (or a reasonable distance either side of it) or that his line of play was not actually improved then I do not believe he should be penalised.

In the present case the stake was replaced in its exact original position - because it was in a purpose built sleeve so it could not be put in any other position.  This is different from bending a branch etc. when the player cannot be sure that it has been returned to its exact previous position.   I therefore believe that his line was not improved. However, the R&A ruling is authoritative - albeit, in my opinion, a misinterpretation of Rule 13.2!!

Best regards

Hadyn

Thanks for the question from L Beeth (terribly formal - must be a Brit!)

The answer is not quite as easy as you may think.  It all depends whether knocking down a few leaves improved the area of intended swing.  If there are plenty of leaves left on the tree and they will still interfere with the stroke, then there is no penalty.   But if the practice swing removed the leaves from the area of swing then the player will be deemed to have improved his/her lie and will incur a 2 stroke penalty.

For a full explanation see The Golf Rules Dictionary section A11 Area of stance or intended swing.

Best regards

Hadyn

Thanks for the question from Paul Healey.

This exact point has been ruled on by the golfing authorities - but as is often the case their answer was ambiguous!   They advised that scratching a line on the surface of the putting green was OK as long as it was not considered to be testing the green and did not indicate the line of the putt!!   They then added that this practice was to be discouraged as it might cause damage to the green!

So, it is probably not illegal, probably OK, but don't do it !!

See The Golf Rules Dictionary section M2 Marking the ball

Best regards,

Hadyn

Thanks for the question from Mr Fraser - by conceding the match at that point he is also deemed to have conceded the putt and therefore the hole, so he lost 2 down, or more accurately the winner was 2 up.

See The Golf Rules Dictionary section C15 Concede/

Best regards,

Hadyn

Thanks for the question from Cyril Kaufman.

Given the importance of the decision it should be referred firstly to the tournament committee, then to his national golf association - and ultimately the R&A (although you probably won't get much out of them this week as they are too busy dealing with the likes of David Toms).

My humble opinion is as follows.  Never rely on a caddie for rules decisions!  This one didn't know the local rules and didn't know the line of sight rule.

The tournament committee has the power to declare stakes etc. to be immoveable obstructions by means of a local rule - which appears to have happened here.  The player is entitled to relief from the obstruction if it interferes with his stance or area of intended swing.  There is no automatic relief from 'line of sight/play' obstructions unless specifically given by a local rule - in the present case there is no mention of such relief being available.

However, I know of nothing in the rules which penalises someone for moving an 'immoveable' obstruction, but then replacing it before the stroke is played and without attempting to take any relief from the obstruction - it merely makes a mockery of having designated it 'immoveable' in the first place!

As the player played his stroke without taking any relief from the obstruction I do not think he can be held in breach of the relief procedure which applies to immoveable obstructions.

I hasten to add that this is my personal 'common sense' view - the powers that be may view matters differently!

Best regards,

Hadyn

Re the questions from MA Cairns.........

1.   Under normal circumstances touching the grass (or anything else growing ) in a hazard during a practice swing is not deemed testing the condition of the hazard and is not therefore subject to a penalty.

2. It is the responsibility of the player to declare the penalty to his marker.  If anyone is aggrieved by a particular situation they may ask the tournament committee to investigate if the player himself has not notified the penalty to his marker.

Best regards,

Hadyn

Thanks for the question from Peter - not as bad a question as the guidance contained in the rules!!

The whole point of a provisional ball is to save time, so you would have thought that once the player has left the tee he cannot go back and play a provisional.   However, the rules say that this should not be interpreted narrowly and it is up to the Committee to decide the matter!  For example, if the player merely goes forward from the tee to get another ball or another club from his bag in order to play his provisional, he should not be penalised.

So, it is the rule that once he goes forward to search for his ball he cannot then come back and play a provisional; but it is not a rule that if he leaves the tee he cannot play a provisional under any circumstances.

See The Golf Rules Dictionary section P16 Provisional ball

Best regards,

Hadyn

Normand, I am assuming you mean can the caddie put another club on the ground to help his player align the putt.   In which case the answer is the caddie can help align the putt by using any of his clubs to point out the line of the putt as long as the club does not touch the putting surface and, before the stroke is played, is removed and the caddie moves away from the line of the putt (or its extension behind the ball).

The player can carry any number of putters as long as the total number of clubs in the bag does not exceed 14.

Best regards,

Hadyn

Thanks for the question from Christina Lye.

If the facts are as stated then I think the Club needs a new committee!!. I do not understand how the lady could have won the competition having played only 17 holes!!   If she only played 17 the fact that she was late is irrelevant.

Her lateness in itself makes her subject to disqualification as her excuse would not have justified the disqualification penalty being mitigated under Rule 6.3b.   Also not playing the course in the correct order as prescribed by the Committee makes her subject to disqualification.

If indeed she had been declared the winner, then I believe the Committee was obliged to disqualify her under Rule 34.1b, even after the competition had closed, because, as Christina has concluded, she knew (or ought to have known) that her lateness rendered her subject to disqualification.   Perhaps more seriously, also because she could not have accurately recorded her score for the hole she didn't play.

Not least of all, I am amazed that whoever marked her card agreed to countersign it!

Best regards,

Hadyn

Thanks for the question from Ho San Cheow.

The answer is the same as one of last week's questions.   'Moved' is defined as leaving its position and coming to rest in another position.   If it remains in exactly the same position there is no penalty.

Incidentally, if it had moved the penalty would have been be 2 strokes, not 1!!

See The Golf Rules Dictionary section L9 Loose impediments.

Best regards,

Hadyn

Thanks for the question from Preston Bonner.   I agree entirely with his sentiments - but common sense and the rules of golf often have little in common!

Sad to say, I think that the rules official was technically correct.   Rule 19.1 provides that if another player stops the ball deliberately then Rule 1.2 applies.   Rule 1.2 provides that a player must not deliberately stop the ball unless permitted by the rules.   If he does - 2 stroke penalty (or if it was considered a serious breach, disqualification!)

Being a nice guy is not permitted by the rules!

If I had been asked to make the decision, I would have relied on the fallback provisions of Rule 1.4 - which says that any dispute not covered by the rules should be decided in accordance with what is deemed equitable in the circumstances.   As player B did not stop the ball with any malicious intent - in fact, quite the opposite - it is equitable that he should not be penalised as he was merely being courteous and his action in no way influenced how or from where A played his next shot.

Best regards,

Hadyn

Thanks for the question from Charles Heckel.

The rules have not been changed to allow stones to be removed from a sand trap.   Under Rule 23 if both the ball and the stone are in the sand trap then the stone cannot be removed unless there is a local rule which allows it.

For a full explanation see The Golf Rules Dictionary sections B33 Bunker and L9 Loose Impediment.

Best regards,

Hadyn

Thanks for the question from Tricia Hudson.   The answer is considerably more nebulous than the question -   it is deemed 'rub of the green' -   but in any event no penalty.

Best regards,

Hadyn

Thanks for the question from Robert Dufresne.

In plain English -   Yes, that is exactly how Rule 19 is applied.   Strange, but true!!.

Best regards,

Hadyn

Thanks for the question from Colin Cullen.

The important issue is not to strike the sand with a practice swing.

The ruling was correct - no penalty.   Also, Colin's line of reasoning was correct - save for one vital omission which resulted in him reaching the wrong conclusion.   The definition of 'stroke' includes the requirement that it must be made 'with the intention of fairly striking the ball.'

In taking a practice swing - in a bunker or anywhere else - it will not count as an air shot provided it is clear that the player did not intend to strike the ball.

I think his final line also reached the wrong conclusion - it should have read 'It is more than a life and death decision ; it's golf!!.

Best regards,

Hadyn

Is there a guide for all golf courses to follow or it is up to the management of the golf course?

The placement of markers has nothing to do with the rules, and is determined by whoever measures the course.

Best regards,

Hadyn

Thanks for the question from George Haskins -   can't remember what my last comment was which has got me into trouble!!

However, re the present question.........   the simple answer is 'never get involved in domestic disputes!

I assume that the question relates to a situation where the player whose ball is behind a tree has declared his ball to be unplayable -   in which case he has 3 options :

He can take a 1 stroke penalty and either
    a. Play again from the spot where the ball was previously played before it came to rest behind the tree.
    b. Drop the ball within 2 club lengths of where it lay behind the tree (backwards or sideways provided it does not end up nearer the hole than the original spot)
    c. Drop the ball any distance behind the spot where it originally lay on the extension of the line between the hole and that spot.

For a full explanation see The Golf Rules Dictionary section b23 ball unplayable.

Keep up the good work, George ; if the mediation fails, I also handle divorces!!

Best regards,

Hadyn

Thanks for the question from George Kirn .

Answer - Rule 14.1 - the ball must be fairly struck at with the head of the club and not pushed, scraped or spooned.   See The Golf Rules Dictionary section s26 Stroke.

I suspect this question comes up because Scott Hazledine places the putter 6 - 8 inches behind the ball on short putts.   I don't think the issue is the backstroke, but the nature of the 'strike'.   Scott clearly 'strikes' the ball as the putter head travels 6 - 8 inches and does not 'stay' on the ball.   With a push, with or without a backstroke, the putter face stays on the ball for an extended period of time - much longer than the fraction of a second accompanying a 'strike' of the ball.   If the push were legal it would be possible on short puts to simply push the ball into the hole without the face of the putter breaking contact with the ball until it drops in.

Well, that's my theory......!!

Best regards,

Hadyn

Thanks for the question from Kevin Smith.

Simple answer (for once) - 'Yes'!!.

Do I now qualify for the steak dinner??

Regards,

Hadyn

Thanks for the question from Roger Connolly.

I think he needs to ask the committee this one.

Under rule 13.4 the player is not allowed to touch or move either the ground or loose impediments in the hazard with his club during his backswing - having done so, he / they lost the hole in the circumstances described.

For a full explanation see The Golf Rules Dictionary section w2 Water hazard.

Best regards,

Hadyn

Thanks for the question from John Dunn.

As far as I am aware there are no penalty consequences for striking an umbrella or buggy during the swing - it only becomes a penalty situation if the ball strikes one of these items at a time when it is deemed to be part of the player's equipment.

Best regards,

Hadyn

Thanks for the question from George Haskins - obviously a rules addict!

A badly damaged ball can be changed at any time - no need to wait until the conclusion of the hole being played.  If he believes it is damaged, the player must announce his intention to inspect the ball, mark and lift it, give his opponent / fellow competitor the chance to inspect it and then if the damage warrants changing it, replace it on the same spot.

For a full explanation see The Golf Rules Dictionary section b22 Ball unfit for play

Best regards,

Hadyn

Thanks for the question from Joe Choi.

It is in the definition of a 'stroke' that if the downswing is checked voluntarily before impact it is not deemed to be a stroke - even on the putting green - so there is no penalty for stopping in mid swing and walking away.

For a full explanation see The Golf Rules Dictionary section S26 Stroke.

Best regards,

Hadyn

Thanks for the question from Bob - he got a bad call!

The golden rule is - never rely on somebody else's opinion of the rules.  I am looking at p50 of the Golf Rules Dictionary and a photo of me doing exactly the same.  The caption reads 'the player himself may hold the flagstick while he taps in the ball but the ball must not strike the flagstick!!

Best regards,

Hadyn

The Brits are light hearted compared to the Aussies when it comes to sport!!   [I commented to Haydn that the Brits and Aussies really get into it regarding golf tournament rules.   Don]

However, to answer Mandy's questions, I think they need a new tournament committee!

. 1.   There is nothing in the rules preventing someone from starting out intending to play 9 holes and then playing a full tournament round.  I am amazed that the player was allowed to start as part of the tournament having only paid for 9 holes as clearly he / she could not submit a valid scorecard if only 9 holes were played!

2.   Again, the tournament committee is at fault for allowing the final pair to go out without a marker.   Amazingly, the rules do not cover such a circumstance, although under normal circumstances the players would be required to ask the committee to organise a marker for them.

There is authority for the view that an unattested scorecard is invalid.   However, in the present case, having sent them out, I think their card would have to be accepted as there appears to be absolutely no question of impropriety and the fact that they went out without a marker with the knowledge of the organisers implies approval by the committee.

Best regards,

Hadyn

Thanks for the question from Bill Clark - unfortunately, I don't believe him either!!

Under normal circumstances the player cannot touch or rotate the ball in the circumstances described.  He would only be allowed to move it or clean it if permitted by some rule under which he is taking relief or under a local rule relating to the condition of the course.

For a full explanation see The Golf Rules Dictionary sections b18 Ball moved and c8 Cleaning the ball.

Best regards,

Hadyn

Thanks for the question from Phil Gibson - who is absolutely correct in his understanding of the rules.

For a full explanation see The Golf Rules Dictionary sections a2 Addressing the ball and a7 Air shot.

Best regards,

Hadyn

Thanks for the questions from George Haskins and Rob Ferguson.

The rule re spike marks on the putting green is that they must not be repaired if they might assist the player in his play of the hole.   This has been interpreted as meaning that he should not tap down spike marks on his line of putt or anywhere around the hole.  Also if he 'purposely' taps down spike marks on somebody else's line of putt he incurs a 2 stroke penalty - and so does the other player if he knowingly allowed it to happen.

Therefore it is usually safer to repair the spike marks only after everyone in the group has putted out!

See The Golf Rules Dictionary sections L7 Line of Putt and S13 Spike Marks.

Regards,

Hadyn

Thanks for the question from Tony Wakeford - which illustrates perfectly my view that the rules of golf as presently formulated are incomprehensible and therefore useless to the amateur golfer!!

The key to the answer appears to be not whether the ball may be in a water hazard, but whether it is or may be lost outside the hazard or out of bounds - if it ultimately transpires that it is not in the hazard.

If it might be in the hazard, lost outside the hazard or out of bounds then the player may play a provisional (Decision 27.2c/1)

If it might be in the hazard but is clearly not lost outside the hazard/out of bounds then the provisional ball rule cannot apply - if a 'provisional' has been played it automatically becomes a 'second' ball and therefore becomes the ball in play - irrespective of what happened to the first ball. (Decision 27.2a/2)  How the player decides this is beyond my comprehension!!

To answer Tony's second point, if the original ball is found whether within or outside the hazard (and is playable) then he must proceed with the original ball and pick up the provisional.   If the original is found in the hazard but is not playable then he must take appropriate relief from the hazard.   If the original ball is not found and was probably lost outside the hazard or out of bounds, the provisional wasn't a provisional but was a second ball!!

As far as I can work out, the penalties result in the same score in all the above circumstances.  The only difference may be where the next shot is played from!

For a full explanation see The Golf Rules Dictionary sections P16 Provisional ball and S5 Second ball

Best regards,

Hadyn

Thanks for the question from Tim Glauer.

Unlike stroke play, the basic rule in match play is that if the ball is deflected or stopped by another ball, even when both balls were on the putting green, there is no penalty.  Under Rule 19.5 Tim's ball must be played as it lies and his partner's ball must be replaced to its original position.

For a full explanation see The Golf Rules Dictionary sections B8 Ball deflected and F9 Fourball.

Best regards,

Hadyn

Thanks for the question from George Haskins.

Under Rule 4 a player may only change a club when it is unfit for play - unless he had fewer than 14 clubs in his bag in the first place, in which case he would be allowed to add to his selection of clubs e.g. by acquiring another putter, provided that this does not unduly delay play and is not borrowed from another player playing on the course.

A club is only deemed unfit if it is substantially damaged, dented, bent or broken - or if the clubhead or grip is loose.  It is the player's call, but if challenged and the damage is not as above he will be subject to the prescribed penalties.  The damage must have occurred during the round and in the normal course of play - if he damaged it by smashing it against a tree in anger, this would not be considered 'in the normal course of play'!!

For a full explanation see The Golf Rules Dictionary section C9 Club.

Best regards,

Hadyn

Thanks for the question from Maz Hibbard - this is a situation which I have always considered to be unfair.

In the circumstances described the player cannot drop in the bunker and nearer the hole.  He can of course try to play the ball as it lies!!.   Alternatively, he has two options both incurring a 1 stroke penalty.   The first is to drop anywhere outside the bunker on the extension of the line from the hole through the spot where the ball lay in the bunker - not nearer the hole, of course!   The second is to declare his ball unplayable, locate the nearest point of relief outside the bunker and then take relief as above, or utilise either of the further relief options of dropping within 2 club lengths of the nearest point of relief or playing again from where he had played his previous shot.

For a full explanation see The Golf Rules Dictionary section A1 Abnormal ground conditions.

Best regards,

Hadyn

Michael Wong must have had an eventful round last weekend!!

Under Rule 20.3(d) if the ball will not stay on the spot where it was placed it must be replaced without penalty. If it still rolls away, it should be placed on the nearest spot where it will stay - provided that this is not nearer the hole than the original spot.

For a full explanation see The Golf Rules Dictionary section p8 Placing the ball

Best regards,

Hadyn

Thanks for the question from Michael Wong.

The line itself is OB, but all of the ball must be on / over the line for it to be considered out of bounds.  The boundary of the line stretches vertically upwards and downwards and if any part of the ball is short of the line then the ball is not out of bounds.

For a full explanation see The Golf Rules Dictionary section O5 Out of bounds.

Best regards,

Hadyn

Thanks for the question from Dick Lukes.

In my opinion the farce of the Parnevik / Roe disqualification at the 2003 Open at St George's illustrated the inadequacy of the rules in addressing exactly what should go on the scorecard.  Despite many decisions relating to scorecard incidents, the rules are still unclear to us amateur golfers!

The facts of life seem to be that the only item which needs to be on the scorecard prior to the commencement of the round is the player's handicap - and this is only a requirement in stroke play.

Thereafter he must of course ensure that the correct score is entered against each hole, the card is signed by himself and countersigned by his marker.

Addition of the card and correct application of the handicap is the responsibility of the Committee.

This may seem simple, but a dissertation on the interpretation of these rules and the breaches for which a player can be disqualified would take me a week to write down!!

For a brief summary see The Golf Rules Dictionary section S3 Scorecard.

Best regards,

Hadyn

Thanks for the question from Mike Kosky.

A ball is in play from when a stroke is made at it on the tee.  What was announced to the rest of the group is irrelevant - however skeptical they might be!!  Golf is a game of honesty and honor - if Mike considered the ball he found to be the one he played from the tee, then that is the ball in play - and he must play it!!

For a full explanation see The Golf Rules Dictionary section b12 Ball in Play.

Best regards,

Hadyn

Thanks for the question from Vic Toulson.

Rakes should be placed outside bunkers and in such a position where they are least likely to interfere with play.

As far as I am aware there has been no change in the status of single players - they have no priority whatsoever on the golf course.

See The Golf Rules Dictionary sections r1 Rake and p14 Priority on the course.

Best regards,
Hadyn

Thanks for the question from Harry Black.

How results are resolved in the event of a tie should be covered in the conditions of the particular tournament.   In strokeplay it is recommended that there be an 18 hole playoff, but if this is not feasible the competition should go to extra holes and 'sudden death'.   If neither of these are feasible, then matters are usually decided by a card playoff over the last 9 holes, or if still tied the last 6 holes, or if still tied the last 3 holes.

Handicaps are irrelevant and in Harry's example the player who shot the 39 on the back 9 should win.

For a full explanation see The Golf Rules Dictionary section t13 Tie.

Best regards,

Hadyn

Thank you for your question Alan,

This is by far the 'most asked' question coming from my book!!

NB is an abbreviation for Nota Bene - the Latin phrase meaning 'take special note of....'

Regarding the double hit, the stroke counts as one stroke but the player must add a penalty stroke - and then the ball must be played as it lies.

For a full explanation see The Golf Rules Dictionary section b21 Ball struck more than once

Regards
Hadyn

Thanks for the question from Paul Hughes.

This is nothing to do with the rules of golf.  In the UK handicaps are not regulated by the R&A but by the Council of National Golf Unions (CONGU) who have produced an unbelievably complex system of calculating handicaps.  Added to which the UK system is completely different from the USGA system!!

My next literary project will be an attempt to demystify the handicapping system!!

Best regards,

Hadyn

Thanks for the question from Russell Clover - good question!!

There is no relief without penalty under the rules of golf in these circumstances from natural vegetation on the course even though it was specifically placed there to mark a distance.  However, it is common practice for relief to be granted under the local rules of the course - so check the local rules on the scorecard!

Best regards,

Hadyn

Thanks for the question from Bob Bridges.

The final resting place in the fairway is perfectly legitimate as under Rule 20c the ball is permitted to roll up to 2 club lengths from the point where it first struck the course on being dropped.  The fact that it rolled from rough to fairway is irrelevant and is not deemed to be improving his lie.

For a full explanation see The Golf Rules Dictionary sections c11 Club length, d16 Dropping the ball and l3 Lie of the ball.

Best regards

Hadyn

Thanks for the questions from Vince Smith,

Once a putt is conceded the player may choose to putt out UNLESS it would be of assistance to a a partner in a fourbell / bestball; if he putts out in these circumstances, the partner would be disqualified from the hole, which I believe answers the last two points!.

Best regards

Hadyn

Many thanks for the question from Phil Akam.

The relief from a hole made by burrowing animals applies whether the hole is on the fairway, putting green, teeing ground, in a bunker or in the rough. A ball running into a rabbit hole in the fairway may be removed and dropped without penalty.  However, relief without penallty is not available if it is in a water hazard.

Best regards
Hadyn

Thanks for the question from Dianna -

Dianna 1, Assistant Pro 0!!   It is recommended that the marker be placed immediately behind the ball, but this is considered to be a 'best practice' recommendation and not a rule, so it is permissible to mark the ball to the side, or even in front.

That is definitely the rule now and I don't think the rule was ever any different.

See The Golf Rules Dictionary section M2 Marking the ball for a full explanation.

Best regards
Hadyn

Steven,

We had this question once before........

It was from Keith -

I have heard two recent explanations of the origin of the word fore" used to warn players on the course.

1.  From old English "to the fore"

2.  Falling Object Returning to Earth

I've looked in many dictionaries but none explain the origin, can you shed any light on this matter.

................and this is what I answered then.............

Thanks for the enquiry - there is nothing in the rules of golf that helps on this one.  I have heard both the explanations which Keith has identified - plus one additional one - which I favour as it has a direct relationship to the rules!! :-

The spotters/marshalls who are employed in pro tournaments to identify where a player's ball lands are known as 'forecaddies' for the purposes of the rules of golf.  It has been suggested that the origin of the term 'fore' is as an abbreviation for 'forecaddie' to warn him/her to keep an eye on the ball so as to enable him to locate the errant shot.

If I find anything authoritative in any of the history books, I will let you know!!

Best regards

Hadyn

Thanks for the question from Alison.

Sadly, Rule 29.2 is unequivocal - if a player plays when her partner should have played, her side loses the hole.  It is not possible to overlook the rule.   Having said that, in the circumstances outlined most golfers would already have conceded the hole when the opposition is on the green and has 5 shots to win the hole!!.

The rule is set out in the Golf Rules Dictionary in section F10 Foursomes, but obviously there is no discussion of these specific circumstances because, although it may appear unjust, they do not warrant an exception to the rule.

Best regards
Hadyn

Thanks for the question from Butch Sneade.

During a round a player must not use any artificial device or unusual equipment which might help him in his play, in making a stroke, in estimating or measuring distance or conditions or in gripping the club.  Items like distance markers on the course or yardage books are excepted from the ban!!

For a full explanation see The Golf Rules Dictionary section a12 Artificial Devices

Best regards
Hadyn

Thanks for the interesting question from Steven Ruane - to which there is no specific answer in the rules or in the decisions interpreting the rules.  It might therefore be appropriate for Steven to ask his club secretary to submit the point to the USGA or R&A for their ruling on the point.

Winter greens are not a subject covered by local rules, so in my opinion, unless the Committee has designated them as ground under repair (in order to protect them), then they should be considered as fairway - or 'through the green' as it is technically called in the rules.   If this is the case then Steven should not have moved his ball and should be penalised under Rule 18.2 - even though he did so with the best of intentions.

Best regards

Hadyn

Thanks for the question from Dean Smith.

Under normal circumstances the player farthest from the hole plays first, so in the present instance B did play out of order.  Under Rule 10 there is no penalty either in stroke play or match play, but in match play B could be asked to replay the stroke.

The issue of having the flag in or out is irrelevant to the order of play.   B may have the flag in, out or attended as he wishes.   When A putts he can do the same, but on the green it is advisable to remove the flag or have it attended as if the ball strikes it a 2 stroke penalty is incurred (loss of hole in matchplay).  There is no such rule that once removed the flagstick must remain out of the hole.

For a full explanation see The Golf Rules Dictionary sections a14 Attending the flagstick and o4 Order of play.

Best regards

Hadyn

Thanks for the question from Barrie Dodson.

Under the definitions contained in the Rules, surface drainage ditches are water hazards whether or not they contain water - and whether or not they are marked as such, although the committee should mark them appropriately.  They would only be ground under repair if they had been specifically marked or declared as such by the Committee.

For a full explanation see the Golf Rules Dictionary section g9 Ground under repair and section w2 Water hazard.

Best regards

Hadyn

Thanks for the question from Sam Bundy.

Unfortunately he starts off with a fundamental misunderstanding!!  If the ball is in play and a player takes a practice swing and unintentionally hits the ball, it DOES count as a stroke - and a 1 stroke penalty is incurred under Rule 18.2.  Once the ball is in play - as it is on the putting green in the present instance - and the ball is moved by the player (as in a practice swing) the penalty is incurred.

Addressing the ball is only relevant if the ball moves of its own accord, in which case there would be no penalty under Rule 18.2 if the address procedure had not been completed.

For a full explanation see the Golf Rules Dictionary sections a2 Addressing the Ball and b18 Ball moved when stationary.

Best regards

Hadyn

Thanks for the question from George Haskins.

Provided that the 5 minutes allowed for searching for the ball have not elapsed, the player can still play the original ball and no penalty is incurred.

Under Rule 27 a player cannot make a ball lost simply by declaring it to be lost or by acting in a way which implies that it is lost.   It is only lost if it is not found within the 5 minutes or he has played another ball within that time without declaring it to be a provisional ball.

For a full explanation see The Golf Rules Dictionary section l10 Lost ball.  Available in S Africa from Dale Hayes!! (George will know the name!!)

Best regards

Hadyn

Many thanks for the question from Nigel Wain - and apologies for the delay in replying ; I had a similar problem to Nigel, the question was left in my Inbox in timely manner but was not opened for some considerable time.  Must be a British thing.

Unfortunately Nigel has encountered one of the great grey areas of the Rules.  As he correctly points out the requirement under 6.6b is to return the scorecard to the Committee as soon as possible.  Sadly, the authorities have never interpreted the meaning of 'as soon as possible'.

However, decision 6.6c/1 did consider the meaning of 'returning the scorecard' - but in another context.  It vaguely dictated that it was for the Committee to decide when a scorecard was deemed returned and that this would vary according to the nature of the competition.   owever, it did consider that the Committee should designate a 'scoring area' - be it a tent, a trailer or even a box, and that, if it was a box, it was properly returned once it was dropped into the box.

It is arguable by the Committee that Nigel did not return his card 'as soon as possible' - but on the other hand it is arguable that as Nigel returned it to the designated scoring area before the competition had closed he should not have been disqualified.  Unfortunately, there is no definitive authority to support this.  I would support Nigel's view of the situation.  Having designated two different scoring areas, the scorer should have checked both the box and the bar before finally closing the competition.  I would therefore suggest that Nigel asks the Club to submit this question to the R&A for clarification in the hope that it will prevent any similar miscarriage of justice in the future.

Best regards

Hadyn

Thanks for the question from Richard.  Complicated question with a very short answer.....'Yes - to all the points raised'!!

Best regards

Hadyn

Thanks for this - I think the simple answer is that the UK should adopt the USGA system - it is much easier to understand!!

However, to answer Andrew's question, or more accurately, not to answer it - handicapping is not a matter of the rules of golf.  It is left to the appropriate national organisation within each country and the CONGU system is the one applicable to the UK.

I am not sure from the question who was aggrieved / prejudiced by the incident or why!!  However, I would suggest that the question be referred to CONGU for adjudication!

Sorry, Andrew!!

Best regards

Hadyn

In our rules of a 2man scramble match play, the chosen ball should NOT be moved, however chosen ball was marked, lifted and cleaned by the players' caddie.  Which rule should apply, should it be 1-2 exerting influence on the ball or rule 18-ball at rest moved?

Just received another question from Josie Amon - re lifting the ball in 2 man scramble match when the conditions of the competition specify that the ball should not be lifted. It must have arrived in my Cayman e mail after I had left for the UK!!

The answer follows on from her previous question. The relevant rule is rule 18.2a and by moving the chosen ball the player/team incur a 1 stroke penalty. The ball must be replaced - if not replaced, in match play, the hole is automatically lost.

For a full explanation see The Golf Rules Dictionary section b18 Ball moved when stationary.

Best regards,

Hadyn

Exactly how much is "slightly raised?"   Is a section of a coat hanger illegal?

Happy New Year!   Holidays are always good - even in the depths of winter in here in England.   No worries - we are off to Dubai next week for our annual pro-am there.

Coat hanger - now there's something different!!   Maybe Jim hangs his clubs out to dry after playing in the rain?

Anyway, the rules provide no guidance beyond the words already quoted.   In cases of doubt the club should be submitted to the USGA for adjudication.   I would interpret the words as meaning a slightly raised rib incorporated into the grip in the same material as the grip as part of the manufacture process.

I have no doubt that affixing a section of coathanger to improve the grip would be deemed an artificial device / unusual equipment in contravention of Rule 14.3 and thus subject to disqualication the person using the 'enhanced' grip.

See The Golf Rules Dictionary section a12 Artificial Devices for a full explanation.

Incidentally, the USGA has introduced its quadrennial alterations to the Rules effective 1st January, so a new edition of the Golf Rules Dictionary will be published in April.

Best regards,

Hadyn

Recently I watched the Presidents Cup which ended tied 17-17. The question is why did Tiger take his stroke on the cart path and not take a free relief?

Thanks for the question from Amin Sanusi.  I didn't see the incident in question, so I am not sure of Tiger's reasoning.  As the relief is discretionary, it is his choice as to whether he chooses to take it or not!!  If I can find a tape of the tournament I will take a look and get back to you.

Best regards,

Hadyn

A ball lands in a bunker which is full of water, relief not nearer the hole is not possible.  What are my options please.

Thanks for the question from Neil Forrest.

There are 4 options in these circumstances :-

1. Play the ball as it lies
2. Drop without penalty in the shallowest water in the bunker - but not nearer the hole
3. Take a 1 stroke penalty and drop outside the bunker on the extension behind the bunker of an imaginary line drawn from the hole back through the point where the ball had lain in the bunker
4. Declare the ball unplayable, take a one stroke penalty and then adopt one of the further options available under this relief, namely, drop within 2 club lengths of where the ball last lay in the bunker (assuming this will enable the ball to be dropped outside the bunker or play again from the spot from which the ball was played before it went into the bunker.

I always have thought this to be grossly unfair as the player is either faced with an impossible shot out of water or alternatively penalised because of circumstances entirely beyond his control ; except, of course, that in theory he should not have been in the bunker in the first place!!

For a full explanation see The Golf Rules Dictionary sections c4 Casual water and b9 Ball unplayable.

Best regards,

Hadyn

Kindly enlighten me on the interpretation of Rule 1-2 - Exerting influence on Ball.

Thanks for the question from Josefina Amon.

This rule is a backstop for when the powers that be can't get you under any other rule!!   It states that the player must not take any action to influence the position or movement of the ball unless he is so permitted by the rules.

The following have been deemed influencing the position or movement of the ball with rule 1.2 :

- jumping on the green to try to make the ball fall in the hole
- removing the flagstick from the green to avoid the ball hitting it
- shielding the ball from the wind with a golf bag
- repairing spike damage on the line of a putt
- having a caddie hold back a tree branch where a ball is to be dropped

The normal penalty is loss of hole/2 strokes, but the player may be disqualified if the offence is considered a serious breach e.g. deliberately stopping a putt from going in the hole!!

See the Golf Rules Dictionary section i9 Influencing the movement of the ball for a full explanation.

Best regards,

Hadyn

This occurred in a recent medal.  Before chipping onto the green, a player cleared the leaves on a path to the hole.  This was queried as being against the rules, as the ball was not on the green.  Can you tell me what the actual decision should have been.I have looked in the book, and cannot find this exact situation.

Thanks for the question from Steve Baldrey.

Leaves - loose impediments - can be moved without penalty anywhere on the course other than when both the ball and the loose impediment are in a hazard.

See The Golf Rules Dictionary section L9 Loose impediments basic rule 1 page 236 and Exception 1 page 238

This is not deemed to be improving his line of play because it is incidental to an action which is permitted by the rules - removing loose impediments.

See The Golf Rules Dictionary section L7 Line of Play Exception 2 page 225

Best regards,

Hadyn

A ball running into a rabbit hole in the fairway may be removed and dropped without penalty.  What is the rule if the rabbit hole is in the rough or semi rough please?

Many thanks for the question from Phil Akam.

The relief from a hole made by burrowing animals applies whether the hole is on the fairway, putting green, teeing ground, in a bunker or in the rough.  However, relief without penallty is not available if it is in a water hazard.

Best regards,

Hadyn

Please help me settle an argument.  A couple of golf partners and I have argued which set of tees we should be playing from.  I am not the greatest player in the world (16 handicap) but can hit a long ball.  This is why I choose to hit from the back or one up from the back.  My partners are not as long but believe I should play farther up based on my handicap.  I have argued the choice of tees should not be based on one's handicap but how far they hit the ball.  I have also suggested an easy way to determine what set of tees a person should play from.  If one is playing a par 4 or 5 and has no shot in hell of reaching the fairway bunker, they need to move up!!!  If they are able to blast over the bunker with ease, they should move back.  Please help us settle this argument once and for all.

Thanks for the question from Mike.

The answer is that there is no answer - at least as far as the rules are concerned.  In a competition, the organising committee decides which tees the men will play from and all must play from the same tees.  In a friendly, it is up to the individuals to agree - but if they are playing any form of match then they all need to play from the same tees.  The distance a person can hit the ball is irrelevant - the key is how many strokes he takes to get the ball in the hole!!  The differences between playing abilities are compensated by handicaps, not by which tees you play from.

Best regards,

Hadyn

Part III: Please explain "stroke and distance" penalty.

Thanks for the questions from John McLeish. Re parts 1 and 2, the procedure is the same whether it is lost out of bounds or in the rough.  Once the original ball is lost, having played a provisional ball it becomes the ball in play and it lies 3 strokes - i.e. the next stroke will be the fourth.

'Stroke and distance' is a popular description of the normal lost ball procedure under which, once the ball has not been found within the 5 minute search period the player adopts the penalty procedure under Rule 27.  He takes a 1 stroke penalty and plays another ball from the spot from which the original ball was played.   The 'stroke' is the penalty stroke and the 'distance' is going back to where the original ball was played from.  When he again plays from the original spot it is his 3rd stroke.

The provisional ball procedure is an attempt to save time instead of going through the above procedure and having players going back 200 yards or so to the tee having already spent 5 minutes searching - but the end result is still the same.  If the provisional ball is eventually adopted because the original can't be found, the first stroke with the provisional ball is the third for scoring purposes. A couple of relevant points - you can't simply declare a ball lost. It is only lost if it isn't found within the 5 minutes or if the player has treated it as lost by playing another ball before the 5 minutes has expired - e.g by playing the 4th stroke with the provisional in John's case.  Also, The procedure is different if the ball is lost in a water hazard or in abnormal ground conditions.

Hope this answers the questions!!

Best regards, Hadyn

I just discovered this site, and it looks like fun.  Situation...a ball is in the woods.  In removing branches or other materials from around the ball, and the ball shakes (vibrates) but stays in the same position.  Is it deemed to have moved, thereby invoking a penalty?

Thanks for the question from Ray Martin.

The ball must not move as a result of moving loose impediments within 1 club's length of the ball.  Under normal circumstances it is not considered to have moved unless it has left its original position - merely vibrating but staying in the same position would not be considered 'moved' in this context.  So, in Ray's situation, no penalty!!

Regards,

Hadyn

If you hit your ball on a wrong green, can you simply hit it off that green or do you have to play it from the nearest point of relief?   Does this rule also counts for professional players or do they have other rules?  I always understood that they are allowed to play straight from that green except when a local rule is in charge which forbids it.

Thanks for the question from Ben.

The player - pro or amateur - has no choice.  Under Rule 25.3 he must not play the ball from a wrong green.  He must lift the ball, determine the nearest point of relief which is off the green, not nearer the hole, not in a hazard and which avoids interference from the green.  He must then drop the ball within 1 club length of this point.  There is no penalty.

For a full explanation see The Golf Rules Dictionary section P18 Putting green and section W9 Wrong place.

Best regards,

Hadyn

Can you play a putting stroke while holding an umbrella?

Thanks for the question from Tony.

Not quite as obvious as you may think!  The player may not accept protection from the elements from someone else.  So, if the caddie holds the umbrella, then he must step away before the player putts.  If he doesn't, it's a 2 stroke penalty under Rule 14.2.  However, to answer Tony's question, the player himself may putt with one hand whilst holding the umbrella in the other - without incurring a penalty!

For a full explanation see The Golf Rules Dictionary section A13 Assistance.

Best regards,

Hadyn

During a recent tournament at our club, it was discovered that one of the players had 15 clubs in his bag.  The 15th club, however, was one of those hinged things that breaks in the middle if not swung correctly.  It's truly a training club that no one would ever use in actual play, but would/should be considered a 15th club just because it looks like a club?  If I can swing my unbrella and hit the ball wouldn't that be considered a club too?

Thanks for the question from Darren Strater.

The question is whether it is a 'club' as defined by the USGA!!

A weighted training club has been held to be a club within the meaning of the rules so long as it conforms to the specifications set down by the USGA/R&A, as a result of which carrying one as the 15th club was found to be in breach of the rules.

However, a training club which bends in the middle of the shaft?? - I don't think so, as in my opinion, just like an umbrella, it would not conform to the technical requirements set out in Appendix 2 of the rules.

If he used such an implement to practice during the round it might be considered to be an artificial device which could assist him in making his strokes - for which the penalty under Rule 14.3 is disqualification.

For a full explanation see The Golf Rules Dictionary sections C9 Club and A12 Artificial devices.

Best regards,

Hadyn

The rules of golf are many and sometimes complicated, but there must be some kind of "basic golf rules" that everyone should know.  Any thoughts?

Thanks for the question from Darren Strater.

I think this is the most searching question that could possibly be asked - and I have never been asked it before.  It encapsulates everything that is wrong with the rules of golf.  They comprise 34 rules with about 100 sections and a further 100 sub sections, a few appendices and about 2500 'Decisions' explaining the rules.  Nobody - even the experts - know the rules that well that they can interpret them on the course from memory.  The rules are so complex and intertwined that it is impossible to construct a starter set of rules which a person can learn and then build on as he/she becomes more proficient.

My best effort would be:

1. It is a rule of golf that you have to know the rules.... but if you don't...
2. Play the ball as it lies - wherever it is, but if you can't find it.........
3. Take a 1 shot penalty and go back and play another from where you played the last one......
4. Or if you can find it but can't play it, take the same relief as 3. above
5. Don't move the ball or pick it up unless you are sure you know what your relief is.
6 .Buy the Golf Rules Dictionary!!

Best regards,

Hadyn

I write this in the aftermath of the Parnevik/Roe debacle at the Open at Royal St George’s near Sandwich in England.  As the author of The Golf Rules Dictionary I ask you to accept that I know something about the rules of golf.

The human elements of this debacle have been well covered by others.  Basically they forgot to exchange cards and as a result posted their respective scores on the ‘wrong’ cards as a result of which they were disqualified.  I would like to comment on the specifics of the rules issues, and then on the wider implications for the rules generally.

I am amazed that the commentaries on the debacle and the comments by the officials have not focused on the precise reason for the disqualifications.  In reality I am not amazed because any explanation highlights the fundamental problem with the rules of golf they are far too complicated and it would take even an expert some considerable time to explain the ramifications of the Roe/Parnevik incident, by which time the average golfer would have lost the plot.

So why were they disqualified?  Because they failed to exchange scorecards?  Well not really, because there is no rule saying you must exchange cards.  For signing each other’s cards?  Again, not really, because that would not necessarily result in disqualification.  For recording the scores on the wrong card?  No, because there is nothing in the rules to indicate what is considered to be the ‘right’ card!

Jesper was disqualified because he was deemed to have cheated because Mark had recorded on Jesper’s card (which wasn't actually Jesper’s card because it had Mark’s name on it) scores which were lower on some holes than the scores Jesper actually took.  Jesper then signed the card thereby allegedly claiming a 67 when he had scored 81.

Understand??  No well, it is not surprising. In Jesper’s case most of the individual scores against each hole were wrong because he shot a much higher score than Mark.

Obviously, the same happened to Mark, but in his case only one hole required his disqualification because on only one hole did he ‘claim’ a score lower than that which he actually took.  That was the 4th when he shot a 5 and Jesper a 4.  On all the other holes he scored either the same as or better than Jesper. Ironically, if both had shot a 4 at the 4th then an entirely different outcome would have resulted.  Jesper would have still been disqualified, but Mark would have been allowed to play the final day, but with a 3rd round score of 80 (instead of the 67 he actually shot).  This is because he would not have been deemed to have ‘cheated’ because on no hole would he have signed for a score lower than that which he actually took.

So why would he have been lumbered with a score of 80 when everyone knew he taken a 67??

Ridiculous or what??   In the real world, we all know that there was no question of either of them cheating.  We all know and the officials all knew - that Mark shot a 67 and Jesper an 81.

So was it correct that they were disqualified??  Technically, yes said the officials!

Decision 6-6d/4 (one of about 2500 decisions published by the R&A explaining the Rules themselves (more of that later!) hypothecated about this very problem where the players forget to exchange cards.  It decided that if at least one of the scores recorded on the ‘wrong’ card was lower than the score actually taken then the offender is disqualified.  But, helpfully, the decision adds that if the error is discovered before the cards are returned then it is acceptable simply to change the names at the top of the cards!!

So why didn't they do that at St George’s??

Aha! Why apply common sense when you can rely on decision 6-6c/1!!  The cards had been considered ‘returned to the Committee’, so they couldn't be altered.  So when is a card deemed ‘returned’??  That is suitably vague it is ‘for the Committee to decide and it varies with the nature of the competition’!!  The Committee should designate a ‘scoring area.’  it could be by the scoreboard, the pro shop, a box, a caravan, anywhere!   Presumably at the Open the ‘scoring area’ was the trailer in which the scoring took place and once Jesper and Mark stepped outside there was no going back. …….I wonder if that was specified in the tournament conditions??

Is this golf or bureaucracy gone mad??

For all the complicated rules (plus the 2500 or so decisions explaining them), one very simple point has been completely overlooked.  What constituted Mark’s scorecard for the purpose of this fiasco??  Unbelievably, ‘scorecard’ is nowhere defined in the rules of golf, nor even in the 2500 decisions.

So does it have to be the card handed out on the tee with Mark’s name on the top of it??  No, Decision 6-6d/4 makes it clear that you can simply cross out the name on it and put in the appropriate name if the circumstances warrant.  Another decision permits you to rewrite the scores on another card if the original is lost during the round.  Nowhere do the rules require that the player’s name be placed on the top of the card.  So the ‘official’ card is not sacrosanct.

So which one was Mark’s scorecard??  The one on which Jesper had accurately recorded Mark’s scores, which Mark had signed as being his card, which Jesper had countersigned as being marked by him all exactly in accordance with the Rules - and which could be verified by officials at the course, thousands of spectators and a worldwide viewing audience of millions??.

Or was it the one with Mark’s name on the top, which clearly recorded Jesper’s scores, which Mark would never have knowingly signed, which Jesper would never have knowingly signed, which the officials would have pointed out had they known and which the whole world knew was never intended to be.

The answer seems obvious to me!!

Then there is the postscript……….

…….the R&A sent Jesper and Mark a ‘consolation’ cheque for £8250 the prize money for last place!!  Excuse me, didn't I read somewhere that if you are disqualified you cannot receive any prize which you otherwise would have won??

All of which leads me to consider………….are the rules of golf as presently framed appropriate for all golfers, professional and amateur in all circumstances, friendly golf, club competitions, charity days, tour events etc. etc.  My next article concludes that the answer is a resounding ‘NO’ and suggests an interesting alternative………!!

In the meantime if you have any views on the subject please e-mail me

Hadyn Rutter

July 2003

What is the ruling on what can be removed from a bunker when your ball has gone in to one, e.g., can you remove twigs, stones, bottles, and what rule applies to this situation?

Thanks for the question from Tony Lee.

Stuff in bunkers is always a tricky one.

Basically if it is anything 'natural' (known in the rules as 'loose impediments' ) it can't be moved unless the local rules of the course specifically allow it.  Loose impediments include twigs, stones, fruit, soil and even dead insects!!

However, if the item is 'artificial' (known in the rules as a moveable obstruction) it can be moved without penalty.  Moveable obstructions include bottles, a rake, manufactured ice, cups, cigarettes, plastic bags etc. etc.  Normally you simply move the obstruction taking care to ensure that you don't touch or move the ball.  If the ball is on or touching the obstruction the player should lift the ball, remove the obstruction and then drop the ball in the bunker as close as possible to the original spot, ensuring that it lands no nearer the hole than its original position.

For a full explanation see The Golf Rules Dictionary sections B33 Bunker, L9 Loose impediments and O3 Obstructions.

Best regards,

Hadyn

My question is - is there such a thing as "line of flight", and if so, what is its proper application?

Thanks for the question from Dave Larmouth regarding relief from water hazards.

As always, the answer is not quite a simple as Dave (or his boss) thinks!

From a normal water hazard (marked with yellow stakes), there are only 2 options :-
1. play as near as possible from where the original ball was last played or
2. drop the ball any distance behind the hazard on the extension of the line from the hole back through the point where the ball last crossed the margin of the hazard - this allows dropping it back in the fairway if it is on the relevant line.  The line has nothing to do with line of flight, which is not a term relevant to the rules of golf in this context.

The third option - dropping within 2 club lengths of where the ball last crossed the margin of the hazard - is only available if the hazard is a lateral water hazard (marked with red stakes).

For a full explanation see The Golf Rules Dictionary section L1 Lateral water hazard and W2 Water hazard.

Best regards,

Hadyn

Can you shed any light on this?

Thanks for the question from Ian.

Don't like to comment on matters of sexual discrimination - always very dangerous!!

However, I think the club handicap official is correct! There is often an equality if you work from the scorecard, so a further adjustment is necessary.

I really can't give a detailed explanation as it is hugely complicated and is different in different countries.  It is not a matter covered by the rules of golf - usually national golf associations formulate their own way of dealing with the problem.  For example in England we do not have slope ratings, so the alleged inequality is corrected by giving the ladies 'courtesy shots' which are calculated by what is presumably an equally complicated formula.

When this is published I am sure there will be a ton of correspondence!

Best regards,

Hadyn

Also, had he not caught it, would he have to leave it in place until after his shot?

I am nor familiar with the Azinger incident, so I don't know what ruling was made at the time.

However, my view is...............

...........under Rule 13.4 a player must not test the condition of the sand in a bunker if his ball is in that bunker. It is a question of fact whether accidentally dropping clubs in the bunker is deemed to be 'testing the condition'. In my opinion it is not. There is a specific interpretation of Rule 13.4 which even allows a player to place his clubs in the bunker - provided nothing is done which constitutes testing the condition.

Having dropped them, if they interfere with his stroke then I believe he is entitled to move them - again, provided it is done in such a way as not to constitute testing the condition. If the lie of a player's ball is affected by something after it came to rest the rules allow it to be removed as the player is deemed to be entitled to his original lie.

Hope this answers Michael's question.

For a full explanation see The Golf Rules Dictionary section B33 Bunker.

Regards,

Hadyn

This question concerns Tom Watson's ball during the US Open ... when his ball rested on the lip of the cup, had it not fallen in, how long could he have waited before having to putt?

Thanks for the question from Connie Ford. I am sure you have the answer!   Rule 16.2 allows the player a 'reasonable time' to reach the hole then a further 10 seconds to see if the ball drops.

For a full explanation see The Golf Rules Dictionary section B19 ball overhanging the hole.

Best regards,

Hadyn

Is it legal to add a lubricant to the face of the driver.  Does it matter if I just use a "natural lubricant", such wipping my sweaty palm on the driver?

It all comes down to intention - the rules provide that no foreign material may be applied to the face of a club for the purpose of influencing the movement of the ball.  Sunscreen, sweat and saliva (and WD40!!) would all be considered 'foreign material' and in the circumstances of the question, as there was a clear intent to apply them for the purpose of assisting play, then the player would be disqualified.

However, if you take a practice swing and get water on the face from wet grass there is clearly no intent to obtain an unfair advantage.

For a full explanation see The Golf Rules Dictionary sections A12 Artificial Devices and C9 Clubs.

Best regards,
Hadyn

Why do the pro´s, when measuring one or two clubs length relief, use their longest club, i.e. a driver, when clearly they would be using say an eight iron for their next shot? Rule 24 clearly states that you must use the club you intend to play your next shot with for measuring purposes.

Excellent question from Robin Dillon - as it is a great illustration as to why you really need to be a lawyer to understand the rules of golf!!.

The question confuses two different aspects of the rules - and in my opinion this is a shortcoming of the rules, not of Robin, or anyone else trying to understand them.

Rule 24 gives chapter and verse about obtaining relief from obstructions. In particular, with immoveable obstructions, relief is given by having the player establish the 'nearest point of relief'.  As Robin correctly identifies, Rule 24 specifies that this is determined by using the club which the player expects to use for his/her next stroke - to ensure that the chosen point avoids interference from the obstruction to address and swing.

Having determined the nearest point of relief, the player proceeds to part two of the relief procedure - dropping the ball back into play.  For relief under Rule 24 from an immoveable obstruction the ball must be dropped within one club length of the nearest point of relief - and in determining the extent of 'one club length', the player can use any club in his/her bag (not necessarily the club to be used for the next stroke).  Hence most people use the driver as it is the longest club and therefore gives maximum relief (although some now use broom handled putters!!)

As a footnote, and to confuse people even more (!), having determined the nearest point of relief with the club the player intends to use for the next stroke, the player does not actually have to use that club - he/she can have a change of mind and use an entirely different club, without having to change the point of relief!

Complicated - or what?

For a full explanation see The Golf Rules Dictionary sections C11 Club length, N2 Nearest point of relief and O3 Obstructions.

Best regards,
Hadyn

1-2. Exerting Influence on Ball No player or caddie shall take any action to influence the position or the movement of a ball except in accordance with the Rules.

Thanks for the question from Jamie Foote.

The answer is in the section of the rules which Jamie has quoted (Rule 20.2a) - if on dropping the ball it touches the player or his equipment either before or after it strikes the applicable part of the course, then it must be redropped. The player doesn't have a choice - once it hits the club it must be redropped, so the provisions of Rule 1.2 regarding exerting influence are irrelevant. It is for this reason that the recommended practice is to mark the extent of the dropping area with a tee or ball marker, rather than leaving the club on the ground - there is less chance of the ball hitting a small object than a large club and therefore less chance of having to redrop. For a full explanation see The Golf Rules Dictionary section D16 Dropping and Redropping the ball. Best regards,

Hadyn

Please advise :
a) Is there a penalty incurred? If so, what should it be.
b) Should he place back the ball to its original position.

Thanks for the question from Yh Goh.

In the circumstances specified the player clearly caused a ball in play to be moved after addressing it and he was therefore in breach of Rule 18.2. This immediately incurs a 1 stroke penalty and the player is required to replace the ball. In the present instance he did not replace it so he incurs a further 1 stroke penalty - 2 strokes in total. Goh was right and his flight mate was wrong!! For a full explanation see The Golf Rules Dictionary section B18 Ball moved when stationary.

Best regards,
Hadyn

In a recent high school tournament, a player on team A signed his card which contained the wrong score. His actual score was lower than the score on the signed card. The head of the tournament (coach of C team disqualified the player). I cannot find where signing the card for a score which later proves to be lower that originally intended is grounds for disqualification. Could you enlighten me on this?

Thanks for the question from George - more interesting than you may think!!

Firstly, I assume that in the question he means 'signing for a score which later proves to be higher (not lower) than that actually taken.....'

If so, the general principle of Rule 6.6d is that the higher score shall count - there is no penalty and no question of disqualification.

George doesn't explain the exact circumstances which resulted in the wrong score being posted. It is possible that the circumstances in which the player signs for the wrong score may be relevant. It is only the player's responsibility to ensure that the correct score for each hole is recorded - it is the organising committee's responsibility to ensure the scores are totalled correctly and the handicap applied correctly, so if the error is on the part of the committee there can be no penalty against the player. But if the player has recorded the wrong scores for some/all holes in the wrong boxes he will be disqualified even if the total is either correct or even higher than his actual score.

Obviously, if the player signs for a score lower than the one actually taken then under normal circumstances he will be disqualified.

For a full explanation see The Golf Rules Dictionary section S3 Scorecard.

Best regards,

Hadyn

I find no where in the rules of golf a prohibition for men playing from the ladies tees if they want to.

Thanks for the question from Douglas.

As Douglas has pointed out, there is nothing in the rules of golf regulating this situation. It is a matter of interpretation of the club rules as to how this should be applied, so I suggest that he asks the Club as to how the regulation is to be applied.

The significance of having different tees is to make sure that the ladies are not at a disadvantage in club competitions. If Douglas wants to play golf with his wife socially then I don't see how the Club can reasonably object if he wishes to play from the ladies tees.

Best regards,

Hadyn

I have marked my ball on the green and then replaced it. I have taken my stance but not ground my club. The ball which was balanced on the edge of an indentation rolls back 3cm (i.e., it is not moved by an outside agency).  Do I play the ball as it lies or do I replace it?

Thanks for the question from Jodie from Canberra.

The definition of addressing the ball requires that the club be grounded. In the present circumstances Jodie had not addressed the ball and therefore, provided the movement was not caused by the player, there is no penalty. The ball should be replaced and played from its original position.

For a full explanation see The Golf Rules Dictionary sections A2 Addressing the ball and B18 Ball moved when stationary.

Best regards,

Hadyn

A Player hit off the teeing ground, the ball hits a tree and rebounds to the teeing ground. Can the player declare that ball lost and then use the same ball again of the tee (playing 3)?

Thanks for the question from Roy.

I find it hard to imagine the circumstances which gave rise to this question!!

If it hit a tree and rebounded to the teeing ground, it was never lost in the first place. The player has to use the same ball and play it as it lies - without penalty. I can't imagine why he would consider wanting the ball to be treated as lost and therefore incur a penalty.

In any event the answer is 'No' as under Rule 27 a player cannot simply declare a ball to be lost. It is only lost if he can't find it within the 5 minutes allowed for the search or he has done something to indicate that it is lost such as putting another ball in play (other than a provisional) before the 5 minutes have elapsed.

Best regards,

Hadyn

On the 14th hole Friday at the MCI Heritage tournament, Hal Sutton double hit his ball. On his scorecard he wrote down 5. But i went back and recalculated his score and it should have been 7. He hit the ball once off the tee, he double hit the next one which was 2 and 3, then he putted for 4, missed that and tapped in for 5. But after the 2 stroke penalty, that would make 7. So either Hal Sutton signed for the wrong scorecard or I'm wrong. Could you please clarify this as it is giving me and my golf coach a headache.

Thanks for the question Dan.

I didn't see the incident - but I think Hal was probably right. Under rule 14.4 the double strike counts as one stroke but the player also incurs a 1 stroke penalty - making a total of 2 strokes. Add to that the 3 legitimate strokes he played and the total for the hole is 5!

Dan, you can be forgiven - but your golf coach needs a copy of the Golf Rules Dictionary!

For a full explanation see The Golf Rules Dictionary section B21 Ball struck more than once.

Best regards,

Hadyn

Aloha and Mahalo, MauiFitz

Thanks for the question from Dennis.

From the reference to Rule 26.1c I assume Dennis knows that if the water hazard is a lateral one where one of the options for relief is to drop the ball within 2 club lengths of where it last crossed the margin of the hazard, provided the green is within 2 club lengths of that point, it is possible to drop on the green.

If it is an ordinary water hazard the only 2 options are to play again from the original spot or drop a ball any distance behind the hazard on the extension of an imaginary line drawn from the hole back through the point where the the ball last crossed the margin of the hazard.

It is difficult to explain a situation where it might be possible to drop on the green without using a diagram!! However, imagine a green in the shape of the letter C where the centre of the C is a water hazard and the hole is in the green forming the top 'jaw' of the C. If the ball is played over the bottom jaw of the C into the hazard in the centre of the C and the second option described above is chosen for relief, the line will run from the hole in the top jaw of the C, through the point where the ball crossed into the hazard and back across the green forming the lower jaw of the C. The ball could then be dropped on that lower part of the green.

Hope this makes sense - and there could even be an alligator in the hazard!

For a full explanation of the rules relating to water hazards see The Golf Rules Dictionary sections L1 lateral water hazards and W2 water hazards.

Best regards,

Hadyn

Is there a specific rule for the use of a plastic ring as such? and, what are the rules and specifications regarding cup installation?

Thanks for your question.

Under the rules of golf, the very definition of 'hole' requires the cup to be sunk at least 1 inch below the green unless the nature of the soil makes it impracticable to do so - which presumably is the reason for the rings at Art's club.

In any event there is no sanction specified in the rules if the cup is not at least 1 inch below the surface and a specific ruling was made that where it is not at least an inch below and the ball strikes the plastic and comes out there is no remedy - the ball must be played as it lies.

For a full explanation see The Golf Rules Dictionary section H6 Hole.

Best regards,
Hadyn

Is it the players option to remove the flag stick when he is on the apron of the green?

Answer Yes - Rule 17.1.

Best regards,

Hadyn

Regarding rule 28 it is my understanding that if my ball is in a sandtrap I can under one of the options take a one stroke penalty, return the ball to the point of origination and hit again. The other member's of my foursome insist that once a ball is in the sandtrap it can with a penalty sttroke be moved but not outside the confines of the sandtrap.

Thanks for the question Joe Ann --

I urge you to stick to your understanding as you're correct! It is only if, having declared the ball unplayable, one opts to drop within 2 club lengths or to drop back on the extension of the imaginary line from the hole back through the problem spot that the ball must remain in the sandtrap.

For a full explanation see The Golf Rules Dictionary section B23 Ball unplayable.

Best regards,

Hadyn

Obviously it would be foolhardy to go anywhere near the 'gator, so what is the ruling? Where do you drop, and is any penalty involved for using good sense?

As you suggest, it's the player's call as to how near to or far from the gator he wants to take the drop!!

Decision 1.4/10 grants specific equitable relief from a dangerous situation by allowing a player to drop his ball without penalty at the nearest spot which he considers to be clear of the danger - provided he doesn't drop it nearer the hole.

Alternatively, play your golf in England - no 'gators!

Best regards,

Hadyn

Also when a player is addressing his putt and barely nudges his ball is it a stroke?

An airshot counts as a stroke whether it is on the tee or on the fairway. For a full explanation see The Golf Rules Dictionary section A7 Airshot.

Regarding addressing the ball, in the circumstances described, as the ball is already in play, it does not count as a stroke but the player incurs a 1 stroke penalty under Rule 18.2a because the ball has been moved by the player - it doesn't matter whether it is before, during or after address. Also, the ball must be replaced in its original position.

For a full explanation see The Golf Rules Dictionary section A2 Addressing the ball and section B18 Ball moved when stationary.

Best regards,

Hadyn

What is the rule regarding assisting your partner in aligning a putt?

Thanks for the question re assistance with alignment.

As a general rule under Rule 14.2 physical help when making a stroke is prohibited but this does not apply to assistance prior to making the stroke. A specific decision from the USGA has affirmed the procedure whereby a caddie or partner aligns the putter for a player and provided he moves away before the stroke is made there is no penalty.

For a full explanation see The Golf Rules Dictionary section A13 Assistance.

Best regards,
Hadyn

In alternate shot format how do the players tee off? If starting on the back nine does one player tee off on the even holes and the other the odd numbered holes?

Thanks for the question from Tom Ziegenfelder.

I assume he is referring to what is known in Rule 29 of rules of golf as 'foursomes' - in which case the partners in the team play strokes alternately from each tee and also during the play of each hole - so if an even number of strokes are taken for the hole the same person will hole out and then tee off at the next hole. In the circumstances referred to in the question one person would tee off at the odd holes and the other at the even holes.

For a full explanation see The Golf Rules Dictionary section F10 Foursome.

Best regards,

Hadyn

Hazard stakes are part of the hazard, but they are obstructions. If you're in the hazard, are they removable?

Thanks your question.

Stakes defining water and lateral water hazards are indeed moveable obstructions and may be moved without penalty in the circumstances specified in Rule 24.1.

For a full explanation see The Golf Rules Dictionary section O3 Obstructions and section S18 Stakes.

Best regards,
Hadyn

I held the ball in my hand in my pocket. It was an extremely dry day and there was no dirt, grass or any other material on the ball when lifted. I made no effort to clean it. The opponent said the ball should have been held between two finger in full view until replaced. I think he felt a penalty was in order. The query centres around what constitutes "cleaning". We are in agreement that cleaning is not permitted in this case. I can find no interpretation of what cleaning means, other than in one article where is said you where not allowed to remove grass or lime from the ball. It mentioned that cleaning as a "fact". Obviously if you hold it as suggested you could better assure that you did not clean the ball. Putting it in your pocket or setting it down to blow your nose etc. does not mean you cleaned it though. Please provide an opinion on this matter.

Thanks for your question.

As Jim points out in a stroke play competition he could indeed have opted to play out of turn rather than lift his ball as requested.

Unfortunately there is no definition of 'cleaning' in the rules and on the one occasion that the issue was referred to the USGA for a decision they failed to give any clear guidance. In that case, having lifted the ball in circumstances where he was not permitted to clean it, a player had thrown the ball to his caddie who merely held it until it was the player's turn to play. There was no question of the caddie attempting to clean it. In response to the question as to whether the act of throwing and holding it constituted cleaning, the response of the USGA was (as Jim has mentioned) that it is a question of fact in each case. Equally unhelpfully they added that in cases of doubt the issue should be resolved against the player!

There is nothing to say that the ball should be held between two fingers in full view. In the circumstances described, if the ball was not obviously dirty in the first place and clearly there was no intention to clean it surreptitiously, I would venture the opinion that there should be absolutely no question of a penalty being applied.

Golf is a game of honor and mutual trust ; it is incumbent on a player to declare a penalty against himself, not for others to sour the spirit of the game with misinformation and innuendo. If someone firmly believes a rule has been infringed he should report the matter to the competition committee and let them resolve it.

See The Golf Rules Dictionary sectios b3 Ball interfering with play and c8 Cleaning the ball.

Best regards,

Hadyn

Ben, your question question would have been straightforward had you not asked for the 'fair and official ruling' - because in my opinion the two are different!

Rule 6.2a clearly states that if a player begins a matchplay competition having declared a handicap higher than his actual handicap and therefore receives more strokes than he is entitled to he shall be disqualified. That seems a simple and fair answer.

However, in Decision 6.2a/5 the exact circumstances of Ben's question were referred to the USGA who interpreted the meaning of Rule 6.2a as being that once the result had been announced the result was valid even though the winning player had benefitted from playing off a wrong and higher handicap.

Disqualification under Rule 6.2a therefore only applies if the player knowingly declares a wrong handicap - i.e. cheats. If he mistakenly plays off the wrong handicap and his opponent doesn't find out then he gets to benefit from the mistake. It doesn't seem fair to me, but............!!

Is it illegal to use putter grips for clubs other than a putter? I am using PING putter grips right now.

As always there isn't a simple answer to your question re putter grips on regular clubs.

The USGA specifies that the grips for normal clubs must have a circular cross section - and some putters have these grips. However, putter grips don't have to be circular, so if your Ping grips are of this variety then on regular clubs they are deemed non conforming and under Rule 4 Pam would be disqualified for carrying one such club even if you didn't use it!!

For a full explanation see The Golf Rules Dictionary section C9 - Clubs.

Q 35.   From Chelle S:

My ball is in a gully marked with red hazard stakes. I don't know which club I plan to hit, so I take several clubs in with me. Once I choose my club, I drop the others about 5 feet behind me, but still in the hazard.

My partner said I incur a penalty because I have "tested the hazard."

I can't tell from reading the rule book whether dropping clubs is, indeed, considered "testing" the hazard. Is dropping a club different than dropping a rake?

I think a different partner is required.

Rule 13.4 penalises a player for testing the condition of the hazard prior to making a stroke at a ball which is in it. However, there is a specific exception to Rule 13.4 which allows a player to place her clubs in a hazard provided that nothing is done which constitutes testing the condition of the hazard. In your case I believe that you would not be deemed to have tested the hazard and therefore would not have incurred a penalty.

For a full explanation see The Golf Rules Dictionary section L1 - Lateral water hazard.

Q 34.   From Stephen S:

Are there any circumstances where a player may move his ball from a footprint in a bunker? A man at our course say this is legal. I disagree, unless he declares it unplayable and takes a penalty.

A ball in a footprint in a bunker should be played as it lies - although, as Stephen says, you always have the option to declare it unplayable.

For a full explanation see The Golf Rules Dictionary section B33 - Bunker.

Q 33.   From Larry S:

When do you have to mark your ball on green? Do you have a choice?

The answer to Larry Smith's question of is that a player must always mark his ball when he is permitted by the rules to lift it.

However, it is never compulsory for a player to lift his ball. He may do so if he thinks that leaving his ball in play may assist another player or if he wishes to lift it and clean it on the green. He may also ask another player to lift and mark his ball if he thinks it may interfere with his play but in stroke play the other player then has the choice of lifting/marking or of playing first rather than lifting his ball. He has the same choice in match play but would usually opt to lift/mark because if he plays out of turn he can be required to replay the stroke in the correct order of play.

He may also mark and lift the ball if play is discontinued by the Committee for whatever reason or if he considers that the ball is damaged and he wishes to inspect it.

For a full explanation see The Golf Rules Dictionary section B13 - Ball interfering with play, B22 - Ball unfit for play, D6 - Discontinuance of play and M2 Marking the ball.

Q 32.   From Marvin P:

In your book "Illustrated Golf Rules", on page 14 you have a boldfaced "NB". What does this mean?

In stroke play I hit a shot down the right side of the fairway which had a paved cart path down that side. I found the ball in high grass just to the right of the cart path which I needed to stand on to get a swing at the ball. About 1 foot from the path and parallel to it were out of bounds stakes. My ball was in bounds and I could not drop on that side of the path and get relief from standing on the path. Would I be allowed to drop on the left side of the path (on the fairway) to get relief? My fellow competitors said I needed to hit the ball as it lay.

Nobody knows Latin any more! For the benefit of everyone's education, NB is an abbreviation of 'Nota Bene' meaning 'take special notice of this'.

Regarding the problem of your ball lying between the rock and the hard place (figuratively speaking) you should observe the most important of all rules - find out for yourself and don't believe what other golfers tell you!

An artificially surfaced cart path is an immoveable obstruction. If his ball lies on or so close to it that it interferes with your stance or area of intended swing you may obtain relief without penalty. You can of course choose to play it as it lies if you wish.

In your case you should have determined the nearest point of relief on the course nearest to where the ball lay. Even though the ball was in the rough, it may be that the nearest point of relief was over the cart path and on the fairway because for the purpose of this rule there is no distinction between rough and fairway; it has to be the point on the course nearest to where the ball lay which avoids interference from the obstruction, is not in a hazard and is not nearer the hole. You should then have marked this point and then lifted your ball and dropped it within 1 club length of the marker.

For a full explanation of rules and procedures re Obstructions see The Golf Rules Dictionary section O3 Obstruction.

Q 31.   From Karen W:

How exactly is best ball played in a tournament situation?

Best ball is a form of match play in which one player plays his ball against the better ball of the the other two (if they are playing in a 3 ball) or against the best ball of the other three (if they are playing in a 4 ball). Each player plays his own ball. Better ball match play is when playing in a 4 ball, two players each playing their own ball (a 'side') score the better of their two scores on each hole against the better ball of the other two.

The normal rules of match play apply - except the rules as to disqualification for certain rules breaches are complicated as to whether it is the individual or the team which is disqualified.

For a full explanation see The Golf Rules Dictionary section B24 Best ball and section B25 Better ball.

Best (or better!) regards,
Hadyn

Q 30.   From Ken L:

If my ball lands near a fence surrounding the golf course, and I cannot hit the ball where it lies for lack of room to swing, it is not out of bounds. Do I get a free drop?

If my ball lands neat the 150 yard stake, can I pull the stake out to hit the ball, or is there just like a tree?

1. The boundary fence is specifically not an obstruction as defined in Rule 24, so relief without penalty is not available.

Consequently, Ken must either play his ball as it lies or declare it unplayable and incur a 1 stroke penalty. If the latter he then has 3 options as to how to continue - either drop the ball within 2 club lengths of where it lay (but not nearer the hole) or play a ball from a spot as near as possible to where the previous stroke was played, or drop the ball any distance behind where it lay near the fence but on the extension of a line between that spot and the hole. In the present case the third option is unlikely to be available as the line would probably go back through the fence and outside the course.

For a full explanation see The Golf Rules Dictionary section O3 Obstruction and section B3 Ball unplayable

2. The 150 yard stake will usually be an obstruction (unless the Club has declared it to be an integral part of the course). If it is easily moveable then under Rule 24.1 it may be removed without penalty. If not easily moveable, the player still gets relief without penalty but under Rule 24.2b he must identify the nearest point of relief on the course which is not nearer the hole, not in a hazard or on a green and which avoids interference from the obstruction. He must then drop the ball within 1 club length of that point.

For a full explanation see The Golf Rules Dictionary section O3 Obstruction

3. The rules can be found on line at www.usga.org The USGA Website - but you need a lawyer to interpret them!!

Q 29.   From Phil B:

Hole 16 has a ditch marked with yellow stakes around the front of the green and a bunker at the back of the green. My partner played from the bunker and went into the front ditch.Can he put his ball on the green or must he take it back over the ditch and up the fairway?

The answer to Phil Beardsley's question is that whatever else he can do, he can't just put it on the green and play from there! Under Rule 26.1 he incurs a 1 stroke penalty and then has 2 options. Having gone into the yellow staked water hazard, either he can play from where the previous stroke was played - i.e. back in the bunker - or he can drop the ball anywhere on the extension of an imaginary line drawn from the hole through the point where the ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard - in this case, back over the ditch and up the fairway. For a full explanation see The Golf Rules Dictionary section W2 - Water hazard.

Q 28.   From Rosemary S:

In a tournament, you're on the green and close to the pin and your opponent says that's yours, pick up.. do you have to putt out? Are you penalized if you do putt out?

In match play a player can concede a stroke, the hole or the match. In Rosemary's case the opponent conceded the stroke and she does not have to putt out. The concession cannot be withdrawn (Rule 4.2) nor can it be declined by the person to whom it is offered. Consequently if Rosemary chooses to putt out and misses the putt, it has no consequence as the putt had already been conceded.

For a detailed explanation see The Golf Rules Dictionary section c15 Concede and section H7 Holed out.

Q 27.   From David M:

During a round of golf at a local course in Phoenix called the Raven my ball eventually went into a sand bunker. The ball stopped on the severe up hill side. The bunker was a very large peanut shaped one with steep sides. I entered the bunker on the opposite side from my ball, as I took two or three practices swings before taking my stance. (I was about 10 ft. from the ball) The ball to my surprise rolled down into the flat part of the bunker. No one in my foursome knew what to do, so I played the ball from where it stopped.

After finishing the round I returned home and immediately tried to find the answer in the USGA Rule Book. However I could not find the ruling to that situation.

I know the Raven in Phoenix - excellent golf course with some mean bunkers! David followed the correct procedure in playing the ball where it ultimately came to rest as he did nothing to cause the ball to move. The only time a player is penalised if the ball moves when he is near to it without him actually causing it to move is if he has addressed it, in which case there is a 1 stroke penalty and he must replace the ball.

The specific ruling covering these situations is decision 18/10 in the USGA 'Decisions on the Rules of Golf'. For a full explanation see The Golf Rules Dictionary section B18 - Ball moved when stationary.

Q 26.   From Phil:

Playing a short par 3 recently my playing partner's tee shot came to rest on a hill over the back of the green. The other three balls in the group were on the green, we walked from the tee to the green to play our second shots (about 4 minutes in time).

My playing partner was assessing his position to decide how to play his shot when the ball rolled onto the green. Should the ball be replaced or should he play his next stroke from the green?

He did not cause the ball to move, it would appear to have moved on its own.

Regarding Phil's question, the answer is exactly the same as the previous question and, provided the movement was not caused by any of the players, he must play it where it ultimately came to rest on the green.

Q 25.   From Ken:

I am laying 2 in the fairway and hit my 3rd shot O.B.. I know I must play my next shot from the same spot. What am I hitting now, the 4th or 5th shot?

You will be hitting your 5th shot as Rule 27.1 imposes a 1 stroke penalty plus the requirement that the ball be played from the spot from which the original ball had been played. You have already hit 3 shots with a club, plus 1 penalty shot, so the next will be the 5th.

For a fuller explanation see the Golf Rules Dictionary section O5 Out of bounds.

Q 24.  From Jay:

My friends and I argue about these questions all the time.

Number 1: If my ball lands on the cart path am I allowed relief and to which side of the cart path?

Number 2: If my ball lands right behind an electrical box or some other man made object, am I allowed relief to hit up the fairway?

Number 3: When you tee off, if your ball goes out of bounds without hitting the fairway or a tree first, do you get to drop at the spot where it went out or do you have to tee off again.

1. The cart path - is an immoveable obstruction and relief is available without penalty under Rule 24.2. But the player does not have a choice as to which side he takes the relief. He must identify the nearest (not the most convenient) point of relief - which is the point on the course nearest to where the ball lay and which avoids interference from the cart path and also is not nearer the hole, in a hazard or on a putting green. Interference encompasses not only the location of the ball but also his stance and area of intended swing.

2. The electrical box - exactly the same deal as above, but bear in mind that interference does NOT encompass line of play / line of sight interference unless the local rules of the course or the competition specifically allow it.

Re the above see The Golf Rules Dictionary section C3 cart path and section O3 Obstruction for a full explanation of rules and procedures.

3. Ball OB - no choice - under Rule 27.1 the player incurs a 1 stroke penalty and must play again as near as possible from the spot from which the original ball was played - from the tee box in this case.

Re the above see The Golf Rules Dictionary section O5 Out of bounds for a full explanation of rules and procedures.

Q 23.   From J. Naules:

Can you declare your ball unplayable anywere on the course,and what are the options when you do.

A player may declare his ball unplayable anywhere on the course except if it is in or touching a water hazard. If he announces his intention to declare it unplayable he incurs a 1 stroke penalty and then has 3 options:

1. play a ball as near as possible from the spot where his original ball was last played or

2. drop his ball within 2 club lengths of where it lay when he declared it unplayable (but not nearer the hole) or

3. drop his ball any distance behind the spot where it lay when he declared it unplayable but on the extension of an imaginary line drawn from the hole through the spot where the ball lay

For full details of rules and procedures relating to declaring the ball unplayable see The Golf Rules Dictionary section B23 Ball unplayable.

Q 23.   From Ken C:

I am lying 2 in the fairway and hit my 3rd shot O.B. I know I must play my next shot from the same spot. What am I hitting now, the 4th or 5th shot?

You will be hitting your 5th shot as Rule 27.1 imposes a 1 stroke penalty plus the requirement that the ball be played from the spot from which the original ball had been played. You have already hit 3 shots with a club, plus 1 penalty shot, so the next will be the 5th.

For a fuller explanation see the Golf Rules Dictionary section O5 Out of bounds.

Q 22.   From Rick:

What is the rule if your partners ball is near the hole and I am chipping from the fringe and hit my partners ball. What is the ruling and where should the balls be placed. Are there any penalty strokes?

Two different rules apply in this situation. Rick's partner's ball was stationary, so the procedure under Rule 18.5 is that it must be replaced in its original position and there is no penalty. If his partner fails to replace his ball then his partner will incur a 2 stroke penalty in stroke play or loss of hole in match play. The application of this penalty to a team situation will depend on the format of the competition they are playing.

In relation to Rick's ball, which was deflected when it hit his partner's ball, under Rule 19.5 it must then be played as it lies and provided Rick does this there will again be no penalty. If however, Rick were to replace his ball in its original position he would incur a 1 stroke penalty and if he didn't put it back to its deflected position and played it from its original position he would incur a total of penalty of 2 strokes in stroke play or lose the hole in match play. Again the application of this penalty in the team situation would depend on the format of the team competition.

For a detailed explanation see The Golf Rules Dictionary section B9 Ball (moving) deflected or stopped and section B18 Ball moved when stationary.

Q 21.   From Rick:

What is the rule if my partner’s ball is near the hole and I am chipping from the fringe and hit my partner’s ball? What is the ruling and where should the balls be placed? Are there any penalty strokes?

Two different rules apply in this situation. Rick's partner's ball was stationary, so the procedure under Rule 18.5 is that it must be replaced in its original position and there is no penalty. If his partner fails to replace his ball then his partner will incur a 2 stroke penalty in stroke play or loss of hole in match play. The application of this penalty to a team situation will depend on the format of the competition they are playing.

In relation to Rick's ball, which was deflected when it hit his partner's ball, under Rule 19.5 it must then be played as it lies and provided Rick does this there will again be no penalty. If however, Rick were to replace his ball in its original position he would incur a 1 stroke penalty and if he didn't put it back to its deflected position and played it from its original position he would incur a total of penalty of 2 strokes in stroke play or lose the hole in match play. Again the application of this penalty in the team situation would depend on the format of the team competition.

For a detailed explanation see The Golf Rules Dictionary section B9 Ball (moving) deflected or stopped and section B18 Ball moved when stationary.

Q 20.   From Shawna K:

If a competitor lifts a towel on another player's golf bag to see what club that player just used is this considered advice since nothing was said?

Under Rule 8.1 advice obtained by observation - simply looking into the bag to see what club is used - is not an infraction of the rules.

However, removing a towel to see which club is missing is a punishable offence; 2 strokes in strokeplay and loss of hole in matchplay.

For a full explanation see The Golf Rules Dictionary section A4 Advice.

Q 19.   From Jay:

My friends and I argue about these questions all the time.

Number 1: If my ball lands on the cart path am I allowed relief and to which side of the cart path?

Number 2: If my ball lands right behind an electrical box or some other man made object, am I allowed relief to hit up the fairway?

Number 3: When you tee off, if your ball goes out of bounds without hitting the fairway or a tree first, do you get to drop at the spot where it went out or do you have to tee off again?

1. The cart path - is an immoveable obstruction and relief is available without penalty under Rule 24.2. But the player does not have a choice as to which side he takes the relief. He must identify the nearest (not the most convenient) point of relief - which is the point on the course nearest to where the ball lay and which avoids interference from the cart path and also is not nearer the hole, in a hazard or on a putting green. Interference encompasses not only the location of the ball but also his stance and area of intended swing.

2. The electrical box - exactly the same deal as above, but bear in mind that interference does NOT encompass line of play / line of sight interference unless the local rules of the course or the competition specifically allow it.

Re the above see The Golf Rules Dictionary section C3 cart path and section O3 Obstruction for a full explanation of rules and procedures

3. Ball OB - no choice - under Rule 27.1 the player incurs a 1 stroke penalty and must play again as near as possible from the spot from which the original ball was played - from the tee box in this case.

Re the above see The Golf Rules Dictionary section O5 Out of bounds for a full explanation of rules and procedures.

Q 18.   From Kevin M.

Recently Ernie Els. playfully dropped and then smacked his ball into the water with putter after a poor putt; could this have been interperted as a illegal pratice stroke during a round?

Practice strokes are not permitted during the play of a hole or between the play of 2 holes. Ernie probably got away with it because there is a specific exception to Rule 7.2 which allows putting or chipping on or near the putting green of the hole last played.

Whether smacking the ball into the water is a practice putt - who knows?? Obviously the rules officials gave Ernie the benefit of the doubt!!

For detailed explanation see The Golf Rules Dictionary section P11 Practice Stroke.

Q 17.   From Rosemary:

In a tournament, you're on the green and close to the pin. Your opponent says that's yours, pick up. Do you have to putt out? Are you penalized if you do putt out?

In match play a player can concede a stroke, the hole or the match. In Rosemary's case the opponent conceded the stroke and she does not have to putt out. The concession cannot be withdrawn (Rule 4.2) nor can it be declined by the person to whom it is offered. Consequently if Rosemary chooses to putt out and misses the putt, it has no consequence as the putt had already been conceded.

For a detailed explanation see The Golf Rules Dictionary section c15 Concede and section H7 Holed out.

Q 16.   From Vince:

Are there rules for the minimum and maximum distances for par 3 par 4, and par 5? And if so what are they?

Vince, regarding your questions - the yardages of the various pars are not the subject of any of the rules of golf and the yardages are arbitrary, with allowances being made for the severity of the ground and unusual conditions.

Q15.   From Murray F:

If you are on the green and another player who is approaching the green knocks your ball closer to the pin what happens?

The ball on the green must be replaced and there is no penalty - if it is played without replacing it there is a 2 stroke penalty (or in match play, loss of hole).

The other ball (from the approaching player) must be played as it lies - if that is replaced or moved then the other player incurs a 1 stroke penalty.

For detailed explanations see The Golf Rules Dictionary sections b18 - Ball moved when stationary - and b8 (moving) Ball deflected or stopped.

Q14.   From Keith D:

I have heard two recent explanations of the origin of the word "fore" used to warn players on the course.

1. from old english "to the fore"
2. Falling Object Returning to Earth

I've looked in many dictionaries but none explain the origin, can you shed any light on this matter.

Thanks for the enquiry - there is nothing in the rules of golf that helps on this one. I have heard both the explanations which Keith Davison has identified - plus one additional one - which I favour as it has a direct relationship to the rules!!

The spotters/marshalls who are employed in pro tournaments to identify where a player's ball lands are known as 'forecaddies' for the purposes of the rules of golf. It has been suggested that the origin of the term 'fore' is as an abbreviation for 'forecaddie' to warn him/her to keep an eye on the ball so as to enable him to locate the errant shot.

If I find anything authoritative in any of the history books, I will let you know!!

Q13.   While on the green, when a player hits the ball while doing practise swing is it a penalty or the player should continue play where the ball lies?

If the ball is moved or caused to be moved by the player - even when practising his swing - there is a 1 stroke penalty under R18.2a and the ball must be replaced in its original position. If it is not replaced and is played as it lies, there is a total penalty of 2 strokes.

For a full description of this rule and exceptions when the ball is moved but no penalty is iincurred see The Golf Rules Dictionary B18 Ball moved when stationary.

Q12.   From Jimmy:

A player at our club had a dispute with another member about playing a ball out of a bunker. The player played his shot from the bunker but the ball stayed in the bunker,he then took the rake and raked the bunker from where he played his shot, and then went to play his next shot. Is this allowed?

The procedure as described by Jimmy is specifically allowed by an exception to Rule 13.4 as the raking is not deemed to be testing the condition of the bunker - as this had already been done with the first shot, so the player was not gaining any further knowledge of the condition of the sand. Also, the raking apparently did not improve the lie or area of stance for the second shot, so did not assist his subsequent play of his second shot.

For a full explanation of the rules and procedures regarding bunker play see the Golf Rules Dictionary section b33 Bunker

Q11.   Is it OK for a club player to mark his ball on the green with a coin, just the same as a tour pro? If so what are the advatages/disadvantages?

Stephen Davies

It is perfectly acceptable to use a coin as a marker and I am not aware of any advantages/disadvantages! The only limitation according to Rule 20.1 is that it should be a 'small' coin - or something similar.

Q10.   On the putting green, a player marks his ball and picks it up, and immediately reaches down and picks up his marker and walks away. He then realizes his mistake and attempts to place the ball where he thinks it was. Is there a penalty, and if so, what is it.

Nelson Gauthier

Under Rule 20.1, if the marker is moved during the process of marking the ball there is no penalty. However, in the circumstances described the process of marking ended when the player picked up the ball, so the movement of the marker was clearly not made during the process of marking and therefore the player incurred a 1 stroke penalty - but followed the correct procedure in then placing it as near to its original position as he could estimate.

For a full explanation of the rules and procedures see The Golf Rules Dictionary section m2 Marking the Ball

Q9.   Is there a limitation on the weight of a putter?

George Lachman

In Appendix II to the Rules of Golf there are all sorts of regulations governing club face, shaft, grips, size etc. - but as far as I am aware there is no restriction on the weight of a putter!

Q8.   How is "4-Ball" competition played?

A simple concept which sounds complicated when put into words!! '4 ball' is a team competition in which the 'fourball' comprises 2 teams of 2 players. Each player plays his own ball but the team score is the score of the better ball of the two at each hole - scored against the better ball of the other two.

The game can be played as match play or stroke play and there are some special rules and procedures applicable only to fourball competition set out in Rule 30 (match play) and Rule 31 (stroke play) of the rules of golf.

It should not be confused with 'Foursome' competition which is also a team competition between 2 teams of 2 players - but is different in that each team plays only one ball and the players play alternate strokes with that ball.The special rules and procedures applicable to foursomes are set out in Rule 29 of the rules of golf.

For a full explanation of the rules and procedures see The Golf Rules Dictionary section f9 Fourball and section f10 Foursome.

Q7.   On a 179 yard par 3 over a large water hazard (about 125 yard to carry the water) my ball lands in the water. My playing partner's ball almost clears the water but hits the inside of the retaining wall and then rebounds into the water.

Question: Where should he drop his ball? Should he drop before the water and hit his 3rd shot over the water to the green or should he drop past the water (the side near the green)and chip his 3rd shot to the green?

In the circumstances described the player must under Rule 26.1 take a 1 stroke penalty but then he/she has a choice of 2 relief options. He can either :

1. Take the drop and play his next shot from as near as possible to the spot where the previous shot was played or

2. Take the drop any distance behind the hazard (i.e on the side opposite the green) but dropping the ball on the continuation of an imaginary line drawn from the hole back through the point where the ball last crossed the margin of the hazard.

He must not drop it beyond the hazard on the side near the green and play from there - if he does without correcting his error before he plays a stroke from the next teeing ground he will almost certainly be disqualified. If he does play from the side nearer the green but realises his mistake, corrects it and plays again from the correct place as in 1 or 2 above he will incur a 2 stroke penalty.

I hope this is clear!!

Q6.  A friend and I were discussing the "Air Shot" you explain on the Scigolf.com website and had the follow up question. Thanks for your assistance on this.

Luke

Situation:
A player is on the tee box.
The player swings at the ball with the intent to strike it.
The player misses the ball.
The ball remains on the tee.
Question:
Does the swing and a miss count as a stroke?

Simple answer - yes, the miss counts as a stroke even though the ball didn't move off the tee peg.

Q5.  Question 1:
Please tell me if there is a rule on flagstick location on the green,i.e., 15 ft. from edge or 5 paces or 20 ft. or whatever. I have heard so many different thoughts, but can't find this rule listed in my abbreviated book of rules. Is there in fact a rule on this or is it only an accepted practice of how close to the edge it should be?

Please help and thanks in advance.
Jon Spangler

Question 2:
I've noticed while watching PGA golf that the professionals do not remove the flag before lifting their ball from the cup after holing out from off the green. Is there a rule for this action?

Mike Snyder

Thanks for the 2 rules enquiries involving the flagstick.

In response to Jon Spangler's queston - #1 - there is absolutely nothing in the rules governing the positioning of the hole on the green. I believe it is the practice on the professional golf tours for the tour representatives to specify the locations of the hole on each day but this does not result from anything contained in the rules of golf.

Likewise regarding Mike Snyder's question - #2 - there is nothing in the rules of golf which requires the flagstick to be removed before the player retrieves his ball from the hole after he has holed out from off the green.

He must be satisfied that he has holed out - i.e. that the ball is at rest within the circumference of the hole and all of the ball is below the lip of the hole. If the ball is resting against the flagstick but has not dropped into the hole, the player may move or remove the flagstick to allow it to drop into the hole.

Q4.   If my tee shot lands in another fairway that runs parallel to the fairway I should be playing, can I advance the ball in that fairway or must I immediately return it to the proper fairway?

In Bob Mack's case there is absolutely nothing to stop him from playing from the adjoining fairway.

Occasionally on some golf courses there are 'internal' out of bounds posts between adjoining fairways if the club considers that the proximity of the two fairways presents a danger to other golfers. In such cases the errant golfer will be penalized and must observe the usual procedure if he goes out of bounds on to the adjoining fairway. However, there is nothing in Bob's question to indicate that there was any such restriction at his course.

Q3.   When at address, if the ball moves from its original position, the player will be penalised with a 1 stroke penalty. Does this rule apply on the green when the ball is moved by strong wind?

Thank You
Seow Kheng Hoe

It must have been a bad day in Singapore! Seow Kheng Hoe has encountered one rule which I think is particularly harsh and a little incongruous!

Usually if a ball is moved by the wind it has to be played as it lies from its new position and there is no penalty.

However, if the movement occurs after address then the ball is deemed to have been moved by the player (even though he may not have touched it) and he incurs a 1 stroke penalty under R18.2b. Also, the ball must be replaced before playing the stroke.

For a full explanation see The Golf Rules Dictionary section A2 Addressing the Ball

Q2.   In a professional tournament a player hit his tee shot in the lateral water on the left side of the fairway. The player drops his ball equal distance of where the ball last crossed the hazard.

He then proceeds to hit his next shot once again hooking it into the same lateral water hazard, crossing the hazard about 180 further down the fairway. On his walk to proceed with his next stroke the player takes his club and splashes it in the water to clean off the head of his club.

Question: What is the penalty for doing this?

Thank you.
Mike Piver

Rule 13.4 is quite clear in imposing a 2 stroke penalty if before playing a stroke at a ball in a water hazard a player tests the condition of the hazard (or any similar hazard).

Mike's action would have been deemed testing the condition.

However, the answer would depend on what happened next - and this is not clear from Mike's question - did he play his next shot from the hazard or did he take a relief penalty and play from outside the hazard??

If he played from the hazard then I believe he would incur the 2 stroke penalty ; if he took relief, then, except for the 1 stroke penalty under Rule 26, he would not incur any additional penalty for cleaning the club in the water.

If he did play from the hazard, Mike's situation throws up 2 interesting points, namely, having already played from the hazard can he be deemed to be testing it again before playing his 2nd stroke when he has already 'tested' it by playing his first stroke? Also, is the 'testing' so unrelated to making the stroke and done without intention that it should not be penalised.

There is nothing in the rules which would appear to offer Mike any salvation. In Decision 13.4/40 a player faced very similar circumstances except that his ball was so far in the hazard on the 2nd occasion that he couldn't possibly play it. Cleaning the club in the water was found not to be in breach of Rule 13.4 on the basis that there was no doubt that he would have to play his next stroke from outside the hazard. By implication therefore, he would have been in breach of Rule 13.4 had he played his 2nd shot from the hazard.

For detailed explanations of rules relating to Lateral Water Hazards see The Golf Rules Dictionary section L1.

Q1.   In a strokeplay tournament, Alan had teed a ball onto the fairway, and it looked like a plugged ball.

Alan walked to his ball, picked it up, cleaned it, dropped it all before his marker Bill had the chance to get close to check if the real is truly embedded or it had spun out of the ball mark.

Bill contended that Alan should be penalised one stroke for not informing him of his decision to lift the embedded ball to allow him the opportunity to determine if the ball is well and truly embedded; or it had spun out of the ball mark.

While Rules 5-3 and 12-2 require Alan to inform Bill, Rule 25-2 does not seem to require it.

What is the ruling?

2. Also, the words "closely mown area..cut to fairway height or less" - what does the word less mean?

Shorter than fairway or slightly longer than fairway height? In most golf courses I know, the second cut of fairway grass is usually taller than the fairway grass. Does this means that an embedded ball there has no relief?

In the situation posed, Bill was right - Alan did incur the 1 stroke penalty for failing to inform Bill of his intention and so give him the opportunity to observe the lifting. Very good point - it is not specified in Rule 25-2 ; you have to search the decisions to find the answer and eventually it is clearly explained in Decision 25-2/7

Second question - nothing in the rule book to help on this one other than the definition accurately quoted by Laurence, so I guess the common sense interpretation has to be that if the second cut grass is longer than the fairway grass then it is not deemed to be a closely mown area - so no relief!

For detailed explanations see The Golf Rules Dictionary section B9 Ball embedded and section L4 Lifting the ball.

© Scigolf.com Company 2002