GOLF DEFINITIONS

ADDRESS

A player has “addressed the ball” when he has grounded his club immediately in front of or immediately behind the ball, whether or not he has taken his stance.

Ball in bunker – a ball is in a bunker when it lies in or any part of it touches the bunker.

Burrowing Animal

A “burrowing animal” is an animal (other than a worm, insect or the like) that makes a hole for habitation or shelter, such as a rabbit, mole, groundhog, gopher or salamander.

Note: A hole made by a non-burrowing animal, such as a dog, is not an abnormal ground condition unless marked or declared as ground under repair.

Casual Water

“Casual water’’ is any temporary accumulation of water on the course that is not in a water hazard and is visible before or after the player takes his stance. Snow and natural ice, other than frost, are either casual water or loose impediments, at the option of the player. Manufactured ice is an obstruction. Dew and frost are not casual water.

A ball is in casual water when it lies in or any part of it touches the casual water.

Immovable obstruction – anything that is artificial or made by man including surfaces. If your stance and swing but not line of play are affected by it, free relief with one club length from the (NPR) nearest point of relief.

Lateral Water Hazard

A “lateral water hazard” is a water hazard or that part of a water hazard so situated that it is not possible, or is deemed by the Committee to be impracticable, to drop a ball behind the water hazard in accordance with Rule 26-Ib. All ground and water within the margin of a lateral water hazard are part of the lateral water hazard.

When the margin of a lateral water hazard is defined by stakes, the stakes are inside the lateral water hazard, and the margin of the hazard is defined by the nearest outside points of the stakes at ground level. When both stakes and lines are used to indicate a lateral water hazard, the stakes identify the hazard and the lines define the hazard margin. When the margin of a lateral water hazard is defined by a line on the ground, the line itself is in the lateral water hazard. The margin of a lateral water hazard extends vertically upwards and downwards.

A ball is in a lateral water hazard when it lies in or any part of it touches the lateral water hazard.

Stakes used to define the margin of or identify a lateral water hazard are obstructions.

Note 1: That part of a water hazard to be played as a lateral water hazard must be distinctively marked. Stakes or lines used to define the margin of or identify a lateral water hazard must be red.

Note 2: The Committee may make a Local Rule prohibiting play from an environmentally-sensitive area defined as a lateral water hazard.

Note 3: The Committee may define a lateral water hazard as a water hazard.

Loose Impediments

“Loose impediments’’ are natural objects, including:

• ·         stones, leaves, twigs, branches and the like,
• ·         dung, and
• ·         worms, insects and the like, and the casts and heaps made by them,

provided they are not:

• ·         fixed or growing,
• ·         solidly embedded, or
• ·         adhering to the ball.

Sand and loose soil are loose impediments on the putting green, but not elsewhere.

Snow and natural ice, other than frost, are either casual water or loose impediments, at the option of the player.

Dew and frost are not loose impediments.

Obstructions

An “obstruction’’ is anything artificial, including the artificial surfaces and sides of roads and paths and manufactured ice, except:

a. Objects defining out of bounds, such as walls, fences, stakes and railings;

b. Any part of an immovable artificial object that is out of bounds; and

c. Any construction declared by the Committee to be an integral part of the course.

An obstruction is a movable obstruction if it may be moved without unreasonable effort, without unduly delaying play and without causing damage. Otherwise, it is an immovable obstruction.

Note: The Committee may make a Local Rule declaring a movable obstruction to be an immovable obstruction.

OUT OF BOUNDS

A ball is out of bounds when all of it lies out of bounds. A player may stand out of bounds to play a ball lying within bounds.

Objects defining out of bounds such as walls, fences, stakes and railings are not obstructions and are deemed to be fixed. Stakes identifying out of bounds are not obstructions and are deemed to be fixed.

Note 1: Stakes or lines used to define out of bounds should be white.

Note 2: A Committee may make a Local Rule declaring stakes identifying but not defining out of bounds to be obstructions.

Outside Agency

In match play, an “outside agency” is any agency other than either the player’s or opponent’s side, any caddie of either side, any ball played by either side at the hole being played or any equipment of either side.

In stroke play, an outside agency is any agency other than the competitor’s side, any caddie of the side, any ball played by the side at the hole being played or any equipment of the side.

An outside agency includes a referee, a marker, an observer and a forecaddie. Neither wind nor water is an outside agency.

Rub of the Green

A “rub of the green’’ occurs when a ball in motion is accidentally deflected or stopped by any outside agency (see Rule 19-1).

Stance

Taking the “stance’’ consists in a player placing his feet in position for and preparatory to making a stroke.

Stipulated Round

The “stipulated round’’ consists of playing the holes of the course in their correct sequence, unless otherwise authorized by the Committee. The number of holes in a stipulated round is 18 unless a smaller number is authorized by the Committee. As to extension of stipulated round in match play, see Rule 2-3.

Stroke

A “stroke’’ is the forward movement of the club made with the intention of striking at and moving the ball, but if a player checks his downswing voluntarily before the clubhead reaches the ball he has not made a stroke.

Through the Green

“Through the green’’ is the whole area of the course except:

a. The teeing ground and putting green of the hole being played; and

b. All hazards on the course.

Water Hazard

A “water hazard’’ is any sea, lake, pond, river, ditch, surface drainage ditch or other open water course (whether or not containing water) and anything of a similar nature on the course. All ground and water within the margin of a water hazard are part of the water hazard.

When the margin of a water hazard is defined by stakes, the stakes are inside the water hazard, and the margin of the hazard is defined by the nearest outside points of the stakes at ground level. When both stakes and lines are used to indicate a water hazard, the stakes identify the hazard and the lines define the hazard margin. When the margin of a water hazard is defined by a line on the ground, the line itself is in the water hazard. The margin of a water hazard extends vertically upwards and downwards.

A ball is in a water hazard when it lies in or any part of it touches the water hazard.

Stakes used to define the margin of or identify a water hazard are obstructions.

Note 1: Stakes or lines used to define the margin of or identify a water hazard must be yellow.

Note 2: The Committee may make a Local Rule prohibiting play from an environmentally-sensitive area defined as a water hazard.

Wrong Putting Green

A “wrong putting green” is any putting green other than that of the hole being played. Unless otherwise prescribed by the Committee, this term includes a practice putting green or pitching green on the course.

 

TABLE of CONTENTS

1.     ADDRESSING THE BALL 
   1. BALL MOVES AFTER ADDRESS, PLAYER STRIKES MOVING BALL
   2. CLUB PLACED ON GROUND TO ALIGN FEET
   3. MUD ON BALL AFTER A PRACTICE SWING HIT DIRT
   4. (OUTSIDE AGENCY) WATER FELL DOWN ON BALL CAUSING IT TO MOVE
   5. PLAYING FROM OUTSIDE THE TEEING GROUND
2.     ADVICE
   1. ASKING DISTANCE BETWEEN OBJECTS
3.     BALL AT REST
   1. BALL AT REST ON WRONG GREEN
   2. BALL AT REST ON A GROWING MUSHROOM
   3. BALL AT REST UP ON A TREE (CASE NUMBER 1)
   4. BALL AT REST UP ON A TREE (CASE NUMBER 2)
   5. BALL REST UNDER A RAKE
   6. BALL EMBEDDED IN A FRUIT TREE
   7. BALL IN CASUAL WATER BUT ONLY RELIEF OPTION IS IN THE BUSHES
   8. BALL IN A BURROWING HOLE
   9. DECLARING UNPLAYABLE
   10. EMBEDDED BALL RULE
   11. FELLOW-COMPETITOR MOVES BALL
   12. LIFTING BALL FOR IDENTIFICATION
   13. MUD BALL
   14. PLAYING A WRONG BALL IN A BAD LIE AND DECLARED UNPLAYABLE
   15. REMOVING DEW
   16. TRYING TO HIT A WRONG BALL BUT WHIFFED IT
   17. WHEN IS THE APPROPRIATE TIME TO DECLARE A BALL LOST?
   18. UNABLE TO IDENTIFY BALL
4.     BALL IN MOTION
   1. BALL DEFLECTED BY PLAYER’S OWN EQUIPMENT
   2. BALL DEFLECTED BY OPPONENT (OPPONENT REFERS TO MATCH PLAY)
   3. BALL DEFLECTED BY FELLOW-COMPETITOR (FELLOW-COMPETITOR REFERS TO STROKE PLAY)
   4. BALL HIT ANOTHER GOLF BAG
   5. BALL SPLIT IN FLIGHT
5.     BUNKER
   1. A SMALL PATCH OF SNOW – LOOSE IMPEDEMENT OR CASUAL WATER?
   2. BALL COVERED BY LEAVES
   3. ENTIRE BUNKER FILLED WITH CASUAL WATER
   4. RAKING BUNKER AFTER STROKE – BALL STILL IN BUNKER
   5. SAND SLIDE
   6. YOUR BALL GOT COVERED BY SAND AFTER YOUR OPPONENT HIT HIS BALL FROM THE SAME BUNKER
6.     CHANGING GOLF BALLS DURING A HOLE OR A STIPULATED ROUND
7.     CLUB
   1. CLUB BROKEN AFTER SLAMMED IN ANGER
   2. CLUB BROKEN DURING STROKE, PRACTICE STROKE, OR PRACTICE SWING
   3. CLUB BROKEN WHEN USED AS A CANE
   4. DRIVER HEAD SNAP OFF ON THE BACKSWING
   5. ADJUSTABLE CLUB LOFT
8.    EQUIPMENT
   1. STRETCHING DEVICE
   2. WHAT IF I RUN OUT OF GOLF BALLS?
   3. USING SOMEBODY ELSE’S BALL, TEE, TOWEL, GLOVE, ETC.
9.     GREEN
   1. ACCIDENTALLY HITTING A BALL WITH A MARKER
   2. ACCIDENTAL INTERFERENCE WHILE BALL IN MOTION
   3. BALL HITS A LYING FLAG STICK
   4. BALL IN PLAY MOVED BY WIND OR GRAVITY
   5. BALL MISSING AFTER A BLIND SHOT BUT FOUND IN THE HOLE LATER ON
   6. BALL STRIKES PERSON ATTENDING FLAGSTICK
   7. BALL WRAPPED UP IN THE FLAG
   8. CLEANING THE PUTTING LINE
   9. HITTING A CLUB AFTER  A PUTT
   10. HITTING YOUR BALL WITH YOUR OWN EQUIPMENT AFTER A STROKE
   11. HOLDING THE FLAG STICK WHILE PUTTING
   12. HOLING BALL WHILE ANOTHER BALL IS IN HOLE
   13. HOW MUCH ELAPSED TIME IS ALLOWED TO CONSIDER A BALL IS STATIONARY?
   14. MARKING THE BALL WITH A PUTTER
   15. PUTTING DOWNHILL PAST THE HOLE INTO THE WATER
   16. REACHING ACROSS HOLE TO TAP IN SHORT PUTT
   17. REPLACED BALL ON A SLOPE WILL NOT STOP ROLLING
   18. REPAIRING PITCH MARK UNDER A BALL AT REST
   19. REPLACING BALL
   20. STANDING ON EXTENSION OF LINE OF PLAY OR LINE OF PUTT
   21. STOMPING THE PUTTING GREEN AFTER A PUTT
   22. UNKNOWN TO YOU, YOUR BALL MARKED BY OPPONENT
   23. USE OF TEE AS MARKER
   24. WHO PLAYS FIRST?
10.    HAZARD
    1. RAISING THE HAZARD STAKE
    2. (YELLOW STAKES) WATER HAZARD; (RED STAKES) LATERAL WATER HAZARD
11.    LINE OF PLAY
    1. IMPROVING YOUR LINE
    2. MOSS HANGING FROM A TREE
    3. SPIDER WEB IN THE WAY
12.     LOOSE IMPEDIMENT
    1. BIG BOULDER
    2. LOOSE OR NATURAL?
    3. LOOSE IMPEDIMENTS MOVED IN HAZARD WHILE SEARCHING FOR BALL
    4. OUT ON A (BROKEN) LIMB
13.     MOVABLE OBSTRUCTION: CHUNK OF ASPHALT
14.     OB (OUT of BOUNDS)
    1. BOUNDARY ISSUES
    2. HIT TWO BALLS ASSUMED OB BUT BOTH INBOUND AND IDENTICAL
15.    STANCE
    1. CART PATH
    2. LEFT FOOT ON A TEE BOX MARKER
16.     SWING
    1. HITTING A BALL TO A DRIVING RANGE
    2. PRACTICE SWING ACCIDENTALLY MOVES BALL BEFORE STROKE ON TEEING GROUND

  MORE (at the end of this page)

             Ball re-drop

             Player after marking own ball dropped the ball and hit his marker that moved

RULES OF GOLF

ADDRESSING THE BALL: BALL MOVES AFTER ADDRESS, PLAYER STRIKES MOVING BALL 

Q.  After the player has addressed his ball and begun the backward movement of the club for his stroke, the player’s ball begins to move. The player continues his stroke and strikes the ball while it is still moving. Is there a penalty? 

A. Unless it is known or virtually certain that the player did not cause his ball to move, the player incurs a one stroke penalty under Rule 18-2b for his ball in play moving after he addressed it. If it is known or virtually certain that the player did not cause his ball to move, there is no penalty under Rule 18-2b.

There is no penalty for playing a moving ball in this case as the ball started to move after the player had begun the backward movement for the stroke and he completed the stroke. Since the player completed the stroke he does not need to replace the ball.

ADDRESSING THE BALL: CLUB PLACED ON GROUND TO ALIGN FEET 

Q.  A player places a club on the ground parallel to the line of play to assist him in aligning his feet properly. Is this permissible? 

A.  Yes, provided the player removes the club before playing his stroke. Otherwise a breach of Rule 8-2a would occur.

ADDRESSING THE BALL: MUD ON BALL AFTER A PRACTICE SWING HIT DIRT

Q: I teed up and addressed my ball, then stepped back to take a practice swing and dug up an enormous divot that sent mud and dirt flying everywhere. Some of the mud stuck to the back of my ball. I picked up the ball and started to clean it, but my buddy said I couldn’t because I had addressed it and it was therefore in play. What do you say, Rules Guy?

A: While your ball may not be clean, your conscience should be. You were well within your rights to pick up your ball and wipe it down because you had not made a stroke, and therefore your ball was not yet in play. If you had taken a stroke and completely whiffed, you would have incurred a one-stroke penalty for lifting and cleaning your ball. You would have to wait to clean your ball until you were proceeding under a Rule (as in Rule 24-2) that allows you to lift and clean the ball, or until you were on the green—that is, if you ever got there.

ADDRESSING THE BALL: (OUTSIDE AGENCY) WATER FELL DOWN ON BALL CAUSING IT TO MOVE

Q: I was playing in a pretty heavy rain, and as I addressed my ball to putt I tipped my head downward and water gushed off my bucket hat, splashing onto my ball and causing it to move. Thinking it was an ‘act of God,’ I didn’t penalize myself and played the ball from where it ended up. Should I have replaced my ball with penalty?

A: Assuming you weren’t wearing an actual bucket, water does not fall under the umbrella of what’s considered an ‘outside agency.’ If it did, you’d have been required to replace the ball. Similarly, rain will often accumulate on a player’s rain suit. If rain runs off or is deflected by the rain suit onto your ball and causes it to move, you incur no penalty. The ball is played from the position where it came to rest after it was moved by the water. So don’t worry, you did the right thing.

ADDRESSING THE BALL: PLAYING FROM OUTSIDE THE TEEING GROUND 

Q.  In stroke play, Laura played from in front of the tee markers on the 5th hole. She realized her mistake when she reached the putting green. How must Laura proceed? 

A.  Laura incurs a penalty of two strokes and must correct her mistake before playing a stroke from the 6th teeing ground. Upon correcting her mistake, she will be playing her 3rd stroke from the teeing ground. If she does not correct her mistake by playing a ball from within the teeing ground, she will be disqualified. You are allowed to tee up two club lengths backward as long as long it is between the tee markers.

ADVICE: ASKING DISTANCE BETWEEN OBJECTS

Q.  A player asks his opponent or fellow-competitor the distance from one object (e.g. his ball or the teeing ground) to another object (e.g. the putting green, a water hazard, or a bunker). Is he considered to be asking for advice and in breach of Rule 8-1? 

A.  The distance between any objects is considered to be a matter of public information and therefore not advice. As this information is not advice, it may be exchanged without restriction. (Definition of “Advice” and Decision 8-1/2)

BALL AT REST: BALL AT REST ON WRONG GREEN

Q: During a recent round I managed to hole out my approach shot to a double-green shared by the ninth and 18th holes. Problem was, I was playing the ninth hole at the time and my ball dropped into the hole designated for No. 18. What’s the ruling?

A: U.S. Open buffs might recall that Tom Byrum faced a similar scenario last June at Oakmont, where the ninth green shares real estate with the practice green. In the first round, Byrum’s approach ran through the green at No. 9 and into a hole on the practice green. Under Decision 16/7, the practice-green hole was by definition Ground Under Repair, so Byrum placed his ball on the closest point of relief no nearer the hole and two-putted for a career par. You should have done the same, and if you three-putted, don’t sweat it: career bogeys make for good stories, too. Career double-bogeys? Keep those to yourself.

BALL AT REST: BALL AT REST ON A GROWING MUSHROOM

Q: In a recent round, I found my ball resting up against the stem of a large mushroom. I didn’t know what to do, so I decided to see if I could play it as it lay. When I addressed my ball, I discovered that I couldn’t see it because it was hidden under the mushroom’s cap. I didn’t know if I could remove the mushroom without penalty or take a free drop because I couldn’t see my ball. What’s the deal?

A: According to Rule 12-1, you aren’t entitled to see your ball when making a stroke. And since the mushroom was fixed and growing, it wasn’t a loose impediment, so you couldn’t move it. So what do you do? If you run into the same situation again, you might want to consider declaring your ball unplayable (albeit with a 1-stroke penalty).

BALL AT REST: BALL AT REST UP ON A TREE (CASE NUMBER 1)

Q: My tee shot lodged 30 feet up a tree, so I shook some branches to get the ball loose. The ball dropped, but how do I proceed?

A: If you were trying to dislodge the ball to identify it and avoid a penalty for moving your ball (Rule 18-2a), you would’ve had to announce your intent to declare the ball unplayable before shaking the tree (Decision 18-2a/27), or else take a one-stroke penalty for moving your ball (Decision 18-2a/28). In that case, you must replace your ball, a daunting task in your situation. If you can’t do so, you must deem your ball unplayable and take an additional penalty stroke under Rule 28 (Decision 18-2a/29). Now you know why desert golf is so darn popular.

BALL AT REST: BALL AT REST UP ON A TREE (CASE NUMBER 2)

Q: I hit my tee shot wide left into a reasonably small tree. When I got to the tree I could clearly see my ball hanging on one of the branches. Can I play it from there?

A: You’ve got a couple of options. As long as you can definitively identify your ball in the tree, you can declare it unplayable. Under Rule 28c you can drop within two club lengths from the spot under your ball (no nearer the hole), with a penalty of one stroke. The bolder option is to play the ball as it lies. As long as you can strike the ball fairly, you can take that uppercut swing from the ground, but you also have the option of climbing up in the tree and putting club to bark. Just make sure you don’t shake the ball loose on your way up—that’ll cost you a stroke for moving a ball at rest (Rule 18-2a). Sometimes it just doesn’t pay to go out on a limb.

BALL AT REST: BALL REST UNDER A RAKE

Q: One of my competitors hit a shot that stopped up against a rake just above a sand trap. Because of the slope, the ball would’ve rolled into the bunker had he moved the rake. So he used his wedge to strike the rake’s handle, which propelled his ball onto the green. I told him he could only strike the ball with the club head. Should he have been penalized?

A: I’ve seen it a 100 times, and each time it’s permissible. Your competitor fairly struck at the ball (Rule 14-1) even though an object intervened between the club head and the ball (Decision 14-1/5). He also could have removed the rake and replaced the ball (Rule 24-1a) if it moved. If the ball failed to come to rest on the spot and kept rolling into the bunker, he would’ve had to replace it at the nearest spot where it would come to rest that’s not nearer the hole and not in the bunker.

BALL AT REST: BALL EMBEDDED IN A FRUIT TREE

Q: During a Florida golf trip, I pulled my drive into a row of orange trees. After a lengthy search, we finally found the ball firmly embedded inside an orange on the ground. My playing partners said I had to play it as it lay, but I felt like a free drop was in order. What’s your ruling?

A: If your ball had been lying next to the orange, the fruit would have been considered a loose impediment. But since it actually became embedded in the fruit, you’re not entitled to a free drop. Instead (according to Decision 23/10), you had the option of playing the ball/fruit as it lay, or deeming your ball unplayable and dropping with a one-stroke penalty. Unlucky for sure, but orange you glad I didn’t say stroke and distance?

BALL AT REST: BALL IN CASUAL WATER BUT ONLY RELIEF OPTION IS IN THE BUSHES

Q: You pick up your ball to take relief from casual water, but you then realize that the only area you can drop is in bushes, which would almost certainly be unplayable. You decide to replace your ball in the casual water and play from there, but your buddy says you should be penalized.

A: You are entitled to lift your ball to take relief from casual water (Rule 18-2a), but this right is negated if you elect not to take relief. The rules provide for relief within one club-length of the point nearest to where the ball lies which is not nearer the hole, avoids interference with the condition, and is not in a hazard or on a green. But that point can sometimes be an unfriendly area, so weigh your options before you pick up your ball.

BALL AT REST: BALL IN BURROWING HOLE

A hole, scrape or runway of a “burrowing animal” is an “abnormal ground condition”. (R&A Rules – Definition of Abnormal Ground Condition) To obtain relief the player may lift and drop the ball, without penalty, within one club length, and not nearer the hole, than the nearest point of relief. If in a bunker the ball must be dropped in the bunker. (R&A Rules – 25-1b (ii)) The ball may be cleaned when lifted under this rule.

A burrowing is defined as an animal (other than a worn, insect or the like) that makes a hole for habitation or shelter, such as a rabbit, mole, groundhog, gopher (not golfer) or salamander.

In casual water (NPR) Nearest point of relief is used. In the burrowing animal situation above, you cannot use the NPR rule. One club length not nearer the hole for a drop, no penalty. You have to make sure it is a burrowing animal hole.

BALL AT REST: DECLARING UNPLAYABLE

You may deem your ball unplayable anywhere on the course except:   Water hazard

The only place on the course you cannot declare your ball unplayable is in a water hazard, where you must proceed under the rules of hitting into the water(Rule 26-1). But you are permitted to declare your ball unplayable anywhere else on the course while your ball is in play.

BALL AT REST: EMBEDDED BALL RULE 

Q.  On what part of the course is a player entitled to relief from an embedded ball? 

A.  Under Rule 25-2, a player may only take relief from a ball that is embedded in a closely-mown area through the green. A closely-mown area is any area that is mowed to fairway height or less. However, the Committee may adopt a Local Rule that allows for relief from an embedded ball anywhere through the green. This Local Rule can be found in Appendix I; Part B.

BALL AT REST: FELLOW-COMPETITOR MOVES BALL 

Q.  My fellow-competitor in stroke play moved my ball. Is he penalized? 

A.  No. There is no penalty to either of you, and the ball must be replaced.

BALL AT REST: LIFTING BALL FOR IDENTIFICATION 

Q.  Am I permitted to lift a ball that I believe is mine to identify it? 

A.  Yes, under Rule 12-2, a ball may be lifted for identification. The player must announce his intention to lift the ball to an opponent, fellow-competitor or marker, and mark the position of the ball. He may then lift the ball and identify it, provided that he gives his opponent, marker or fellow-competitor an opportunity to observe the lifting and replacement. This may be done anywhere on the course, including when the ball lies in a hazard (Rule 12-2).

BALL AT REST: MUD BALL

Q: I hit a ball into the rough and had to pick it up in order to identify it. It was my ball, but I noticed that there was a glob of mud stuck to one side. When I put it back down I decided to put the mud on the far side, so I wouldn’t hit it at impact. I didn’t clean my ball, but I couldn’t shake a guilty feeling as I finished my round.

A:  According to Decision 21/5, as long as you replaced your ball where you found it, you were completely entitled to rotate it however you wanted — with one exception. If you had put the mud side face down to create a sort of natural tee, you would have been in violation of Rule 20-3a and subject to a one-stroke penalty. But since you kept it clean, you’re in the clear.

BALL AT REST: PLAYING A WRONG BALL IN A BAD LIE AND DECLARED UNPLAYABLE

Q: You find a ball, which you mistakenly think is yours, in a bad lie. You declare the ball unplayable, drop it within two club lengths and play it. After your shot you find your original ball.

A: Under Rule 28, your ball must be found and identified before you may declare a lie unplayable. The stray ball dropped is considered a substitute. You should take a one-stroke penalty for the lost ball and an additional two strokes should be added under Rule 20-7c for playing from the wrong place. Continue playing the substitute ball.

BALL AT REST: REMOVING DEW 

Q.  I like to play early in the morning. Usually there is still dew on the ground during the first few holes. Is it permissible to sweep away the dew or mop it up with a towel around my ball? 

A.  Generally, improving the lie of the ball, the line of play, or the area of intended stance or swing by removing dew is a breach of Rule 13-2 (the penalty for which is loss of hole in match play or two strokes in stroke play). However, dew, frost or water may be removed from the teeing ground.

BALL AT REST: TRYING TO HIT A WRONG BALL BUT WHIFFED IT

Q: I found what I thought was my ball in the fairway. I took a swing and completely whiffed, but when I looked down I realized that the ball I swung at wasn’t even mine! Since it wasn’t my ball, there’s no harm, no foul, right?

A: Decision 15/1 says that if a player swings at and misses a wrong ball, it’s a two-stroke penalty. It doesn’t matter whether or not you actually hit (or missed) the wrong ball. The stroke you made doesn’t count, but you’re still penalized two strokes under Rule 15-3b. So I’m afraid that in this case, it’s no harm—but plenty of foul.

BALL AT REST: WHEN IS THE APPROPRIATE TIME TO DECLARE A BALL LOST?

Q: When is the appropriate time to declare my ball lost?

A: The fact is, a ball can never be “declared” lost—it simply is or it isn’t lost. The page in the Rules of Golf that these confused duffers seek is right up front, in the “Definitions” section. There are five ways in which a ball can become “lost.” You can “declare” until you’re blue in the face, but the player’s ball is lost only if any one of these actions has been completed:

1. The ball is not found or identified within five minutes of searching.

2. The player has legally made a stroke at a provisional ball.

3. The player has put another ball into play under penalty of stroke and distance.

4. The player has put another ball into play because it is known or virtually certain that his ball, which has not been found, has been moved by an outside agency, or is in an obstruction, abnormal ground condition or water hazard.

5. The player has made a stroke at a substituted ball.

BALL AT REST: UNABLE TO IDENTIFY BALL

Q: Last week I lent a forgetful friend some balls. On a long par-4, we hit nearly identical drives. We found one ball in the fairway and one in the rough a few feet away. That’s when we realized that neither of us had marked our ball. We flipped a coin for it, but we knew that wasn’t the right way to figure out whose ball was whose. What was?

A: You’re right about one thing: the Rules of Golf don’t supply “flip a coin” as the solution to many problems. While you’re not required to mark your ball, it is strongly encouraged, and this is exactly why. By not marking your balls, you and your friend can’t possibly know for sure which is which. Therefore, Decision 27/10 states that both of your balls are officially lost, meaning you have to go back to where you played your previous shots, taking a penalty of stroke and distance.

BALL IN MOTION: BALL DEFLECTED BY PLAYER’S OWN EQUIPMENT 

Q.  What is the ruling if my ball in motion is accidentally deflected by my equipment? 

A.  In either form of play (match play or stroke play) the player incurs a one-stroke penalty and must play the ball as it lies.

BALL IN MOTION: BALL DEFLECTED BY OPPONENT (OPPONENT REFERS TO MATCH PLAY)

Q.  What is the ruling if my ball in motion is accidentally deflected by my opponent, his equipment or caddie in match play? 

A.  There is no penalty and you may play the ball as it lies or cancel and replay the stroke.

BALL IN MOTION: BALL DEFLECTED BY FELLOW-COMPETITOR (FELLOW-COMPETITOR REFERS TO STROKE PLAY)

A.  There is no penalty and you may play the ball as it lies.

BALL IN MOTION: BALL HIT ANOTHER GOLF BAG

Q: While playing a 200-yard par 3, the players in front of us, who were still on the green, waved at us to hit. My partner teed off, and his shot hit one of their golf bags on the ground just off the green. The ball careened off the bag and into the hole for what we assumed was a hole-in-one. But upon reporting it to the clubhouse, the local pro said hitting the bag was a one-stroke penalty and we should score the hole as a birdie. Is this the correct ruling?

A: While this pro might be a great teacher, he’s not a master of the Rules. The pro misinterpreted Rule 19-2, which calls for a one-stroke penalty for hitting a bag carried by yourself, your partner or your caddie. However, there is nothing illegal about accidently using the other group’s bags as ball bumpers. Your buddy should have cited Rule 19-1, which deals with outside agencies like other people’s golf bags. He was entitled to play the ball where it ended up (in this case at the bottom of the cup).

BALL IN MOTION: BALL SPLIT IN FLIGHT

Q: After my friend hit a shot from the fairway, the ball split in two mid-flight and the two halves ended up in different locations. He felt that he should get to replay his stroke without penalty, but I thought he should play a new ball from the spot where the largest piece landed. He gave in, but he wasn’t happy about it. Who was right?

A: In this split decision, you come out on the losing end. According to Rule 5-3 (which deals with the so-called “fitness” of golf balls), a stroke that results in a split or shattered ball should be replayed as close as possible to the spot of the original stroke without penalty. You owe your buddy an apology — start by buying him a few Pro V1s to replace the gutta-perchas he’s apparently lugging around.

BUNKER: A SMALL PATCH OF SNOW – LOOSE IMPEDEMENT OR CASUAL WATER?

Q: During a round in northern Nevada, my ball landed on a small patch of snow in a sand trap. Should I have been allowed to clean my ball and drop in the hazard without penalty?

A: Although golf is a warm-weather sport, the Rules provide for even the chilliest conundrums. In this situation, it is left to the player to decide whether the snow should be treated as casual water or a loose impediment. If you know your Rules, you know that Rule 13-4c prohibits moving loose impediments in a hazard, so it makes sense here to claim the snow as casual water and proceed under Rule 25-1b. This way, not only can you drop the ball in the bunker (no nearer to the hole) without penalty, you can clean it before you do. Otherwise you’ll just have to wait for it to thaw.

BUNKER: BALL COVERED BY LEAVES

Q: I hit a ball into a bunker that was completely covered by leaves. When I looked for my ball, I couldn’t find it, so I swept the leaves away with my wedge. I eventually found the ball, but my partner said that I had to take a penalty for touching the sand as I moved some of the leaves. Is this true?

A: Your buddy is most likely calling you out for violating Rule 13-4, which prohibits a player from grounding his club in the sand. But what your friend doesn’t know is that there is more than sufficient legal precedent for your prodding. Decision 12-1/4 gives permission to a player who pokes the sand, as long as he is clearly “probing” for his ball. This Decision supersedes Rule 13-4, so blow your buddy’s complaint away with the leaves. Poke away, and play on without penalty.

BUNKER: ENTIRE BUNKER FILLED WITH CASUAL WATER 

Q.  What are a player’s options if an entire bunker is filled with casual water? 

A.  Under Rule 25-1b(ii), without penalty, the player may drop the ball in the bunker at a point that provides maximum available relief (i.e., in 1 inch of water rather than 5 inches). Or, under penalty of one stroke, the player may drop the ball outside the bunker keeping the point where the ball lay directly between the hole and where the ball is dropped, with no limit on how far behind the bunker the ball may be dropped. (See Decision 25-1b/8)

BUNKER: RAKING BUNKER AFTER STROKE – BALL STILL IN BUNKER 

Q.  A player`s ball is in a bunker (at Point A) that runs approximately 20 yards along the left side of the fairway. He plays a stroke and the ball advances about 10 yards towards the hole and remains in the bunker (at Point B). May he rake the bunker at Point A before playing his stroke at Point B? 

A.  Yes, the player may smooth the bunker at Point A as doing so would not improve the lie of his ball, his line of play, or his area of intended stance or swing for his next stroke (at Point B) — Exception 2 to Rule 13-4 and Decision 13-4/36.

BUNKER: SAND SLIDE

Q: I hit a drive into a bunker with a steep slope and carefully made my way down to my ball. Apparently I wasn’t quite as careful as I thought though, because the sand started to slide out from under my feet, all the way to the ball, moving it several inches back away from the hole. Not knowing what to do, I asked my (very competitive) friend/opponent, who said that I had to take a penalty stroke for moving my ball., and replace it in the original spot I decided to believe him, even though it seemed fishy since I didn’t actually touch the ball and since it moved away from the hole. Was my friend right, or should I find a new playing partner?

A: This is one case where the Rules Guy feels your pain: there is nothing worse than having to tip-toe into a deep bunker for fear of starting a sand slide. Unfortunately, the Rules of Golf are not nearly as sympathetic. According to Decision 18 2b/3, if your approach to the ball or the act of taking your stance in the bunker is what caused the ball to move, you were in violation of Rule 18-2a which prohibits moving a ball at rest. Your buddy even got the penalty right—replacing the ball and taking a one-stroke penalty. Keep your honest playing partner around, and next time try to be a little bit lighter on your feet.

BUNKER: YOUR BALL GOT COVERED BY SAND AFTER YOUR OPPONENT HIT HIS BALL FROM THE SAME BUNKER

Q: My opponent and I were in a greenside bunker. He hit first, and the shower of sand from his swing covered my ball. I dusted off the sand, but he cried foul and made me replace the grains on my ball. What’s your take?

A: You were entitled to the lie that your stroke — not his — gave you. You may remove sand that’s caused from another player’s shot under an analogous ruling, Decision 13-4/18. If you accidentally move the ball in that process, there’s no penalty, and you can replace it.

CHANGING GOLF BALLS DURING A HOLE OR A STIPULATED ROUND 

Q.  May a player change golf balls during the play of a hole or a stipulated round? When the player is permitted to substitute another golf ball may he change to a ball of a different brand or type? 

A.  Rules 15-1 and 15-2 explain that the player must complete play of the hole with the ball with which he began the hole unless he is proceeding under a Rule that permits him to substitute a ball. The player may change balls between the play of two holes as well.

Rules 26-1 (Water Hazard Rule), 27-1 (Ball Lost or Out of Bounds) and 28 (Ball Unplayable) are examples of Rules that permit the player to substitute another ball. Rule 5-3 permits a player to substitute another ball during the play of a hole when his original ball has become unfit for play during the play of that hole. Other Rules (e.g. Rule 18, Rule 24, and Rule 25-1) permit the player to substitute another ball only if the original ball is not immediately recoverable.

Note that Rule 16-1b, the Rule that allows the player to lift his ball from the putting green, does not permit the player to substitute another ball; this precludes the player from substituting a “putting ball.”

A player who substitutes another ball when not permitted to do so incurs the general penalty (loss of hole in match play or a two stroke penalty in stroke play) under the applicable Rule. For instance, a player taking relief, without penalty, under Rule 25-1 due to interference from ground under repair is required to do so with the original ball (unless it is not immediately recoverable). If that player substitutes a ball (and makes a stroke with it) when his original ball is immediately recoverable he incurs the general penalty under Rule 25-1 (as it is the applicable Rule in this case).

When changing balls, the player is permitted to substitute a ball of another brand or type unless the Committee has adopted the One Ball Condition of Competition (see Appendix I; Part C; Section 1c). This optional condition (usually referred to as ‘The One Ball Rule’) is generally adopted only in events that are limited to professional golfers or highly-skilled amateur golfers. Generally, this condition of competition is not adopted in club-level competitions. 

CLUB: CLUB BROKEN AFTER SLAMMED IN ANGER

Q: Player breaks the head off his club as a result of slamming it on the ground in anger, throwing it, or intentionally striking something (e.g. a tree) other than during a stroke, practice stroke, or practice swing. May the player replace the damaged club before the completion of the stipulated round?

A: No. As the club was damaged other than in the normal course of play, it may not be replaced during the round. See also Decision 4-3/1, Decision 4-3/7 and Decision 4-3/9.

CLUB: CLUB BROKEN DURING STROKE, PRACTICE STROKE, OR PRACTICE SWING 

Q.  A player breaks the shaft of his 4-iron when the follow-through of his stroke causes the shaft to make contact with the trunk of a tree. May the player replace the club during his round? 

A.  Yes, the player may replace the club — see Rule 4-3. The player’s club is unfit for play and this occurred during the normal course of play (see Decision 4-3/1). The broken club may be replaced provided the player does not unduly delay play and provided he does not replace the club by borrowing a club selected for play by any other person playing on the course. The player does not need to replace the broken 4-iron with another 4-iron; he may replace it with any conforming club.

 CLUB: CLUB BROKEN WHEN USED AS A CANE 

Q.  A player’s club is broken when used as a cane or due to leaning on it while teeing a ball or waiting to play. May the player replace the damaged club prior to the completion of his stipulated round? 

A.  Yes. As the club was damaged during the normal course of play, it may be replaced during the round in accordance with Rule 4-3. See also Decision 4-3/1 and Decision 4-3/7.

CLUB: DRIVER HEAD SNAP OFF ON THE BACKSWING

Q: When I was at the top of my backswing, the head of my driver snapped off and went flying behind me. I actually finished my swing, completely missing the ball with what was left of my club. My entire foursome had different takes: One guy said the stroke counted, one said that it didn’t, and one said I should take a penalty for using an altered club. I figure one of them had to be right, but which one?

A: Only one of your friends hit the nail on the (missing) head. The sticking point here is the actual definition of a stroke, which is “the forward movement of the club” toward the ball. Decision 14/2 states that a shaft in and of itself is not a golf club, meaning that your whiff would not have counted toward your score. If your club had broken a little later it would have been a different story. When a player’s club breaks on the downswing and he does not stop the swing short of the ball, Decision 14/3 says that’s a stroke, regardless of how far away your club head is at the time.

CLUB: ADJUSTABLE CLUB LOFT

Q: Can I change the adjustable loft of my driver during a round?

A: A player is not permitted to change the lie (loft) of any club during his round [Rule 4-2a]. The penalty for carrying an altered club is two strokes per hole, maximum four per round (in match play, the state of the match is adjusted by deducting one hole, maximum two per round). The penalty for making a stroke with an altered club is disqualification.

The only way to avoid penalty after altering a club is to immediately discard it or declare it out of play. You may not avoid penalty by restoring the original lie, because it is impossible to do so exactly [Decision 4-2/2]. You may not replace an altered club during a round, since it was not damaged during the normal course of play [Rule 4-3b].

EQUIPMENT: STRETCHING DEVICE

Q: On the first tee, one of my buddies’ bags looked like it had one too many clubs in it. When he pulled the “extra” one out, it wasn’t a club at all, but a bar that he then proceeded to use for stretching. He did the same thing on each hole, essentially simulating a driver swing with his body (turning back and forth with the bar on his shoulders). I told him this was definitely a violation against the rule on artificial devices, but he said that he knew for a fact that stretching devices were allowed. Is he right?

A: It may seem like your case is airtight, but your argument is actually a bit of a stretch. The bylaw that popped into your head was likely Rule 14-3a, and you’re correct that it prohibits players from using artificial devices or unusual equipment. But there are exceptions to every rule. According to 14-3/10.5, stretching devices are acceptable, as long as they aren’t used during the actual golf swing. Bars like the one your buddy used are specifically mentioned in this Decision, so there’s no two ways about it. Next time, try not to get so wound up.

EQUIPMENT: WHAT IF I RUN OUT OF GOLF BALLS? 

Q.  If a player runs out of golf balls during a round, may he borrow a ball from another player? 

A.  Yes. There is nothing in the Rules of Golf that prohibits a player from borrowing a golf ball from an opponent or fellow-competitor. A player who runs out of balls may get a new supply from any source, provided he does not unduly delay play (Rule 6-7) in the process. Although golf balls are part of a player`s equipment, the only type of equipment that the Rules limit the borrowing of is clubs Rule 4-4(Decision 5-1/5)

EQUIPMENT IN THE BAG: USING SOMEBODY ELSE’S BALL, TEE, TOWEL, GLOVE, ETC.

Q: As I walked up to a tee box, I noticed that a player before me had left a ‘performance’ tee in the ground. I recognized it and knew it was legal, so I decided to leave it right where it was and tee my ball on it. My friend said that what I was doing was illegal because I was technically using another player’s equipment. I told him I see people using leftover tees all the time. Is this legal, Ruler?

A: In the Rules of Golf, you never touch another man’s clubs. You may, however, use another man’s tees. Rule 4-4a prohibits players from borrowing clubs from another player on the course. However, Decision 5-1/5 allows a player to borrow things like balls, towels, gloves and tees. So as long as the tee was legal, you’re in the clear.

GREEN: ACCIDENTALLY HITTING A BALL WITH A MARKER

Q: You reach into your pocket to retrieve a coin to mark your ball on the green. But you fumble the coin and accidentally drop it onto your ball, which moves it slightly.

A. Rule 20-1 states that a player is not penalized for accidentally causing his ball to move if the movement of the ball (or ball-marker) is “directly attributable to the specific act of marking the position of or lifting the ball.” Unfortunately, in this scenario, fumbling a coin onto the ball does not qualify as “directly attributable” to the act of marking your ball because you are not in the immediate proximity of it.

GREEN: ACCIDENTAL INTERFERENCE WHILE BALL IN MOTION

Q: Last week. I made the greatest putt of my life. Almost. My 80-footer was tracking toward the hole, as my friend/match play opponent looked on. It was about to fall when my pal dropped his ball, which bounced off his shoe and knocked my miracle putt off course! He was apologetic and conceded the skin, but I’m not sure I earned it.

A:  As you suspected, your friend jumped the gun in giving you the hole. Since his error was accidental, Decision 19-5/1.7 states that you had the option of playing your ball where it stopped or replaying your lengthy putt. Not only did your friend not have to concede, he didn’t incur any penalty. The guilt of ruining the almost-best shot of your life should be punishment enough.

GREEN:  BALL HITS A LYING FLAG STICK

Q: One of my fellow-competitors pulled out the flag and laid it behind the hole as I was getting ready to putt. Unfortunately, I rolled the ball with too much gusto, and it banked off the stick and into the hole! I certainly didn’t intend for that to happen, but my buddy called a two-stroke penalty on me for hitting the stick anyway. What’s the call, Ruler?

A: According to Decision 17-3/3, if the flagstick has been placed behind the hole by a member of your group and you putt too strongly, striking the stick, count the putt and add a two-stroke penalty. However, there is no penalty if your ball strikes the flagstick after it h:as been blown down by the wind while you are hitting from the fairway, or if the group ahead of you fails to replace the flagstick in the hole. But hey, if you were playing on a hole that features a clown’s mouth, maybe you won yourself a free game!

GREEN: BALL IN PLAY MOVED BY WIND OR GRAVITY 

Q.  A player replaces his ball on the putting green and the ball is at rest. Without addressing the ball the player steps away to read his putt. The ball moves either due to the wind or the slope of the putting green. How should the player proceed? 

A.  The player must play his ball from the new position without penalty. If the ball was moved into the hole then the player is deemed to have holed out with his previous stroke (Decision 20-3d/1).

Note: It is not relevant whether the player had removed his ball-marker before the ball was moved by the wind or gravity as the player’s ball was in play when it was replaced (Rule 20-4). 

GREEN: BALL MISSING AFTER A BLIND SHOT BUT FOUND IN THE HOLE LATER ON

Q: I was caddying for a player who told me about a time he was playing a par 3 with a blind tee shot. He hit what he thought was a great shot, but when he got to the green he saw a ball over the back. He chipped on, but when he went to mark he realized it was not his ball after all. That’s when he saw his actual ball, which was in the hole! He thought he had a hole-in-one, but his playing partners said he had to take 2 strokes for hitting the wrong ball. He didn’t know who was right, so he took the penalty. His story stumped me, too.

A: This question deals with an underrated bit of golf logic: Once your ball hits the bottom of the cup, your hole is over. This is backed up by Decision 1-1/4, which says that once a player completes a hole, he can’t violate Rule 15-3 (which covers playing the wrong ball). You are similarly not penalized for taking more than five minutes to find your ball and/or putting another ball in play, only to then find yours in the hole. The next time this situation comes up, you can save your player a couple of strokes — and maybe earn yourself a bigger tip.

GREEN: BALL STRIKES PERSON ATTENDING FLAGSTICK 

Q.  Shawn has asked Jerry to attend the flagstick while he plays. The ball rolls towards Jerry and strikes his foot. What is the ruling? 

A.  Shawn incurs a penalty as the ball struck the person he had authorized to attend the flagstick. When Shawn asked Jerry to do so, he assumed all responsibility for Jerry`s actions.

GREEN: BALL WRAPPED UP IN THE FLAG

Q: Recently, I was hitting my third shot into a long par-4. I hit a line drive that took a high hop off the green and got wrapped up in the flag. But instead of dropping down to the green, the ball just stayed wrapped up, essentially tied to the pin. Neither of us had any idea what the Rule was on this, so my playing partner wiggled the stick a little bit to release the ball from the flag. As soon as he did this, the ball dropped straight down into the cup, so I took a birdie. Did I do the right thing?

A: As a general rule, any time you include the word “wiggle” in a question, you’ve probably violated one of the Rules. According to Decision 17/6, the flag is treated as a movable obstruction, which means that you get free relief. Unfortunately, free relief doesn’t mean that you get to just put the ball in the hole. Instead, you have to place the ball on the lip of the cup (but not so close that it can roll in). You can call it a gimme, but don’t call it a birdie — it should have been a par.

GREEN: CLEANING THE PUTTING LINE

Q: Late in the round, my friend had a long birdie putt on a green filled with small leaves. Instead of picking the leaves up, he took a golf towel and swung it like a helicopter, smacking the green clear. While he didn’t do any damage, I told him there’s no way that was legal. Was I right?

A: As you know, the Rules allow you to remove loose impediments on the putting green without penalty, but they provide no preferred method to do so. According to Decision 16-1a/8, a player may use his towel, cap, or any reasonable object to clear a path to the hole, as long as he doesn’t “press down” the grass in his line of putt. And that includes swinging your towel around like a high school kid in a locker room.

GREEN: HITTING A CLUB AFTER A PUTT

Q: My putt rolled past the hole and hit my competitor’s wedge lying on the green during match play. He said I should replay the stroke, but I thought my ball should remain where it came to rest. Who’s right?

A: You’re both right! There’s no penalty for hitting another player’s equipment, so you may play it as it lies. But Rule 19-3 lets you replay the putt, sans penalty, as near as possible from the original spot. That’s correct — the Rules allow do-overs!

GREEN: HITTING YOUR BALL WITH YOUR OWN EQUIPMENT AFTER A STROKE

Q: It was a windy day. Peter made a putting stroke. As his ball came to rest, Peter started walking to mark his ball. A sudden gust of wind blew his hat off past his ball. Had his hat hit the ball, is it a penalty?

A: Penalty of one stroke and if the ball moved replace it from the original location. Two strokes if his hat hits the ball while it is still in motion and play it where it lies.

GREEN: HOLDING THE FLAG STICK WHILE MAKING A PUTT

Q: In a high school golf tournament my teammate chipped to within inches of the hole. He pulled the stick from the cup with his left hand and (while still holding the pin) made the putt with his right hand. As soon as the ball fell, our coach, who was watching from off the green, called a two-stroke penalty. Was that really called for?

A: There is no Rule to prevent you from holding the flagstick for yourself, and Decision 17-1/5 makes it crystal clear that the action isn’t prohibited. Assuming that the ball never touched the flagstick and the flagstick did not touch the line of putt, he did nothing wrong. Your teammate should have had more confidence, and that coach should have had a muzzle.

GREEN: HOLING BALL WHILE ANOTHER BALL IS IN HOLE 

Q.  Is it a breach of a Rule for a ball to be holed while another ball is at rest in the hole? 

A.  No. Both balls are holed (see Definition of “Holed”) and there are no penalties incurred by either player. It is a breach of Etiquette for the first player to leave his ball in the hole if the second player has asked him to remove it.

GREEN: HOW MUCH ELAPSED TIME IS ALLOWED TO CONSIDER A BALL IS STATIONARY?

Q: You hit a putt that stops at the edge of the hole. How much time can elapse before the rules say the ball is stationary, and it becomes a 1-stroke penalty when the ball drops?

A: This rule has changed over the years to its current incarnation, which allows a player to wait no more than 10 seconds for his ball to drop. There is no incentive for the player to wait any longer than this because after 10 seconds he is assessed a one stroke penalty, and thus, his score will be the same either way. If the player insists on waiting excessively, he may be penalized two strokes under Rule 6-7 for undue delay.

GREEN: MARKING THE BALL WITH A PUTTER

Q: One of your buddies lifts his ball on the green, but instead of using a coin or similar object to mark his ball, he uses the toe of the putter and keeps it there until he replaces his ball. As he replaces the ball, he causes the ball to move with the putter head.

A. Replace the ball without penalty. According to a note at the end of Rule 20-1, the “position of the ball to be lifted should be marked by placing a ball marker, a small coin, or other similar object immediately behind the ball.” But the key is that it doesn’t say “should,” but “shall,” meaning this is a strongly recommended but not mandatory. So, your buddy marked his ball legally. Also, the movement of the ball was directly attributable to the specific act of marking the position of the ball or lifting it, and there is no penalty (Rule 20-1).

GREEN: PUTTING DOWNHILL PAST THE HOLE INTO THE WATER

Q: I had a fast downhill putt for eagle with the pin cut near the front edge of the green. My putt ran past the hole, off the green and into a water hazard fronting the green. Since it wasn’t a lateral hazard and the ball was not playable, I dropped behind the hazard, meaning that I had to hit back over the hazard onto the green. Did I have any other options?

A: Your rules knowledge is impressive—you proceeded exactly as you should have under Rule 26-1b. However, if you had thumbed back a little bit in the rulebook, you would have seen that you had another option under Rule 26-1a: You could have simply placed a ball on the green under penalty of stroke and distance. By going this route, you could have drained your next putt for par, or at least two-putted for bogey.

GREEN: REACHING ACROSS HOLE TO TAP IN SHORT PUTT 

Q.  A player reaches across the hole to tap in a short putt (the hole is between the player and the ball). Is this a breach of Rule 16-1e, Standing Astride or on the Line of Putt? 

A.  No. The line of putt does not extend beyond the hole. There is no penalty for making a stroke in this manner, provided the ball is fairly struck at and not raked into the hole. (Definition of “Line of Putt” and Rule 16-1e).

GREEN: REPLACED BALL ON A SLOPE WILL NOT STOP ROLLING

Q: My ball landed on the edge of a sloped green. After cleaning and trying to replace it, the ball kept rolling downhill toward the hole. Moving it ‘no nearer to the hole’ would have put me off the green, which seems unfair. Is my status on the green protected?

A: Unlike ambassadors, your ball has no diplomatic immunity on the green. According to Rule 20-3d, a ball that won’t stay put after you attempt to replace it twice should be placed in a spot as close as possible to the original resting place and no nearer to the hole. If the only place your ball will stay put is on the fringe, that’s where you’re stuck. Remember, sometimes it’s better to have a mucked-up ball.

GREEN: REPAIRING PITCH MARK UNDER A BALL AT REST

Q: My ball came to rest on the green in an unrepaired pitch mark. I argued that I could mark and lift my ball, move my marker and then repair the depression. But a buddy in my foursome said I couldn’t fix it because it was a pitch mark from another ball.

A: According to Rule 16-1c, you may repair any hole plug or other damage to the green caused by the impact of a ball, even if that damage is under your ball. If you accidentally move your ball marker while repairing the green, you may replace it without penalty.

GREEN: REPLACING BALL

Q: I was playing with two friends when I replaced my ball on the green. I stepped up to address it, but one buddy pointed out that my ball was a yellow one from my pocket, not the white one I had hit onto the green. I replaced it with the original ball, but my other friend then interceded, saying that since I had placed and addressed my ball on the green, I had already “played” the substituted ball, even without hitting it. What do you say?

A: When is a stroke not a stroke? Certainly not in this case. Although playing the substituted ball would have been a breach of Rule 15-2 (and a two-stroke penalty), Decision 15-2/2 makes it clear that the punishment should only be meted out if you actually hit the incorrect ball — simply placing and addressing it is not enough. As long as you replaced your original ball in the correct spot (and, assuming you marked and placed the yellow ball correctly, there is no reason to assume you didn’t), then you’re in the clear. Next time just use proper manners and keep your hands out of your pockets.

GREEN: STANDING ON EXTENSION OF LINE OF PLAY OR LINE OF PUTT 

Q.  My opponent or fellow-competitor always stands behind me while I am playing a stroke? Isn`t this a penalty? 

A.  Rule 14-2b only prohibits a player from allowing his partner or their caddies from standing in this position. While it may be a breach of Etiquette, there is no penalty under the Rules. A solution is to politely ask your opponent or fellow-competitor to move to one side or the other. (Rule 14-2b)

GREEN: STOMPING THE PUTTING GREEN AFTER A PUTT

Q: I had a long eagle putt on a short par 5. I couldn’t see the hole, so after I hit the ball, I followed it toward the cup. I got there just as the ball did and when it started to slow near the hole, I jokingly stamped my foot to ‘help’ the ball go in. Well, it did, and I left the green wondering whether my River dance impression actually caused it to fall. I may have cheated myself out of my first eagle

A: You might need a leap of faith to believe this complicated ruling. According to Decision 1-2/4, if the ball was still moving when you stamped your foot, you are deemed to have taken action to influence the movement of the ball, which is a two-stroke penalty. If it was at rest when you stamped your foot, it would’ve only been a one-stroke penalty and you would have had to replace the ball. If it was not possible to tell whether it was moving or not, the Rules are not kind here because it is presumed to be moving if it cannot be determined that it was at rest. So instead of your coveted eagle, you actually scored a par.

GREEN: UNKNOWN TO YOU, YOUR BALL MARKED BY OPPONENT

Q: You play a shot out of a bunker onto the green, where it ends up in your buddy’s putting line. Your playing partner marks your ball and places it nearby on the green, but you’re unaware he moved your ball and you play from there and hole out.

A: Since you did not know that your buddy moved your ball, you are not penalized, according to Decision 15-3b/3. If you become aware of the mistake before playing from the next tee, you must replace your ball on the correct spot on the green, without penalty, and hole out. If you learn of the mistake after playing from the next tee, your score stands and there is no penalty.

GREEN: USE OF TEE AS MARKER

Q: I was playing a round with my friend and was on the green about 20 feet from the hole. My friend stuck a tee into the ground (as his ball marker) about five feet from the hole. His marker was close to the line I was using, but I didn’t ask him to move it — I figured the chances of hitting it were slim. Naturally, my putt grazed the tee and dropped right into the center of the hole. Had my ball not hit his tee, it would not have gone in. Should I have taken a penalty? Should he have?

A: The USGA makes recommendations on what ball markers should look like (small and flat), but in reality you can use pretty much whatever you want — although that’s usually how you get into situations like this one. Decision 20-1/17 spells out this exact scenario, and you’ll be happy with the answer. Your friend’s tee is not an illegal ball marker, and hitting it incurs no penalty. When your ball deflects off another player’s marker, you must play it as it lies — or, in your case, you must bend over and fish it out of the hole.

GREEN: WHO PLAYS FIRST?

Q.  Clyde`s ball lies 10 feet from the hole, but in a bunker. Lew`s ball lies 15 feet from the hole on the putting green. Who must play first? 

A.  The ball farther from the hole must be played first, regardless of the location of the ball. Lew must play first from the putting green before Clyde plays from the bunker. (Rules 10-1b and 10-2b)

HAZARD: RAISING THE HAZARD STAKE

Q: When inside a hazard, can you remove the stake marking the hazard? There is also a line accompanying the stake, and the stake is on the line.

A: Forced to hazard a guess in this situation (pun definitely intended), most players would choose to play it safe and take a drop away from the stake. While it may seem unnatural and downright weird to be pulling a stake out of the ground, most of the time you are actually well within your rights to do so. Any hazard stake that is easily removed from the earth would be considered a movable obstruction, and under Rule 24-1a, you are allowed to move such obstructions without penalty. If the hazard stake were purposely made unduly difficult or impossible to remove, however (by being encased in or made of concrete for example), it would be considered an immovable obstruction, and you would have to take relief in the hazard with a one-stroke penalty (Rule 24-2).

It’s also worth mentioning that the same logic cannot be applied to boundary stakes. If you remove one of those, you’re subject to a two-stroke penalty (Rule 13-2). If you’re up against an out of bounds stake, then you’re fresh out of luck.

HAZARD: (YELLOW STAKES) WATER HAZARD; (RED STAKES) LATERAL WATER HAZARD

Q: You hit your tee shot on a par 3 and carry a hazard, which is marked by yellow stakes. It lands on the bank but rolls back into the water. You say you should drop on the green side of the hazard, but one of your playing partners says you must drop on the other side.

A: You should drop on the tee side of the hazard, keeping the point where the ball last crossed the hazard line between you and the hole. The option of dropping within two club-lengths of where the ball last crossed the hazard line is available only for lateral water hazards, marked by red stakes. Since this is a regular water hazard, the fact that the ball landed past the hazard line before rolling back into the hazard is immaterial (Rule 26-1).

LINE OF PLAY: IMPROVING YOUR LINE

Q: You find your ball on the fringe and plan to use your putter. There is some sand from the greenside bunker in your line, so you brush away the sand before you make a stroke, but one of your playing partners questions your action.

A: Under Rule 23, sand and loose soil are considered to be loose impediments only on the green. You must take a 2-stroke penalty for improving your line (Rule 13-2).

LINE OF PLAY:  MOSS HANGING FROM A TREE

Q: I hit a ball underneath an oak with Spanish moss hanging from its limbs. I decided to chip my ball back into the fairway, but there were long pieces of moss hanging in my way. I reasoned that they were loose impediments and pulled them off the tree, giving me a clear path. Did I make the right choice?

A: Ay, caramba! Spanish moss is pretty, but it can definitely cause some overgrowth on your scorecard. If the moss is on the ground, it’s considered a loose impediment and can be removed without penalty (Rule 23-1). But Decision 13-2/37 states that if the moss is growing on a tree, removing it is considered improving your line of play, which will cost you a two-stroke penalty (or loss of hole in match play).

LINE OF PLAY: SPIDER WEB IN THE WAY

Q: In preparing for a shot, I brushed away a spider web suspended between two low-hanging branches. My pal said I should be penalized because the web was ‘fixed’ to the tree. Was he right?

A: A spider and its web are loose impediments (just like other natural objects such as leaves or worms). And while it is illegal to remove impediments that are fixed or growing, Decision 23/5.5 makes an exception for spider webs, stating they are akin to ‘a cast made by an insect … even if attached to another object,’ and are therefore moveable. And you thought Rules Guy wasn’t web savvy.

LOOSE IMPEDIMENT: BIG BOULDER

Q: My partner landed his second shot directly behind a large “man-placed” (but real) boulder. He could have moved it and then played his shot, but he decided to just move the ball and take a stroke penalty. Since the boulder is not natural to the environment but a decoratively placed feature, could he have moved the boulder without penalty?

A: Regardless of whether it got there by way of avalanche or pickup truck, a natural stone of any size can be considered a loose impediment. Decision 23-1/2 allows a player to move a rock of any size that’s in front of his ball, with the important caveat that moving the rock does not unduly slow down the pace of play. Another fun fact: If the rock proved too big for him to handle on his own, Decision 23-1/3 says that you (or any caddie, player or spectator) could have lent him a helping hand without penalty. In this case, a rolling stone gathers no strokes.

LOOSE IMPEDIMENT: LOOSE OR NATURAL?

Q: Your tee shot comes to rest at the base of a tree. A twig lies directly behind your ball, but you can’t tell if the twig is loose or attached to the tree’s roots. You pull on the twig and discover it is attached, but your playing partner says you should be penalized for improving the area of your intended swing by tugging on the twig.

A: There is no penalty as long as you return the twig to its original position before you play your next stroke. According to Decision 13-2/26, you are allowed to move a natural object to determine whether it is loose as long as you return it to its earlier position. Play ball as it lies.

LOOSE IMPEDIMENT: LOOSE IMPEDIMENTS MOVED IN HAZARD WHILE SEARCHING FOR BALL 

Q.  While searching for her ball believed to be covered by loose impediments in a hazard, Heather moved some twigs and leaves. What is the ruling? 

A.  Under Rule 12-1, Heather may move twigs or leaves while searching for her ball, but if the ball moves in the process she is penalized one stroke under rule 18-2a and must replace her ball. She must replace any twigs, leaves or other loose impediments moved. There is no penalty if the ball moves while she is replacing the loose impediments moved while searching, but the ball must be replaced.

LOOSE IMPEDIMENT: OUT ON A (BROKEN) LIMB

Q: A buddy of mine sliced his drive into a thin patch of woods. When we got to the ball, he found it just in front of a substantial tree limb that had been knocked down in the last rainstorm. It was huge, and covered in smaller branches. My friend considered picking up the wood, but instead he lazily began snapping branches off of the limb in order to clear his club path. I called foul, telling him he had to add two strokes, but couldn’t really explain why. He claimed that he did nothing wrong. Tell him what’s what.

A: When two friends have an argument about the Rules of Golf, most of the time one of them is just flat out wrong. This time, it’s you. Had the branch been attached to a tree, you would be absolutely right — the limb would not have been considered a loose impediment, and moving it would have been considered improving your friend’s stance (Rule 13-2). However, because the branch was on the ground, it was a loose impediment, and, according to Decision 23-1/4, a player is allowed to move or physically break off a piece off of a loose impediment rather than moving the impediment as a whole. Your buddy was right not to take any penalty, and you missed the mark.

MOVABLE OBSTRUCTION: CHUNK OF ASPHALT

Q: My opponent’s ball came to rest in a hazard next to a small chunk of asphalt. He claimed he could remove the asphalt because it was a movable obstruction. I said he couldn’t because it was in a hazard. Rules Guy?

A: A movable obstruction, be it through the green or in a hazard, is defined as an artificial object that can be moved without unreasonable effort and without delaying play or causing damage to the course (otherwise it is deemed an immovable obstruction). So under Rule 24-1, your opponent was free to toss the tarmac from the hazard without penalty.

OB: BOUNDARY ISSUES

Q: I hit my drive close to a fence and the only way to advance my ball would be to stand on the other side of the fence (out of bounds) and hit it from there. Is this possible to do without penalty?

A: This is a shockingly common question, as a lot of players are confused by the rules regarding out of bounds. These players are easily recognized, as they can be seen scurrying to their rulebooks every time their ball comes within a few yards of an OB marker. Assuming that you are able to actually swing at your ball “through” the fence (and I doubt you’d be asking this question if you couldn’t), this particular situation is anything but unusual, and the answer is so simple that it’s dealt with right up at the front of the Rules of Golf. According to the very definition of out of bounds, a ball is only OB “when all of [the ball] lies out of bounds.” In fact, the USGA specifically states that a player is entitled to stand out of bounds to play a ball lying within bounds. So, the next time you find your feet crossing that imaginary line, have no fear — you’re doing it without penalty.

OB: HIT TWO BALLS ASSUMED OB BUT BOTH INBOUND AND IDENTICAL

Q: A buddy in my group pushed his tee shot into a tree line. He thought it might be lost, so he hit a provisional—and this flew directly into the same tree line. We thought we could find at least one of the balls, and we found both—10 feet from each other, identical and unmarked. It turns out he grabbed both balls from the same sleeve. Should he have returned to the tee hitting 5? Or could he have chosen one of them and hit 3?

A: Make sure to let your buddy know that his honesty will be rewarded with a gift from the Rules gods. Under Decision 27/11, if both balls are found inbounds and through the green, it wouldn’t be fair (or expedient) to return to the tee playing 5. So he should’ve selected one of the balls, treated it as his provisional and put the other in his bag.

STANCE:  CART PATH

Q: I hit my drive directly next to a tree, in a position that would make it impossible to take a proper right-handed stance. When I tried addressing the ball for a left-handed swing, however, I found myself standing on the cart path. I took a drop, which gave me a clear line to the green — as a righty. So I took a normal swing. But I felt like I was getting away with something. Was I?

A: This conundrum can be solved only with a dose of honesty. Ask yourself, “If the cart path weren’t there, would I still hit the shot left-handed?” If the answer is “no” — that is, if you’re trying to get out of taking an awkward swing — then you’re trying to game the Rules system, and you must play the ball as it lies, path or no path. (Decision 24-2b/18). But if you answer “yes,” you’re entitled to free relief from the cart path (or any other obstruction), according to Decision 24-2b/19. Take your drop and play your next shot left- or right-handed. Your conscience is clear, and so is your scorecard.

STANCE:  LEFT FOOT ON A TEE BOX MARKER

Q: While standing on the tee box, I noticed that my competitor was placing his left foot against the tee marker, which was a large block of wood. He did this on every tee box to help stabilize his stance. This didn’t seem legal to me, so I called him on it. He said there was nothing in the Rule book that said he couldn’t. Is he right?

A: Believe it or not, there is nothing in the Rules of Golf that prohibits the action described, provided your buddy did not cause the tee-marker to move while taking his stance. If he did cause it to move, he would incur a two-stroke penalty under Rule 13-2.

SWING: HITTING A BALL TO A DRIVING RANGE

Q: While playing a hole that abuts a practice range, I mindlessly whacked an errant range ball from the fairway back to the range. Did that constitute ‘practice’ during a round, which I know is a no-no?

A: Your answer depends on your intent. If you purposely addressed the ball to work out a kink in your swing, then you should have been penalized two strokes under Rule 7-2. In your case, however, it sounds like you casually knocked the ball back to the range to merely tidy up the fairway, which is both permitted (by Decision 7-2/5) and appreciated (by green keepers everywhere).

SWING: MAKING A SWING

Q: In an effort to slay the dreaded shanks, I ran across a tip that involves addressing the ball as if I’m going to hit it, and then taking a practice swing in which I miss the ball to the inside, reminding me to clear my hips. It works so well that I’ve made it a regular part of my pre-shot routine. Trouble is, my buddies say that, since I’m addressing the ball, my practice swing counts as a stroke. They all know my routine, and that my “whiff” is intentional, but they insist it counts. Do I have to give it up?

A:  According to Rule 7, a practice swing may be taken at any time, at any place, provided it does not break any other rules. Even the definition of a “stroke” by USGA standards involves intent, as it is “a forward movement of the club made with the intention of striking at and moving the ball.” If you have no intention of hitting the ball, then you’re in the clear. It’s a gentleman’s (and lady’s) game, so your friends will just have to trust you.

SWING: PRACTICE SWING ACCIDENTALLY MOVES BALL BEFORE STROKE ON TEEING GROUND 

Q.  Before making a stroke on the teeing ground, a player makes a practice swing and accidentally knocks the ball off the tee with the club. Is there a penalty? 

A.  There is no penalty as the ball was not in play. Additionally, the player has not made a stroke – see Definition of “Stroke.” The player must put a ball into play from the teeing ground. (Decision 18-2a/19)

SWING: PRACTICE SWING ACCIDENTALLY MOVES BALL IN PLAY 

Q.  While making a practice swing, Brenda accidentally moved her ball in play with her club. What is the ruling? 

A.  Brenda incurs a one stroke penalty, and must replace the ball to its original position. If she fails to replace the ball, she will incur a total penalty of loss of hole in match play or two strokes in stroke play. Please refer to the Penalty Statement under Rule 18. (Rule 18-2a and Decision 18-2a/20)

Ball Redrop

Scenario 1

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Ask Linda #277-Ball trapped by rake

http://lindamillergolf.blogspot.ca/

Linda,

This one has been driving the boys crazy. We play at a course where rakes are both left in and out of the traps on a daily basis. We all agree our dilemma comes down to rules interpretation, but with that said… well…here we go. A trap wall is at about a 35 degree angle, the land above the wall is at the same steep angle. A rake lies completely in or half in said trap. If completely in the trap…the rake lies east to west. If half in…the rake lies north to south. A player’s shot/ball comes to rest and is being pinched by said rake at the highest point of the trap wall. Without the rake being present the ball would roll down the trap wall but remain in the bunker. We all agree the rake is an artificial moveable object [obstruction]. What we can’t agree upon is whether the ball is “in or on” the moveable object. Because the rules take the time to talk about moveable objects and differentiate between just being able to move an object out of the way without moving the ball, many of us think that if the rake’s prongs (north to south) or handle (east to west) is holding the ball in place (90% of the ball’s weight is on the rake), the ball is in fact “in or on” the rake. Thus a drop is allowed at the point where the ball was picked up and then the resulting drop rules apply. If the artificial object can’t be removed without affecting the lie of the ball, doesn’t one have to come to the conclusion that the ball is again “in or on” the moveable object?

Others believe the ball, in this instance, isn’t “in or on” the rake, but up against it. That even if the object is holding the weight of the ball, the ball would have to be balancing on the rake, completely, in order for it to be considered “in or on” the rake. They further believe the ball is then to be placed in the exact spot it was removed from, even if this means digging a hole at the apex of the wall of the trap (that wasn’t there to begin with) and indenting the ball into the sand so it doesn’t roll down the wall of the trap again and again. Some then believe that if this step is taken one might or might not be improving his or her lie in the trap by making a perfect little indentation in the sand to hold the ball.

Your thoughts and/or exact way rules apply would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Lou Lou

Dear Lou,

Assuming the ball is touching some sand, it is not “in or on” the rake; it is leaning against it. It is not possible for a ball to be “in” a rake (“in” would apply to such obstructions as open trash receptacles); it is unlikely that a ball would be sitting on top of a rake, not touching the sand. Here is the proper relief procedure for a ball that is resting against a rake:

1. Mark the spot where the ball lies, and then lift the rake.
2. If the ball moves (and we both know that it will), you must try to replace it.
3. If the ball will not remain in place, you must place it in the hazard at the nearest spot where it will stay put that is no closer to the hole [Rule 20-3d, ii]. You are not permitted to press it into the sand to keep it from rolling away [Decision 20-3d/2].

This is the entire answer to your dilemma. It seems obvious to me that this is a hole where players should be instructed to place the rakes outside the bunker. A simple way to get this message across is to tape a “Please place rakes outside the bunker” notice on the handles of the rakes.

Here are two similar situations and their corresponding relief procedures:

1. Suppose that the ball is caught behind a rake in the very back of a bunker where it slopes down. When the rake is lifted, the ball rolls forward. The slope is so severe and the sand is so firm that the ball rolls closer to the hole when it is replaced. There is no spot behind where the ball lay where it will remain at rest. In this situation, the only choices would be to hit the ball from where you hit your previous shot or drop it outside the bunker on the line-of-sight to the hole. Either choice will add a one-stroke penalty to your score, since you are taking the ball out of the bunker. This seemingly unfair but inescapable penalty could be avoided if players were instructed to place rakes outside bunkers.
2. Suppose that the wall of the bunker is not part of the bunker. Sometimes bunker walls are covered in grass or consist of stacked turf. A bunker wall that is not covered by sand (or a similar added material) is not in the bunker [Definition of Bunker].

Let’s revisit the situation you described, only this time the ball will be stopped by a rake that is lying on a grass-covered wall surrounding the hazard. After you mark the ball and lift the rake, the ball rolls away. When you attempt to replace it (remember, you are not permitted to push it down into the ground to try to keep it from rolling), it rolls again. Since you are not in a bunker, you are now required to place the ball on the nearest spot where it will remain at rest that is not in the bunker and no closer to the hole. Note that this new spot may significantly improve your lie, as the nearest relief may turn out to be on level ground alongside or behind the bunker.

Sometimes relief procedures will give you grief (Situation #1), and sometimes they will bring you joy (Situation #2). Such is golf.

Linda

Scenario 2

Friday, November 1, 2013

Ask Linda 741-Drop rolls onto cart path

http://lindamillergolf.blogspot.ca/

Dear Linda,

At our golf course we have a cart path intersecting the fairway and on both sides is a steep slope (so steep that it is impossible for a ball to stay on the slope …it will always roll back onto the path). As this is the case, can a player take relief from the cart path far away from where his ball came to rest in order to find a “friendly” area to drop the ball or…must he play the ball off the cart path?

Thank you,

Lou from Ontario

Dear Lou,

The Rules require that a ball be dropped within one club-length of the nearest point of relief from the cart path that is no closer to the hole [Rule 24-2b]. If the player drops the ball and it rolls onto the cart path, he must re-drop [Rule 20-2c (v)]. If the re-drop also rolls onto the cart path, the player must place the ball on the spot where it hit the ground when it was dropped the second time [Rule 20-2c, last sentence]. If the placed ball will not remain at rest after two tries, it must be placed at the nearest spot that is no closer to the hole and not in a hazard where it will stay put [Rule 20-3d (i)].

The player may not seek a “friendly” area far away from the cart path. This would constitute dropping in a wrong place. If he played that ball, the penalty would be two strokes/loss of hole.

Linda

Ball hits a marker that moved

David Frost of the Champions Tour was leading by two strokes over Tom Leahman who was in the last group following David’s group at the Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic on a Sunday’s final round, March 29, 2015. At the par 3 17th hole, David fired a good shot 10 feet over the hole for a birdie. After marking his ball, he picked the ball up but dropped it and hit his marker. The marker moved. He was assessed by the golf official with one stroke penalty and was asked to replace the ball to its original position. He made bogey on that hole including one stroke penalty. David won the tournament after Lehman missed a ten-footer to tie him on the 18^th hole.