Barry’s Reply:

There is no penalty for moving an opponent’s ball during search (Rule 18-3a). Because the ball was moved, it must be replaced (not dropped).

The original lie in the bunker should be recreated before the ball is replaced.

We affirm that since he is hitting the ball from outside the marked boundaries and that his left foot is in front of those boundaries and the fact that he is using the T marker as a swing aide he should receive a penalty.

So, what are the rules that govern this behavior and just how many strokes should he be penalized if any?

Barry’s Reply:

The player incurs no penalty. Rule 11-1 states, ‘A player may stand outside the teeing ground to play a ball within it.’ The player is also entitled to use the tee marker as a guide to his swing but the tee marker is fixed and he must not move it in any way.

This statement makes no sense to me. Did you mean the competitor incurs no penalty for having putted from the right place after being penalised for playing from the wrong place. If he holes out from the wrong place surely he still incurs a penalty and has to replay his shot from the right place with the appropriate penalty.

Barry’s Reply:

I understand your confusion as the question in the Decision I referred to was slightly different from the original question posed. If you read Decision 20-7c/1 again you will see that the player, having realised that he had holed out from the wrong place, put his ball down again in the right place and holed out for a second time. This was not necessary, as the Rules permit the strokes to count even though they were made from a place that was nearby to where the ball had originally come to rest, but with a penalty of two strokes. The second paragraph of the answer to the Decision points out that having incurred the two strokes penalty there is no further penalty for playing additional strokes on the same hole, the reason being that the ball had been holed out according to the Rules and was therefore not in play.

I really enjoyed the rules, and hopefully have learnt a bit more about golf.

Can you please answer these two questions.

Question 1
Recently when we were playing in a stroke competition, Player A hit his drive on a par 4 hole, then hit a second shot. When he got near the green he realised that he had hit the wrong ball on the second shot. He went back to where he thought his original drive had finished but could not find his ball. He then returned to the tee block to hit another ball.

After this second hit from the tee block, how many strokes had he had????

Hopefully you can provide an answer as we have several different opinions that different people feel they can justify.

Question 2
In handicap match play, strokes are given according to the match play index. If a game is even and has to go to the 19th ( and maybe beyond) are strokes still given?

Thanks

John

Barry’s Reply:

1. Player A would be lying 5. First stroke off the tee, two penalty strokes for playing a wrong ball (no matter how many strokes he had played with the wrong ball), stroke and distance penalty for losing his original ball, and his 5th being his second stroke from the teeing ground.

2. Yes, If a match goes to the 19th hole, and beyond, the same handicap stroke table applies as for the 18 holes.

Q. Marking a ball on the green with the tip of a tee is not testing the surface is it?
2nd Q Reapoiring the cup from a blown flag which causes a indent is it allowed to repair the cup before putting. Reading the rules I say you can’t is that correct?

Barry’s Reply:

1. No, Decision 20-1/16 specifically permits the marking the position of a ball with a tee, although it is not a recommended practice.

2. You are correct. In most cases a player may not repair damage to a hole (other than that made by a ball) before completing play of that hole. However, Decision 16-1a/6 states that if the proper dimensions of the hole have been changed materially, and there is no Committee member readily available, the player may repair damage to the hole without penalty. In my opinion an indent made by a flagstick would not qualify as material damage and should not be repaired until play of the hole has been completed.

Thank you so much for reiterating the rules of golf, it is so important to get it right.
I’m a fairly new player and lost my first match play only because I inadvertently scored incorrectly on the first side. My opponent had the advantage of being a player for over 30 years and certainly did not point this my error out to me. It is a lesson I’ll not forget in a hurry. Could you explain the scoring for match play showing a score card diagram I’m sure this would help other new players like myself.

Thanks again for your really interesting news letters.

Kind regards, Sheila

Barry’s Reply:

I am afraid that your opponent has definitely taken advantage of your lack of knowledge about match play as there is no requirement in the Rules of Golf to keep a score card, so there is no way that you should have lost on the basis that you completed a card incorrectly.

Rule 2-1 states; ‘A match consists of one Side playing against another over a stipulated round unless otherwise decreed by the Committee.
In match play the game is played by holes.
Except as otherwise provided in the Rules, a hole is won by the Side that holes its ball in the fewer strokes. In a handicap match, the lower net score wins the hole. The state of the match is expressed by the terms: so many “holes up” or “all square,” and so many “to play.’

It is up to the opponents to check the state of the match with the other after completion of each hole so that they know where they stand.

Barry’s Reply:

The note to Rule 20-1 states, ‘The position of a ball to be lifted should be marked by placing a ball-marker, a small coin or other similar object immediately behind the ball.’ So there is certainly no penalty for marking a ball with a 10 cents piece. In fact, the responsibility is with the player. If he thinks that any ball marker may interfere with his play, stance or stroke, he should ask for it to be placed one or more clubhead-lengths to one side.

Barry’s Reply:

The first point raised by this question is that Rule 6-6 states; ‘After each hole the marker should check the score with the competitor and record it.’ However, you will note that this is only a recommendation and does not carry any penalty for non-compliance.

If a marker insists on signing for a score that includes a penalty that the player disputes, the player must report the facts of the situation to the Committee immediately he finishes the stipulated round and before returning his card. After ascertaining the facts of the situation from the player, marker and anyone else who witnessed the play of the hole (such as another fellow competitor, caddie or
spectator) the Committee should then decide as to whether the penalty should be applied. If they resolve in favour of the player and the marker still refuses to sign the card the Committee should ask the marker to authenticate those scores which he considers correct and accept the player’s score of the hole in question without certification (Decision 6-6a/4)