Golf Swing Secrets Revealed » Rules of Golf

Do You Know These Six Rules of Golf?

Barry Rhodes — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 16:08:24 +0000

Golf rules expert and author of “999 Questions on the Rules of Golf” Barry Rhodes answers six questions on the rules of golf below.

But first I wanted to report that I’m very happy to announce that Barry will personally sign your own copy of “999 Questions on the Rules of Golf” and post it to you anywhere in the world for free!

Grab your copy here, remember no shipping fees.

In fact if you order 3 copies you will receive a great 20% discount, and even better 25% discount for an order of 5 copies.

Please email Barry direct at if you would like to order more than 3 copies (e.g. for your Golf Club). Take a look here, to find out how this outstanding book will save you many shots as I can highly recommend it.

The book contains:

* 999 questions in 3 sections; easy, moderate and harder
* 3 formats for the questions; true/false, open ended, multiple choice
* Reference to the relevant Definition, Rule or Decision for every answer
* Explanations to aid readers understanding of the Rule
* An easy, look-up index to resolve the myriad situations that occur on the course
* Questions on all 34 Rules and 126 sub-sections

Here are the 6 questions on the rules of golf:

RULES OF GOLF QUESTION 1 :

I wonder if you would be able to solve a problem we are having within the club in regard to the Rules of Golf. The rule which is causing concern and some discussion is regarding ‘using the back of a club to hit a ball’. Whilst it states that a club may only have one hitting surface except in the case of a Putter which is so designed to have two parallel surfaces, I am unable to find a specific rule that states it is illegal to use the back of a club to hit a ball. Others differ and interpret the ‘one hitting surface’ as a rule in this regard. I would appreciate clarification in this regard, advising which particular rule applies and the appropriate penalty.

RULES OF GOLF ANSWER 1 :

I can confirm that it is within the Rules to make a stroke with the back, toe, or heel of any club, including the putter. However, it is not permitted to make a stroke with the grip end of the club. Decision 14-1 confirms this;

“Q. May a player play a left-handed stroke with the back of the head of a right-handed club?
A. Yes. A player may play a stroke with any part of the clubhead, provided the ball is fairly struck at (Rule 14-1) and the club conforms with Rule 4-1.”

RULES OF GOLF QUESTION 2 :

What happens if you accidentally mark your ball on the apron of the green but do not clean it and then realise that it was not on the green and replace it? In stroke play and in match play with the Rule no. please.

RULES OF GOLF ANSWER 2 :

In either stroke play or match play there is a penalty of one stroke for touching your ball while it is in play, Rule 18-2a(i). There is no further penalty, even if the player does clean their ball, Decision 18-2a/13.

RULES OF GOLF QUESTION 3 :

I have been using a distance measuring device for the past few monthly games as it was granted a go ahead since the USGA allows such device. However, during the last game, the Tournament Director announced over the loud hailer before the shot gun start that this device is not allowed; unfortunately I was busy and never hear the announcement. So, my questions are as follows;
a. Does breach of rules for stroke play in above situation is 2 strokes penalty (by default) or immediate DQ?
b. Does the Committee have the right to over-rule the decision of the Tournament Director?

RULES OF GOLF ANSWER 3 :

You are correct in saying that the USGA permits the use of distance measuring devices, but only if the Committee makes a Local Rule allowing players to use them (Rule 14-3). The penalty for breaching this Rule is disqualification. I assume that the Tournament Director knew that the Committee had not introduced the Local Rule before he made the announcement.

RULES OF GOLF QUESTION 4 :

Wind is an outside agency and the ball must be played where it ends up, but what if a ball at rest on the green moves due to gravity (from being on a slight slope) or due to falling into a small indentation in the green underneath the ball – and before the player has addressed it?

RULES OF GOLF ANSWER 4 :

No, wind is not an Outside Agency. Part of the Definition states,
“Neither wind nor water is an outside agency.”

So, if a player’s ball moves before they have addressed it, but they did not cause it to move, there is no penalty and it has to be played from where it comes to rest, whether this is nearer or further away from the hole. It does not matter whether the ball moved due to wind, gravity or some other natural source.

You may find these two blogs of mine on similar subjects interesting;

http://www.barryrhodes.com/2009/04/when-wind-moves-your-ball-in-play.html
http://www.barryrhodes.com/2010/06/striking-moving-ball.html

RULES OF GOLF QUESTION 5 :

Please inform me of what the following ruling would be. I thought I knew but somehow this eludes me. My ball is beside the green (in the fairway or rough) I have not addressed the ball, but make a practice swing and accidentally hit my ball. What do I do? Next, my ball is on the green and moves in the same manner. I am taking a practice putt and accidentally hit my ball. What do I do?

I know of instances of replacing the ball on the green and need clarification as when this happens.

RULES OF GOLF ANSWER 5 :

In both your scenarios when a player’s ball is in play, if he causes it to move, except as permitted by a Rule, the player incurs a penalty of one stroke and the ball must be replaced, (Rule 18-2a).

RULES OF GOLF QUESTION 6 :

I really want to know what is the Rule of play for two scenarios below concerning order of play;
1. When two players are at different locations, one 20m from the hole but on the green and the other is 5m from the hole but off the green. What is the order of play?

2. Two players playing a par-5, index 2 in a stableford competition, one player, with a handicap of 1, holes out with 5 strokes resulting in 2 points and the other player, with a handicap of 20, holes out with 6 getting 3 points. Who will get the honour on the next tee? Does the honour depend on the points or strokes made for that particular hole?

RULES OF GOLF ANSWER 6 :

In answer to your first question, Rule 10-2b states that in stroke play,
“The ball farthest from the hole is played first. If two or more balls are equidistant from the hole or their positions relative to the hole are not determinable, the ball to be played first should be decided by lot.”

Therefore, the player whose ball is 20m from the hole plays first.

In answer to your second question, in a Stableford competition the person who scored the most points on the hole has the honour on the next teeing ground. Part of Rule 32-1 states;

“In handicap bogey, par and Stableford competitions, the competitor with the lowest net score at a hole takes the honour at the next teeing ground.”

So, in any competition where handicaps are taken into account on each hole the honour is determined by the net score for the hole. In a pure strokes competition, where the handicap is deducted at the end of the stipulated round, it is the gross score that determines the honour.

I hope that I can encourage you to visit my blog on the Rules of Golf at http://www.barryrhodes.com. If you are interested in Rules situations I think that you will find it informative and will learn from it. You can ensure that you are notified of any new posting on this blog by subscribing at the top right corner of the home page. I promise that your email address will remain confidential and will never be shared with anyone else.”

You can access another 999 golf questions and answers here:

http://www.BarryRhodes.com – Miscellaneous content on the Rules of Golf.
Author of the book ‘999 Questions on the Rules of Golf’

Gain instant access to “The Rules Of Golf Course” – Club secretaries have been praying For – for decades!

Visit here for more Rules of Golf questions.

Disclaimer: Whilst every attempt has been made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of this information on the Rules of Golf I am human and have been known to be wrong! Neither I, nor anyone connected with GolfSwingSecretsRevealed.com, shall be held responsible for any losses caused by reliance upon the accuracy or reliability of such information. Readers should refer to the full text of the rules and decisions as published in the official publications of the R&A and the USGA, The Rules of Golf 2008-2011 and Decisions on the Rules of Golf 2008-2009.

Eight Golf Rules About The Golf Ball

Andy Brown — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 15:28:58 +0000

Golf rules expert and author of “999 Questions on the Rules of Golf” Barry Rhodes answers eight questions relating to the golf ball and the rules of golf below.

Grab your copy here, remember no shipping fees.

In fact if you order 3 copies you will receive a great 20% discount, and even better 25% discount for an order of 5 copies.

The book contains:

Here are the 8 questions on the rules of golf:

GOLF BALL – RULES OF GOLF QUESTION 1 :

I take address on a T-box. On my downswing a gust of wind blows the ball off the tee and it rolls about an inch away. I am unable to stop the swing and strike the ball. Do I incur a penalty stoke? What is the ruling?

GOLF BALL – RULES OF GOLF ANSWER 1 :

This is an interesting question that is answered by Rule 11-3, which states;

“If a ball, when not in play, falls off a tee or is knocked off a tee by the player in addressing it, it may be re-teed, without penalty. However, if a stroke is made at the ball in these circumstances, whether the ball is moving or not, the stroke counts, but there is no penalty.”

GOLF BALL – RULES OF GOLF QUESTION 2 :

Regarding GPS systems on golf buggies, many clubs are now allowing these in competitions but I cannot see where this has been sanctioned by the rules of golf. Can you advise, thanks

GOLF BALL – RULES OF GOLF ANSWER 2 :

The Note to Rule 14-3, Artificial Devices, Unusual Equipment and Unusual Use of Equipment, states,

“The Committee may make a Local Rule allowing players to use devices that measure or gauge distance only.”

So, GPS devices may only be used in competition if there is a Local Rule permitting their use. It is important to check this before the competition starts as the penalty for a breach of Rule 14-3 is disqualification.

GOLF BALL – RULES OF GOLF QUESTION 3 :

What is meant by casual water being an abnormal ground condition?

GOLF BALL – RULES OF GOLF ANSWER 3 :

An Abnormal Ground Condition is defined in the opening pages of the Rules book as follows;

“An abnormal ground condition is any casual water, ground under repair or hole, cast or runway on the course made by a burrowing animal, a reptile or a bird.”

Casual water is further defined as follows;

“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.”

Decision 25/1, relating to casual water, states;
“Q. Is soft, mushy earth casual water?

A. No. Soft, mushy earth is not casual water unless water is visible on the surface before or after the player takes his stance — see Definition of “Casual Water.”

GOLF BALL – RULES OF GOLF QUESTION 4 :

My wife was playing in a singles stableford competition and began playing with a Titleist ball. However, she had two balls in her pocket and inadvertently teed off with a Nike ball on the 4th tee without informing her playing partners. She only realised her mistake when she located her ball just off the fairway. Neither her playing partner nor herself were aware of the Rule and she continued to play the Nike ball finishing with a 4. She then announced that she was going to tee off with the Titleist, which she played with until the end of the round. She submitted her card duly signed by one of her playing partners. However she is now concerned that she acted incorrectly and should advise the club secretary and effectively disqualify herself for submitting an incorrect card. What is the appropriate Rule in this situation and what action should she take?

GOLF BALL – RULES OF GOLF ANSWER 4 :

You can tell your wife that she can relax as she did not break any Rule of Golf. Players may change their ball, and brand of ball, between holes unless the competition has a one ball rule, which is typically only used in tour events. Whilst it is courteous to tell your fellow competitors that you have changed balls there is no Rule that requires you to do so. Of course you cannot substitute a ball during the play of a hole. Rule 15-1 states;

“A player must hole out with the ball played from the teeing ground unless the ball is lost or out of bounds or the player substitutes another ball, whether or not substitution is permitted (see 15-2). If a player plays a wrong ball, see Rule 15-3.”

GOLF BALL – RULES OF GOLF QUESTION 5 :

Please advise under what circumstances a player would declare his ball as “unplayable”?

GOLF BALL – RULES OF GOLF ANSWER 5 :

Rule 28 states;
“The player may deem his ball unplayable at any place on the course, except when the ball is in a water hazard. The player is the sole judge as to whether his ball is unplayable.”

Usually, a player invoke this Rule when their ball is in a place where they would have trouble in making their next stroke and it is probably better for them to incur a penalty stroke and drop under one of the three options available under this Rule. Examples would be when your ball lies deep in a bush, or in very thick rough, or in the roots of a tree.

GOLF BALL – RULES OF GOLF QUESTION 6 :

After a tee shot a player’s ball crosses the course boundary, hits a tree that is wholly out of bounds and then bounces back onto the fairway. What is the ruling on this?

GOLF BALL – RULES OF GOLF ANSWER 6 :

It is of no consequence if a player’s ball travels out of bounds providing it lands back on the course. They play their ball as it lies without penalty.

GOLF BALL – RULES OF GOLF QUESTION 7 :

In a foursome, player A’s tee ball could not be found, but it might have entered a lateral water hazard. No one in the foursome saw the ball enter the hazard. Can an assumption be made that the ball entered the hazard, and then is Player A allowed to drop within 2 club lengths of where the ball is thought to have entered the hazard, and incur a one stroke penalty?

GOLF BALL – RULES OF GOLF ANSWER 7 :

Rule 26-1, Relief From Water Hazard (which includes a lateral water hazard) states;

“It is a question of fact whether a ball that has not been found after having been struck toward a water hazard is in the hazard. In order to apply this Rule, it must be known or virtually certain that the ball is in the hazard. In the absence of such knowledge or certainty, the player must proceed under Rule 27-1.”

So, where it is only likely that a ball might have come to rest in a lateral water hazard the only way to proceed is to go back to where the last stroke was made and drop a ball under penalty of stroke and distance (Rule 27-1, Ball Lost or Out of Bounds).

GOLF BALL – RULES OF GOLF QUESTION 8 :

After a stroke a player’s ball ends near, or maybe even touching, a white stake. Can you take relief without a penalty or do you play ball from where it lies?

GOLF BALL – RULES OF GOLF ANSWER 8 :

White stakes identifying out of bounds are not obstructions and are deemed to be fixed (see Definition of Out of Bounds). There is no relief from them. Therefore, the player must either play their ball as it lies or deem it unplayable and drop it according to one of the three options available under Rule 28, under penalty of one stroke.

You can access another 999 golf questions and answers here:

http://www.BarryRhodes.com – Miscellaneous content on the Rules of Golf.
Author of the book ‘999 Questions on the Rules of Golf’

Gain instant access to “The Rules Of Golf Course” – Club secretaries have been praying For – for decades!

Visit here for more Rules of Golf questions.

NEWS FLASH: Gutta Percha Ball to be used at The St Andrews Open

Andy Brown — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 03:31:37 +0000

Good news … at long last the R&A have decided to halt the advancement of technology and the need for longer and longer golf courses. Finally we can get back to how golf used to be played.

Last week I spoke to some of my golf course architect friends during the European Institute of Golf Course Architects conference held in St Andrews and many said if things carry on the way they were going, they would be designing 9000 yard courses by 2015!

Experts around the world have said for the last 20 years, that changes have to be made to the ball, and that’s exactly what has happened.

This morning the R&A will announce the reintroduction of the Gutta Percha ball, effective from Thursday 15th July 2010.

To begin with only professionals playing in R&A sanctioned events will be forced to play the affectionately known “Gutty”.

Interestingly this type of ball is made by boiling and then molding the latex-like sap from trees native to the Maylay peninsula. Rumour has it that Titleist have been working closely with a supplier in South East Asia, in a bid to secure the best crop of Sapodilla trees.

Robert Adams, CEO of Titleist, has already said on their Facebook page that they welcome this move by the game’s governing body and will be launching the new Titleist Gutty V1 in early May.

On a personal level it will great to see holes such as the par 5 5th hole ( “Hole O’Cross” ) on the Old Course play as a real 3 shoter during the Open in July.

Expect to see the full press release on the official R&A site later today at http://www.randa.org

Let me know your reaction by leaving a comment below. I understand not everyone will be happy with this new move.

Four Golf Rules Involving The Golf Ball

Andy Brown — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 18:57:39 +0000

Golf rules expert and author of “999 Questions on the Rules of Golf” Barry Rhodes answers four questions relating to the golf ball and the rules of golf below.

But first I wanted to report that I’m very happy to announce that Barry will personally sign your copy of “999 Questions on the Rules of Golf” and post it to you anywhere in the world for free!

Grab your copy here, remember no shipping fees.

In fact if you order 3 copies you will receive a great 20% discount, and even better 25% discount for an order of 5 copies.

The book contains:

Here are the 4 questions on the rules of golf:

GOLF BALL – RULES OF GOLF QUESTION 1 :

I have a golf question about the Rules. My golf partner on the tee box was just about to make contact with the ball when it fell back off the tee. He was able to still hit the ball into the fairway, but not very far. Does he get to hit again or play it where it lies?

GOLF BALL – RULES OF GOLF ANSWER 1 :

In the circumstances that you describe there is no penalty and the ball must be played from where it came to rest. Rule 11-3 states;

GOLF BALL – RULES OF GOLF QUESTION 2 :

Andy, If a tree is dead and has fallen over – not embedded in the ground – what part of the tree can be removed and is it a breach of the Rules if when trying to remove an offending branch it breaks from the dead tree?

GOLF BALL – RULES OF GOLF ANSWER 2 :

There are three Decisions that provide the answer to your question;

Decision 23-7:
Q. Is a fallen tree a loose impediment?
A. If it is still attached to the stump, no; if it is not attached to the stump, yes.

Decision 23-1/3:
Q. May spectators, caddies, fellow-competitors, etc., assist a player in removing a large loose impediment?
A. Yes.

Decision 23-1/4:
Q. If part of a large branch which has fallen from a tree (and thus is a loose impediment) interferes with a player’s swing, may the player break off the interfering part rather than move the whole branch?
A. Yes.

However, remember that you may not remove any part of the tree from a hazard if your ball lies in the same hazard.

GOLF BALL – RULES OF GOLF QUESTION 3 :

Andy, one of your Q&As says that a player is penalised if he “taps down scuff marks in the vicinity of the hole, but not on his line of putt”. If they were not on his line of putt, then how could it assist the player in his subsequent play of the hole.

GOLF BALL – RULES OF GOLF ANSWER 3 :

Few of us can guarantee that we will always hit our putts along the line that we intend and we might also overshoot the hole by a significant margin; perhaps on the putt back as well! Also, the wind or gravity may move a ball to a different position. Therefore, to avoid incurring a penalty, or an argument, it is strongly recommended that players should not repair any spike marks on the putting green until they have finished play of the hole.

GOLF BALL – RULES OF GOLF QUESTION 4 :

Hi Andy, I have one for you. Red stakes are surrounded by water because of heavy rainfall. The water level of the lake has risen past the markings. My ball lands outside the red stakes but under one foot of water which is now part of the lake. Do I get a free drop?

GOLF BALL – RULES OF GOLF ANSWER 4 :

Yes, in the circumstances that you describe you are entitled to take relief from the casual water without penalty, Rule 25-1b. But not under Rule 26-1, Relief from Water Hazard. Decision 25/2 is relevant;
Q. If a pond (water hazard) has overflowed, is the overflow casual water?
A. Yes. Any overflow of water from a water hazard which is outside the margin of the hazard is casual water.

You can access another 999 golf questions and answers here:

http://www.BarryRhodes.com – Miscellaneous content on the Rules of Golf.
Author of the book ‘999 Questions on the Rules of Golf’

Gain instant access to “The Rules Of Golf Course” – Club secretaries have been praying For – for decades!

Visit here for more Rules of Golf questions.

Do you know these 2 Rules of Golf?

Andy Brown — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 22:26:47 +0000

Here are a couple of recent golf rule questions I received in the past week. Thankfully golf rules expert and author of “999 Questions on the Rules of Golf” Barry Rhodes was on hand to give an accurate answer to each one.

He is currently offering personally signed copies of his book as a perfect golfing Christmas present, where he picks up the tab for shipping anywhere in the world. Take a look here, the offer lasts until 21st December 2009 and I can highly recommend it.

The book contains:

Here are the 2 questions on the rules of golf:

GOLF BALL – RULES OF GOLF QUESTION:

Hi Andy,

Thank you for all your informative support, it has helped immensely in my game. I have a question, if I start of the ball with a ball marked no 1, do I have to play the whole game with the same ball or can I change the balls during the various tee offs.

My point is that at hole no 1 the distance is 124 m and I use a ball marked no 1 because I read that it is used for short distances (0 and 1 marked soft). The next tee off is 331m and I want to use say a ball marked 2 or 3 because the trajectory is much greater and the ball will go further.

Please could you advice and guide me accordingly.

Thanks and Kind Regards

Steven

GOLF BALL – RULES OF GOLF ANSWER:

“There is nothing in the Rules to stop players changing the type of ball that they are playing with between holes or even during the play of a hole if their original ball is lost, or may be substituted within the Rules. The commonly held belief that this is not so is due to the fact that the Pro Tour events impose a Condition of Competition, known as the ‘one ball Rule’ (in the Rules book, it is in Appendix 1, Part C, c), which restricts the player to use the same brand and model of golf ball throughout the stipulated round.

Regards,

Barry

BUNKER PLAY – RULES OF GOLF QUESTION:

Hi Andy

On the 5th hole, I was told by my playing partner that I infringed a rule. This is what happened.

I put my approach into the bunker to the right of the green. I promptly picked up a rake and put it down near where my ball lay, played my shot and then raked the bunker. My playing partner told me that I had incurred a one shot penalty for testing the playing surface.

What is the ruling?

With Best Regards

David

BUNKER PLAY – RULES OF GOLF ANSWER:

David,

I am pleased to tell you that your playing partner was wrong. You can point him to Decision 13-4/0.5 which includes these words;

“Examples of actions that would not constitute testing the condition of the hazard include the following:

……placing an object, such as clubs or a rake, in the hazard”

Incidentally, had he been right because your action was intended to test the condition of the bunker it would have been two strokes penalty, not a one stroke penalty!

Regards,

Barry

http://www.BarryRhodes.com – Miscellaneous content on the Rules of Golf.
Author of the book ‘999 Questions on the Rules of Golf’

What Would A Better Understanding Of The Rules Of Golf Mean To Your Game? How Much Better Could Your Score Be If You Knew All Your Options On The Course? Click here to find out now …

Visit here for more Rules of Golf questions.

You Cannot Declare Your Ball Lost

Barry Rhodes — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 20:51:21 +0000

Here is an interesting question that I recently received on my blog site:

RULES OF GOLF QUESTION:

“Hi Barry,

I’m confused over you saying that you cannot declare your ball lost. If it is reasonable to assume that it is not in a hazard or out of bounds, I was under the assumption that you could declare it lost without looking for it? And I actually thought Phil Mickelson did this once in a tournament?

So I play ball A and it’s so far in some junk that I know unplayable lie relief would get me no-where. So without looking for ball A, I declare that I’m hitting a provisional for my lost ball. I like my position of ball B and declare on the tee that ball A is lost. Are you saying I breached a rule, and if so — could you point me to something more than the definition of Lost Ball? Because I looked there, and didn’t come to the same conclusion.

RULES OF GOLF ANSWER:

“First, let me say that this is a common area of confusion amongst golfers. But please believe me that nothing a player says will render their ball lost. Decision 27/6 from the Rules of Golf helps to clarify this statement;

Q. A player searched for his ball for two minutes, declared it lost and started back to play another ball at the spot from which the original ball was played. Before he put another ball into play, his original ball was found within the five-minute period allowed for search. What is the ruling?

A. A player cannot render a ball lost by a declaration — see Definition of “Lost Ball.” The original ball remained in play — see Definition of “Ball in Play.”

You were right to look at the definition of ‘Lost Ball’ because this lists the only circumstances that a ball can be lost;

A ball is deemed “lost” if:

a. It is not found or identified as his by the player within five minutes after the player’s side or his or their caddies have begun to search for it; or

b. The player has made a stroke at a provisional ball from the place where the original ball is likely to be or from a point nearer the hole than that place (see Rule 27-2b); or

c. The player has put another ball into play under penalty of stroke and distance (see Rule 27-1a); or

d. The player has put another ball into play because it is known or virtually certain that the ball, which has not been found, has been moved by an outside agency (see Rule 18-1), is in an obstruction (see Rule 24-3), is in an abnormal ground condition (see Rule 25-1c) or is in a water hazard (see Rule 26-1); or

e. The player has made a stroke at a substituted ball. Time spent in playing a wrong ball is not counted in the five-minute period allowed for search.

Of course, the correct thing to do if you definitely do not want to search for your original ball is to put another ball into play as quickly as possible, without declaring it as a provisional ball. As soon as you have done this, under penalty of stroke and distance, it does not matter if the original ball is found, as it is no longer in play.

I hope that this has clarified the lost ball situation for you.

Regards,

Barry Rhodes

http://www.BarryRhodes.com – Miscellaneous content on the Rules of Golf.
Author of the book ‘999 Questions on the Rules of Golf’

What Would A Better Understanding Of The Rules Of Golf Mean To Your Game? How Much Better Could Your Score Be If You Knew All Your Options On The Course? Click here to find out now …

Visit here for more Rules of Golf questions.

“Rub Of The Green” – Golf Rule 19-1

Barry Rhodes — Sun, 10 May 2009 19:08:38 +0000

Here is a golf rules question I received relating to “the rub of the green”!

For further information on the golf rules you may be interested to in my latest CD This is a great 75 mins easy to learn course on the rules of golf, why not play it in the car on the way to your next game!

RULES OF GOLF QUESTION:

“After my second shot to our 18th on Sunday I was still about 30 metres short of the green.

The green keeper suddenly appeared and started watering the green with a rather thick hose. It;s really dry in NZ and I appreciate it needs to be done to save the greens.

I was waiting for him to finish when he waved us on. I was most reluctant to do this as the pin was on the back of the green and a
section of hose ran right across my flight path.

I used my loft wedge, the ball looked good in flight but hit the hose
and shot off the green into thick grass.

a) Can I replay my ball?
b) As my opposition replied it’s the rub of the green.”

RULES OF GOLF ANSWER:

“Your friend is absolutely correct, it was ‘rub of the green’. Your ball was deflected by an outside agency and had to be played from where it came to rest (Rule 19-1). Think positively, if the hose had deflected your ball into the hole you would have holed out with your 30 metre pitch!”

What would a better understanding of the rules of golf mean to your game? How much Better could your Score Be If You Knew All Your Options on the course? Have a quick look here

Visit here for more Rules of Golf questions.

Losing Your Golf Ball In Casual Water

Barry Rhodes — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 18:19:05 +0000

Here is a golf rules question I received earlier in the week relating to casual water.

RULES OF GOLF QUESTION:

“A case last week, not sure of the ruling.

There was a quantity of water – which would be classed as casual – to one side of our 12th. A misplaced shot appeared to have gone into the water but could not be seen. The water was in a hollow and a few inches deep in the middle.

What rule governs such a situation and would the other three players have to agree that the water is where the ball finished up before further action is taken.

Best wishes

John”

RULES OF GOLF ANSWER:

“The definition of Abnormal Ground Condition includes casual water.

Therefore Rule 25-1c is relevant: Ball in Abnormal Ground Condition Not Found. The Rule states; “It is a question of fact whether a ball that has not been found after having been struck toward an abnormal ground condition is in such a condition. In order to apply this Rule, it must be known or virtually certain that the ball is in the abnormal ground condition. In the absence of such knowledge or certainty, the player must proceed under Rule 27-1 (Lost Ball).

If it is known or virtually certain that a ball that has not been found is in an abnormal ground condition, the player may take relief under this Rule. If he elects to do so, the spot where the ball last crossed the outermost limits of the abnormal ground condition must be determined and, for the purpose of applying this Rule, the ball is deemed to lie at this spot and the player must proceed as follows:

(i) Through the Green: If the ball last crossed the outermost limits of the abnormal ground condition at a spot through the green, the player may substitute another ball, without penalty, and take relief as prescribed in Rule 25-1b(i)…..” (i.e. within one club length of the nearest point of relief, not nearer the hole, of the point where the ball last crossed the margin of the casual water.

In your circumstances if the fellow competitors cannot agree among themselves that it was “known or virtually certain” that the ball is lost in casual water the player should play out the hole with two balls and report the facts to the Committee after completing his round (Rule 3-3).”

What would a better understanding of the rules of golf mean to your game? How much Better could your Score Be If You Knew All Your Options on the course? Have a quick look here

Visit here for more Rules of Golf questions.

4 Decisions On The Rules Of Golf

Barry Rhodes — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 05:26:28 +0000

Here is a recent rules of golf email I replied to.

There were 4 parts to the email and I explain the answers in full below. I trust you will enjoy reading these decisions.

May I suggest this CD for further explanations on the rules of golf.

RULES OF GOLF QUESTION:

“1. During the rainy season and an almost unplayable course, a greenside bunker is full of water. Player A’s ball lands in that bunker and there is absolutely no relief inside the bunker since it is completely filled with water. Player A then drops the ball just outside the bunker directly behind the place where the ball was found. Has he incurred in a penalty?

2. After playing a beautiful approach shot A player finds that his ball has landed on a part of the green that is full of sand left behind by a previous player. His caddy uses his towel to wipe away the sand that is in the path to the hole. Has he incurred in any penalty? Has the previous player who left the green full of sand incurred in any penalty?

3. All opponents are on the green during a tournament. Player A is resting on his putter which is resting on the green while player C proceeds to putt. Player D, who is player C’s partner claims that there is a ruling that states that he cannot place his putter on the green when another player is putting and therefore has incurred in a one stroke penalty. Player A says there is no such rule. Who is correct?

4. During a Best Ball tournament one of the players balls was not only was seen flying OOB but was declared a lost ball. Since his partner has played a great ball and is only 80 yds from the green he declares he will not play another ball. One of the opponents says he must play a new ball or lose the hole. What is the ruling?

All of the above are real life situations I have encountered during several years of play.”

RULES OF GOLF ANSWER:

“Phew. You’re keeping me busy! Here are my answers to your four questions;

1. Player A has incurred a penalty of either one or two strokes depending on exactly where he dropped his ball. Let me explain. When a ball lies in an abnormal ground condition (which includes casual water) in a bunker Rule 25-1b.iib permits the player to lift the ball and under penalty of one stroke, drop the ball outside the bunker, keeping the point where the ball lay directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped, with no limit to how far behind the bunker the ball may be dropped. If he drops the ball in any other place outside the bunker, and then plays it, he incurs a penalty of two strokes for playing from the wrong place, and could be disqualified if the Committee judge it to be a serious breach of the Rules (i.e, if he has gained a significant advantage as a result of playing from a wrong place) – Rule 20-7c.

2. No penalty has been incurred here. Under the definitions sand is a loose impediment on the green, but not elsewhere, and loose impediments may be moved by any means, providing the player does not press anything down. There is no penalty for a player leaving the putting green without clearing sand that they have left behind.

3. Player A is right. There is no Rule that prohibits a player from resting on his putter on the putting green. It happens all the time, though should be discouraged as it can cause damage to the surface of the green. However, Rule 16-1 does prohibit a player from touching the putting green on his line of putt, except under seven specific circumstances, which are listed (e.g. removing obstructions or loose impediments). If a player did lean on his club on his line of putt in stroke play he would incur a penalty of two strokes.

4. Who are these people that you are playing with? They seem to making up Rules as they go along! Not only can a player in a four-ball stroke play competition drop out of a hole at any time the whole round can be played by a single player. Rule 31-2 states; ‘A Side may be represented by either partner for all or any part of a stipulated round; both partners need not be present. An absent competitor may join his partner between holes, but not during play of a hole.’ By the way, a player cannot render a ball lost by a declaration ? see Definition of ?Lost Ball.? at the front of the Rules of Golf book.”

Listen Up – It’s time to finally make The Rules Of Golf seem like Childs Play – Check it out here …

Visit here for more Rules of Golf questions.

Thirty Rules Of Golf For The Beginner And Pro

Barry Rhodes — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 14:15:57 +0000

Here are a selection of 30 rules of golf questions and answers I have given over the past couple of months. I thought you would be interested in reading the wide variety of rules questions golfers are currently asking themselves out on the course.

In fact witnessing the problems golfers have first hand was the catalyst for my new CD on how to clearly understand the rules of golf.

I am already starting to receive testimonials, for example this one from Kelvin Meyler:

“Hi Barry,

I have played golf for quite a number of years now and whilst always trying to improve ones game never ever gave proper consideration to the rules of the game, well I have to say I now regularly read and follow your email/video instructions and at long last I am getting to know the basic rules, you certainly make it clear and enjoyable to understand .

Look forward to 2009 and receiving more instructions on the Rules of Golf. Happy New Year to you and Andy.

Kind regards

Kelvin Meyler”

Imagine popping this in your CD player and becoming an instant expert in 75 minutes … take it from me I have used all my experience and knowledge to produce the definitive guide to understanding the rules.

I trust you will enjoy reading these 30 rules of golf questions and answers:

#1 RULES OF GOLF QUESTION:

“Thanks for your help re: your golf tips’ I predict that I will shave at least 10 big strokes this year from my handicap. that is the number I am shooting for. One other question please. It is my understanding that a player can declare unplayable his ball anytime he wants with a penalty whenever he wants.

Is that true? Thanks and a happy new year to you. Johnny”

#1 RULES OF GOLF ANSWER:

“Yes, you are almost correct. A player may deem his ball unplayable for a penalty of one stroke at any place on the course, except when the ball is in a water hazard. The player is the sole judge as to whether his ball is unplayable (Rule 28).

An interesting, if unusual example of this Rule, is that if a player hits a downhill putt too hard and his ball misses the hole and rolls off the putting green into a bunker, he can pick his ball out of the bunker and replace it on the green at the point that he last putted from. Obviously he incurs a penalty of one stroke for doing so, but in match play it might be worth it to see how your opponent reacts!”

#2 RULES OF GOLF QUESTION:

“I enjoy your Golf Rules series, however I have a question for you.

Can the line marked on the golf ball to show the balance center of the ball become an aid to lining up the golf shot when teed?”

#2 RULES OF GOLF ANSWER:

“Yes, there is nothing in the Rules preventing a player from using any marking on his golf ball to assist him in lining up the direction of any stroke. Decision 20-3a/2 rules on similar circumstances to your question;

“Q. When a player is replacing his ball, is it permissible for him to position the ball so that the trademark is aimed along the line of putt to indicate the line of play?

A. Yes.”

#3 RULES OF GOLF QUESTION:

“Playing at our local club I encountered the following situation.

In the middle of the fairway is a tree, when hitting my second shot directly into the tree the ball stay in the branches and become unplayable. The local rule at our club is placing on the fairway one(1) club. Because my ball is in the tree and the tree in the fairway I assume that I can use the local rule to place my ball for my third shot.

Question – Should I declare my ball unplayable and act according to the rule or should I interpreted the local rule and place my ball without penalty”

#3 RULES OF GOLF ANSWER:

“All Local Rules for ‘Preferred Lies’ and/or ‘Winter Rules’ should follow the recommended wording suggested by the R&A & USGA in Appendix I, Part B, 4c, which starts, “A ball lying on a closely mown area through the green may be lifted without penalty and cleaned…..”.

As your ball was obviously not lying on the fairway you may not take relief under the ‘Preferred Lies’ Local Rule. Also, you must be able to find and identify your ball in the tree in order to proceed under options b) or c) of Rule 28 – Ball Unplayable. Otherwise your only option is to go back to the point where you played your last stroke from under penalty of stroke and distance.”

#4 RULES OF GOLF QUESTION:

“Yes I do enjoy your excellent rules questions and answers.

Here is a question for you, and it’s about the ball coming to rest on a rake outside the bunker. What happens if the rake is removed and the ball rolls into the bunker. Ok, you might say that the ball is to be replaced. But what if the ball keeps rolling into the bunker because the ground is steep?”

#4 RULES OF GOLF ANSWER:

“If a ball comes to rest against a movable obstruction (which is any artificial object, including a rake) the obstruction may be removed.

If the ball moves during this procedure, it must be replaced, and there is no penalty, provided that the movement of the ball is directly attributable to the removal of the obstruction.

In your question, if the the ball fails to come to rest on the spot where it is replaced it must be placed at the nearest spot where it can be placed at rest that is not nearer the hole and not in the bunker (Rule 20-3d(i)).”

#5 RULES OF GOLF QUESTION:

“On October 29, 2008, I was playing 9 holes at Land Park Golf Course here in Sacramento, California and made a Hole in One on Hole #3, 138 yards using a six iron. My friend said, ” My hole in One is nullified because I only played 9 Holes. Is he right or wrong?”

#5 RULES OF GOLF ANSWER:

“If you put the ball in the hole with your first stroke from the teeing ground then you scored a hole in one.

Your friend’s misunderstanding may have arisen from the situation that some Clubs offer insurance to players for a hole in one requiring that the stroke must have happened during competition play, which is normally over a stipulated round of 18 holes.”

#6 RULES OF GOLF QUESTION:

“So what is the definition of the teeing ground area?”

#6 RULES OF GOLF ANSWER:

“All definitions can be found at the start of the Rules of Golf book published by the USGA and Royal & Ancient.

‘The “teeing ground” is the starting place for the hole to be played. It is a rectangular area two club-lengths in depth, the front and the sides of which are defined by the outside limits of two tee-markers. A ball is outside the teeing ground when all of it lies outside the teeing ground.’

Thanks for your question.”

#7 RULES OF GOLF QUESTION:

“Is there a penalty for hitting the pin when chipping from off the green?

In this example, how close does a partner have to be to the pin for one to suggest that he is tending the pin?

If a chip is coming from off the green why would ones partner want to pull the flag for a ball the was apparently chipped to hard and going on past the pin?

Once tending a pin can you walk away from a chip from off the green if it appears the ball is hit too hard and would now like to leave the pin in – in hope the ball might strike the pin and slow it down?”

#7 RULES OF GOLF ANSWER:

“Is there a penalty for hitting the pin when chipping from off the green?”

“If the flagstick is being attended there is a two stroke penalty in stroke play. If the flagstick is not being attended there is no penalty.”

“In this example, how close does a partner have to be to the pin for one to suggest that he is tending the pin?”

“Decision 17-1/1 reads as follows; ‘Note 1 to Rule 17-1 states that, if anyone “stands near the hole,” he is deemed to be attending the flagstick. Is such a person considered to be standing “near the hole” if he is close enough to touch the flagstick?
A. Yes.’ ”

“If a chip is coming from off the green why would ones partner want to pull the flag for a ball that was apparently chipped too hard and going on past the pin?”

“A possible scenario is that the partner thinks that the ball may fall straight into the hole if the flagstick is removed, whereas if it is left there the ball might ricochet off it and come to rest several feet away.”

“Once tending a pin can you walk away from a chip from off the green if it appears the ball is hit to hard and would now like to leave the pin in – in hope the ball might strike the pin and slow it down?”

“No, Note 3 to Rule 17-1 states, ‘If anyone attends or holds up the flagstick while a stroke is being made, he is deemed to be attending the flagstick until the ball comes to rest.’ ”

#8 RULES OF GOLF QUESTION:

“We played on Saturday (didn’t stop raining!) and a situation occured that I remember you covered in your rules campaign but I couldn’t remember the ruling. One of the guys was chipping from off the green and his ball came to rest against the flag but didn’t drop. Can you tell us what happens next?”

#8 RULES OF GOLF ANSWER:

“When a player’s ball rests against the flagstick in the hole and the ball is not holed, the player, or another person authorized by him, may move or remove the flagstick, and if the ball falls into the hole, the player is deemed to have holed out with his last stroke; otherwise, the ball, if moved, must be placed on the lip of the hole, without penalty (Rule 17-4).”

#9 RULES OF GOLF QUESTION:

“A player marks his ball on the putting green using a twenty pence coin as his marker.

Does this incur a penalty as the coin is not round and how big a marker are you allowed to use.”

#9 RULES OF GOLF ANSWER:

“You may use anything to mark the position of a ball, though the recommendation is that it should be a small coin or other similar object. It certainly does not have to be round. I think that you will be interested in Decision 20-1/16, which deals with the method used to mark the position of a ball, even though it is a bit lengthy;

‘Q. The Note to Rule 20-1 provides that ‘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.’ Is a player penalized if he uses an object that is not similar to a ball-marker or small coin to mark the position of his ball?

A. No. The provision in the Note to Rule 20-1 is a recommendation of best practice, but there is no penalty for failing to act in accordance with the Note.

Examples of methods of marking the position of a ball that are not recommended, but are permissible, are as follows:

placing the toe of a club at the side of, or behind, the ball; using a tee; using a loose impediment; scratching a line, provided the putting green is not tested (Rule 16-1d) and a line for putting is not indicated (Rule 8-2b). As this practice may cause damage to the putting green, it is discouraged.

However, under Rule 20-1 it is necessary to physically mark the position of the ball. Reference to an existing mark on the ground does not constitute marking the position of a ball. For example, it is not permissible to mark the position with reference to a blemish on the putting green.

When moving a ball or ball-marker to the side to prevent it from interfering with another player’s stance or stroke, the player may measure from the side of the ball or ball-marker. In order to accurately replace the ball on the spot from which it was lifted, the steps used to move the ball or ball-marker to the side should be reversed.”

#10 RULES OF GOLF QUESTION:

“I am in need of some direction in respect of the etiquette of the game and where penalties may be allocated for abuse.

For this example I would like to suggest a player in the fourball is of a bad tempered and grumpy disposition. Often swearing after yet another poorly executed shot. What can one do about it? It can be intimidating to say the least.

But, a bigger problem is the character who throws clubs after a poor shot. Apart form being dangerous in the extreme, it is intimidating. Is there a rule that allows me to disqualify him from a club stableford competition because he has surely affeced the play of the three other players in the fourball. I have raised it with the committee but their response was that ‘I should speak with him…. ‘

Is there a ruling I could point out to them?

I have noticed a lot of youngsters throw their clubs around following a bad shot, is this an unpleasant trend creaping into the game. I have heard of Pro’s being cited for actions and being fined but what about the amateur in a club weekend comp?

Would appreciate your feedback.”

#10 RULES OF GOLF ANSWER:

“Rule 33-7 states, ‘If a Committee considers that a player is guilty of a serious breach of etiquette, it may impose a penalty of disqualification under this Rule.’ Therefore, your only course of action is to report breaches of etiquette to the Committee. In my experience, in Club golf a caution from the Committee is usually sufficient to bring players who have poor etiquette into line.

However, this sanction is not much help on a municipal course.

The only Decision on what constitutes a serious breach is Decsion 33-7/8; Q. In Rule 33-7, what is meant by a “serious breach of etiquette”?

A. A serious breach of etiquette is behavior by a player that shows a significant disregard for an aspect of the Etiquette Section, such as intentionally distracting another player or intentionally offending someone.

Although a Committee may disqualify a player under Rule 33-7 for a single act that it considers to be a serious breach of etiquette, in most cases it is recommended that such a penalty should be imposed only in the event of a further serious breach.

Ultimately, the application of a penalty for a serious breach of etiquette under Rule 33-7 is at the discretion of the Committee.’

I regret that, without the assistance of the Committee, there is very little you can do personally in this regard.”

#11 RULES OF GOLF QUESTION:

“What is the ruling if your ball is plugged or against the face of a bunker where you feel you will not be able to hit the ball out of the sand hazard properly, can you deem the ball unplayable in this case?”

#11 RULES OF GOLF ANSWER:

“Yes, a player may deem his ball unplayable at any place on the course, except when the ball is in a water hazard. The player is the sole judge as to whether his ball is unplayable (Rule 28).

However, note that if the player opts to take relief, under penalty of one stroke, under options b) or c) of this Rule he must drop the ball in the bunker.”

#12 RULES OF GOLF QUESTION:

“Two questions come to mind regarding the ‘addressing the ball’ question.

I have always addressed my putts by grounding my club somewhere in the area between my feet and the ball but not behind the ball, then I hover the putter behind the ball before stroking.

I assumed that since I had not grounded my club behind the ball I was okay. But you offer no such exclusion. Am I to assume then, that once my stance has been taken, that grounding my club behind the ball or virtually anywhere else constitutes ‘grounding’?

Second, what is the ruling if, when addressing the putt properly by hovering the putter, a sudden gust of wind blows the ball off its resting spot into the putter blade and comes to rest in a different location?”

#12 RULES OF GOLF ANSWER:

“Yes, your putting routine does meet the definition of addressing the ball; ‘A player has addressed the ball when he has taken his stance and has also grounded his club, except that in a hazard a player has addressed the ball when he has taken his stance.’

Note that there is no mention of where the putter is grounded. This is borne out by Decision 18-2b/5.5; ‘Q. A player takes his stance and places his clubhead on the ground in front of the ball without pressing anything down. Before the player grounds the club behind the ball, the ball moves. Has the player “addressed the ball” so that he is subject to penalty under Rule 18-2b?
A. Yes.’

Your second question is covered by Decision 19-2/1.5;

‘Q. A player’s ball lies on a steep slope through the green. The player takes his stance but, fearing the ball might move, does not ground his club and so has not addressed the ball. The ball rolls backwards and is stopped accidentally by the player’s club. The player then removes his club and the ball rolls farther down the slope. Is the player subject to the penalty of one stroke under Rule 19-2?

A. Yes, and the ball must be replaced on the spot at which it was stopped. A further penalty under Rule 18-2a (Ball at Rest Moved by Player) would not be appropriate in the circumstances provided the player replaces the ball. If the ball is not replaced before the player makes his next stroke, the failure to replace the ball is considered a separate act (see Decision 1-4/12) and he loses the hole in match play or incurs an additional penalty of two strokes in stroke play under Rule 18-2a, for a total penalty of three strokes. (Revised)’

Thank you for your question.”

#13 RULES OF GOLF QUESTION:

“Just thinking about the statement ‘take you time’, a phrase heard at our club a lot in the same situation is ‘have a rest’ or ‘do you want to rest’ meaning they should mark and let someone else take their shot. Do either of these break the rules?”

#13 RULES OF GOLF ANSWER:

“Very strictly speaking, I would say that, ‘Take a rest’ is similar to, ‘Take your time’ and does meet with the strict definition of offering advice; ‘Advice’ is any counsel or suggestion that could influence a player in determining his play, the choice of a club or the method of making a stroke.” However, in my opinion, asking the question, ‘Do you want a rest?’ is not a breach. But please don’t misunderstand me. I am not suggesting that anyone tries to penalise a fellow competitor, or opponent, for making any such comment, and I am a stickler for the Rules! The reason being that there is obviously no intent to give advice by using one of these phrases.”

#14 RULES OF GOLF QUESTION:

“While I was playing the other week with 3 other fellow golfers, one guy had hit his 2nd shot out of the rough and was taking some practice swings while waiting for other golfers in the group to hit their shots, so during one of his practice swings a lump of dirt flew out sideways and knocked his ball a couple of feet from where it was originally lying, is there a penalty of 1 stroke or just a simple replace and no penalty?”

#14 RULES OF GOLF ANSWER:

“The circumstances in Decision 18-2a/20.5 are similar to those in your question; Q. In making a practice swing, a player dislodges a loose impediment (e.g., a stone), which causes his ball in play to move. What is the ruling?

A. The loose impediment is an outside agency; however, as the player’s actions caused his ball in play to move, he incurs a one-stroke penalty under Rule 18-2a and must replace the ball.”

#15 RULES OF GOLF QUESTION:

“During a game this week my friend playing a par three which is all water from tee to green hit the green with his tee shot but ran through into the bunker.

He had a very bad lie and came out, ran over the green and into the water.

Barry`s ruling is that the line from the flag to his point of entry would mean he would have to go back to the tee.

My question: Is there an alternative ruling that he could have taken the penalty and re-played the ball from the bunker?”

#15 RULES OF GOLF ANSWER:

“Yes, one of the options for taking relief from a water hazard permits a player to play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played, under penalty of one stroke (Rule 26-1a). In other words, in your question the player could have dropped his ball in the bunker at the place where he last played from under penalty of one stroke. He is permitted to rake the bunker first to re-create a similar lie to that which he had before his first stroke from the bunker.

I did mention this in my short video but used the example that the player wanted to take this option after his first stroke (i.e. from the tee). Of course, the player has the same option when his second (or any other stroke) comes to rest in a water hazard.”

#16 RULES OF GOLF QUESTION:

“Would it be possible for you to send me the rule on the 3 option, when you take a penalty in a bunker”

#16 RULES OF GOLF ANSWER:

“I believe that you are referring to when you declare your ball unplayable in a bunker. The three options, under Rule 28, all incurring a penalty of one stroke, are;

a. Play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played (see Rule 20-5); or

b. Drop a ball in the bunker behind the point where the ball lay, keeping that point directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped, with no limit to how far behind that point the ball may be dropped; or

c. Drop a ball in the bunker within two club-lengths of the spot where the ball lay, but not nearer the hole.

There is another situation when a player’s ball lies in an abnormal ground condition in a bunker (e.g. casual water); ‘Rule 25-1b. If the ball is in a bunker, the player must lift the ball and drop it either:

(a) Without penalty, in accordance with Clause(i) above, except that the nearest point of relief must be in the bunker and the ball must be dropped in the bunker or, if complete relief is impossible, as near as possible to the spot where the ball lay, but not nearer the hole, on a part of the course in the bunker that affords maximum available relief from the condition; or

(b) Under penalty of one stroke, outside the bunker, keeping the point where the ball lay directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped, with no limit to how far behind the bunker the ball may be dropped.’

Remember, that the options under Rule 25-1b only apply when there is an abnormal ground condition in the bunker. Some players mistakenly think that they have the option to drop their ball outside a bunker, under penalty of one stroke, whatever the circumstances.”

#17 RULES OF GOLF QUESTION:

“Are all the rules international rules?

i.e. the same rules, whether you play golf in Denmark, Germany, the UK, the USA, Japan, China, and so on……. the world around ?”

#17 RULES OF GOLF ANSWER:

“Yes, there is only one unified Rules of Golf. The Royal & Ancient (R&A) is the governing body for the Rules of Golf and the Rules of Amateur Status in all parts of the golfing world, except the United States and Mexico, which are governed by the United States Golf Association (USGA).

The R&A and USGA agreed on the first uniform issue of the Rules of Golf worldwide back in 1952.

There were still some differences in the Appendices, relating to equipment and Local Rules, but in 2000 these were also harmonised. Any agreed changes to the Rules of Golf are made every four years and the current edition is for 2008 – 2011. You can find them on-line here.”

#18 RULES OF GOLF QUESTION:

“Would moss be classified as a living thing?”

#18 RULES OF GOLF ANSWER:

“I think that your point is whether moss is a loose impediment. The answer is that if it is detached then it is, but if it is still rooted in the ground then it is not. Similarly, if a divot made by a player is still attached to the ground at any point then it is not a loose impediment, whereas if it is totally detached then it is. In this video there was a loose bit of moss in the bunker (it could have been a leaf, a twig or any other natural object) and so a penalty was incurred. If the moss that Michelle had touched on her backswing was rooted in the bunker then no Rule would have been breached.”

#19 RULES OF GOLF QUESTION:

“I watched both videos but they brought another related question to mind: is water considered to be a loose impediment? In other words, if you decide to hit it out of a water hazard, and if your club brushes the water on the takeaway, is it a penalty?”

#19 RULES OF GOLF ANSWER:

“Water is not a loose impediment. However, Rule 13-4b states that before making a stroke at a ball that is in a hazard the player must not ‘touch the ground in the hazard or water in the water hazard with his hand or a club’. As a stroke does not commence until the forward movement of the club the player does incur a penalty for brushing the water on his backswing.”

#20 RULES OF GOLF QUESTION:

“Referring to this video, does Barry’s last comment make a difference then, if the moss in the bunker was growing in the bunker.”

#20 RULES OF GOLF ANSWER:

“Yes, If the moss was actually growing in the bunker then there would be no penalty. The note to Rule 13-4 states; ‘At any time, including at address or in the backward movement for the stroke, the player may touch, with a club or otherwise, any obstruction, any construction declared by the Committee to be an integral part of the course or any grass, bush, tree or other growing thing.’

You can catch more rules of golf videos here.”

#21 RULES OF GOLF QUESTION:

“Hi – Following the seagull video I am told by our pro that if a bird catches he ball in flight and drops in into the water, the ball (or rather another ball) must be dropped outside the hazard applying a penalty shot for the drop.

Had the bird dropped the ball into the hole (green) the ball would be considered as holed out.

Is this correct please?”

#21 RULES OF GOLF ANSWER:

“Your Pro is correct, assuming the ball was not played from the putting green, which seems likely as the ball was ‘in flight’! The bird is an outside agency and Rule 19-1 states, ‘If a player’s ball in motion is accidentally deflected or stopped by any outside agency, it is a rub of the green, there is no penalty and the ball must be played as it lies’.

The circumstances of Decision 19-1/6 are not too dissimilar; Q. A ball played from off the green was about a foot from the hole and still in motion when it was moved by a dog to a spot about 10 feet from the hole. The ball was either deflected by the dog or the dog picked it up, ran with it and dropped it. What is the ruling?
A. If the ball was deflected, it would be played as it lay, without penalty, from the spot to which it was moved by the dog — Rule 19-1.

In your scenario when the bird dropped the ball in the water hazard so the player would have to take relief under Rule 26-1, incurring a one stroke penalty.

However, If a ball at rest is moved by an outside agency, there is no penalty and the ball must be replaced, Rule 18-1.”

#22 RULES OF GOLF QUESTION:

“In these times of difficult winter golf when preferred lies are the norm, I find a lot of confusion about this rule more than any other, except perhaps the WATER question.

My club rules state that Preferred lies are available ‘Through the Green’ The R&A Rules of Golf give a definition of this meaning, but still most golfers whom I play with insist that balls may only be lifted, cleaned and placed when they lie on the fairway, which, I believe, is incorrect.

Would you please relate the rules on this matter, as seen from your point of view.

Thanks for all the other info and videos.”

#22 RULES OF GOLF ANSWER:

“You are obviously correct in your understanding of your Club’s Local Rule re preferred lies if you have quoted from it correctly. The way that it is worded means that players may not only take relief from the fairway but from anywhere on the course other than the teeing ground and putting green of the hole being played and all hazards on the course. I think that the confusion arises because the specimen Local Rule for Preferred Lies in Appendix l.B.4c. refers to “a ball lying on a closely mown area through the green”, which obviously does not include the rough.”

#23 RULES OF GOLF QUESTION:

“Have a question for your rules person. This actually happened today.

A ball appeared to be hit OB from the tee. There was no doubt it was visually going out by about 1 metre. The OB area had some cattle and one of the cattle picked the ball up and dropped it back in bounds. No one actually saw it come to rest OB but the cow was seen to bend down presumably to pick it up and it then it dropped it over the fence. The ball was seen to fall from the cows mouth, is the ball still in play or is it deemed to be still OB?”

#23 RULES OF GOLF ANSWER:

“Although no-one actually saw that the ball had come to rest out of bounds I think that we can be virtually certain that it did. A cow does not not usually move fast enough to field or pick-up a moving ball! Therefore, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, my ruling would be that the ball was out of bounds (Rule 18-1 and Decision 15/9). However, I am impressed by the well-trained and courteous cows neighbouring your course!”

#24 RULES OF GOLF QUESTION:

“During a recent round one of the players in our groups ball became lodged in a tree, this tree was measured to be under 2 club lengths high. is the ruling for this situation the same as a ball coming to rest under a tree 2 clubs lengths high with a free drop, or does the rule regarding an unplayable shot apply which results in a penalty? One would assume that the first ruling comes in to play, can you carifiy this for me.”

#24 RULES OF GOLF ANSWER:

“There is no relief without penalty (‘free drop’) for a ball lodged in a tree, no matter how tall the tree is. The player may either play the ball as it lies from the tree or take one of the three relief options under Rule 28 – Ball Unplayable, for a penalty of one stroke.

Decision 28/11 relates to a similar situation; Q. A player’s ball is eight feet off the ground, lodged in a tree. The player deems the ball unplayable. May the player proceed under option c of Rule 28 which permits him to drop a ball within two club-lengths of where his ball lay unplayable?
A. Yes. The player would be entitled to drop a ball within two club-lengths of the point on the ground immediately below the place where the ball lay in the tree. In some instances this may allow the player to drop a ball on a putting green.

Note that this option under Rule 28c incurs a penalty of one stroke.”

#25 RULES OF GOLF QUESTION:

“When you are on the tee bed I know you can stand on the outside of the grid but can you have your feet over the front line of the grid?”

#25 RULES OF GOLF ANSWER:

“In the Rules of Golf the ‘tee bed’ as you describe it is known as the teeing ground.

Rule 11-1 states, ‘A player may stand outside the teeing ground to play a ball within it.’ Therefore it does not matter whether a player has a foot in front of, to the side, or behind the teeing ground when he makes his stroke, providing the ball is played from within the teeing ground.”

#26 RULES OF GOLF QUESTION:

“Regards to out of bounds. We have a barbwire fence that defines the out of bounds line on a couple of holes. It is what we use in the wild, wild west at times.

My question is if the ball is in bounds next to the parallel line of the fence and restricts my swing when ball is in bounds. Is a free drop permitted since the fence is a man made object?”

#26 RULES OF GOLF ANSWER:

“The Definition of Out of Bounds states that objects defining out of bounds such as walls, fences, stakes and railings, are not obstructions and are deemed to be fixed. Therefore, there is no relief from the barbed wire fence defining out of bounds on your course. What happens if someone takes relief in these circumstances? Decision 18-2a/3 deals with this situation;

‘Q. A player’s swing is interfered with by a stake defining out of bounds. The player mistakenly considers the stake an obstruction and he lifts his ball and drops it in the manner prescribed in Rule 24-2b.

What is the ruling?

A. The player incurs a penalty of one stroke under Rule 18-2a and he must replace his ball before playing his next stroke. Otherwise, he loses the hole in match play or he incurs a total penalty of two strokes in stroke play — see penalty statement under Rule 18.’

Thanks for your rules of golf out of bounds question”

#27 RULES OF GOLF QUESTION:

“Can you clear this up for me?

I sliced my tee shot onto the adjacent fairway, this put a hazard with tall trees standing in it between me and; the green I was playing to… I tried to go over trees but hit into the hazard … I was taking a drop at the point of entry, the trees were now directly in front so I would had to have to hit sideways onto or near the tee of the adjacent fairway when a rules official told me I could drop the ball at the opposite end of the hazard as long as it was no nearer the hole… this took me to the end of the hazard that was on the hole I was playing and also gave me a clear shot to the
green… this didn’t seem right?”

#27 RULES OF GOLF ANSWER:

“No, his ruling certainly doesn’t seem right to me either. Because you had lifted your ball and had chosen not to go back to where you played your last stroke from, your only remaining option (under Rule 26-1) was to drop a ball behind the water hazard, keeping the point at which the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped, with no limit to how far behind the water hazard the ball may be dropped. It does not seem to me that this is what the Rules Official was saying to you.

If the hazard was a lateral water hazard (red stakes) then there were two more options; drop a ball outside the water hazard within two club-lengths of and not nearer the hole than (i) the point where the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard or (ii) a point on the opposite margin of the water hazard equidistant from the hole. Again, this does not seem to fit with what you were being advised.”

#28 RULES OF GOLF QUESTION:

“Do the rules say that anything touching the ball is deemed to be adhered to the ball? If not, then as long as the blade of grass was merely touching and not adhered, there should be no penalty as long as the ball was not moved. Now one could under the rules, and without penalty, rotate the ball in order to make a positive identification. An un-adhered blade of grass would fall off.”

#28 RULES OF GOLF ANSWER:

“Decision 21/2 specifically prohibits removing cut grass adhering to a ball.
‘Q. Through the green, is it permissible to remove cut grass adhering to a ball?
A. No. Such action is prohibited by Rule 21. Anything adhering to a ball is not a loose impediment – see Definition of Loose Impediments.’

Note that this Decision is under Rule 21 – Cleaning Ball. So, in the second part to your question, if a player rotated his ball in order to identify it and a cut blade of grass fell from the ball the player would be penalised under Rule 12-2, which says that the ball must not be cleaned beyond the extent necessary for identification.

Of course, if the blade of grass touching the ball was still growing then Rule 13-2 still prohibits the player from moving or bending it to improve his shot.

Remember also, that under Rule 12-2 a player may only touch his ball if it is necessary to lift his ball in order to identify it and he must announce his intention to his opponent in match play, or his marker or a fellow-competitor in stroke play, mark the position of the ball and give them an opportunity to observe the lifting and replacement. In other words, he cannot use the Rule to replace his ball in a more favourable position where a blade of grass may not then be between his ball and club-face when he makes his stroke.”

#29 RULES OF GOLF QUESTION:

“I was on the last hole and drove the ball right down the middle, not as far as I normally hit it. As I began my downswing with my 3 wood, a ball hit by one in the foursome behind rolled past my ball.

I was startled and could not stop my downswing. I hit my ball the the toe of the club and it went into the water hazard to the right, about a 100 yards away. I was told I had to play the bad hit since there is no rule allowing me to hit another ball without penalty from where my ball was originally. Is there a rule on this situation?”

#29 RULES OF GOLF ANSWER:

“There is no rule to answer your question, but there is a Decision that is relevant and your fellow competitor/opponent/partner was correct in telling you to play the ball as it lay.

Decision 1-4/1: As A was making his backswing, B accidentally dropped a ball, which rolled within six inches of A?s ball. The appearance of the dropped ball startled A, causing him to top his shot. In equity, should A be permitted to replay his stroke?
A. No. Distractions are a common occurrence which players must accept.

Of course, it was extremely poor etiquette from the player behind and if they had not apologised to you they should have been advised. Lack of knowledge of the Rules is one thing but bad etiquette on the course can upset everyone’s game.”

#30 RULES OF GOLF QUESTION:

“Here is a very interesting scenario involving water. I’m still not sure what the correct ruling is, but I have given a possible solution at the end. Will be great to hear what you say.

It’s a par five with a split fairway. From the end of the righthand side fairway there is water for +- 170 yeards up to the edge of the green. The golfer played his perfect t-shot to this island fairway and struck his second, well but could not see the end-result as it was straight into the sun.

He did not feel comfortable that he reached the green and assumed the ball was in the water. He dropped another ball at the edge of the fairway and hit his next shot onto the green.

On reaching the green both balls were on the green. Which ball is now in play?

Problem is as you have said in your email that a ball in the water is a matter of fact and therefore the second ball can not be in play as he could not have proceeded under this rule. Is he now disqualified or penalised because he played a wrong ball? Remember he could not have played a provisional ball, as he thought the ball might be in the water.

Someone said that because of the fact that the layout of the hole makes it impractical to actually first walk up to the green to try and find the ball on or around the green, the first ball should be treated as if in play when found on the green. Furthermore it is felt that the committee should actually set out on the local rules the correct procedure to follow on this specific hole.

Your comments will be appreciated..”

#30 RULES OF GOLF ANSWER:

“There are a couple of points here which need to be clarified. The first is that you did not say whether the player had declared that his ball was to be a provisional before playing it onto the green. If he had not, then he had obviously put that ball into play and the original ball was lost within the Rules.

As it happens, the outcome was the same anyway, because under Rule 27-2a a provisional ball may only be played if ‘a ball may be lost outside a water hazard or may be out of bounds’. In this case the ball was obviously not lost outside of a water hazard; because of the layout of the hole it was either on the green or in the hazard.

Therefore, even if the player had declared his ball provisional it would not have mattered, it was still the ball in play and the original ball had to be picked up. Greg Norman made this mistake in 2004.

What your player should have done is to walk up to the green to see if his ball was there. If it was not then he had to take one of the options under Rule 26-1 Water Hazards), one of which is to drop a ball behind the water hazard, keeping the point at which the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped, with no limit to how far behind the water hazard the ball may be dropped.

If your player played his original ball and did not correct the situation before teeing off at the next hole he is disqualified for playing a wrong ball.

I think that the Committee on this course would be totally wrong to introduce a Local Rule for a situation that is adequately covered within the Rules. What you have to remember is that there is only one option where a ball is lost or out of bounds; to go back to where you played your last stroke from. When a ball is lost in a water hazard there is the additional option referred to above.

I understand the point you are making in that the player would have to tale the long walk back 170 yards to the point where his ball last crossed the margin of the hazard, but feel that this is necessary to maintain the integrity of the Rules.”

The Solar System Remains a Mystery… But The Rules Of Golf Don’t Have To Be! Click here to find out why …

Visit here for more Rules of Golf questions.

Understanding Water Hazards And Lateral Water Hazards

Barry Rhodes — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 01:01:48 +0000

It’s time to clear up the confusion surrounding water hazards and lateral water hazards.

Watch these two short golf rules vides explaining the options available to you. The first video explains the options you have when your ball comes to rest in a water hazard (yellow stakes and/or lines).

The second video below explains the additional two options that are available under Rule 26-1c when youur golf ball comes to rest within the margins of a lateral water hazard (red stakes and/or lines).

Now sign up for more free videos below….

Just fill in the form above & hit “Rush Me Barry’s Free Golf Rules Videos Now” and I will immediately send you an email with the heading “Thank You – Golf Rules Video on the House”

There is no catch, for absolutely Nothing, Nada, Zilch I would like to send you more never released videos to save you shots the next time you play.

It’s true to say the Solar System remains a total mystery… But The Rules Of Golf don’t have to be! Click here to find out why …

Visit here for more Rules of Golf questions.

Tiger Woods Golf Rules Video Explanation

Barry Rhodes — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 17:15:33 +0000

Over the past few months many golfers have watched this video of Tiger Woods in the trees and asked me :

“How come Tiger wasn’t penalised?”

Well here’s my video verdict on Why Tiger wasn’t penalised and how YOU can sign up for further videos (for nada, nothing, zilch) including the infamous “Is Phil Mickelson In The Right?” Golf Ruling Video.

Now fill in the form above & hit “Rush Me Barry’s Free Golf Rules Videos Now” and I will immediately send you an email with the heading “Thank You – Golf Rules Video on the House”

There is no catch, for absolutely Nothing, Nada, Zilch I would like to send you more never released videos to save you shots the next time you play.

The Solar System Remains a Mystery… But The Rules Of Golf Don’t Have To Be! Click here to find out why …

Visit here for more Rules of Golf questions.

Honest Hayes owns up and loses out on exemption

Nazvi Careem — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 12:46:11 +0000

J.P. Hayes has denied himself a place on the 2009 PGA Tour because he was honest.

The two-time tour winner disqualified himself from Qualifying School having played a non-conforming ball during the second stage of the tournament.

It means the 43-year-old will not play on the main tour next season.

During the first round of the second stage at Deerwood Country Club in Texas, Hayes was given a ball by his caddie, which he teed up on the 12th hole. After chipping on to the green, he marked the ball.

At that point, he realised that it was not the same model of Titleist that he began the round with, which violated the one-ball rule. That meant a two-stroke penalty.

After his round, during which he recovered to put himself in line for a top 20 place and a berth on the Tour, it got worse. It suddenly occurred to him that, not only had he used a second ball, but that ball may not even be approved by the PGA.

As it turned out, it was a prototype Titleist ball and he had no choice but to disqualify himself. Well, in truth, he did have a choice. He could have looked the other way and no-one would have been any the wiser.

However, he decided to play it honest and pay the price for a mistake that he blamed squarely on himself. He was quoted as saying:

“It was a Titleist prototype, and somehow it had gotten into my bag. It had been four weeks since Titleist gave me some prototype balls and I tested them. I have no idea how or why it was still in there … I called an official in Houston that night and said, ‘I think I may have a problem’. He said they’d call Titleist the next day. I pretty much knew at that point I was going to be disqualified.”

Hayes has more than US$7 million in career earnings. He won the 1998 Buick Classic and 2002 John Deere Classic.

Finally YOU no longer have to be Einstein to understand The Rules of Golf! – Click here to find out why …

Do You Make These 5 Mistakes Playing Golf?

Barry Rhodes — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 02:02:25 +0000

Knowing The Rules of Golf and not making mistakes on the course can save you many strokes over the course of a year. I was recently asked the following 5 questions and wondered how many others are unsure of the rules and consequently making mistakes on the course.

I hope you enjoy reading these 5 rules of golf questions and answers:

#1 RULES OF GOLF QUESTION:

“If I play a shot into a bunker and its flooded, there is no way i can play it and no where i can drop it in the bunker and its not GUR , am I allowed to drop in another bunker no nearer the hole if there is one with no penalty.. Many thanks.”

#1 RULES OF GOLF ANSWER:

“This is a question that regularly arises. A player is NOT permitted to drop their ball in another bunker, not nearer the hole, if their ball lies submerged in casual water in a bunker.

Under Rule 25-1b(ii) there are two options if a player’s ball lies in an abnormal condition (e.g. casual water) in a bunker and they choose to take relief. They may lift their ball and drop it either:

(a) Without penalty, in the bunker within one club-length of and not nearer the hole than the nearest point of relief from where the ball lies or, if complete relief is impossible, as near as possible to the spot where the ball lay, but not nearer the hole, on a part of the course in the bunker that affords maximum available relief from the condition; or

To summarise these two options, the first one allows the player to drop in the shallowest part of the water in the bunker, not nearer the hole, without penalty, and the second one allows the player to drop outside of the bunker, on a line from the flagstick through where the ball is at rest, under penalty of one stroke.”

#2 RULES OF GOLF QUESTION:

“In a 4-ball-better-ball game, Player A partners B while Player C partners D. They all arrive on a Par 4 in two with Player A some 25 ft from the hole, Player B 10 ft from the hole, Player C 15 ft from the hole and Player D 6 ft from the hole. Player A putted first to 3 ft short of the hole. Then Player C’s turn; he putted to 4 ft passed the hole but in front of his partner, Player C. Player B putted to within 6 inches from the hole and tapped in for a par. Player C then decided to put before his partner and holed in for a par. Player D then putted in for a birdie. Have Player C & D violated any rules of golf?”

#2 RULES OF GOLF ANSWER:

“Neither C nor D has breached any Rule of Golf, whether the incident occurred in match play or stroke play, as they are partners on the same side. Rule 30-3b states; ‘Balls belonging to the same Side may be played in the order the Side considers best.’

I trust this clarifies the situation.”

#3 RULES OF GOLF QUESTION:

“I have a question for you. I am learning to play golf. I was shown how to check your aim by laying a club across your feet to check alignment. I did this out on the course while preparing for my second shot. My partner said that doings so was illegal. What is the rule regarding that? Is it legal from the tee box? I see it done all the time.”

#3 RULES OF GOLF ANSWER:

“The answer to your question lies is within Rule 8-2a; ‘Any mark placed by the player or with his knowledge to indicate the line must be removed before the stroke is made.’

Decision 8-2a/1 is the relevant one;

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.

So, whether you are on the teeing ground or anywhere else on the course, you may line yourself up by placing a club on the ground providing you pick it up before making your stroke.”

#4 RULES OF GOLF QUESTION:

“Can sand be removed to identify a golf ball in a bunker? If not and it is subsequently learned a wrong ball has been played is there a penalty or not?”

#4 RULES OF GOLF ANSWER:

“The Rule on this situation changed on 1st January 2008. A player may now identify his ball anywhere on the course, including in a hazard, providing the correct procedure is followed; ‘Before lifting the ball, the player must announce his intention to his opponent in match play or his marker or a fellow-competitor in stroke play 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. The ball must not be cleaned beyond the extent necessary for identification when lifted under Rule 12-2.’

Rule 12-1 covers the situation where a ball is covered by sand; ‘In a hazard, if a ball is believed to be covered by loose impediments or sand, the player may remove by probing or raking with a club or otherwise, as many loose impediments or as much sand as will enable him to see a part of the ball. If an excess is removed, there is no penalty and the ball must be re-covered so that only a part of the ball is visible. If the ball is moved during the removal, there is no penalty; the ball must be replaced and, if necessary, re-covered. The player must then replace the ball and restore the previous lie as closely as possible.’”

#5 RULES OF GOLF QUESTION:

“I have a question for you on the rules. I was playing our 16th hole and hit my second shot into an unplayable lie amongst some gorse bushes. I decided to take 2 club lengths no nearer the hole under penalty of 1 shot. When I dropped my ball it bounced and hit the head of my driver. I didn’t really think anything of this because my ball was still in an awful position and continued to play the ball as it lay.

On of my playing partners said I should incur a 2 shot penalty. I was unsure about this rule and said we should check once we had completed the round.

The consensus of opinion at the club house was that a 2 shot penalty was appropriate. I duly applied the 2 shot penalty and signed my card. However this was still niggling me.

I have since found out that I should have re-dropped the ball because it was an illegal drop and made sure it did not hit any part of my golf gear. However finding this out after the event and signing my card didn’t give me any great pleasure.

In these circumstances what should I have done:

1) Disqualify myself
2) Accept the 2 shot penalty, which was the consensus of opinion.
3) Argue that I received no benefit from the ball striking my driver and not give myself a 2 shot penalty.
4) Explain the situation to the competion committe and let them decide.
5) An Alternative action.

this may seem petty but I was on a reasonable score and could have beaten my handicap and if not at least been in the buffer zone so there is a serious side to the question.”

#5 RULES OF GOLF ANSWER:

“The answers to your questions are all to be found in Rule 20. Firstly, there is no penalty if your dropped ball strikes your equipment but you must drop the ball again within the Rules (Rule 20-2a). When you failed to drop the ball again and played your ball from where it lay you incurred a penalty of two strokes for playing your ball from the wrong place (Rule 20-7ii). However, as you did not gain a significant advantage as a result of playing from this wrong place the Committee would not be justified in disqualifying you (Note 1 to Rule 20).

So, my direct answers to your questions are;
1. No.
2. Yes.
3. No.
4. It is always best to do this if you have played from wrong place.
5. Not applicable.”

Finally YOU no longer have to be Einstein to understand The Rules of Golf! – Click here to find out why …

How To Take Relief From GUR And Common Misconceptions

Barry Rhodes — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 23:53:22 +0000

Here is a rules of golf question I received today, it covers key points relating to GUR and some misconceptions. It made sense to share it with everyone.

RULES OF GOLF QUESTION:

“If a player has established his point of relief from a GUR, ( right hand side of the GUR ) which is aprox. 10 meters from the green, and uses his 3 wood to measure this, and then uses the same wood to measure his 2 club lengths allowed for his free drop, and then proceeds to use his wedge to play the next shot – does the player get a penalty for not measuring the first from the GUR with his wedge? If so, how many penalty strokes?

RULES OF GOLF ANSWER:

“The definition of ‘nearest point of relief’ includes these words; ‘In order to determine the nearest point of relief accurately, the player should use the club with which he would have made his next stroke if the condition were not there to simulate the address position, direction of play and swing for such a stroke. Notice that it says ‘should’. In other words there is no penalty for using a different club. However, a Committee would be justified in giving a warning, and then some form of sanction, to someone who deliberately ignored this explicit recommendation in the Rules.

The next point is important. When taking relief from GUR, an abnormal ground condition, the player must drop the ball, without penalty, within ONE club-length of and not nearer the hole than the nearest point of relief. Believing that the relief is within TWO club-lengths is a common mistake made by golfers. The two club-length relief applies to situations where the player incurs a penalty, e.g. one of the options for an unplayable ball, or opting to take relief from a lateral water hazard.

On your second point Rule 4-4 states ‘For the purpose of measuring, a player may use any club he has selected for that round’. Therefore there is nothing to stop a player from using a 3 wood, a driver, or even a long-handled putter, providing he uses one of his own clubs.

However, using a long-handled putter is considered by some to be poor etiquette and I would avoid doing this.”

The Solar System Remains a Mystery… But The Rules Of Golf Don’t Have To Be! Click here to find out why …

Visit here for more Rules of Golf questions.