Weekly Rules
Questions and Answers
APRIL 25, 2024
Player's ball "lost" then "found" in penalty area. How to proceed
ANSWER:
Because the info became known to the player before she made a stroke at the dropped ball, the player must correct the error under Rule 14.5.
APRIL 18, 2024
2 balls in motion - at same time - on the green collide: one of the balls goes into the hole. How should this be handled?
QUESTION:
On hole 2 I chip my ball onto the green at the same time that another player chipped onto the green from the other side from off the general area. My ball hit the other player’s ball and knocked her ball into the hole! My ball finished three feet from the hole. How should we proceed?
ANSWER:
Play your ball as it lies on the green and the other player’s ball is holed! Refer to rule 11.1b. Ball played from off the green hits an outside influence. Play it as it lies.
APRIL 11, 2024
How to properly move a ball to identify it when on the fairway, or to line it up with the pin when on the green
QUESTION:
- A) A player has a habit of lifting her ball on the fairway to identify her ball. She does not mark her ball. What should I do when I see this?
- B) A player has a habit of rotating her ball on the putting green to line up her ball and does not mark her ball. What should I do this when I see this?
ANSWER:
- A) Tell the player she incurred a one stroke penalty.Rule 7.3 allows you to lift the ball to identify the ball BUT the spot of the ball must first be marked and the ball must not be cleaned.
- B) Tell the player she incurred a one stroke penalty. Rule 13.1b allows you to lift the ball, BUT the ball must be marked before it is lifted. Rule 9.4b gives you a penalty for deliberately touching a ball.
Keep it simple - Mark your ball with enough ink so you don’t have to mark and lift your ball.
APRIL 4, 2024
Accidentally picking up opponent's ball, on the green, during a best ball stroke play event
QUESTION:
My partner and I (side A and B) are playing in a best ball stroke play event. The other side (side C&D) picked up two balls that were 20 yards from the pin. Player C was already laying 8 and Player D’s ball was on the green in 2 strokes so Player C picked up her ball. Player D picked up the other ball as she thought it was Player A’s ball that was not going to be played. Low and behold the two balls that (C&D) picked up belonged to (C&D). Player D dropped her ball and completed the hole.
How to handle this situation?
ANSWER:
Player C picked up her ball and does not have a score for that hole in the better ball format as her partner with the lower score will complete the hole. Player C could have continued but will incur a one stroke penalty and needed to replace her ball.
Player D erroneously picked up her own ball which was still in play, so will incur a one stroke penalty and must replace her ball. Since she did not replace her ball (dropped instead) she played from a wrong place and incurs a two stroke penalty.
MARCH 21, 2024
Ball crosses water, hits tree on other side of the water, and comes backward into the body of water it just cleared
QUESTION:
On hole #18 my second shot went over the water (a good thing) and hit the big Eucalyptus tree on the other side. It then rebounded straight back and rolled into the water. Does the drop for the next shot happen where it entered into the water on the greenside fairway side of the water, or on the bridge which was closer to the tree?
Any penalty? How to proceed?
ANSWER:
See Rule 17.1
The reference point for taking penalty area relief is the point where the original ball LAST crossed the edge of the penalty area so in this case you will take relief from the greenside fairway side of the water....but no closer to the hole.
MARCH 14, 2024
Struck ball hits tire of golf cart and ends up on the green
QUESTION:
On hole 3, a player hits her ball from the right bunker and it scoots across the green, hits a tire of a golf cart and richochets back onto the green.
Any penalty? How to proceed?
ANSWER:
Refer to Rule 11.3
There is no penalty to anyone. Play the ball as it lies! In this case on the green where it came to rest!
MARCH 7, 2024
Accidentally placing 'marked and lifted ball' on green behind incorrect marker, and playing from there
QUESTION:
On hole 13 I mark and lift my ball on the green with a yellow marker. When it is my turn to play I place my ball at the location of a organge marker and made my putt and scored a three. (Tee shot, chip and one putt). Another player in my group says where is my orange maker? I had made my putt from her ball marker’s location and not from my ball marker. How should I proceed?
ANSWER:
REVISED ANSWER FOR MARCH 7, 2024
When you played from the orange ball marker instead of the yellow ball marker, you played from the wrong place. Your ball was back in play when you replaced it in front of the orange ball marker with the intent for it to be in play, thus it is not a wrong ball. The ball is holed played from the wrong place with a penalty of 2 strokes. Rule 14.7b(1)
Now, if a serious breach occurred, you gained a significant advantage (putted from several feet instead of 25 feet or more), you must correct the error by playing a ball from the right place (still incur the 2 penalty strokes) before playing from the next tee.
The player with the orange marker is to place their orange marker at the original spot where they originally marked their ball with no penalty.
FEBRUARY 29, 2024
Oops! Ball hit club on ground when being dropped while taking relief
QUESTION:
Hitting wrong ball:
If a player is taking relief from cart path, marks the 1-club distance with one of her clubs and her ball accidentally hits the club on the ground (the one being used as distance gauge), does she still incur a 1 stroke penalty?
ANSWER:
NO penalty if accidently. The ball when dropped must not touch the club on the ground BEFORE it hits the ground. Redrop it is hit the club before it hit the ground. It does not matter if the ball hits the club after it hit the ground before coming to rest in the relief area (no redrop).
FEBRUARY 22, 2024
Oops! Wrong ball was hit by Player A. What to do?
QUESTION:
Hitting wrong ball:
Player A accidentally hit another player B’s ball that, like her drive, had ended up in the rough. Penalty is two strokes for hitting wrong ball, and the struck ball is placed as close as possible to where it had been accidentally struck. Yes?
ANSWER:
Player A is penalized 2 strokes and must play their correct ball or if the ball is lost then take stroke and distance or use the local rule for the alternative to stroke and distance. Player B must replace their original ball or place another ball on the original spot.
FEBRUARY 15, 2024
When, and how to, mark a ball not yet on the green
QUESTION:
A) Fairway:Player B's ball ends up 1 yard behind Player A's ball on fairway. Is it Player A's responsibility to mark her ball, or Player B's responsibility to ask Player A to mark? If marking does not occur at all and Player B's ball does strike Player A's (the one ahead of hers) does Player B incur a penalty? (a player yesterday was under impression that a player can NEVER mark and move a ball on a fairway)
B) Fringe:Both players are putting onto green from the fringe: Player B's ball is directly in line with pin, 6 yards off green. Player A's ball is 3 yards off green, directly between Player B's ball, and the flag. Whose responsibility is it to initiate the marking of Player A's ball? What happens if Player B's ball hit the one in front of hers (Player A's ball). (again, a player thought it's never OK to mark a ball on the fringe of a green.)
ANSWER:
Answer to A and B is the same as the balls are in the general area.
A ball MAY be marked and lifted on the fairway or on the fringe if it interfers with the play of another player.
If Player B believes that Player A’s ball will interfer with Player B’s play then Player B may require Player A to mark their ball. Player A is not allowed to lift their ball based on Player A’s belief that their ball may interfere. If Player A lifts their ball when not required to do so they will incur a one stroke penalty.
If Player B does not require Player A to mark and lift their ball and makes a stroke that hits player A’s ball there is no penalty. Player A must replace their ball and Player B plays their ball as it lies.
FEBRUARY 8, 2024
Ball "almost" carries the first finger water at end of Fairway #9 - bounces off of edge of concrete wall and into water
QUESTION:
A ball almost cleared the water over the first finger of water on hole #9, (not pond on left, but the one at the end of main fairway) but hit the inside/water side of the concrete pond barrier on the far side of that bit of water, and ended up bouncing back/down into the water. That ball did not pop up and end up on top of the concrete barrier, but bounced back into the water.
The ensuing discussion: Player A said to play the next shot from the fairway, back on the original (closer to tee box ) side of the water, and Player B said to play it from the 'cleared the water' side of that finger of water since the ball had touched the inside (water side) of the concrete barrier on the far side. Again, the ball came to rest in the water, not on top of the barrier.
ANSWER:
Our local rules define the margin of the penalty area by the water’s side of the concrete or wooden barrier. The relief area must not be nearer than the estimated point where the original ball LAST CROSSED THE EDGE OF THE PENALTY AREA. In this situation Player A is correct as the ball did not cross the penalty area on the far side of the water so the relief area is from the spot where it entered into the water side that was closer to the tee box.
FEBRUARY 1, 2024
Ball hits a club that is on the green.
How to handle?
QUESTION:
On the green on hole 9 a player’s shot is bladed across the green and my wedge is lying in the path of the ball.
A) Am I allowed to pick up my club as I see the ball being bladed across the green?
B) What happens if I can’t pick up the club quick enough and the ball accidently hits my club that was laying on the green?
ANSWER:
A) Refer to Rule 11.3 (exception) - You are allowed to lift or move your equipment or another person’s equipment.
B) Refer to Rule 11.1b (2) - The player who bladed the shot MUST replay their stroke by playing the original ball or another ball from the spot on the green where that stroke was made. If the bladed shot was made from off the putting green the ball is played as it lies after hitting the club that was on the green
JANUARY 25, 2024
Ball at rest against rake in bunker.
How to handle?
QUESTION:
My ball comes to rest against a rake in the bunker. When I move the rake the ball rolls back several feet.
Do I play the ball where it came to rest or do I replace the ball on its original landing area?
ANSWER:
Refer to Rule 15.2a (1) - The ball MUST be replaced on its original spot (which if not known must be estimated).
If the player tries to replace a ball but it does not stay on its original spot, try a second time, if it still doesn’t stay, place it on the nearest spot where the ball will stay at rest in the bunker. Note-You cannot push the ball into the sand to make it stay.
JANUARY 18, 2024
Where to place ball when taking cart path relief onto a narrow strip of rough
QUESTION:
On the left side of Hole 9, almost even with the little cyprus tree, setting up to take third shot
Ball just off of right edge of cart path approx 12" into the rough (which is about 4 feet wide there)
In taking relief, could a player drop the ball on the green grass that was within the 'legal drop distance' from her stance just off of the cart path, or did she need to drop it in the rough?
ANSWER:
Refer to Rule 16.1b The player was taking relief in the general area so the limit of the relief area is that it must be in the general area, no nearer the hole and complete relief must be taken. The general area covers the entire area of the course except the teeing area, penalty areas, bunkers and the putting green. The rough and the fairways are included in the general area so the player could drop onto the green grass.
JANUARY 11, 2024
Ball on Putting green helping play
QUESTION:
On hole #6 Player A and B had hit their approach shots before me. Player A’s ball came to rest 2 feet behind the flag while Player B’s came to rest a foot or so beside the flag. I was about to make my approach shot but stopped as Player B was telling Player A not to mark and lift their ball as I could have used their balls as a backstop if my putt went beyond the hole or maybe I could have deflected my ball off Player B’s ball. Player C told the two players to mark their balls which they did. I then made my approach shot. A) Did the players have to mark their balls before I made my approach shot to the flag? B)If you are playing in a partner best ball competion,or in a scramble is it allowable for a partner to not mark the ball, thus allowing to act as a backstop? C) Is it never allowable to hit another’s ball on the green without penalty?
ANSWER:
A) Refer to Rule 15.3a. Stroke Play:If two or more players agree to leave a ball in place to help any player, and that player then makes a stroke with the helping ball left in place, each player that made the agreement gets a two stroke penalty. In this case there was no penalty as the players marked their balls which could have helped before the stroke was made.
Match Play: In a match, a player may agree to leave their ball in place to help the opponent since the outcome of any benefit that may come from the agreement affects onlyt their match.
B) Same answer applies for a partner stroke play best ball and in a scramble.
C) A situation where no penalty is applied is when Player B marks the ball and lifts the ball. Player A putts and while the putt is in motion Player B replaces the ball on the green to evaluate their next stroke. Player B had no intention of affecting the path of Player A’s putt but Player A’s ball hits Player B’s ball . Since Player B’s ball was not at rest on the putting green at the time that Player A made their stroke there is no penalty to Player A.
JANUARY 4, 2024
Rule for re-teeing a tee shot ball that did not make it out of the 'tee box' area.
QUESTION:
I teed my ball up on hole 11 and made a stroke at the ball. To my surprise I looked down at my feet and the ball was still there. My tee had propelled 10 feet in front of the teeing area but the ball had remained in the teeing area. Can I retee the ball and do I incur a penalty?
ANSWER:
Refer to Rule 14.6 a. When a player makes their next stroke from the teeing area the player may use either their original ball or another ball (and may be teed). There is no penalty.
DECEMBER 28, 2023
Is using a golf glove to clean a ball that is on the putting surface wrong? Should a player doing that receive a penalty?
QUESTION:
I marked my ball on the green and picked the ball up. As the ball was dirty I cleaned the ball using my glove. The other player in the group said it was against the rules as the rules had changed. Should I have received a penalty?
ANSWER:
Refer to Rule 14.1c. The answer is NO, and the rules have NOT changed. You are allowed to clean your ball with your glove or any other piece of equipment such as a towel. There are no restrictions on what to use to clean a ball or how to clean a ball.
BUT also Refer to Rule 13.1 e. A player must not test the putting green by rubbing the surface or rolling a ball. To avoid any perception that you are testing the green go to the fringe and rub the mud off of your ball on the fringe, and not on the surface of the green.
DECEMBER 21, 2023
A coyote chewed up my ball before I finished the hole. Help?
QUESTION:
On hole 11, I hit my approach shot to the green, however, it went to the left near some bushes. A coyote who was hiding near the bush picked up my ball and ran a few feet and then dropped my chewed up ball.
What should I have done?
ANSWER:
Rule 9.6 allows you to replace the ball on its original spot with no penalty. Rule 4.2c allows you to use another ball as the coyote has cut your ball with his teeth!
DECEMBER 14, 2023
Picking up a ball to identify it as the one you hit off of the tee.
QUESTION:
Player A is not sure that the ball lying in the rough is her ball so she picks it up and identifies the ball as the ball she played from the tee. She replaces the ball and makes her next stroke.
Did she proceed correctly under the rules of golf?
ANSWER:
Oops! Player A incurs one penalty stroke as she failed to mark the ball before she lifted the it. See Rule 7.3
DECEMBER 07, 2023
Sharing clubs or golf equipment with others in your own foursome.
QUESTION:
Are you allowed to share your clubs or golf equipment with others in your foursome?
Someone ran into this and was told if she (PLAYER A) loaned her driver to another player (PLAYER B) then she would not be able to use it herself from then on!!
ANSWER:
Rule 4.1b (2) gives us the anser- No sharing of clubs
Player A receives no penalty and can continue to use her own driver. Player B is penalized.
A player is limited to those clubs they started with or added to the maximum number of 14. If the Player B makes a stroke with Player A’s club Player B receive a 2 stoke penalty for each hole where the breach happened with a maximum number of 4 strokes.
Rule 22.5 (Foursomes-Alternate shot) and 23.7 (Four ball -Best ball) gives a limited exception in partner forms of play allowing partners to share clubs if they have more than 14 clubs between them.
NOVEMBER 30, 2023
Swapping out one club for another during a round of golf
QUESTION:
My putter is letting me down and I want to swap it out for my other putter which is in the house located right beside the teeing area. I will not delay play as the group ahead of us has just finished teeing off on the par three and is driving away. Am I allowed to switch putters?
ANSWER:
Did you start the round with 14 clubs?
- 14 clubs is the maximum number of clubs that are allowed to be carried for a game of golf. You are not allowed to exchange one putter for another putter as this would increase the number beyond the 14-club limit. You have to count both putters ever though you are leaving one putter in the house.
Do you start the round with less that 14 clubs?
If a player starts a roud with fewer than 14 clubs, they may add clubs during the round up to the 14-club limit.
.
NOVEMBER 23, 2023
How to score holes that have not been completed
QUESTION:
a) I have had a late night and I am just too tired to finish my last two holes at Cottonwood: #s 1 and 2. I started hole #1 but did not complete the hole. I did not start hole #2 and did not complete the hole. How should I score them for posting for my handicap?
See Answer: For Hole #1 - Holes started and Not completed
See Answer: For Hole #2 - Holes Not started and Not completed
b) I'm in a stroke tournament and an emergency has come up at home. I had to miss my last 4 holes. How should I have scored them for posting for my handicap?
See Answer: Holes Not started and Not completed
c) The course is going through maintenance updates and we are not allowed to play on two of the holes today. How should we score them for posting for my handicap?
See Answer: Holes Not started and Not completed
ANSWER:
Holes started and Not completed
Any hole that was started and not completed should be posted as a most likely score, providing this is less than the net double bogey score, otherwise record the net double bogey score.
Net Double Bogey is (Par + Double Bogey + any handicap strokes allocated on that hole).
Example: if a 19 handicap player started to play hole 18 and did not complete hole 18, she would post a 7 (Par (4) + double bogey (2) + allocated handicap strokes (1)). Record 7X on scorecard if less than or equal to the most likely score, otherwise record most likely score 6X.
Holes Not started and Not completed
Any hole not played is posted as a Net Par, equal to par plus any handicap strokes allocated to that hole. Example: if a 19 handicap player was playing 18 holes and did not start hole 18, she would post a 5 (Par (4) + allocated handicap strokes (1)). Record 5X on scorecard.
NOVEMBER 16, 2023
How to play ball near wooden barrier between grass and water on right side of Hole 13.
QUESTION:
Hole 13- Par 3 -Water runs along the right side of the hole and around the back of the green. My ball goes to the right and ends up near the wooden barrier. I can not swing to hit my ball as the wooden barrier interfers. What should I do?
ANSWER:
The wooden barrier is considered to be an obstruction and free relief is granted!
The margin of the penalty area is defined by the water's side of the concrete or wooden barrier. The concrete or wooden barriers are considered obstructions and relief is granted under Rule 16.
NOVEMBER 9, 2023
Options for getting out of a bunker - other than multiples attempts that could add up to a very high score for the hole
QUESTION:
My third shot on the 9th hole goes into the bunker and plugs into the sand on the side of the bunker! Not a great lie at all but what the heck I hit it and it stays in the bunker. I keep hitting it and hitting it and I can’t get it out of the bunker. Well by the time I am finished I score a 14 on that hole! Help! What could I have done?
ANSWER:
One option - take an “unplayable ball relief” - under Rule 19.3. Take two penalty strokes and take your ball out of the bunker and play it back-on-the line outside of the bunker.
Take “back-on-the-line relief” - by dropping a ball behind the spot of the original ball, keeping the spot of the original ball between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped.
Check out diagram 19.3 in your USGA Rules of Golf app on your phone or on the USGA website for a picture of this option and other options for an unplayable ball in a bunker.
MAY 4, 2023
Situation:
Do we have to stay in same kind of grass condition when taking the '1 club length relief' from selected ball's location?
QUESTION:
Situation:
When we played a scramble recently, there was discussion when one of the selected balls was a foot from the fairway but in the Bermuda “rough”. One player thought they could use the one club length to put the ball in the fairway. But most thought you had to stay in the same condition, ie. play from the Bermuda. What is correct?
ANSWER:
CLGA uses the following procedure (consistent with PV couples and PV ladies games-You will hear Greg make the annoucement at the start of a scramble game):
-When you select the ball you must play from the same condition. This is the fairest method. For example Player A’s ball lands in the rough. Mark the spot of the selected ball and all 4 players PLACE a ball within one club length, no nearer the hole, and within the same condition- the rough.
Note: Throughout the course (ie includes bunkers, rough, fairway) you are allowed one club length and on the putting green you are allowed 6 inches.
APRIL 27, 2023
When is it OK to brush away sand that is either on, or very near, the putting surface?
QUESTION:
Today a player was in the bunker and splashed the ball out of it and onto the fringe of the green. Unfortunately, a large amont of sand was deposited onto the fringe in front of the ball. Since the sand was going to interfere with her putt from the fringe to the hole the player brushed all the sand away that was in front of the ball.
Is this allowed under the rules?
ANSWER:
Unfortunately the player is not allowed to remove or press down sand or loose soil and is subject to the general penalty (Rule 8.1 a (4)) when hitting from off of the putting green. For a ball on the putting green, see rule 8.1 b (10) which allows the player, for no penalty on the putting green, to remove sand and loose soil and repair damage.
APRIL 20, 2023
When is it permitted to take relief from a sprinkler head which is near a green
QUESTION:
I am near the green and I see a sprinkler head that is on my line of play. Can I have free relief from the sprinkler head if my ball, my stance or my swing will NOT touch the sprinkler head?
ANSWER:
Is your ball within two club lengths of the sprinkler and is the sprinkler within two clubs lengths from the putting green?
- If the answer is NO: there is no free relief unless the lie of the ball, the swing or your stance is interfered by the sprinkler.
- If the answer is YES: you may take free relief. Determine your nearest point of relief from the sprinkler NO CLOSER to the hole and then measure one club length from that point and drop your ball in that relief area. This relief is allowed because local rule F5 “Immovable Obstructions Close to Putting Greens” has been adopted by our club and the course.
APRIL 13, 2023
How to play a ball that has hit moving wheel on maintenance truck
QUESTION:
Today on hole 9, a player in our group hit a “worm burner”. The ball went a long way and ended up hitting the back tire of the maintenance equipment that was moving. The ball ended up about 15 feet in a playable spot on the fairway after hitting the moving tire. The good news is that the moving tire stopped the ball from ending in the desert. The player played the ball to the green from the spot where it had come to rest after hitting the moving tire. Did the player proceed correctly?
ANSWER:
The player proceeded correctly! The ball in motion was accidently deflected and there is no penalty and the player plays the ball from where it came to rest (Rule 11.1).
APRIL 6, 2023
Hitting a driving range ball back to the driving range – from the middle of a regulation fairway (Hole #12 at Cottonwood).
QUESTION:
We were on the fairway of hole #12 and I was about to hit a driving range ball back to the driving range and my playing partner stopped me. She said that if I had hit the driving range ball I would have been assessed 2 stroke penalty as I would have been practicing. I left the ball on the 12 hole fairway and did not hit it back to the driving range.
ANSWER:
See Rule 5.5 a. Hitting a ball back to a practice area when done solely as a coutesy is NOT a practice stroke. You are allowed to hit the driving range ball back to the driving range if you are doing it as a courtesy to clear the fairway of pactise balls. IF you were doing it with the intent of determining what club to use for your next shot then Yes there would have been breach of the rule and will incur the general penalty.
MARCH 30, 2023
Properly putting a ball back down after marking it on the green.
QUESTION:
In a recent game one of the players marked her ball with a ball marker and then rotated the ball and placed it beside the spot where the ball had been marked. The spot where the ball was replaced was at least two inches from the original spot. Did she proceed correctly?
ANSWER:
The player did not follow the rules! See rule 14.2 c. The ball must be replaced on its original spot. The player played the ball from a wrong place and incurs a two stroke penalty. The rules allows you to mark the ball by placing a ball marker or a club right behind or right next to the ball so that when you replace the ball it will be on its original spot.
MARCH 23, 2023
Using a putter to mark a ball.
QUESTION:
Can I use my putter to mark my ball?
ANSWER:
Yes you can!
Refer to the definition of “Mark”.
Mark is to show the spot where a ball is at rest either by placing a ball-marker or holding a club on the ground right behind or right next to the ball.This is done to show the spot where the ball must be replaced after it is lifted.
MARCH 16, 2023
Using a piece of tree bark to mark a ball on the green.
QUESTION:
Yesterday during our game I marked my ball on the putting green with a piece of bark and my fellow playing partner said this was not allowed. Is it true that a piece of bark cannot be used to mark my ball?
ANSWER:
That is true and is subject to a one stroke penalty!
See the definition of a ball marker- An artificial object when used to mark the spot of a ball such as a tee, coin or an object made to be a ball-marker or another small piece of equipment.
The key word is artificial. It cannot be a natural object such as a leaf or a piece of bark. There is an excellent video on the USGA website under Rules that explains this topic. It will show you that you could use your cell phone or a spare shoe to mark the ball, but remember to replace the ball at the correct spot.
MARCH 9, 2023
PLAYING BALL ON GRASS, BUT IN RUT MADE BY MAINTENANCE EQUIPMENT
QUESTION:
Help!! My ball is lying on grass, but down in a depression made by the tires on golf course maintenance equipment.
Can I take relief – nearest point of relief and then one club length?
ANSWER:
A hole made by maintenance staff is ground under repair (GUR) even when not marked, however, not all damage caused by maintenance staff is GUR by default. A rut made by a tractor is NOT GUR but the committee is justified in declaring a DEEP rut to be ground under repair. If you believe that the depression is a deep rut and could be declared as GUR then you can play two balls.
Follow the procedure under rule 20.1c(3) for stroke play. Choose which ball will count if the rules allow the procedure for that ball. Report to the committee for a ruling before returning the scorecard.
Follow the procedure under rule 20.1b for match play. Note there is no right to play two balls in match play.
MARCH 2, 2023
SWITCHING BALLS DURING ALTERNATE SHOT PLAY
QUESTION:
Alternate shot format – We elected to use my partner’s drive on a hole. She plays a different kind and colour of ball than I do. I wanted to use my own ball for my shots, but was informed that I could not, and that I had to play the ball down. Was that correct?
ANSWER:
That was correct! In the game of golf the principal is to play the ball as it lies, and to play the course as you find it. After teeing off, the player is normally required to play the same ball until the hole is completed unless a rule allows the substitution of another ball. ie – taking relief from a cart path you can drop the original ball, or another ball can be used.
FEBRUARY 23, 2023
IS IT LEGAL TO TOUCH LINE OF PLAY WHEN ON THE PUTTING GREEN?
QUESTION:
I walk along my line of play on the putting green and rest my putter on a spot where I believe the ball will start to break towards the hole. There is no mark made by the putter so no improvement has been made. Another player says that the I am not allowed to touch the line of play.
Did I proceed correctly?
ANSWER:
Yes you did.
There is no penalty in the Rules of Golf for touching your line of play on the putting green. There was such a penalty many years ago, but it is no longer the case.
Note: In the rules of golf there is no definition for the line of putt. It is now referred to as the line of play.
FEBRUARY 16, 2023
OPTIONS FOR GETTING OUT OF A BUNKER
QUESTION:
Help! My ball is in a sand bunker and I know that I will have a problem hitting the ball out of the bunker.
What are my options?
ANSWER:
You can play the ball as it lies or declare it unplayable and use one of the following options:
1) take one penalty stroke and take stroke and distance relief.
2) take one penalty stroke and take back on the line relief IN the bunker
3) take one penalty stroke and take lateral relief IN the bunker
4) take two penalty strokes and take back on the line relief OUTSIDE the bunker. Drop a ball behind the spot of the original ball between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped.
FEBRUARY 9, 2023
TRICKY DROP SITUATION ON RGHT SIDE OF HOLE 17
QUESTION:
My second shot on hole #17 went right, hit the cart path, rolled north along the path, and was found in the river rock on the right side of the path, almost pin high. A line between the ‘nearest point of relief’ and the ball put a nice, fluffy bush (4’ tall) in the way. I elected to drop the ball on the left side (south) of the bush, and it resulted in a clear shot to the pin. Another player told me that I needed to take the relief and play the ball from behind the bush.
Did I proceed correctly?
ANSWER:
Yes, you proceeded correctly! What was not said in this situation is that the point where the ball was played from (after taking relief) met the two requirements for relief: 1) Nearest point of relief AND 2) No closer to the hole.
Note: the correct relief area could end up being some distance from where a ball was originally located. When the player said that the other player needed to take relief and play the ball from behind the bush, that spot was actually closer to the hole from where the ball originally was located, and therefore was an incorrect place to take the relief.
In another situation:
When taking relief from river rock you MUST find the nearest point of relief that is not closer to the hole. If the spot of the “nearest point of relief and no closer to the hole” is in a bush, that is your reference point for the nearest point of relief, and you measure one club length in a semi-circle and drop in that semi-circle relief area. Using your driver to measure your one club length for your relief area might just give you a shot . If you drop and the swing or lie of the ball is interfered by the bush, then you as a player can deem the ball unplayable and then use one of the relief options under rule 17, incurring a one stroke penalty.
Remember: Determine your nearest point of relief no closer to the hole and measure one club length from that point and drop in that relief area.
FEBRUARY 2, 2023
PLAYING A ‘MARKED BALL’ FROM THE SPOT WHERE WIND HAS JUST BLOWN IT
QUESTION:
On a very windy day I quickly marked the ball on the putting green. I did not lift the ball and the ball was left at the spot where I marked the it. Several minutes later, the wind moved the ball two feet nearer to the hole. I picked the ball up and replaced the ball where the marker was and then played the ball.
Did I proeceed correctly?
ANSWER:
The player is assessed a two stroke penalty for playing from a wrong place. As the ball was not lifted when it was marked it should have been played from the spot where the wind moved the ball.(see Rule 13.1d(2). Had the ball been marked and lifted from the green then you would have proceeded correctly (see rule 9.3 Exception 1).
A wise golfer may decide to mark and lift a ball if you are below the hole on a windy day. If you are above the hole you may decide to mark the ball and not lift the ball if you feel that the wind will blow your ball down the slope and into the hole!
If you have read this rule then please email Terry Gaube at tgaube@sasktel.net before Feb 9 with the words “ weekly Rule” and your name will be entered into a drawing for a gift certificate from the Proshop!
JANUARY 27, 2023
WHO SHOULD REPLACE A BALL THAT WAS MARKED AND LIFTED BY SOMEONE OTHER THAN THE OWNER OF THE BALL?
QUESTION:
I just hit my ball out of the bunker and the ball landed on the green some distance away from me. The other players were standing near where my ball landed on the green. I asked another player to mark my ball which she did while I raked the bunker. Did I proceed correctly?
ANSWER:
Under Rule 14.2b the player’s ball must be replaced only by the player or any person who lifted the ball.
JANUARY 20, 2023
WHAT TO DO IF A BALL BEING DROPPED AS A PART OF TAKING RELIEF HITS THE CLUB BEING USED FOR MEASURING THE RELIEF AREA
QUESTION:
I need to move my ball because I would be standing on the cart path. I determined my nearest point of relief using the club that I was going to use for my next stroke and measured one club length with my driver.
a) When I drop the ball, I leave my driver on the grass, and then dropped my ball which hit the grass first and then it hit my driver and it stays in the relief area. Is there a penalty?
b) What do I do if the ball hits the driver first and then stays in the relief area?
ANSWER:
a) No there is no penalty!
Check out rule 14.3c (1)/1. The player dropped the ball in the right way, but the ball was accidently stopped by the driver and it came to rest in the relief area and now must play the ball as it lies.
b) No there is no penalty!
Check out rule 14.4. The player has dropped the ball in a wrong way and must drop a ball again in the right way.
Make is easy for you and first remove your clubs from the area before you drop a ball.
JANUARY 13, 2023
I HAD A BAD DRIVE – IT DIDN’T GET OFF OF THE TEE BOX! COULD I HAVE RE-TEED IT AND TRIED AGAIN? AND, WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF “TEEING AREA”?
QUESTION:
I hit my tee shot and only moved it a foot or two and the ball stayed in the teeing area (stayed behind the line between the two tee markers). Can I tee up my next stroke?
ANSWER:
Yes you can tee your next stroke!
Rule 14.6 allows you to play the original ball or another ball from anywhere inside the teeing area as the ball remained in the teeing area after the first stroke AND it may be teed under Rule 6.2b. You do not incur a penalty stroke. The teeing area is defined by a line drawn (not literally) between the two tee markers and back two club lengths resulting in a rectangle. Remember you are not allowed to tee your ball in front of the line drawn between the two tee markers.
JANUARY 6, 2023
IS IT OK TO NOT USE A TEE TO MARK NEAREST POINT OF RELIEF WHEN TAKING RELIEF FROM A CART PATH STANCE .
QUESTION:
My ball landed close to the cart path so that if I was to hit my ball I would have been standing on the cart path. I did not put tees in the ground to show the nearest point of relief and the one club length mark from the nearest point of relief.
Did the I proceed correctly or did I have to place tees in the ground to determine the relief area?
ANSWER:
The rules do not require you to place tees in the ground to measure your relief area.
You can estimate the relief area and drop the ball, but it may be to your advantage to measure the relief area accurately to get the best available place to drop your ball. Just make sure that when you drop the ball it is not nearer the hole and that it is where there is no interefence from the cart path and it is within the one club length from your nearest point of relief.
DECEMBER 23, 2022
MUST AN ENTRY ON A SCORECARD BE CORRECTED BEFORE PROCEEDING TO THE NEXT HOLE TO BE PLAYED?
QUESTION:
After all the players in our group finished putting out on the green I said my score was 7. The person marking the scores recorded the 7 on the scorecard and we then drove to the next hole. I recounted my strokes while we were driving to the next hole and determined that I only took 6 strokes and not 7. I asked my marker to change my score (marker agreed that it was 6), however, the marker said she was not allowed to change the score as we had left the previous hole. Was the marker correct in saying she was not allowed to make the change?
ANSWER:
The marker did not proceed correctly and should change the score to 7. A scorecard can be changed for the correct score up to the time the scorecard is handed into the Proshop at the completion of the game. Refer to Rule 3b. (1) and Rule 3b (2).
DECEMBER 23, 2022
PLACING A CLUB UPON THE SAND IN A BUNKER IS USUALLY, BUT NOT ALWAYS, OK.
QUESTION:
My ball landed in the bunker. I placed the club head of my wedge immediately behind the ball, resting the club on the sand to help me align my club face.
Did I follow the correct procedure?
ANSWER:
Under Rule 12.2 b (1) there is a restriction on touching the sand in the bunker with a club. The player must not touch the sand in the bunker with a club in the area right in front of or right behind the ball.
The player incurs the general penalty of two strokes in stroke play or loss of hole in match play.
DECEMBER 16, 2022
USING AN OBJECT, SUCH AS A CLUB, TO ASSIST WITH ALIGNING PLAYER’S FEET OR BODY WHEN ON A TEE BOX.
QUESTION:
It is my turn to hit the tee shot but I am uncertain about my aim so I take another club (four iron) to the teeing area. I place the four iron on the ground beside my ball pointing in the direction that I want my ball to go after I hit the tee shot with my driver. I use the four iron to align my stance and then hit the tee shot
ANSWER:
The player did not proceed correctly and incurs a two stroke penalty in stroke play.
Under rule 10 b (3) a player must not take a stance for a stroke using any object that the player set down to help in lining up that player’s feet or body, such as a club set down on the ground to show the line of play. *NOTE* If the player takes a stance in breach of this rule, the player cannot avoid the penalty by backing away from the stance and removing the object.
DECEMBER 9, 2022
TAKING BACK-0N-THE-LINE RELIEF FOR UNPLAYABLE BALL THAT LANDED IN A BUSH
QUESTION:
My ball landed in a bush in the general area of the course.
I decided that I could not play the ball so chose to take back-on-the-line relief under the unplayable ball relief. I determined the correct reference line some distance behind the location of the original ball in the bush and dropped another ball on the line.
The dropped ball rolled towards the hole and came to rest about 3 feet closer to the hole than the spot where the ball landed on the line. I played the ball from that location. Did I proceed correctly?
ANSWER:
**The Player has proceeded correctly under the 2023 Rules.**
The procedure for back-on-the-line relief has been changed. See Rule 19.2b.
In taking back-on-the-line relief, Player A may drop a ball behind the spot of the original ball keeping the spot of the original ball between the hole and where the ball is dropped.
When using the back-on-the-line relief the player is required to drop the ball on the line, and it may roll up to one club length in any direction.
DECEMBER 2, 2022
A BALL DROPPED INTO A RELIEF AREA HAS ROLLED OUT OF THAT AREA AND INTO NEARBY WATER
QUESTION:
My tee shot came to rest in a red penalty area. In taking lateral relief (plus the one stroke penalty) I dropped another ball in the 2-club length relief area.
Several minutes later, just before it was my turn to play, the ball rolled out of the relief area and indo nearby water in the red penalty area.
How should I proceed under the 2023 Rules?
ANSWER:
Replace your ball on the spot where it was originally at rest (dropped) in the relief area. No additional penalty other than the one penalty stroke for taking relief from a penalty area.
**Why?** The ball was moved by natural forces from the general area (where it had been dropped) and into a penalty area.
In the 2023 Rules, a ball that has been dropped and is at rest and then moved by natural forces to another area of the course must be replaced on it original spot. See Exception 2 to Rule 9.3.
NOVEMBER 25, 2022
CORRECT PROCEDURE WHEN A PUTTED BALL HAS HIT ANOTHER PLAYER’S BALL, HAS STOPPED, AND IS THEN HOLED OUT.
QUESTION:
My ball is on the putting green about 20 feet from the hole. I putt and the ball in motion accidentally hits the shoe of another player on the putting green and comes to rest about 12 inches from the hole.
I holed the putt and started the next hole. Did I proceed correctly under the rules?
ANSWER:
You would receive a 2 stroke penalty under stoke play as you were required to place the ball on the spot where that stroke was made, and must replay the stroke.
**If a ball played from the putting green hits an outside influence and, to avoid a penalty, the ball or another ball must be placed on the spot where that stroke was made, and the Player must replay the stroke.
In the 2023 Rules, if Player A does not replay the stroke, Player A gets the general penalty and the stroke counts. See Rule 11.1b(2). As noted in Rule 11.1b(2), Player A has not played from a wrong place.
NOVEMBER 18, 2022
PENALTY FOR SUBSITUTING BALL ON HOLE NUMBER 9 BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO GO OVER WATER
QUESTION:
On hole number 9, I need to hit my next shot over the water but I don’t want to risk losing my brand new ball, so I substitute an old ball that I do not care if it goes into the water. Will I be penalized if I do this (after January 1, 2023)?
ANSWER:
Under the current (2022) rules, in this situation, you are not allowed to substitute a ball so you will receive two (2) penalty strokes.
In the 2023 Rules, Player A gets a penalty of one (1) stroke for incorrectly substituting a ball. See Rule 6.3b(3). Prior to 2023 it would have been a two stroke penalty.
NOVEMBER 11, 2022
TAKING RELIEF FOR BALL AT REST ON TOP OF CONCRETE BARRIER ON EDGE OF POND ON HOLE #4 (ON THE SIDE BY THE PUTTING GREEN).
QUESTION:
On Hole 4, a player’s ball almost made it across the water, but ended up hitting the concrete barrier on the water’s edge (on the ‘green side’ of the water), bounced straight up, and ended up sitting on top of the barrier (strange, but true). Where was the proper place for her to take her relief? It seemed like any place she chose was going to be closer to the hole unless she kept taking drops until she was no longer closer.
ANSWER:
The margin of the penalty area is defined by the water’s side of the concrete barrier and the barrier is considered an obstruction. Free relief is granted under rule 16. The first step is to find the nearest point of relief for your swing, stance and lie of the ball that is not the nearer to the hole. Note that this may end up being some distance from where the ball came to rest on the barrier. The key thing to remember is to find the nearest point of relief that is not nearer the hole.
NOVEMBER 4, 2022
BRUSHING AWAY LOOSE GRASS ON A PUTTING SURFACE (BY THE PERSON PUTTING)
QUESTION:
In a foursome, one of the players brushed away some of the loose grass (between her ball and the hole) that had been left behind by the early-morning mowers. She was told that she was not permitted to brush away the loose grass (according to the rules of golf). Was this correct?
ANSWER:
Incorrect: Rule 15.1 and the definition of a loose impediment allows the player to remove a loose impediment ie. loose grass, anywhere on or off the course and may do so in any way (such as by using a hand or foot or a club or other equipment).
NOVEMBER 1, 2022
MAKING REPAIRS TO EDGE OF CUP ON PUTTING GREEN DURING PLAY
QUESTION:
Damage has been spotted on the edge of the cup on a putting green. The accidental damage was done when a player in the foursome removed her ball from the hole using an attachment on her putter. Before making her stroke, the next person up to putt starts to repair the damage, but is told to stop – because she might be penalized for doing that. But, that someone else in the foursome could do so, without a penalty. Was this correct?
ANSWER:
Incorrect: Damage to the hole is covered by Rule 13.1c as part of the damage on a putting green. The player may repair the damage to the hole that was caused by the action of the previous player in the group when that other player’s ball was removed using the attachment..
APRIL 29, 2022
IRRIGATION CONTROL BOX BETWEEN BALL AND THE GREEN IS IN DANGER OF BEING HIT BY CLUB DURING SWING
QUESTION:
Recently my ball ended up behind a grey irrigation control box, which ended up being between my ball and the green. If I had taken a swing at the ball my club would have hit the box. Someone in my playing group said I could have taken line of flight relief, with a one stroke penalty.
ANSWER:
“Line of flight relief” is not a term used in the rules of golf. You will be happy to learn that Rule 16.1 covers free relief (NO penalty) as the grey irrigation control box is an immovable obstruction which interferes with your swing. Also, if your ball came to rest right up against the box, or your stance would have been interfered by the box, you would have been entitled to free relief. Remember: you can have free relief for stance, swing and/or lie of the ball.
APRIL 22, 2022
SINKING A PUTT WHILE ANOTHER PLAYER’S BALL IS STILL IN THE CUP
QUESTION:
I sank my putt on hole 17 and did not pick up my ball from the cup as I was about twenty feet away from it. Another player in the group sank her five-foot putt while my ball was still in the cup. A third player said that that was a one stroke penalty. Should I have been penalized?
ANSWER:
This is a myth, and there is no one stroke penalty for this under the rules of golf.
APRIL 15, 2022
PLAYING OUT OF A BUNKER THAT HAS WATER AND MUD IN IT, AND PLAYER’S BALL IS IN THE WATER
QUESTION:
My tee shot on hole 16 landed in the bunker on the left side of the fairway by the palm trees. The bunker contains water and there is mud surrounding the water. My ball is in the water and my feet would be in the mud. There is no visible water when I take a stance in the bunker in the mud. How should I proceed?
ANSWER:
In this situation you are entitled to relief as your ball is in the water. Had the ball not been in the water there would be no relief from the mud. Relief under Rule 16.1 c gives you the following options for relief from the lie of the ball in the water:
- In the bunker find your nearest point of relief no nearer the hole and then drop within one club length. It may turn out to be the point of maximum available relief (shallowest spot of water).
- OR -Take a penalty stroke and drop in a relief area back on the line relief outside of the bunker. Chose a reference point on the back on the line and drop a ball within one club length from the reference point.
APRIL 8, 2022
WHAT TO DO IF I YOU ARE NOT SURE YOUR BALL MADE IT ACROSS THE WATER ON HOLE #18
QUESTION:
On hole 18 I hit my second shot which was an easy distance for me to carry the water, but the ball was a low flyer. I could not follow the path of the ball, nor could any player in our foursome. None of us could see where the ball landed if indeed it landed in the water or landed on the grass on the other side. The ripples on the water’s surface made it hard to tell if the ball entered into the water, and the hazy overcast day made it hard to see the ball in the air. How could I have handled that situation?
ANSWER:
1. If there is a likelihood the ball is only in the water the decision is solely the player’s. It is reasonable to assume the ball is in the penalty area (the water).
2. If there is limited or no evidence (no eye witnesses) that the ball is in the penalty area (such that it may have crossed the water into the area beyond) the player would be able to go to the other side and search for 3 minutes. It may be a pace of play issue but the player is entitled to search for 3 minutes after arriving in the area where the ball may be.
3. Ultimately, in my opinion, the way I would play the hole would be to drop back behind the water and play the shot where it was previously played. This protects me as a player and the field/competition.
4. As another option a local rule 8B-3 “Provisional Ball for Ball in a Penalty area” can be introduced. This would allow a player who does not know whether his or her ball is in the penalty area to play a provisional ball. This local rule is not in effect at this point but I will take it to the committee for review.
APRIL 1, 2022
WHEN IS A PUTTER (CLUB) NOT A PUTTER?
QUESTION:
I recently saw a player mark her ball in a different manner. She placed her putter directly behind her ball on the green, held the putter in place, picked up her ball and aligned the stripe on the ball with the mark on the putter and then placed the ball back down on the original spot. Can a player mark a ball on the green with a putter?
ANSWER:
The definition for a ball marker refers to an artificial object when used to mark the spot of the ball to be lifted such as a tee, a coin, an object made to be a ball marker or another small piece of equipment. This does not refer to a putter so we need to look at Rule 14.1a. This Rule says that the player must mark the spot by placing a ball marker or by holding a club on the ground right behind or right next to the ball. The player proceeded correctly.
MARCH 25, 2022
BALL AT REST ON GRASS, AND TOUCHING A CONCRETE BARRIER
QUESTION:
On Hole #13 my ball has come to rest on the grass on the south side (beyond the ‘back’ of the green). However, it is touching the edge of the Concrete that lines the water. Can I get free relief and if so, where would that be?
ANSWER:
Yes. Free relief is available as the Concrete is considered an obstruction.
Step 1: Using the club that you will take your next stroke with, simulate your shot (ie. take your stance and place the club head on the ground where you would make contact with the ground if you swung). Place a tee in the ground at this point which is called a Point of Relief, ensuring that you have no interference with the lie of the ball, your swing, or your stance from the concrete,
Step 2: Find the nearest point of relief to where your ball originally came to rest at the edge of the concrete. You are looking for the nearest point of relief- not the nicest!
Step 3: Make sure that the nearest point of relief is not closer to the hole. If it is closer to the hole then keep moving until you find the nearest point of relief that is not closer to the hole.
Step 4: Once you have found the nearest point of relief that is not closer to the hole, use a club other than your putter to measure one club length. Drop a ball from knee height into the one club length relief area. If the ball rolls out of the relief area then re-drop. If the ball rolls again out of the relief area, place the ball on the spot where the ball hit the ground in the relief area.
Recap: There may be multiple relief points but you are looking for the nearest point of relief that is no closer to the hole.
MARCH 18. 2022
MARKING AND REPLACING ANOTHER PLAYER’S BALL WHEN ON A GREEN
QUESTION:
Player A’s ball is at rest on the putting green on hole 12. Player B asks if she can mark Player A’s ball to speed up play as Player A is about 20 yards from the green. Player A authorizes Player B to mark her ball. Who must replace Player A’s ball?
ANSWER:
Player A OR Player B may replace Player A’s ball. It is not a requirement that the person that marked the ball must replace the ball. It is one of the options. See Rule 14.2b.
MARCH 11, 2022
BALL AT REST ON FAIRWAY IS HIT BY ANOTHER BALL
QUESTION:
Player A hits her second shot from the fairway and her ball collides with player B’S ball that was at rest the fairway. How should we proceed? Any penalties involved?
ANSWER:
Fortunately, there are NO penalties to either player!
Player A plays her balls from where it came to rest after colliding with Player B’s ball.
Player B’s ball is replaced on its original place. If the exact spot is not known with certainty, Player B will use her best judgement and replace it at that spot. See rule 9.6
MARCH 4, 2022
THERE’S A DEAD BIRD UNDER MY BALL!!
QUESTION:
A player’s ball lands and remains at rest on top of a dead bird in the general area of the course. The player is able to identify the ball as hers without taking any other action (IE: without having to touch, or move the ball).
ANSWER:
Unfortunately, the player is not entitled to free relief. See Relief from Loose Impediments-Rule 15.1a -exception 1.
The player’s options are to play it as it lies (YUCK!) or take unplayable ball relief for one penalty stroke. See Unplayable ball -Rule 19.1 for your options with one penalty stroke.
FEBRUARY 25, 2022
SEQUENCE OF PLAY WHEN ONE PLAYER’S BALL IS ON THE GREEN AND A LONG DISTANCE FORM THE PIN, AND ANOTHER’S BALL IS CLOSER TO THE PIN, BUT OFF OF THE GREEN
QUESTION:
Recently I was waiting for a fellow player whose ball was on the far-left side of hole #6 green. I was off of the green by 10 yards and straight down from the pin which was positioned on the right-hand fourth of the green, halfway up the green from the edge.
After what seemed like an eternity passed, I realized that the golfer on the far-left side of the green was waiting for me to putt since I was off the green.
I was waiting for her to putt because she was definitely further from the pin than I was.
To keep the game moving I went ahead and took my shot, and then she hit her putt.
ANSWER:
Under stroke play the order of play is covered under Rule 6.4. The ball that is farthest from the hole should be played first regardless if the ball is off the green or on the green. Now having said that Rule 6.4b (2) also talks about playing out of turn in a safe and responsible way (Ready Golf).
- Players are allowed and encouraged to play out of turn for convenience or to save time,
- A player’s ball comes to rest near the hole and the player wishes to hole out, or
- A player is ready to play before the other player whose turn it is to play so long as playing out of turn does not endanger, distract, or interfere with any other player.
BUT if the player whose turn it is to play is ready and able and wants to play first then other players should wait.
A player should not play out of turn to gain an advantage over other players
There is no penalty for playing out of
FEBRUARY 18, 2022
BALL ON GREEN ACCIDENTALLY HIT DURING PRACTICE STROKE
QUESTION:
I finally made it to the putting green on Hole #9. I took a practice stroke near the ball and accidentally moved it. I picked up the ball, replaced it on its original spot, and played on.
Did I proceed correctly?
ANSWER:
There is no penalty for accidental movement of a ball in play on the putting green as long as the ball is replaced on its original spot. See Exception 3 to Rule 9.4b and Rule 9.
FEBRUARY 11, 2022
ON A FAIRWAY: BALL ACCIDENTALLY STRUCK DURING PRACTICE SWING & REPLACED WITH A DIFFERENT BALL
QUESTION:
My tee shot landed on the fairway on hole #9. I took a practice swing near the ball and accidentally moved the ball. As I was worried my next shot would go into the water I picked up the ball, and replaced the original ball with a “water ball” on the original spot.
ANSWER:
As the Player had not made a stroke the player would receive a penalty of one stroke and must replace the original ball on its original spot, which if not known must be estimated. See Rule 9.4b, Rule 9.4a and the Definition of “Replace”. Note: If the player had proceeded and played the “water ball” and not the original ball then the player would receive two penalty stokes.
FEBRUARY 4, 2022
ANY TEEING AREA: BALL ACCIDENTALLY KNOCKED OFF OF TEE DURING PRACTICE SWING
QUESTION:
On Thursday I took a practice swing on the teeing area on hole #9 and accidentally knocked the ball off the tee. I picked up the ball and placed a different ball on a tee in another part of the teeing area and played the ball.
Did I proceed correctly as I decided to switch to a “water ball” after my practice swing on the teeing area?
ANSWER:
There is no penalty since the ball is not in play until a stroke is made. The ball or another ball may be played from anywhere in the teeing area without penalty. See Rule 6.2b(5).
JANUARY 28, 2022
HOLE # 1: TAKING PROPER RELIEF FROM CART PATH WHEN A BUSH ENDS UP BEING IN THE POTENTIAL DROP ZONE
QUESTION:
On Thursday I hit my tee shot on Hole 1 and the ball ended up on the cart path. On the left side of the cart path there is a bush growing in the desert and on the right side of the cart path is the rough.
How should I proceed to find the spot that I can play my next shot? I understand that the rules allow relief from a cart path with no penalty.
ANSWER:
First you need to determine the closest point of complete relief from where your ball lays on the cart path. Pace it out or use your driver to measure a spot where you would have relief from the cart path. In this situation the right handed player found that the closest point of relief was on the left side of the cart path where it gave relief from the cart path, however, the bush is located in the potential drop zone. The player estimated the nearest point of relief in the bush and measured out one club length and was able to drop the ball in the one club length relief area. The dropped ball now had interference from the bush for a shot to the green so the player had to make a sideway shot back to the fairway. If the player was left handed the nearest point of relief would have been in the rough on the right side of the cart path and after measuring out the one club length then the left handed player would have had a clear shot to the green.
Sometimes the nearest point of relief is not your nicest point of relief so take a look at the area where you can drop a ball for relief. You might decide to play the ball from the cart path and not take relief! Game on!
JANUARY 21, 2022
USING DROP ZONES: REQUIRED OR OPTIONAL AFTER A BALL IS RETRIEVED FROM WATER?
QUESTION:
On Thursday I hit my drive on Hole 13 onto the green with a fade on it. Unfortunately, it would not stop rolling to the right, and ended up just barely in the water. I was able to retrieve it, but then I wondered if I was required to use the drop zone on that hole.
ANSWER:
The use of the drop zone is allowed under the CLGA Local rules which says you may use the drop zone. You are NOT required to use the drop zone and all options under Rule 17.1d are available for you to choose. Remember that if you choose lateral relief your drop can not be nearer the hole so depending on the point of entry and where the flag is, the only option available maybe the drop zone or stroke and distance.
The USGA website has a short excellent video that explains Penalty areas:
USGA SHORT VIDEO ABOUT PENALTY AREAS
JANUARY 14, 2022
HITTING (?) BALL SUSPENDED UP INSIDE A BUSH
QUESTION:
On hole 10 during today’s round we found my ball within a three minute search time in a bush! Clearly, I cannot play the ball as it is buried in the bush, and is suspended 2 feet up from the ground, but I can identify the ball as my ball. What are my options?
ANSWER:
You as the player are the only one who can determine if your ball is unplayable and there are options to get you out of this prickly situation! Click on the link and see your options under rule 19.2 -Unplayable ball.
JANUARY 7, 2022
HITTING RANGE BALLS FOUND ON #12 FAIRWAY BACK ONTO THE RANGE
QUESTION:
On hole 12 during today’s round we found a number of range balls that were on the fairway. Are we allowed to hit the range ball back to the driving range without a penalty?
Answer:
Yes, you can hit the range ball back to the driving range without a penalty as it is NOT considered a practice stroke as you are going the stroke solely as a courtesy. For more information take a look at Rule 5.5
JANUARY 1, 2022
REPAIRING AREA AROUND THE HOLE DURING PLAY
QUESTION:
During today’s round we noticed that many putts faded away from the hole just before potentially dropping into it. Discussion ensued about protocol for tamping down the ‘raised area’ that occurs right around the cup’s edge (which has resulted either from grounds crew not tamping the turf down after removing the cup-installing-tool, or from players’ feet kind of pushing the earth towards the hole when the players reach down to retrieve holed balls.
Question: were we right to say that it’s OK to tamp down that area right around the cup, as long as the “tamping player” is not the one whose turn is next?
ANSWER:
This is a Yes and No Answer:
Yes-Rule 13.1c(2) allows you to repair the “raised area” to restore the putting green to its original condition. The USGA permits a player to use a putter or a shoe to flatten the area around the hole to remove the raised area caused by removing the hole cutting device.
No- Rules do not allow you to repair natural surface imperfections and natural wear of the hole such as footprints, however, you can repair spike marks or damage caused by the player in taking the ball or flagstick out of the hole.
For more information take a look at Rule13.1c
DECEMBER 17, 2021
BALL LANDED NEAR FRONT LIP, IN GREENSIDE BUNKER, HOLE #6.
QUESTION:
Today my ball ran into the bunker ending near the front lip leaving me with not an easy shot. What options are available?
ANSWER:
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Play the ball as it lies and consider going sideways, backward or forward.
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OR take ONE penalty stroke and take relief in the bunker either back on the line or lateral relief. Unplayable ball-Rule 19.
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OR take TWO penalty strokes and take back on the line relief OUTSIDE the bunker. Unplayable ball-Rule 19
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OR take ONE penalty stroke and take stroke and distance.
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Note A): Back on the line relief is based on a line going straight back from the hole through the spot of the original ball. Note that the relief area for back on the line includes one club length on either side of the line.
Note B): check out Rule 19.3 and see the diagram for the options described above
