The USGA rule book is complicated and really meant for governing competitions and establishing handicaps. If you're just out there to have fun, then these rules might be more to your liking.
Rules of Recreational Golf
Let me know what you think!
Showing posts with label rules. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rules. Show all posts
Friday, April 25, 2014
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Rules changes for 2012
The R&A and the USGA completed their quadrennial review of the rules, and yesterday announced rules changes for 2012 through 2015. There is nothing major, it's still golf, but the biggest news is that two of the more maddening penalties have been eliminated.
Currently, a player has addressed the ball by taking a stance and grounding the club behind the ball. If the ball moves after this has been done, even though the player was not making a stroke, the movement is assumed to have been caused by the player. The ball must replaced and a one-stroke penalty is assessed.
The new rule eliminates this penalty if "it is known or virtually certain that he did not cause the ball to move." What we have seen several times this year in professional tournaments is the ball moving on a windy day after a player addressed the ball on the putting green. Several years ago there was a controversy concerning whether Scott Verplank's ball had even moved after he addressed it in the rough. Penalties were assessed in all cases.
Starting in 2012, if outside forces cause the ball to move after you have addressed it, there is no penalty, and the ball is played from its new position.
The second penalty change concerns raking bunkers. Under current rules, raking a bunker before a shot has been made is considered to be testing the sand and incurs a two-stroke penalty. In the future, if pre-shot raking is for the purpose of maintaining the course and has no affect on the shot, there is no penalty.
Say your ball is in a bunker and the rake is in the bunker, too, but at some distance from your ball. You have to go into the bunker to get the rake, exit, then go in again to hit your ball. The problem is that you have two sets of footprints to rake.
Under current rules, you would have to hit the ball before you rake either set of footprints. Under the new rule, you could rake the first set with no penalty. This will speed up play somewhat. Of concern, though, is the player who always seems to be raking the bunker somewhere before he hits his shot.
In addition, there are seven other minor rules changes, and then there are the Decisions. These are the enormous number of rulings on situations that happen once per career, but require clarification anyway. The Decisions book is over 400 pages long.
There are 17 new decisions, three renumbered decisions, 22 major revised decisions, 53 minor revised decisions, and 35 withdrawn decisions. I'll leave you to your own research one those.
To read more go the R&A rules page.
Visit www.therecreationalgolfer.com
Currently, a player has addressed the ball by taking a stance and grounding the club behind the ball. If the ball moves after this has been done, even though the player was not making a stroke, the movement is assumed to have been caused by the player. The ball must replaced and a one-stroke penalty is assessed.
The new rule eliminates this penalty if "it is known or virtually certain that he did not cause the ball to move." What we have seen several times this year in professional tournaments is the ball moving on a windy day after a player addressed the ball on the putting green. Several years ago there was a controversy concerning whether Scott Verplank's ball had even moved after he addressed it in the rough. Penalties were assessed in all cases.
Starting in 2012, if outside forces cause the ball to move after you have addressed it, there is no penalty, and the ball is played from its new position.
The second penalty change concerns raking bunkers. Under current rules, raking a bunker before a shot has been made is considered to be testing the sand and incurs a two-stroke penalty. In the future, if pre-shot raking is for the purpose of maintaining the course and has no affect on the shot, there is no penalty.
Say your ball is in a bunker and the rake is in the bunker, too, but at some distance from your ball. You have to go into the bunker to get the rake, exit, then go in again to hit your ball. The problem is that you have two sets of footprints to rake.
Under current rules, you would have to hit the ball before you rake either set of footprints. Under the new rule, you could rake the first set with no penalty. This will speed up play somewhat. Of concern, though, is the player who always seems to be raking the bunker somewhere before he hits his shot.
In addition, there are seven other minor rules changes, and then there are the Decisions. These are the enormous number of rulings on situations that happen once per career, but require clarification anyway. The Decisions book is over 400 pages long.
There are 17 new decisions, three renumbered decisions, 22 major revised decisions, 53 minor revised decisions, and 35 withdrawn decisions. I'll leave you to your own research one those.
To read more go the R&A rules page.
Visit www.therecreationalgolfer.com
Friday, March 29, 2013
2013 rules review
You don't have to know all the rules, but there are a few that come up so often that should know them. After all, golf is your game, and you should know how it's played.
If you're playing by yourself, and absolutely nothing ever goes wrong (you hit every fairway, every green, and putt out), you still need to know these rules:
Equipment (rule 4-4a). You may play with a maximum of fourteen clubs.
Stroke (Rule 14-1). The ball must be fairly struck at with the head of the club and and may not be pushed, scraped, or spooned.
Artificial aids (Rule 14-3). An artificial aid that assists you in making a stroke may not be used.
The tee shot (Rule 11). Defines the area in which you can tee up your ball.
Play the ball as it lies (Rule 13). Prohibits moving the ball, or anything in your line of play or swing; prohibits removing, bending, or breaking any growing thing except in fairly taking your stance or swing.
The putting green (Rule 16, 17). You may mark, lift, and clean your ball. A putted ball may not strike the flagstick.
Holing out (Rule 3-2). You must hole out the ball or you are disqualified.
Impediments (Rule 23) and movable obstructions (Rule 24-1). You may move a loose impediment or movable obstruction without penalty. If the ball moves while moving a loose impediment, there is a one-stroke penalty and the ball must be replaced; if moving a movable obstruction, the ball must be replaced, but there is no penalty.
Abnormal ground condition (Rule 25-1). You may lift the ball and drop it within one club-length of the nearest point of relief without penalty.
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When other players are along, and when things do start to go wrong, a host of other rules come into play. I won't go into them, because that book has already been written. However, you should know what to do in these cases:
- the ball goes out of bounds or you think it might not be found,
- the ball goes into a water hazard,
- the balls goes into a bunker,
- the ball is unplayable were it lies,
- the ball is embedded,
- your ball was at rest, but you (not while making a stroke at it) or someone or something else moved it,
- your ball was in motion but it was deflected or stopped by somebody or their equipment,
- another ball interferes with playing your own,
- you play the wrong ball or someone else plays yours,
- your stroke is interfered with by an immovable obstruction (this includes cart paths),
- you have found a ball, but cannot identify it as yours as it lays.
You need to know how to properly lift and drop a ball, identify the nearest point of relief, and how to mark off a club length. In every case, if you get relief without penalty, you may drop one club-length from the nearest point of relief; if being penalized, two club-lengths.
Last summer I posted a series of detailed descriptions of all this stuff. Search the blog on the "rules" label to find the posts, or better yet, get a rule book and read it.
Visit www.therecreationalgolfer.com
If you're playing by yourself, and absolutely nothing ever goes wrong (you hit every fairway, every green, and putt out), you still need to know these rules:
Equipment (rule 4-4a). You may play with a maximum of fourteen clubs.
Stroke (Rule 14-1). The ball must be fairly struck at with the head of the club and and may not be pushed, scraped, or spooned.
Artificial aids (Rule 14-3). An artificial aid that assists you in making a stroke may not be used.
The tee shot (Rule 11). Defines the area in which you can tee up your ball.
Play the ball as it lies (Rule 13). Prohibits moving the ball, or anything in your line of play or swing; prohibits removing, bending, or breaking any growing thing except in fairly taking your stance or swing.
The putting green (Rule 16, 17). You may mark, lift, and clean your ball. A putted ball may not strike the flagstick.
Holing out (Rule 3-2). You must hole out the ball or you are disqualified.
Impediments (Rule 23) and movable obstructions (Rule 24-1). You may move a loose impediment or movable obstruction without penalty. If the ball moves while moving a loose impediment, there is a one-stroke penalty and the ball must be replaced; if moving a movable obstruction, the ball must be replaced, but there is no penalty.
Abnormal ground condition (Rule 25-1). You may lift the ball and drop it within one club-length of the nearest point of relief without penalty.
-----
When other players are along, and when things do start to go wrong, a host of other rules come into play. I won't go into them, because that book has already been written. However, you should know what to do in these cases:
- the ball goes out of bounds or you think it might not be found,
- the ball goes into a water hazard,
- the balls goes into a bunker,
- the ball is unplayable were it lies,
- the ball is embedded,
- your ball was at rest, but you (not while making a stroke at it) or someone or something else moved it,
- your ball was in motion but it was deflected or stopped by somebody or their equipment,
- another ball interferes with playing your own,
- you play the wrong ball or someone else plays yours,
- your stroke is interfered with by an immovable obstruction (this includes cart paths),
- you have found a ball, but cannot identify it as yours as it lays.
You need to know how to properly lift and drop a ball, identify the nearest point of relief, and how to mark off a club length. In every case, if you get relief without penalty, you may drop one club-length from the nearest point of relief; if being penalized, two club-lengths.
Last summer I posted a series of detailed descriptions of all this stuff. Search the blog on the "rules" label to find the posts, or better yet, get a rule book and read it.
Visit www.therecreationalgolfer.com
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Golf Rules in Plain English
Yesterday morning I was trying to find a subject for today's post and coming up empty. Normally I write these about a week ahead of time, but by December 9, I had nothing for December 10. So I decided to take a trip to the library and browse the golf section to see if I could get inspired. Bingo.
As I was browsing through our golf collection, I saw a small book titled, The Rules of Golf in Plain English. That sounds good to me. This is a new book, written by Jeffrey S. Kuhn, an attorney and volunteer USGA rules official, and Bryan A. Garner, also an attorney and one who gives seminars to lawyers on how to write in, you guessed it, plain English.
Now this is something I have always imagined myself, doing, but I'm not that good of a technical writer, and the project really needs someone who has an expert's grasp of the rules. Not me, either.
This book is so great. First of all, they changed the passive "the player" to the active "you." It's not "the player" who can and can't do these things, it's "you!" And they let that be said.
Let's take a complicated rule, playing the wrong ball. Here's how the USGA says it:
15-3b. The competitor must correct his mistake by playing the correct ball or by proceeding under the Rules. If he fails to correct his mistake before making a stroke on the next teeing ground or, in the case of the last hole of the round, fails to declare his intention to correct his mistake before leaving the putting green, he is disqualified.
Here's how Kuhn and Garner say it:
15-3(c) You must correct the mistake by playing your ball. If you don't correct your mistake before you make a stroke from the next tee--or, in the case of the last hole of the round, don't declare your intention to correct your mistake before leaving the putting green--you're disqualified.
Subtle differences, yes, but the second one reads is more direct and makes it simpler to understand exactly what YOU have to do.
At the start of every rule, the defined terms it refers to are explicitly listed instead of being highlighted in the text. Rule headings are re-worded. Rules themselves are broken up and reorganized so you don't have to wade through what you don't need to read to find what you do.
The general penalty for violation of a rule is two strokes, or loss of a hole, but there is an appendix which lists the one-stroke penalties. That is very convenient.
Keep in mind that this is not an official rule book. It has no legal status on the golf course. You should have an official copy of the rules in your bag and refer to it when there are questions. You should also carry a copy of The Rules of Golf in Plain English with you to be sure you understand what the rules actually want you to do.
Visit www.therecreationalgolfer.com
As I was browsing through our golf collection, I saw a small book titled, The Rules of Golf in Plain English. That sounds good to me. This is a new book, written by Jeffrey S. Kuhn, an attorney and volunteer USGA rules official, and Bryan A. Garner, also an attorney and one who gives seminars to lawyers on how to write in, you guessed it, plain English.
Now this is something I have always imagined myself, doing, but I'm not that good of a technical writer, and the project really needs someone who has an expert's grasp of the rules. Not me, either.
This book is so great. First of all, they changed the passive "the player" to the active "you." It's not "the player" who can and can't do these things, it's "you!" And they let that be said.
Let's take a complicated rule, playing the wrong ball. Here's how the USGA says it:
15-3b. The competitor must correct his mistake by playing the correct ball or by proceeding under the Rules. If he fails to correct his mistake before making a stroke on the next teeing ground or, in the case of the last hole of the round, fails to declare his intention to correct his mistake before leaving the putting green, he is disqualified.
Here's how Kuhn and Garner say it:
15-3(c) You must correct the mistake by playing your ball. If you don't correct your mistake before you make a stroke from the next tee--or, in the case of the last hole of the round, don't declare your intention to correct your mistake before leaving the putting green--you're disqualified.
Subtle differences, yes, but the second one reads is more direct and makes it simpler to understand exactly what YOU have to do.
At the start of every rule, the defined terms it refers to are explicitly listed instead of being highlighted in the text. Rule headings are re-worded. Rules themselves are broken up and reorganized so you don't have to wade through what you don't need to read to find what you do.
The general penalty for violation of a rule is two strokes, or loss of a hole, but there is an appendix which lists the one-stroke penalties. That is very convenient.
Keep in mind that this is not an official rule book. It has no legal status on the golf course. You should have an official copy of the rules in your bag and refer to it when there are questions. You should also carry a copy of The Rules of Golf in Plain English with you to be sure you understand what the rules actually want you to do.
Visit www.therecreationalgolfer.com
Friday, August 10, 2012
Know the Rules: Local Rules
Though the golf course management may not contravene any Rule of golf on its own, if a local condition interferes with the proper playing of the game, it may modify a rule with the approval of the USGA.
Local rules are shown on the back of the scorecard and should be read before you start your round. You might find things like identifying particular objects which can be treated as immovable obstructions. Special areas where the operators do not want foot traffic or balls to be hit out of might be designated as an area from where a free drop may be taken.
Some courses have power lines running low across a hole and say what to do if your ball hits one (generally, play another from the same spot without penalty).
Local rules are shown on the back of the scorecard and should be read before you start your round. You might find things like identifying particular objects which can be treated as immovable obstructions. Special areas where the operators do not want foot traffic or balls to be hit out of might be designated as an area from where a free drop may be taken.
Some courses have power lines running low across a hole and say what to do if your ball hits one (generally, play another from the same spot without penalty).
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Know the Rules: Abnormal Ground Conditions, Embedded Ball
I keep saying that the one thing about golf that is most different from other sports is that we play in Nature, not on a prepared surface. So, you're never going to get a perfect lie or a fair bounce all the time. But sometimes it's just too much. Your ball lands in what looks like a construction project, or is comes down hard and sticks where it hits. What to do>
Rule 25 covers these events, and believe me, it is a complicated rule with a huge section in the Decisions book.
Basically, and abnormal ground condition is an area marked as ground under repair or covered by casual water. Ground under repair is generally is marked off with a white boundary line. Casual water is a temporary collection of water. Snow and natural ice are loose impediments or casual water, at the player's discretion. Dew and frost are not casual water.
Rule 25 covers these events, and believe me, it is a complicated rule with a huge section in the Decisions book.
Basically, and abnormal ground condition is an area marked as ground under repair or covered by casual water. Ground under repair is generally is marked off with a white boundary line. Casual water is a temporary collection of water. Snow and natural ice are loose impediments or casual water, at the player's discretion. Dew and frost are not casual water.
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Know the Rules: Bunkers
Hazards are special places with rules of their own, designed to make sure they remain hazards even in unusual circumstances. These are the things you can and cannot do in a bunker. The rule reference is in parentheses.
- First and foremost, you may not touch the ground with your hand or the club (13-4).
- You may not touch or move a loose impediment lying in or touching the hazard. (13-4).
- You may not test the condition of the hazard (13-4).
Provided nothing is done that constitutes testing the condition of the hazard or improves the lie of the ball, there is no penalty if the player (a) touches the ground or loose impediments in any hazard or water in a water hazard:
- as a result of or to prevent falling,
- in removing an obstruction,
-in measuring or in marking the position of, retrieving, lifting, placing or replacing a ball under any Rule
or (b) places his clubs in a hazard. (Exception to Rule 13-4)
If you declare an unplayable lie in a bunker, your drop must also be in the bunker unless the option you choose is stroke and distance. (28)
You may remove movable obstructions (a rake, for example) without penalty. If the ball moves when you do this, you must replace the ball, without penalty. (24-1)
If your ball is covered in the sand, you may touch the sand to the extent that you can identify the ball. Once you make the identification, you must recreate the lie as nearly as you can by replacing the sand. You may leave a small part of the ball visible (12-1a). The same procedure applies to a ball covered by loose impediments (12-1b).
You may rake a bunker at any time provided that it is done to care for the course in general and is not done to affect the play of a shot from the bunker. (13-4) Best to wait until after you hit, then rake the bunker.
The penalty for breach of these rules is two strokes.
Visit www.therecreationalgolfer.com
- First and foremost, you may not touch the ground with your hand or the club (13-4).
- You may not touch or move a loose impediment lying in or touching the hazard. (13-4).
- You may not test the condition of the hazard (13-4).
Provided nothing is done that constitutes testing the condition of the hazard or improves the lie of the ball, there is no penalty if the player (a) touches the ground or loose impediments in any hazard or water in a water hazard:
- as a result of or to prevent falling,
- in removing an obstruction,
-in measuring or in marking the position of, retrieving, lifting, placing or replacing a ball under any Rule
or (b) places his clubs in a hazard. (Exception to Rule 13-4)
If you declare an unplayable lie in a bunker, your drop must also be in the bunker unless the option you choose is stroke and distance. (28)
You may remove movable obstructions (a rake, for example) without penalty. If the ball moves when you do this, you must replace the ball, without penalty. (24-1)
If your ball is covered in the sand, you may touch the sand to the extent that you can identify the ball. Once you make the identification, you must recreate the lie as nearly as you can by replacing the sand. You may leave a small part of the ball visible (12-1a). The same procedure applies to a ball covered by loose impediments (12-1b).
You may rake a bunker at any time provided that it is done to care for the course in general and is not done to affect the play of a shot from the bunker. (13-4) Best to wait until after you hit, then rake the bunker.
The penalty for breach of these rules is two strokes.
Visit www.therecreationalgolfer.com
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Know the Rules: General Considerations
There are some rules that govern the game in general and which are scattered throughout the rule book. You probably know many of them already. Let's call them rules every golfer should know.
Rule 1-2. A player must not (i) take an action with the intent to influence the movement of a ball in play or (ii) alter physical conditions with the intent of affecting the playing of a hole. Penalty: two strokes
Rule 1-3. Players must not agree to exclude the operation of any Rule or to waive any penalty incurred. Penalty: DQ.
Rule 3-2. If in stroke play a competitor fails to hole out at any hole and does not correct his mistake before he makes a stroke on the next teeing ground or, in the case of the last hole of the round, before he leaves the putting green, he is disqualified.
Rule 1-2. A player must not (i) take an action with the intent to influence the movement of a ball in play or (ii) alter physical conditions with the intent of affecting the playing of a hole. Penalty: two strokes
Rule 1-3. Players must not agree to exclude the operation of any Rule or to waive any penalty incurred. Penalty: DQ.
Rule 3-2. If in stroke play a competitor fails to hole out at any hole and does not correct his mistake before he makes a stroke on the next teeing ground or, in the case of the last hole of the round, before he leaves the putting green, he is disqualified.
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Know the Rules: The Putting Green
There are certain things you can and cannot do on the putting green. Rule 16, The Putting Green, covers only a few of them. Some of these things have been covered before in this weekly series, but here is the putting green collection of rules all in one place. Hopefully, most of it is familiar to you already.
You may lift your ball after marking it and clean it if you wish to (16-1b).
If the ball, after it has been replaced, moves accidentally in picking up the marker, the ball must be replaced and there is no penalty (20-3a). A ball on the green may not be touched if it is not marked - one-stroke penalty (18-2a).
You may repair old hole plugs, ball marks, and damage to the green caused by the impact of the ball, but no other damage that might assist subsequent play (such as a damaged lip on the hole) (16-1c).
You may lift your ball after marking it and clean it if you wish to (16-1b).
If the ball, after it has been replaced, moves accidentally in picking up the marker, the ball must be replaced and there is no penalty (20-3a). A ball on the green may not be touched if it is not marked - one-stroke penalty (18-2a).
You may repair old hole plugs, ball marks, and damage to the green caused by the impact of the ball, but no other damage that might assist subsequent play (such as a damaged lip on the hole) (16-1c).
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Know the Rules: Ball at Rest, in Motion
There are certain things you should not do when the golf ball is at rest (Rule 18). There are certain things you should not do when the golf ball is in motion (Rule 19).
When the ball is at rest, it can be moved without making a stroke at it. You might do this when you're removing some debris (loose impediments), if you lift it when not permitted, or if it moves after you have addressed it. In those cases, you must replace the ball (put it back where it was) and take a penalty of one stroke. Except (there are always exceptions):
When the ball is at rest, it can be moved without making a stroke at it. You might do this when you're removing some debris (loose impediments), if you lift it when not permitted, or if it moves after you have addressed it. In those cases, you must replace the ball (put it back where it was) and take a penalty of one stroke. Except (there are always exceptions):
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Know the Rules: Loose Impediments
Recall that artificial objects which interfere with play are obstructions. Natural objects that interfere are called loose impediments. Since golf is meant to be played in Nature as we find it, the rules for loose impediments are much different than for obstructions.
Loose impediments include stones, leaves, twigs, branches, and such. Goose poop is a loose impediment, as is any other animal waste matter. (The Rule book more politely calls it dung.) Worm casts are loose impediments. I'm not sure what that is. Maybe it's because we don't have them where I live. We do have goose . . ., oh, never mind.
There is a however regarding loose impediments. A big however. A loose impediment cannot be something fixed or growing (a weed), solidly embedded, or adhering to the ball (mud, goose poop). Then it wouldn't be loose, would it? I played with a guy who hit his ball next to the green and it came to rest a few inches away from a thick-stemmed thistle. The thistle was in the way of his backswing. He proceeded to stomp the thistle and beat it into oblivion with his sand wedge, which he then used to chip on onto the green and sink the putt for his par. Or so he called it.
Loose impediments include stones, leaves, twigs, branches, and such. Goose poop is a loose impediment, as is any other animal waste matter. (The Rule book more politely calls it dung.) Worm casts are loose impediments. I'm not sure what that is. Maybe it's because we don't have them where I live. We do have goose . . ., oh, never mind.
There is a however regarding loose impediments. A big however. A loose impediment cannot be something fixed or growing (a weed), solidly embedded, or adhering to the ball (mud, goose poop). Then it wouldn't be loose, would it? I played with a guy who hit his ball next to the green and it came to rest a few inches away from a thick-stemmed thistle. The thistle was in the way of his backswing. He proceeded to stomp the thistle and beat it into oblivion with his sand wedge, which he then used to chip on onto the green and sink the putt for his par. Or so he called it.
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Know the Rules: Unplayable Lies
At some point you will hit your ball into a place where you don't have a shot. Trying to put the club on the ball just isn't possible or would be a very bad idea. In this case, you can declare an unplayable lie and get relief, but under the penalty of one stroke. The options are pretty simple, and there are three.
You can:
a. hit another shot from the spot where the ball you just hit was played, or
b. take a drop within two club-lengths of where the ball lies, but not nearer to the hole, or
c. take a drop on the line connecting the hole and where the ball lies, extended as far backwards from the where the ball lies as you wish.
Again, all these relief options come with a penalty of one stroke.
You can:
a. hit another shot from the spot where the ball you just hit was played, or
b. take a drop within two club-lengths of where the ball lies, but not nearer to the hole, or
c. take a drop on the line connecting the hole and where the ball lies, extended as far backwards from the where the ball lies as you wish.
Again, all these relief options come with a penalty of one stroke.
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Know the Rules: Lost Ball and Out of Bounds
In friendly games, if the ball sails OB or looks like it could be lost, most players will drop another one right there and play on as if nothing had happened. Or, they go to where they think the ball went, can't find it, then drop another and play on as if nothing had happened. Let's get this right.
If you think you hit the ball out of bounds or that it might be lost, this is what you do. Inform your playing companions that you will play a provisional ball, using just those words. Saying, "I'm going to tee up another one," or "Let's try that again," or the like doesn't count. You must also play the provisional ball before you go looking for the original ball.
If you think you hit the ball out of bounds or that it might be lost, this is what you do. Inform your playing companions that you will play a provisional ball, using just those words. Saying, "I'm going to tee up another one," or "Let's try that again," or the like doesn't count. You must also play the provisional ball before you go looking for the original ball.
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Know the Rules: Immovable Obstructions
An obstruction is anything artificial except fences, walls, stakes, etc, that define out-of bounds. An obstruction that cannot be moved with reasonable effort or undue delay or without causing damage is an immovable obstruction. You get relief from an immovable obstruction when the ball lies in or on it, or if it interferes with your stance or the intended area of your swing. Common examples are cart paths, sprinkler heads, bridges, and exposed drainage lines.
Relief in this circumstance is complicated and depends on where the ball is. In the following four cases, the ball may be cleaned after it is lifted.
1. If it lies anywhere but on the green, in a bunker, or on the teeing ground, the player may lift and drop the ball within one club-length of the nearest point of relief, but not nearer the hole, without penalty. The nearest point of relief in this case may not be on the green or in a hazard.
Relief in this circumstance is complicated and depends on where the ball is. In the following four cases, the ball may be cleaned after it is lifted.
1. If it lies anywhere but on the green, in a bunker, or on the teeing ground, the player may lift and drop the ball within one club-length of the nearest point of relief, but not nearer the hole, without penalty. The nearest point of relief in this case may not be on the green or in a hazard.
Know the Rules: Movable Obstructions
An obstruction is something that is artificial, except for walls, stakes, fences, etc., that define out of bounds. Growing trees, bushes, weeds, twigs lying about and such are natural objects and are not obstructions. They are part of the course.
If an obstruction can be moved without unreasonable effort, without causing delay, and without causing damage, it is a movable obstruction.
To get relief for a ball lying beside a movable obstruction, you may move the obstruction. You do not get to lift your ball and drop it elsewhere. If the ball moves because of your moving the obstruction, you must replace the ball with no penalty.
If the ball lies in or on the obstruction, you may lift the ball and move the obstruction. The ball is then to be dropped as near as possible to the spot directly under where it lay in or on the obstruction, and not nearer the hole. You may clean the ball when so lifted.
If the ball is moving, an obstruction that might influence it, other than the flagstick or equipment of any of the players, may not be moved. The penalty for doing so is two strokes.
All this is in Rule 24-1. Now for the fun stuff.
An incorrect ruling regarding this rule helped Ernie Els win the U.S. Open at Oakmont in 1994. Els drove his ball into the left rough. His shot to the green was blocked by a camera tower.
The tower was mounted on a tracked vehicle, which could have been moved without delay, but the tower was ruled to be an immovable obstruction (to be discussed next week).
Els got a free drop to a better lie which most likely saved him a stroke on the hole. He went on to beat Colin Montgomery and Loren Roberts in a playoff.
Deep Rules: You may not hold onto the ball when you move an obstruction. That would be a violation of Rule 18-2a, and a two-stroke penalty would apply.
A ball can become lost in an obstruction, but there must be reasonable evidence that this occurred. A surmise is not good enough.
Without reasonable evidence that the ball was lost in the obstruction, the ball must be treated as a lost ball.
If the ball is lost in the obstruction, the obstruction is to be moved and another ball dropped as near as possible to the spot directly under the place where the ball last crossed the outermost limits of the obstruction, but not nearer to the hole.
See also Know the Rules: Immovable Obstructions
Visit www.therecreationalgolfer.com
If an obstruction can be moved without unreasonable effort, without causing delay, and without causing damage, it is a movable obstruction.
To get relief for a ball lying beside a movable obstruction, you may move the obstruction. You do not get to lift your ball and drop it elsewhere. If the ball moves because of your moving the obstruction, you must replace the ball with no penalty.
If the ball lies in or on the obstruction, you may lift the ball and move the obstruction. The ball is then to be dropped as near as possible to the spot directly under where it lay in or on the obstruction, and not nearer the hole. You may clean the ball when so lifted.
If the ball is moving, an obstruction that might influence it, other than the flagstick or equipment of any of the players, may not be moved. The penalty for doing so is two strokes.
All this is in Rule 24-1. Now for the fun stuff.
An incorrect ruling regarding this rule helped Ernie Els win the U.S. Open at Oakmont in 1994. Els drove his ball into the left rough. His shot to the green was blocked by a camera tower.
The tower was mounted on a tracked vehicle, which could have been moved without delay, but the tower was ruled to be an immovable obstruction (to be discussed next week).
Els got a free drop to a better lie which most likely saved him a stroke on the hole. He went on to beat Colin Montgomery and Loren Roberts in a playoff.
Deep Rules: You may not hold onto the ball when you move an obstruction. That would be a violation of Rule 18-2a, and a two-stroke penalty would apply.
A ball can become lost in an obstruction, but there must be reasonable evidence that this occurred. A surmise is not good enough.
Without reasonable evidence that the ball was lost in the obstruction, the ball must be treated as a lost ball.
If the ball is lost in the obstruction, the obstruction is to be moved and another ball dropped as near as possible to the spot directly under the place where the ball last crossed the outermost limits of the obstruction, but not nearer to the hole.
See also Know the Rules: Immovable Obstructions
Visit www.therecreationalgolfer.com
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Know the Rules: HItting the Wrong Ball
The embarrassing error of hitting the wrong ball comes about for one of two reasons. Either the person hitting the ball wasn't paying attention, or the ball that was hit was not properly identified. There's really no other way this can happen, and the fixes are easy.
Put an identifying mark on your ball with a colored felt-tip pen. This is suggested by Rules 6-5 and 12-2. It can be a dot, two dots, something that makes your ball stand out from the others being played by the members of your group. I fill in a dimple with green ink next to the manufacturer's logo. Tell the members of your group what ball you're playing and show them the mark before you tee off on the first hole.
Put an identifying mark on your ball with a colored felt-tip pen. This is suggested by Rules 6-5 and 12-2. It can be a dot, two dots, something that makes your ball stand out from the others being played by the members of your group. I fill in a dimple with green ink next to the manufacturer's logo. Tell the members of your group what ball you're playing and show them the mark before you tee off on the first hole.
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Know the Rules: Water Hazards (Red Stakes)
There are two kinds of water hazards. Last week we talked about the ones marked by yellow stakes. Those are water hazards you have to hit over. This week we'll talk about water hazards marked by red stakes. These are called lateral water hazards. They are defined by water that generally runs alongside the direction of play. Imagine there is a small stream running alongside the fairway from tee to green, about ten feet wide, and you hit your ball into the hazard containing the stream. You may play the ball as it lies with no penalty. You may not ground the sole of your club or remove loose impediments.
Friday, April 27, 2012
Know the Rules: Water Hazards (Yellow Stakes)
When you hit a ball into a water hazard, the procedures can be complicated. It all depends on which kind of water hazard you hit into. They can be marked with either yellow stakes or red stakes, and the procedure for each is different. This week we will talk about hazards marked by yellow stakes. Water hazards marked by red stakes are lateral water hazards, which we will discuss next week. This is all in Rule 26.
The first thing to do is to determine whether or not your ball is in the hazard. If you cannot find your ball, the rules say it is a question of fact that it is in the water hazard. For example, you saw it go into the pond and splash, or you saw it roll toward the pond and disappear in weeds lining the pond. In the absence of such knowledge or virtual certainty that the ball is in the water hazard, you must call it a lost ball and proceed accordingly.
It is possible that your ball can be in the hazard, but not in any water. The boundary of a water hazard is defined by yellow stakes, and is the straight line connecting the nearest outside faces of adjoining yellow stakes. If your ball is inside this line, or even resting on it, your ball is in the hazard. The stakes themselves are inside the hazard, and are obstructions.
The first thing to do is to determine whether or not your ball is in the hazard. If you cannot find your ball, the rules say it is a question of fact that it is in the water hazard. For example, you saw it go into the pond and splash, or you saw it roll toward the pond and disappear in weeds lining the pond. In the absence of such knowledge or virtual certainty that the ball is in the water hazard, you must call it a lost ball and proceed accordingly.
It is possible that your ball can be in the hazard, but not in any water. The boundary of a water hazard is defined by yellow stakes, and is the straight line connecting the nearest outside faces of adjoining yellow stakes. If your ball is inside this line, or even resting on it, your ball is in the hazard. The stakes themselves are inside the hazard, and are obstructions.
Friday, April 13, 2012
Know the Rules: Ball on a Cart Path
It's not unusual for a golf ball to wind up on a cart path. It's also not unusual for a player not to know what to do.
A cart path is an immovable obstruction (See Obstructions, Definitions; Rule 24-2).
You get a free drop from the cart path, but it has to be taken at the right spot. That spot is based on the nearest point of relief. Many people think this point is off the side of the path closest to where the ball is resting, but that is not so. Remember that the nearest point of relief is the spot where the ball would lie when you take a stance, with the club you would normally use to hit the upcoming shot, in the direction you would be hitting it, and not be interfered with by the cart path in any way.
A cart path is an immovable obstruction (See Obstructions, Definitions; Rule 24-2).
You get a free drop from the cart path, but it has to be taken at the right spot. That spot is based on the nearest point of relief. Many people think this point is off the side of the path closest to where the ball is resting, but that is not so. Remember that the nearest point of relief is the spot where the ball would lie when you take a stance, with the club you would normally use to hit the upcoming shot, in the direction you would be hitting it, and not be interfered with by the cart path in any way.
Friday, April 6, 2012
Know the Rules: Dropping the Ball
There are times when you can drop the ball to get relief from an obstruction, or when putting a ball in play after a penalty has been incurred. We'll talk about those situations later, but today I want to go over the procedures surrounding dropped balls. They're not simple. Actually, just dropping the ball is simple. You hold the ball out at shoulder height and arm's length, open your fingers, and let it go. Enjoy the ride down, because all the fun starts when the ball hits the ground.
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