Weekly Rules of Golf

Ask A Rules Question

Here is your opportunity to ask a Rules of Golf question and get an answer from Dave.  All questions will be answered.  One question will be selected each month and posted on this website.  Your question should be an actual situation encountered.  For best results, include answers to these questions if possible:

• What is the form of play (e.g., match play or stroke play; single, foursome or four-ball?)
• Who is involved (e.g., the player, his partner or caddie, an outside agency?)
• Where the incident occurred (e.g., on the teeing ground, in a bunker or water hazard, on the putting green or elsewhere on the course?)
• The player’s intentions (e.g., what was he doing and what does he want to do?)
• Any subsequent events (e.g., the player has returned his score card or the competition has closed.)

Rules In Action

A Rules situation and ruling taken from an on-course ruling at a recent tournament:
Wow, lots of interesting rulings to cover this month...

At the Metropolitan Women's Amateur Championship...  A competitor played a Wrong Ball in Match Play.  In Stroke Play we know that the competitor incurs a penalty of two strokes and must correct her mistake by playing the correct ball.  However, in stroke play, the penalty is LOSS OF HOLE.  The opponents discontinue play of the hole and proceed to the next tee!
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Also at the Metropolitan Women's Amateur Championship...  A competitor discovered her young son's golf club (see photo) in the bottom of her bag when she tried to replace her putter in the bag and couldn't get it down to the bottom.  Rule 4-4 limits a competitor to 14 clubs and her son's club made 15 clubs, or did it?  What constitutes a "club?"

Rule 4-1 Form and Make of Clubs states The player's clubs must conform with this Rule and the provisions, specifications and interpretations set forth in Appendix II.
Appendix II Design of Clubs states A club is an implement designed to be used for striking the ball and generally comes in three forms: woods, irons and putters distinguished by shape and intended use.

The club must not be substantially different from the traditional and customary form and make.  The club must be composed of a shaft and a head and it may also have material added to the shaft to enable the player to obtain a firm hold.  All parts of the club must be fixed so that the club is one unit, and it must have no external attachments.

So far, the competitor's son's club seems to qualify as a "club".  What about length?  Section 1c of Appendix II states The overall length of the club must be at least 18 inches.  Take a look at the photo and compare the son's club length to the competitor's club.  Yep, the son's club was more than 18 inches long.  What about other required characteristics of a club?  Yes, Yes, and Yes... the son's short club qualifies as a CLUB!  A penalty must be applied to the competitor.

The penalty for too many clubs in match play is: At the conclusion of the hole at which the breach is discovered, the state of the match is adjusted by deducting one hole for each hole at which a breach occurred; maximum deduction per round: Two holes.  Fortunately, the competitor was "dormie five" (i.e., 5 holes up with 5 holes to play) when the son's club was discovered.  The competitor was now 3 holes up with 5 holes to play.

Thanks Leslie for a rare ruling.  Congratulations on winning your match and flight.
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At the Tony Blom Metropolitan Amateur Championship... During the play-off to determine the final qualifiers for match play, a competitor almost had a disastrous run-in with a rake in a bunker.  On the first play-off hole (Losantiville #1), a competitor's ball came to rest in a bunker against a rake.  The Rules of Golf (Rule 18-2) allow the competitor to remove the rake (Movable Obstruction) and, if the ball moves, there is no penalty when removing movable obstructions.  So far, so good.  However, Rule 20-3 Placing and Replacing, requires the competitor to replace his ball on the spot from which it moved.  What if the ball fails to come to rest when replaced?

Rule 20-3d Ball Fails to Come to Rest on Spot states If a ball placed fails to come to rest on the spot on which it was place, there is no penalty and the ball must be replaced.  If it still fails to come to rest on that spot: (ii) in a hazard, it must be placed in the hazard at the nearest spot where it can be placed at rest that is not nearer the hole.

So, what if there isn't anywhere in the bunker that is not nearer the hole where the ball will come to rest?

Decision 20-3d/2 Ball in Bunker Moves Closer to Hole When Obstruction Removed and Ball Will Not Remain at Rest When Replaced; All Other Parts of Bunker Are Nearer Hole covers that situation.  It is a long Q and A; but, here is the "short version".  Since the player could not place the ball in conformity with the Rules, he should proceed under the stroke-and-distance option of the unplayable ball Rule (Rule 28a) or, in equity (Rule 1-4), drop the ball, under penalty of one stroke, outside the bunker, keeping the point where the ball lay directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped.

Ouch!!!  Now you know why the USGA recommends rakes be placed outside of bunkers (Miscellaneous Decision, Misc./2).

Fortunately, a spot was found (due to faulty raking by a previous competitor) where the ball would come to rest.  The competitor made bogey; but, made it into match play on the second play-off hole.

Last Week's Question

A Question and Answer selected from recent entries:

Q.  From Dave, a Nationwide Tour player:

I have lead tape added to my irons to increase their swing weight.  If the lead tape comes loose during a round, do I have to discontinue using the club?  If I use the club without the lead tape, am I subject to disqualification?

A.  To Dave:

Thanks for your question.  There is good news for you; albeit with a watch out.  Rules 4-1 Form and Make of Clubs, 4-2 Playing Characteristics Changed and Foreign Material and 4-3. Damaged Clubs: Repair and Replacement cover your situation.

Rule 4-1a states: The player's clubs must conform with this Rule and the provisions, specifications and interpretations set forth in Appendix II.

Rule 4-2a states: During a stipulated round, the playing characteristics of a club must not be purposely changed by adjustment or by any other means.

Rule 4-3a states: If, during a stipulated round, a player's club is damaged in the normal course of play, he may:
(i) use the club in its damaged state for the remainder of the stipulated round; or
(ii) without unduly delaying play, repair it or have it repaired; or
(iii) as an additional option available only if the club is unfit for play, replace the damaged club with any club.  The replacement of a club must not unduly delay play and must not be made by borrowing any club selected for play by any other person playing on the course.

Rule 4-3b states: If, during a stipulated round, a player's club is damaged other than in the normal course of play rendering it non-conforming or changing its playing characteristics, the club must not subsequently be used or replaced during the round.

The good news is:

Decision 4-1/4 Lead Tape Applied to Clubhead or Shaft Before Start of Round allows the use of lead tape as an exception to Appendix II.  That means your clubs, with lead tape, are legal.

Decision 4-2/0.5 Lead Tape Applied to Clubhead or Shaft During Round allows lead tape that becomes detached from the club in thenormal course of play may be replaced back onto the club in the same location.  It also allows new tape to be used to replace old tape that won't remain on the club in the same location.  And, alternatively, the club may be used in its damaged state (without the lead tape) for the remainder of the round.

However, there is a watch out:

Decision 4-2/0.5 also states that if the tape is altered or damaged other than in the normal course of play, the club may not be used for the remainder of the round, under penalty of disqualification.

So, what constitutes "normal course of play?"

Decision 4-3/1 Meaning of Damage Sustained in "Normal Course of Play" states The term "normal course of play" is intended to cover all reasonable examples of acts that are in the "normal course of play" to include the following:

• removing or replacing a club in the bag;
• using a club to search for or retrieve a ball;
• leaning on a club while waiting to play, teeing a ball or removing a ball from the hole; or
• accidentally dropping a club.

Examples of acts that are not in the "normal course of play" include the following:

• throwing a club in anger or otherwise;
• "slamming" a club into a bag; or
• intentionally striking something (e.g., the ground or a tree) with the club other than during a stroke, practice swing or practice stroke.