Archive of GCGA Questions and Answers
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Archive of GCGA Questions and AnswersQuestions and Answers previously given by the GCGA Rules Guru. |
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Q. From Brian M:
Hi, during a fourball stableford competition, my partner noticed I had 15 clubs on the first tee after I had played. We informed our playing partners and declared the club out of play. Best score was to count on each hole. My partner's score was entered on 1st hole and not mine. Is this correct?
A. To Brian M:
Thanks for your question. Unfortunately, what you and your partner did is not correct under the Rules of Golf. Note 1 under Rule 32-1b applies. You should have entered your score on the scorecard as well as your partner's score. The Committee should then have resolved the Rules issue by determining your team's Stableford score for the first hole (depends upon the lower gross/net score of each of you) and deducted two points from your team's total points for the round for your breach of the 14-club Rule (for one hole). HOWEVER, if you did not report your breach of the 14-club Rule to the Committee before your returned your score card, your team should have been disqualified from the competition.
My logic:
Rule 32-1 states that Stableford competitions are forms of stroke play.
Rule 31-6 states that the side is penalized for a breach of Rule 4 by either partner in a Four-Ball Stroke Play competition.
Rule 4-4a states that the penalty for starting a stipulated round with more than 14 clubs is two strokes for each hole at which any breach occurred; maximum penalty per round: Four strokes.
Rule 32-1b Note 1 states that if a competitor is in breach of a Rule for which there is a maximum penalty per round, he must report the facts to the Committee before returning his score card; if he fails to do so, he is disqualified. The Committee will, from the total points scored for the round, deduct two points for each hole at which any breach occurred, with a maximum deduction per round of four points for each Rule breached.
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.
(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.
Q. From a Clovernook member:
During a Rules Seminar at Clovernook Country Club last month, a question was asked about whether Obstruction relief was available for a stance on a cart path when the ball was lodged firmly in the crotch between two roots of a large tree adjacent to the cart path.
A. To Clovernook member:
Thanks for your question. Rule 24-2. Immovable Obstructions states: Interference by an immovable obstruction occurs when a ball lies in or on the obstruction, or when the obstruction interferes with the player's stance or the area of his intended swing. That is the case here and relief would seem to be warranted. However, this is a case where you must read the entire Rule. Near the end of the Rule is the following Exception: A player may not take relief under this Rule if (a) it is clearly unreasonable for him to make a stroke because of interference by anything other than an immovable obstruction or (b) interference by an immovable obstruction would occur only through use of an unnecessarily abnormal stance, swing or direction of play. The tree roots interfered with any possible stroke and thus the player would not get FREE relief under Rule 24. Obstructions. However, the player could take relief, with a penalty of one stroke, under Rule 28. Ball Unplayable.
Q. From Criss:
I have a question about a player's options in the following circumstance: At Stonelick Hills, hole 3 is a par 3 over water. From the near side, there are yellow stakes. From the far side (green side), there are red stakes. There is a drop area.
My question is: if a player were to hit a shot that crossed the red stakes on the far side, but then went into the water, does the player have an option to BOTH play two clubs from where the ball went in the hazard or play from the drop area, OR does the player NOT have the option of the drop area because their ball went into the hazard after crossing the red stake; meaning they would either have to re-tee or play two clubs from where the ball crossed into the hazard?
I had this ruling come up in a recent round and I wasn't sure which was the correct option. Obviously, if the player does not fly the ball to cross the red stakes, they can select the drop area for the next shot.
Thanks for any guidance you can give!
A. To Criss:
Thanks for your question. Unfortunately, I cannot give you a definitive answer. The answer depends on what the Committee stated as the reason for the Ball Drop. If this happened during a competition such as league play, it would be the Committee for the league that would make the determination. If it happened during normal "open" play, then it would be the decision of the Stonelick Hills course Committee.
In either case, the Committee determines if the Ball Drop is used exclusively for the Water Hazard (yellow stakes) or includes the Lateral Water Hazard (red stakes). Typically, Ball Drops are used for Water Hazards (yellow stakes); but, the Committee MAY specify a Ball Drop for use as an additional option for a Lateral Water Hazard (red stakes).
Since your ball last crossed the margin of the hazard in the Lateral Water Hazard, you have the usual Lateral Water Hazard options including the two club length from the point where the ball last crossed the margin of the hazard and the point on the opposite margin of the hazard equidistant to where the ball last crossed the margin of the hazard.
Net, it could be okay to use the Ball Drop IF the Committee stated that it was an option for both the Water Hazard and the Lateral Water Hazard. If the Committee stated that it was an option for ONLY the Water Hazard, then you could not use the Ball Drop for the Lateral Water Hazard.
Sorry to have to pass the buck; but, the Rules of Golf state that it is the Committee's decision to add Ball Drops if necessary and to define any criteria on their use.
Q. From Chuck:
Does it matter in what order a provisional ball is played?
A. Chuck,
Rule 10-3 explains the correct procedure when playing a provisional ball. If a player plays a provisional ball or another ball from the teeing ground, he must do so after his opponent or fellow-competitor has made his first stroke. If more than one player elects to play a provisional ball or is required to play another ball from the teeing ground, the original order of play must be retained. If a player plays a provisional ball or another ball out of turn, Rule 10-1c or 10-2c applies.
Rule 10-3 explains the correct procedure when playing a provisional ball. If a player plays a provisional ball or another ball from the teeing ground, he must do so after his opponent or fellow-competitor has made his first stroke. If more than one player elects to play a provisional ball or is required to play another ball from the teeing ground, the original order of play must be retained. If a player plays a provisional ball or another ball out of turn, Rule 10-1c or 10-2c applies.
Rule 10-1c refers to Match Play and explains one of the key differences of match play versus stroke play. If a player plays when his opponent should have played, there is no penalty, but the opponent may immediately require the player to cancel the stroke so made and, in correct order, play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played.
Rule 10-2c refers to Stroke Play. If a player plays out of turn, there is no penalty and the ball is played as it lies. If, however, the Committee determines that competitors have agreed to play out of turn to give one of them an advantage, they are disqualified.
How might 10-1c affect a match? Well, Chuck, suppose you and I are opponents and you have the honor at the tee and hit your first ball toward an area of dense rough. You immediately announce and play a provisional ball right down the middle of the fairway. Being the Rules Guy, I immediately invoke Rule 10-1c and require that you cancel your provisional ball, wait until after I hit my tee shot, and then you must play a new provisional ball in the correct order. Of course, if you had topped your provisional ball, I might have just let it be and said nothing.
How might 10-2c affect a stroke play competition? Suppose we are fellow-competitors teeing off on a long par 3 hole across water and into the wind. You play your tee shot, carry the water, but hook the ball into deep rough left of the green. Being a nice guy, you say: “Dave, let me hit my provisional ball so you can get a better idea of the effect of the wind.” I respond; “Thanks.” We are agreeing to waive a rule of golf and the Committee might disqualify both of us.
Q. From Robert:
A good golfer is playing with his wife on a 9 hole, non-rated golf course in a small hamlet area which they are both members and play regularly! Hole number 3 is about 165 yards from the front "T" and about 170 yards or so from the back 9 "T". This gentleman golfer is playing 2 balls, one from the front 9 "T" and, immediately thereafter, he plays his second ball from the back 9 "T". His first shot from the front "T "is pretty good and his second shot from the back "T" or known as the back 9"T"goes into the hole on the green for a hole in one! Does this second shot from the back "T: count in any official way as a regulation or legitimate hole in one ??
A. Robert:
Under the Rules of Golf, playing two balls violates the rule that a player must play a stipulated round with only one ball at a time. When you play a second ball under the Rules of Golf, the first ball would be considered "lost" or "unplayable" and you would have been hitting three from the wrong tees with the second ball (another violation of the Rules).
So, my answer would be NO that does not constitute a Hole in One under the Rules of Golf.
If the player were attempting to play the Front 9 and the Back 9 simultaneously (with separate balls) in order to save time, the answer would be the same. The Rules are explicit about playing the holes in a stipulated round in the correct sequence (i.e., front nine must be completed before the back nine begins). Again, not a true Hole in One.
Q. From Chad:
This was a stroke play tournament. The player hit a ball toward a green, but it hit a cart path and headed toward a flower bed between the green and the next tee. The threesome went forward and looked for the ball, that they believe was in the flower bed. After looking for some time, most likely longer than 5 minutes, the player who hit the shot went to the next green and asked the group ahead if they had seen a shot come in there. When they responded no he stopped at the previous spot and hit what he called a provisional. When he got back up to the green, his playing partners said that they found his ball and he went ahead and played it. The player signed his scorecard and is still in the tournament, which continues this weekend.
A. Chad:
Thanks for your question. When the player(s) searched for 5 minutes and failed to find the ball, the ball was LOST. Even if the 5 minutes had not been up, when the player returned to where the original ball was played and dropped and played another ball, the original ball was considered LOST. The ball the player dropped was dropped in accordance with the Rules of Golf for a Lost Ball. It was NOT a Provisional Ball. A Provisional Ball must be played BEFORE the player, his partner, or either of their caddies goes forward to search. That was not the case here. The ball the player called his "provisional" was, in fact, his ball in play under stroke and distance penalty for a lost ball.
When the player then picked up his ball in play (the one he called a provisional) he was subject to a penalty of one stroke under Rule 18-2a. When the "original ball" was found, it had NO STATUS. It was just another "abandoned ball". When the player then played the "original ball" he played a WRONG BALL.
Rule 15-3b Wrong Ball in Stroke Play is quite explicit: 'If a competitor makes a stroke or strokes at a wrong ball, he incurs a penalty of two strokes. '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.'
Unfortunately, this is a situation where the player's lack of knowledge about the Rules of Golf is very penal. The player should be DISQUALIFIED from the competition for playing a WRONG BALL and failing to rectify his mistake before playing from the next teeing ground.
Q. From Tom:
While playing in a Sunday foursome, 1 of the players hit his drive into the fairway sandtrap. When one of the group that was away hit their second shot, it hit a tree and part of the tree limb landed on top of the 1st players ball that was in the sandtrap. Is the player in the trap allowed to remove the tree limb from on top of his ball without penalty?
A. Tom:
Excellent question. The Rules of Golf (including the Decisions) do not directly address this unusual situation. However, there are several Decisions that address somewhat similar situations. Based on those decisions, I believe that the player would be entitled to remove the tree limb from the top of his ball without penalty. However, just to be sure, I am going to forward this one to the USGA!! Similar situations which all permitted re-creating the original lie of the ball:
• Decision 20-3b/1 Lie of Lifted Ball in Bunker Altered by Another Player's Stroke
• Decision 20-3b/2 Lie in Bunker Changed by Another Player Taking His Stance
• Decision 20-3b/3 Lie Changed by Removal of Gallery-Control Stake
• Decision 13-2/8 Lie or Line of Play Affected by Pitch-Mark Made by Partner's, Opponent's or Fellow-Competitor's Ball
• Decision 13-2/8.5 Player's Lie Affected by Sand from Partner's, Opponent's or Fellow-Competitor's Stroke from Bunker.
• Decision 20-3b/2 Lie in Bunker Changed by Another Player Taking His Stance
• Decision 20-3b/3 Lie Changed by Removal of Gallery-Control Stake
• Decision 13-2/8 Lie or Line of Play Affected by Pitch-Mark Made by Partner's, Opponent's or Fellow-Competitor's Ball
• Decision 13-2/8.5 Player's Lie Affected by Sand from Partner's, Opponent's or Fellow-Competitor's Stroke from Bunker.
Hope this helps. I'll let you know if the USGA disagrees with my interpretation.
Follow-up: The USGA agreed and cited an additional Decision: Decision 13-4/18 Partner’s, Opponent’s or Fellow-Competitor’s Divot Comes to Rest Near Player’s Ball in Bunker.
Q. From Mark W:
Stroke play, two players, bunker. I was playing with 2 men and one guy's ball lands on another ball in a bunker and comes to rest on that ball. I am assuming the player further away hits 1st; however, the ball that is further away was buried in the sand. Do you remove the ball on top (closer) and hit the ball on the bottom where it lies (buried). (Note the ball was not buried prior to the other ball striking it). Or does the player get the rake and drop. After the 1st guy hits, how does the 2nd guy play? Does he hit place the ball in the divot of the 1st shot or does he rake place? How do you mark where the ball were to play the ball?
A. Mark:
You are mostly correct with a few changes. The key changes are that he PLACES the ball rather than dropping it and the original lie must be re-created. Here is the procedure for the very unique situation you described:
1. The player with the “closer” ball must mark his ball and lift it so that the “farther” ball may be played (Rule 22-2 – Ball Interfering with Play). Because the play of the “further” ball will probably strike or move the marker, the player may need to move his marker one or more club head lengths to the side. Note: The player of the “nearer” ball must NOT clean his ball when it is lifted under these conditions (see Rule 22-2).
2. Because the “further” ball was NOT buried prior to being struck by the “closer” ball, the “further” ball undoubtedly MOVED downward when struck! Rule 18-5, Ball at Rest Moved by Another Ball, requires that the moved ball be replaced.
3. Rule 20-3a requires that a ball to be replaced must be PLACED (not dropped) by the player, his partner, or the person who lifted or moved it.
4. However, Rule 20-4 also applies: Lie of Ball to Be Placed or Replaced Altered. In this case, Rule 20-4 (iii) applies because the original lie was in a bunker. The Rule states that “the original lie must be re-created as nearly as possible and the ball must be placed in that lie.” If the players were not in the vicinity when the second ball struck the first ball, the players will have to use their best judgment to determine what the original lie looked like prior to the ball being struck. Observation of nearby sand will usually suffice to determine whether the original location was raked, smooth, etc. The key is that the player must return his “further” ball by PLACING it in a lie that he believes best recreates the original lie before being struck by the “nearer” ball.
5. The player with the “further” ball now plays his ball.
6. Now we re-start the procedure for the owner of the “nearer” ball. Repeating steps 3 through 5, we note that in order to replace his ball the player must PLACE his ball in a lie that he re-creates. If the player moved his marker one or more club head lengths from his original location, he returns the marker and then the ball after recreating the original lie (minus the “further” ball of course). When the “nearer” ball has been replaced it is again “in play” and may be played.
Q. While playing in a tournament, I accidentally picked up a fellow-competitor’s glove after putting out on a hole. I then used it on the next tee. Was that okay?
A. Yes. Decision 5-1/5 states: “Rule 4-4a prohibits a player from borrowing a club from another player playing on the course but the Rules do not prevent a player from borrowing other items of equipment (balls, towels, gloves, tees, etc.) from another player or outside agency.”
Q. From Don L:
On our particular golf course we have a par 3 that has two separate greens. Our Men's club was playing a four man team one best ball. Every one was told we are playing the left green. One team, all four players played the right green and finished the hole. The went to the next tee and realized they had played the wrong green. They returned to the previous hole and teed it up and played to the left green and counted this score. What is the ruling?
A. If all four players entered ONLY their scores for the replay of the hole from the teeing ground to the correct (left green), they are each Disqualified for signing for a score that is less than the score they should have entered for the hole.When the players played their initial stroke from the teeing ground toward the WRONG PUTTING GREEN (the right-hand green), their balls were IN PLAY and those strokes count. Their balls are IN PLAY!
The Rules of Golf (Rule 25-3) require that when a ball in play comes to rest on a WRONG PUTTING GREEN (the right-hand green in this case), the player MUST take immediate relief without penalty by lifting the ball and dropping it within one club-length of and not nearer the hole than the nearest point of relief. The nearest point of relief must not be in a hazard or on a putting green. If the player fails to do this immediately upon coming to rest on a WRONG PUTTING GREEN (i.e., he makes a stroke at his ball on a WRONG PUTTING GREEN) he incurs a penalty of two strokes in stroke play (Rule 25-3).
In addition, all subsequent strokes played with the original balls on or at the WRONG PUTTING GREEN count in his score. The ball is still IN PLAY.
And, because the players did not play from the correct place when they finally attempted to correct their error, they incurred an additional penalty of two strokes each under Rule 20-7, Playing from a WRONG PLACE. They should have dropped their ball off from the WRONG PUTTING GREEN per the above using the hole in the WRONG PUTTING GREEN as their point of reference since that was the last location of their balls on the putting green prior to their realization that they had played incorrectly.
Their individual scores for the hole should have been the total of all of their strokes when playing to both putting greens plus four penalty strokes under Rules 25-3 and 20-7.