A player's ball comes to rest in the woods near a bush with thorns. The player wishes to place his towel over his shoulders to avoid being stuck by the thorns. Is this permitted? Yes; Decision 1-4/11.5 Player wraps Towel Around Self or Places Towel on Cactus Before Taking Stance covers this type of situation. A player's ball lies near a cactus, and to play the ball the player would have to stand with his legs touching the cactus. To protect himself from the cactus needles, the player wraps a towel around his legs before taking his stance. He then plays the ball. What is the Ruling? Provided the player does not breach Rule 13-2 (i.e., he takes his stance fairly), there is no breach of the Rules. However, if the player were to place the towel on the cactus, in equity (Rule 1-4), the player loses the hole in match play or incurs a penalty of two strokes in stroke play. If the player had draped the towel over the bush he would have been penalized. As long as he draped it over his shoulders, no problem, no penalty.

RIA02 - Extra club found in golf bag in match play

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?"

Small golf 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.

RIA03 - Player late to tee; fellow-competitors had already teed off

While Starting at the GCGA Metropolitan Mid-Am at Ivy Hills, a competitor was two minutes late to the tee. Two competitors had already teed off when the competitor arrived. Since the Note in Rule 6.3 Time of Starting and Groups was in effect, the competitor received a penalty of two strokes rather than disqualification. NOTE: Effective January 1, 2012, the Note is no longer needed; this is now the penalty under the Rule.

The unique wrinkle to this situation was that the player was scheduled to tee off last in his group and his group had not yet left the tee. Decision 6-3a/2 Time of Starting; All Competitors Must be Present applied. The Decision states: All competitors in a group must be present and ready to play at the time established by the Committee,… The order of play is not relevant. The fact that the group had not yet left the tee did not matter.

RIA04 - Player late to tee; various scenarios

It is the start of a new golf season, so it is only appropriate that the first situation deals with Time of Starting (Rule 6-3a). At the 2007 USGA Junior Amateur Sectional Qualifier at the TPC at River’s Bend, the Starters had a number of situations dealing with competitors being late to the tee and not ready to play. The Note included with Rule 6-3 was in force for the competition.

Rule 6.3 Time of Starting and Groups
a. Time of Starting

Note: The Committee may provide, in the conditions of a competition (Rule 33-1), that if the player arrives at his starting point, ready to play, within five minutes after his starting time, in the absence of circumstances that warrant waiving the penalty of disqualification as provided in Rule 33-7, the penalty for failure to start on time is loss of the first hole in match play or two strokes at the first hole in stroke play instead of disqualification. NOTE: Effective January 1, 2012, the Note is no longer needed; this is now the penalty under the Rule.

Situation 1: Players A, B, and C were drawn by the Committee to play together starting at 8:00a.m. A and B were present at the appointed time, C arrived at 8:02a.m. after A and B had played from the teeing ground, but just in time to play in the correct order.

Because the Note to Rule 6.3 was in force, C was assessed a two-stroke penalty for failure to start at the time established by the Committee. There were no circumstances warranting waiving the penalty. Decision 6-3a/2 Time of Starting; All Competitors Must Be Present

Situation 2: Players D, E, and F were drawn by the Committee to play together starting at 8:30a.m. D and E were present at the appointed time; F was running from the practice area to the tee and arrived 45 seconds late. He claimed that since the official clock stated 8:30:45 the time was still 8:30a.m. and therefore he was not late to the tee.

When a starting time is listed as 8:30a.m., the starting time is deemed to be 8:30:00a.m. and the player was subject to a two-stroke penalty. Again, there were no circumstances warranting waiving the penalty. Decision 6-3a/2.5 Meaning of “Time of Starting”

Situation 3: Players G, H, and J were drawn by the Committee to play together starting at 9:00a.m. G and H were present at the appointed time; J arrived at 9:06a.m. However, because the previous group had to play a provisional ball and was in the process of searching for a potentially lost ball, the fairway was not clear until 9:08a.m.

Because the group was unable to start at the time originally established by the Committee and the player arrived before it could do so, the player was not in breach of Rule 6-3a and did NOT receive a penalty. Decision 6-3a/4 Time of Starting; Player is Late but Group Unable to Play Due to Delay

Bonus Situation: This actually occurred at the 2002 Metropolitan Amateur Championship. It is included because it is the most unusual Time of Starting situation I have experienced as a Starter. It was a hot, sunny day at Terrace Park CC and the morning quarterfinal rounds of match play were just completed. Two competitors who won their matches asked for and were granted an extra 10 minutes for lunch so they could cool down after tough matches that went to extra holes. They were assigned a tee time of 1:20p.m. At about 1:10p.m., the competitors went to the adjacent practice area to hit a few balls before walking to the first tee for their semifinal match. They arrived at 1:22p.m. and 1:23p.m. Both competitors were LATE!

The Official in Charge of the competition talked with me, the Starter, to confirm that the players were late and with the Scorer for the morning round and another Rules Official to confirm that the competitors were, in fact, given the specific starting time for their afternoon match of 1:20p.m. When the facts were confirmed, both players were assessed penalties. They both “LOST” the first hole (i.e., they halved the hole). They went to the second tee with the match All Square. Decision 6-3a/3 Time of Starting: Both Players in Match are Late.

RIA05 - Players wish to discontinue play due to darkness

Players wish to discontinue play due to darkness; the Committee has not yet suspended play. May the players discontinue play on their own? Rule 6-8a Discontinuance of Play; Resumption of Play - When Permitted covers this situation. The player must not discontinue play unless:

• the Committee has suspended play;
• he believes there is danger from lightning;
• he is seeking a decision from the Committee on a doubtful or disputed point (see Rules 2-5 and 34-3); or
• there is some other good reason such as sudden illness.

Since the Committee had not suspended play, and there was no lightning in the area, the players may NOT discontinue play of their own volition. Should they have done so they could have been disqualified. Darkness, or the approach of darkness, is not a sufficiently good reason to discontinue play in a tournament.

RIA06 - Ball comes to rest in footprint

Player A has gone forward and is analyzing his next shot from a green-side bunker by entering the bunker and looking at his lie and stance. Player B pitches his ball from off the green and it flies toward Player A in the bunker. Player A, in the bunker, moves to avoid being hit and Player B's ball comes to rest in Player A's footprint. What is the Ruling? Rule 13 Ball Played as It Lies applies. The ball must be played as it lies, except as otherwise provided in the Rules.

Nowhere in the Rules does it give the player permission to remove his ball from a bad lie except Rule 28 Ball Unplayable. Player B had the option BEFORE HE PLAYED HIS PITCH SHOT to ask Player A to leave the bunker and have the bunker returned to the condition it was in prior to Player A entering the bunker (i.e., rake the bunker). However, once Player B struck his ball, he was stuck with the lie he ended up getting. A bad break; but, that's golf.

RIA07 - Scramble format; where should partner’s ball be placed

During day one of the 2010 GCGA Metropolitan Two Man Scratch Championship at Hamilton Elks the competitors were playing a two-man scramble format. The Notice to the Competitors stated that both partners were to play from the tee, select a tee ball, and then both partners were to play from that spot continuing the process until a ball was holed. The process was further clarified to state that the partner was to play his shot from within one scorecard length of the selected ball and could not improve his lie (i.e., if the original ball was in the rough, the partner must play his ball from the rough even if the fairway was within one scorecard length of the selected ball).

Early in the competition, a competitor asked: "What if the selected ball is in a bunker? Can the bunker be raked before the partner plays the second ball? Can the bunker be raked before the first player plays the selected ball?"

Even though the USGA does not recognize a scramble format as an "official" form of play, it is possible to apply the basic Rules of Golf to a scramble format. Rule 13, Ball Played as It Lies is the operable Rule for the scramble format. If the selected ball lies in the fairway, the partner's ball should be placed in a similar lie in the fairway. If the selected ball lies in the rough, the partner's ball should be placed in a similar lie in the rough. If the selected ball lies in a bunker, the partner's ball should be placed in a similar lie in the bunker. If the selected ball lies in a water hazard (and the team wishes to play from the water hazard), the partner's ball should be placed in a similar lie in the water hazard.

The key word is "similar." If the selected ball is lying in a footprint in the bunker, then the partner should create a similar lie (i.e., make a footprint and place his ball in the footprint!) before playing the second ball. If the player doesn't do that, he is improving the lie, area of intended swing, or line of play in violation of Rule 13-2. PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE: Two Strokes (in stroke play). The easy way to remember this Rule for a scramble format is just to ask yourself: "What do the Rules of Golf permit me to do if I am playing a normal Stroke Play competition?" Obviously, improving your lie anywhere on the course is not permitted; so, why should it be permitted in a scramble format?

Rule 12-1. Searching for Ball; Seeing Ball and Decision 13-4/19 Condition of Bunker Altered by First Player to Play From It further support the position that both balls must be played from a lie similar to the lie in which the selected ball is found.

What would the answer be if the selected ball was in a sand-filled divot in the fairway? Play the selected ball as it lies; refill the divot with sand; place the partner's ball on the sand-filled divot; and "play hard!"

RIA08 - Player deems original ball unplayable; plays provisional ball

A player plays a Provisional Ball because she believes her original ball may be lost in the woods. Upon reaching the area where the original ball is believed to be, she discovers it in an unplayable position. She decides to use the stroke-and-distance option of Ball Unplayable and plays her Provisional Ball into the hole. She then plays the next hole before a Rules Official is able to arrive on the scene. What is the Ruling?

The Definitions of Provisional Ball and Wrong Ball cover part of this situation. A provisional ball is a ball played under Rule 27-2 for a ball that may be lost outside a water hazard or may be out of bounds. A wrong ball is any ball other than the player's:

• ball in play;
• provisional ball; or
• second ball played under Rule 3-3 or Rule 20-7c in stroke play

and includes:

• another player's ball;
• an abandoned ball; and
• the player's original ball when it is no longer in play.

When the original ball was found, the provisional ball loses its status as a provisional ball and becomes equipment (when picked up) or becomes a wrong ball if played. Rule 15-3 Wrong Ball covers the second part of this problem. If a competitor makes a stroke at a wrong ball (in stroke play), 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.

The competitor found out, the hard way that playing a wrong ball and failing to correct her mistake is very painful (i.e., DQ). When she found her original ball in an unplayable position, she should have abandoned her provisional ball and continued play using one of the three options under Rule 28 Ball Unplayable. If she wanted to use the stroke-and-distance option, she had to return to the teeing ground and play another ball from there. Fortunately, her team still made it to the state tournament and her DQ penalty did not preclude her from playing at state.

RIA09 - Ball at rest moved by spectator

A tournament volunteer picks up a competitor's ball in play in the rough. What is the Ruling? Rule 18-1 Ball at Rest Moved By Outside Agency covers this situation. If a ball at rest is moved by an outside agency, there is no penalty and the ball must be replaced. However, since the volunteer did not mark the ball prior to lifting it, the spot from which it was lifted was not determinable. Rule 20-3c covers that situation. If it is impossible to determine the spot where the ball is to be placed or replaced: (i) through the green, the ball must be dropped as near as possible to the place where it lay but not in a hazard or on a putting green.

RIA10 - Ball moved by player thinking he was in a lateral water hazard

There has been a recent trend by golf courses and players to treat woods and extreme rough as Lateral Water Hazards even though the areas in question do not comply with the Definition of a Lateral Water Hazard (and are not so marked). Their reasoning is that this speeds up play since players frequently do not play a Provisional Ball for a ball that might be lost.

This had unfortunate results (or fortunate… see later in this note) for a competitor at the recent OHSAA Division 3 District tournament at Weatherwax Golf Course. The competitor had hit his second shot on a par five into the middle of a large area of extreme rough (high heather that had been recently mowed).

When I came upon the competitor he had just found his ball, picked it up, and was walking to the edge of the extreme rough. When I asked him what he was doing, he stated that he was going to “take a drop.” He was playing the extreme rough as if it were a Lateral Water Hazard. When I informed him that he could not do that (it was not marked as a LWH), he asked what his options were. I told him that he had violated Rule 18, Ball at Rest Moved; his penalty was one stroke and he must replace the ball. If he wanted to get the ball out of the extreme rough he would have to either play it or declare the Ball Unplayable, add another penalty stroke, and choose one of the options for relief under that Rule. He chose to drop the ball and play it. Not understanding that extreme rough is NOT necessarily a Lateral Water Hazard cost this competitor a penalty stroke.

The good news was that I came upon this situation before the competitor had “taken a drop” outside the extreme rough, completed play of the hole, and then played from the next tee. Had that occurred and a Rules Official became aware of the situation, the competitor would have been Disqualified for a “serious breach” of the Rules. He would have gained a significant advantage from playing his stroke from the regular rough rather than from the extreme rough.

Had he claimed to be taking a drop for a Ball Unplayable, he would have again been guilty of a serious breach since the edge of the extreme rough was much more than the allowable two club lengths from where he found his ball. Had he kept the spot where he found the ball between himself and the hole he would have had to go back at least fifty yards to get out of the extreme rough.

RIA11 - Ball moved downward after address

A player's ball may have moved downward during his backswing; he completes the stroke. What is the ruling? Rule 18-2b Ball Moving After Address covers this situation. If a player's ball in play moves after he has addressed it (other than as a result of a stroke), the player is deemed to have moved the ball and incurs a penalty of one stroke. The ball must be replaced, unless the movement of the ball occurs after the player has begun the stroke, or the backward movement of the club for the stroke, and the stroke is made.

The difficulty is determining the facts. Did the ball, in fact, move. In this particular situation, the problem was that no one other than the player was close enough to see if the ball moved. Bottom line, it came down to the player's judgment. His answer was that he wasn't sure; but, he didn't want to win a hole when he wasn't sure. He said he wanted the penalty to be applied.

RIA12 - Ball lost; player drops ball on “line of flight” and continues play

The player hit his tee ball on the 5th hole of Woodside (his 14th hole) into the trees. Expecting to find his ball, he did not play a Provisional Ball. After searching for his original ball for the allowable time, he walked back on his "line of flight" about half the distance to the tee (about 100 yards). There he dropped a ball and played out the hole. He then continued on to the 6th hole and played it.

At that point, a spectator approached me (Rules Official) on the 6th hole and asked if the player had played correctly. What would be your ruling?

I realized that since the player had already teed off on the 6th hole, nothing could be done to rectify the error on the 5th hole. I waited until the competitor completed his round and then interviewed the player and his fellow-competitors. Finding that the facts reported by the spectator were correct, I had no choice but to apply the Rules of Golf. The ruling: Disqualification.

Rule 27-1c, Ball Lost or Out of Bounds; Provisional Ball. Ball Not Found Within Five Minutes is very clear:

“If a ball is lost as a result of not being found or identified as his by the player within five minutes after the player's side or his or their caddies have begun to search for it, the player must play a ball, under penalty of one stroke, as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played."

In this case, the player did not play another ball "as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played." He went only half the distance back to the tee. Thus, he played from a Wrong Place. Playing from Wrong Place (Rule 20-7c) in stroke play states:

“If a competitor makes a stroke from a wrong place, he incurs a penalty of two strokes under the applicable Rule. He must play out the hole with the ball played from the wrong place, without correcting his error, provided he has not committed a serious breach (see Note 1).

"If a competitor becomes aware that he has played from a wrong place and believes that he may have committed a serious breach, he must, before making a stroke on the next teeing ground, play out the hole with a second ball played in accordance with the Rules.

"... If the competitor has committed a serious breach and has failed to correct it as outlined above, he is disqualified."

Note 1 explains what constitutes a serious breach:

"Note 1: A competitor is deemed to have committed a serious breach of the applicable Rule if the Committee considers he has gained a significant advantaqe as a result of playing from a wrong place."

In this case the player did not go all the way back to the tee as Rule 27 required. By dropping a ball on his "line of flight" he went only part of the way back to the tee (100 yards instead of 200 yards). That is a serious breach (he gained 100 yards). There is NO SUCH THING AS "LINE OF FLIGHT" IN THE RULES OF GOLF!

RIA13 - Player requests ball be left on green; ball assists play

A player asked his opponent to leave his (the opponent's) ball in place on the green near the hole prior to the player playing his chip shot. He believed that leaving the ball in place may assist his play. Is this permitted? Rule 22 Ball Assisting or Interfering With Play covers this situation.

Except when a ball is in motion, if a player considers that a ball might assist any other player, he may:

a. Lift the ball if it is his ball, or
b. Have any other ball lifted.

In addition, Rule 16b The Putting Green, Lifting and Cleaning Ball applies. A ball on the putting green may be lifted and, if desired, cleaned. The position of the ball must be marked before it is lifted, and the ball must be replaced (see Rule 20-1).

Bottom line, NO the player may not ask and the other competitor may not leave his ball in place if either believe it may assist or interfere with a player in his play of the hole.

RIA14 - Ball comes to rest in bunker against a rake

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 24-1) 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.

RIA15 - Bird house on post intervenes on line of play

During the 2009 U.S. Open Sectional Qualifier at NCR Country Club, a local member volunteer learned an important lesson regarding Immovable Obstructions. NCR has bird houses on posts at many locations in the deep grass roughs. These are Immovable Obstructions (man-made objects).

A competitor’s ball came to rest in the deep grass. After a short search, the ball was located and the player prepared to play his next shot. Before making the stroke, he asked if he was allowed any relief because there was such a bird house nearby on his line of play. Fortunately, a Rules Official was at the scene helping with the ball search. The Official’s ruling was: no relief.

Why didn’t the competitor get relief from the bird house? Because Rule 24-2, Immovable Obstructions, is very clear on interference by an immovable obstruction:

“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. If the player’s ball lies on the putting green, interference also occurs if an immovable obstruction on the putting green intervenes on his line of putt. Otherwise, intervention on the line of play is not, of itself, interference under this Rule.”

In this case, the intervention was on the line of play BUT NOT AN INTERFERENCE TO HIS STANCE OR AREA OF INTENDED SWING. Net, no relief was available under the Rules of Golf.

This was a learning for the NCR member who had always played the bird houses and their associated line of play as an intervention relief.

RIA16 - Ball on fringe; sprinkler head interferes with players preferred shot

A player's ball comes to rest in the fringe beside a green. A sprinkler head intervenes between the player's ball and the green. The competitor wishes to putt his ball; may he get relief from the sprinkler head? Rule 24-2a Immovable Obstruction, Interference covers this situation. 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. If the player's ball lies on the putting green, interference also occurs if an immovable obstruction on the putting green intervenes on his line of putt. Otherwise, intervention on the line of play is not, of itself, interference under this Rule.

The player asked if the "2 + 2" rule applied. What was he talking about? Appendix I, Part B, Item 6 Immovable Obstructions Close to Putting Green discusses this occasional Local Rule.

Rule 24-2 provides relief, without penalty, from interference by an immovable obstruction, but also provides that, except on the putting green, intervention on the line of play is not, of itself, interference under this Rule.

However, on some courses, the aprons of the putting greens are so closely mown that players may wish to putt from just off the green. In such conditions, immovable obstructions on the apron may interfere with the proper playing of the game and the introduction of the following Local Rule providing additional relief, without penalty, from intervention by an immovable obstruction would be warranted:

Relief from interference by an immovable obstruction may be taken under Rule 24-2. In addition, if a ball lies off the putting green but not in a hazard and an immovable obstruction on or within two club-lengths of the putting green and within two club-lengths of the ball intervenes on the line of play between the ball and the hole, the player may take relief as follows:

The ball must be lifted and dropped at the nearest point to where the ball lay that (a) is not nearer the hole, (b) avoids intervention and (c) is not in a hazard or on a putting green. The ball may be cleaned when lifted.

Relief under this Local Rule is also available if the player's ball lies on the putting green and an immovable obstruction within two club-lengths of the putting green intervenes on his line of putt. The player may take relief as follows:

The ball must be lifted and placed at the nearest point to where the ball lay that (a) is not nearer the hole, (b) avoids intervention and (c) is not in a hazard. The ball may be cleaned when lifted.

In this tournament, the "2 + 2" Local Rule was not invoked as part of the Notice to Players or the Conditions of the Competitions. The player did not get intervention relief.

REMEMBER: If a Local Rule is NOT invoked as part of the Notice to Players or the Conditions of the Competition, it is NOT a Rule of Golf for that tournament! Read your Notice to Players and Conditions of Competition carefully.

RIA17 - Ball comes to rest on mound made by burrowing animal

During play of the second, sudden death, playoff hole at the 2008 Junior Metropolitan Amateur Championship, a competitor’s ball came to rest on Abnormal Ground Conditions. The competitor played his second shot into the pine trees that are to the left of the 18th hole at Miami Whitewater Golf Course, site of the Junior Met. When the ball was found under the low-hanging branches of the pine, it was on earth piled up from a hole made by a burrowing animal. The one club-length relief provided by Rule 25-1 permitted the competitor to get a somewhat better lie that allowed a less-restricted backswing and stroke. The competitor then chipped out through the remaining branches.

However, all came to naught, as his opponent chipped in for a birdie three from the fringe of the green to win the hole and the Championship.

RIA18 - Ball within lateral water hazard; player’s options

During play of the OSHAA Division I Sectional Championship at Miami Whitewater Golf Course, a competitor hit his tee shot into the trees to the right of the 11th hole. The 11th hole is a par 4, dog-leg right, with a lateral water hazard in the left rough and another lateral water hazard in the right rough. The trees on the right extend along a bank toward the hole and end to the right of the right lateral water hazard.

When the competitor’s ball dropped from the trees, it hit the bank outside the hazard and bounced to the left down the bank into the right side of the right lateral water hazard. A forecaddie and a Rules Official saw the ball drop from the trees onto the bank and then bounce into the water hazard.

When the competitor arrived in the area, the Rules Official reviewed the competitor’s options under Rule 26. In this special set of circumstances, the competitor received a real break from Rule 26-1c. Although he had to incur the one-stroke penalty for a water hazard, he was able to drop his ball outside the hazard within two club-lengths of the point on the OPPOSITE MARGIN OF THE WATER HAZARD EQUIDISTANT FROM THE HOLE from where his ball last crossed the margin of the hazard. In other words, he did NOT have to drop on the bank in the woods; he was able to drop on the fairway side of the lateral water hazard. The rough on that side of the water hazard was not severe and the lie was relatively flat and unimpeded to the hole.

Knowing the Rules of Golf (or having a Rules Official nearby) can be a help in your game.

RIA19 - Ball played within water hazard; ball comes to rest in same water hazard

A player plays her ball from within a water hazard. Her ball fails to exit the hazard and becomes unplayable. What are her options? Rule 26-2a Ball Comes to Rest in Same or Another Water Hazard covers this situation. If a ball played from within a water hazard comes to rest in the same or another water hazard after the stroke, the player may:

• proceed under Rule 26-1a. If after dropping in the hazard, the player elects not to play the dropped ball he may;

 proceed under Rule 26-1b, or if applicable Rule 26-1c, adding the additional penalty of one stroke prescribed by the Rule and using as the reference point the point where the original ball last crossed the margin of this hazard before it came to rest in this hazard; or

 add an additional penalty of one stroke and play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the last stroke from outside a water hazard was made (see Rule 20-5); or

• proceed under Rule 26-1b, or if applicable Rule 26-1c; or

• under penalty of one stroke, play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the last stroke from outside a water hazard was made (see Rule 20-5).

The player did not wish to drop a ball at the spot in the hazard from which she last played (Rule 26-1a) because it would likely become unplayable. She did not wish to proceed under Rule 26-1b because she would have to play from the other side of the hazard and would have a very difficult shot blocked by overhanging trees. Rule 26-1c was not an option since this was not a Lateral Water Hazard. Her solution was to accept the one stroke penalty and return to the teeing ground from which her last stroke from outside the water hazard was made.

RIA20 - Provisional ball and original ball come to rest in same area; time permitted for search

During match play of the 2008 Tony Blom Metropolitan Amateur Championship, a competitor hit his Original Ball into the tall fescue that borders many of the holes at Elks Run Golf Course. Recognizing that his Original Ball might be lost, the player announced and played a Provisional Ball. The Provisional Ball was also hit into the same tall fescue very near to where the Original Ball was hit. The competitor then announced and played a second Provisional Ball which fortunately came to rest in the fairway.

Upon reaching the area where the Original Ball and the Provisional Ball entered the tall fescue, the competitor asked the Rules Official: “Since I have two balls that I am searching for, do I have 10 minutes (5 + 5) for my search?” What is your answer?

The correct answer is NO. The competitor had only 5 minutes to search for both balls since they were both in the same area.

Decision 27-4 (Time Permitted for Search for Original Ball and Provisional Ball)
Q. Is a player allowed five minutes to search for his original ball and five more minutes to search for his provisional ball, or just a total of five minutes?
A. If the two balls are so close together that, in effect, both balls would be searched for simultaneously, a total of five minutes for search is allowed. Otherwise, the player is allowed to search five minutes for each ball.

RIA21 - Provisional ball played after original ball may be lost in water hazard

Playing the eighth hole at Aston Oaks during the first day of the 2007 GCGA Mid-Am Tournament (stroke play), a competitor skipped his shot across the pond in front of the green into high weeds. Uncertain what to do, the competitor played a provisional ball onto the green. His original ball was found in the high weeds in the hazard. At that point, the Rules Official came on the scene and the competitor asked what he should do.

The key issue to be determined was the player’s intention when he played the provisional ball. Rule 27-2 Provisional Ball permits playing a provisional ball “If a ball may be lost outside a water hazard or may be out of bounds.” It would appear that the competitor played a provisional ball when not permitted to do so by the Rules.

When asked why he played the provisional ball, the competitor stated that this was the first time he had played the course and he was not familiar with the hole or how the water hazard was marked. He thought that some of the high weeds might be outside the water hazard. He also noted that because of the lengthy dry spell, the water level was very low and there were many rocks visible on the shore and his ball might have struck a rock and been deflected outside the hazard and lost.

Given this explanation, the Rules Official permitted the play of the provisional ball but required it be abandoned when the original ball was found. The competitor had to play under Rule 26 Water Hazard. He chose to go back behind the water hazard and play another ball across the hazard onto the green taking the normal one-stroke water hazard penalty. Decision 27-2a/2.2 Possibility That Original Ball Is in Water Hazard May Not Preclude Play of Provisional Ball.

Had the competitor not had a plausible reason for playing the provisional ball, it would not be a provisional ball and would have become the ball in play under the stroke and distance option of the Water Hazard Rule. Decision 27-2a/2 Provisional Ball Played Solely in Belief Original Ball Might Be in Water Hazard.

Had this situation occurred on the second day of the Tournament and the competitor had the previous day to become familiar with the marking of the water hazard on the eighth hole, the ruling would likely have been different.

RIA22 - Provisional ball played after player had gone forward to search

The player hit his tee ball on the 9th hole of Woodside (his 18th hole) into the high grass on the left. Expecting to find his ball, he did not play a Provisional Ball. The player started forward to search for his ball. After walking a distance toward the area he realized that he should have played a Provisional Ball. The player returned to the tee, announced that his next ball would be a "Provisional" and hit it into the same area as his first ball. Realizing that his second ball could also be lost, he announced that he would play another Provisional and... played it into the same area as the first and second balls. Believing that one of the balls would be found, he again went forward to search.

At that point, luck was with him. All three balls were found.

The player then picked up his second and third balls and played the original ball into the hole. He then walked off the green (his last) and reviewed his scorecard with his coach. Before the player (and coach) turned in the scorecard they decided to check that the player had entered the correct score on the last hole. They asked a Rules Official to confirm the player's score. What would be your ruling?

At that point, luck, or more correctly, the Rules of Golf were not with him. He was Disqualified. Why? Rule 27-2a Provisional Ball, Procedure states:

“If a ball may be lost outside a water hazard or may be out of bounds, to save time the player may play another ball provisionally in accordance with Rule 27-1. The player must inform his opponent in match play or his marker or a fellow-competitor in stroke play that he intends to play a provisional ball, and he must play it before he or his partner goes forward to search for the original ball.

"If he fails to do so and plays another ball, that ball is not a provisional ball and becomes the ball in play under penalty of stroke and distance (Rule 27-1); the original ball is lost."

Thus, his original ball which he played into the hole was a wrong ball. His second ball which he thought was a Provisional was actually his ball in play. When he walked off his last green without announcing that he was going to correct his error (wrong ball) he, in effect, had no score for the last hole. He was Disqualified.

The Rules of Golf are clear: Announce and play your Provisional(s) before going forward to search. Otherwise, any subsequent ball you put into play from the spot at which the previous ball was played become your ball in play with the stroke and distance penalty!

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