Ask Linda #306-Swing knocks ball off tee

Linda,

This question is more hypothetical since I am sure that no one I know has ever done anything like this.  One of our players was on the teeing ground and swung and knocked the ball off the tee. He re-teed, which I know is wrong, but I am not sure of the rule. The question I have is if a player misses a ball completely while it is teed up can he then move the ball to another location on the tee? Or is that ball in play and if it is then accidentally knocked off the tee is this a stroke and can it then be re-teed? Like I said I know this would never happen but just in case. Thank you!

Lou Lou

Dear Lou Lou,

When a player swings at his ball on the teeing ground with the intention of hitting it, the ball is “in play.” It makes no difference whether he hits the ball 200 yards, 2 inches, or misses it entirely.

After the stroke, if the ball is no longer sitting on the tee, he must play it as it lies on the ground, even though it may still be on the teeing ground. If he swings and misses, and the ball is still sitting on the tee, he will make his next stroke at the ball on the tee. In both cases, the second time he swings will count as his second stroke.

Once the player has made a stroke at his ball on the teeing ground he is not permitted to re-tee the ball or move the teed ball to another location. If he does so, he has played his ball under penalty of stroke and distance. In other words, he has lifted his ball in play and returned to where he hit his previous shot. Count one stroke for the original swing and one penalty stroke for proceeding under stroke and distance. His second swing on the teeing ground at the ball he has re-teed will be his third stroke on the hole.

The rule references for the above information are the following:

• Definition of “Ball in Play”

• Definition of “Stroke”

• Rule 27-1a (Stroke and Distance)

• Decision 18-2a/2 (“Ball Falling Off Tee When Stroke Just Touches It Is Picked Up and Re-Teed”)

Linda  

Copyright © 2011 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda #305-Dangerous animals

Linda,

We live on a beautiful golf course full of nature.  It’s exciting to see the alligator on hole number 6 and the mating geese on hole 4.   Its fun until our ball lands too close or near a fire ant hill. In friendly golf, I am the first to urge the player to take a free drop where they are comfortable playing and leave the ball to our wild friends. But in a competition, what is the official rule on this?  Believe it or not, the geese can be just as vicious as an alligator when they have a mate nesting and they protect a very wide area around the nest.

Lulu 

Dear Lulu,

Alligators and fire ants are considered dangerous under the Rules of Golf. Rattlesnakes and bees fall under the same heading. If your ball lands near any of these creatures, you are entitled to a free drop on the nearest spot that is no closer to the hole and out of danger. You do not have to retrieve your original ball – drop another and stay safe [Decision 1-4/10].

If your ball is in a hazard, your free drop must be in the same hazard, if possible, or in a nearby similar hazard that is no closer to the hole. If dropping the ball in the same hazard is not safe, and there is no option to drop in another hazard, you will have to drop a ball outside the hazard on the line-of-sight to the hole and add a one-stroke penalty to your score.

If your ball lands in a bird’s nest, or so close to it that you would not be able to swing without damaging it, the same relief procedures as described above apply [Decision 1-4/9].

The USGA does not consider geese to be dangerous, as they are neither poisonous nor life-threatening. If you choose not to play your ball, you must declare it unplayable, take a one-stroke penalty, and use one of the relief options in Rule 28 (Ball Unplayable).

Linda   

Copyright © 2011 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda #304–Stakes defining hazards and OB

Dear Linda,

I would appreciate your comments on the definitions of Lateral Water Hazard (LWH) and Out of Bounds (OB), as per the rules of golf, which states:

(a) Lateral Water Hazard (LWH)

When the margin of a lateral water hazard is defined by stakes, the stakes are inside the lateral water hazard, and the margin of the hazard is defined by the nearest outside points of the stakes at ground level.

(b) Out of Bounds

When out of bounds is defined by reference to stakes or a fence or as being beyond stakes or a fence, the out of bounds line is determined by the nearest inside points at ground level of the stakes or fence posts (excluding angled supports).

While I understand the meaning of what are outside points or inside points, I feel the definition statements are not explicit enough to avoid ambiguity. For example, if I am standing in a LWH next to a few LWH stakes, the nearest outside points with respect to where I am standing would be the boundary between the fairway/rough and the LWH. But, if I am standing just outside the same LWH, the boundary between the fairway/rough and the LWH would be the nearest inside points with respect to where I am standing. The same applies to OB.

It is my understanding that the definition of LWH is with respect to the LWH or WH concerned while the definition of OB is with respect to through the green. I feel the definition statements should specify the nearest outside or inside points with respect to the WH or through the green respectively. Then, it would be more explicit. Otherwise, one may argue which is the correct boundary for WH or OB. Your thoughts and comments please.

Thank you and best regards,

Lou Lou

Dear Lou Lou,

I don’t agree that the definitions are ambiguous. I will concede, however, that reading and understanding the rules as written is not a task for the faint of heart.

Rather than argue semantics, I will attempt to clarify the meaning of the two definitions.

Stakes in Water Hazards

The definition of Water Hazards (and Lateral Water Hazards) states that when stakes define the margin of the hazards, the stakes are considered to be in the hazard. The side of the stake that is facing away from the hazard is the side that determines the boundary of the hazard.

Out-of-Bounds Stakes

When stakes are used to define out of bounds, the boundary line is determined by the side of the stake facing the golf course. If you were to tie an imaginary string from one out-of-bounds stake to another, you would rap it around the two stakes so that the string lies on the side toward the golf course. Every area on the golf course side of the string is in bounds. A ball is not out of bounds unless the entire ball lies out of bounds. If any part of the ball is touching your imaginary string, the ball is in bounds and you may play it.

While we’re on the topic of stakes, I would like to remind everyone that out-of-bounds stakes are “fixed.” This means that if the stake interferes with your stance or swing, there is no free relief. If you cannot hit a ball lying near an out-of-bounds stake, you must declare it unplayable and proceed under one of the relief options in Rule 28 (Ball Unplayable). Never attempt to remove these stakes – it is not permitted.

Stakes defining or identifying water hazards, on the other hand, are defined as “obstructions.” If they are movable, you may remove them, regardless of where your ball lies. If they are immovable, then you are entitled to free relief for your stance and swing if your ball is not in the hazard. There is no relief from an immovable obstruction for a ball that lies in a water hazard.

Linda 

Copyright © 2011 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda #303-Carrying right- and left-handed clubs

Hello Linda,

I have a quick question for you....

For a player who uses right-handed clubs, is she permitted to carry one left-handed club (as part of her 14 club allowance) and use it in a situation where the shot is easier from the left-handed side?

Thanks you as always for your help.

Lulu

Dear Lulu,

Yes.

Linda  

Copyright © 2011 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda #302-“Swing and a miss” in bunker

Dear Linda,

Here is a situation. A player's ball is in the bunker. He strikes the ball but missed it and hits the sand instead. What is the penalty? Is it one stroke penalty for missing his ball or two strokes penalty for hitting the sand?

Lou

Dear Lou,

A player who swings at a ball with the intention of hitting it has made a stroke, even if he whiffs [Definition of Stroke]. Count one stroke for the “swing and a miss.”

Linda  

Copyright © 2011 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda #301-Stableford recommendations

Hi Linda,

I wonder if you can help please.

I run a golf society with players of varying abilities and I am trying to devise a fair way of putting together a doubles completion. The handicaps range from 10 to 28.

I would like both players scores on each hole to count as it will be a random draw and we could end up with 2 good players together and also 2 not so good players together.

I am thinking about a solution incorporating a ¾ handicap in a Stableford format perhaps. Can you suggest a format which could even things up and make it interesting? I have searched the net, but have not really found anything suitable.

Yours hopefully,

Lou Lou

Dear Lou Lou,

Coincidentally, Lou, I was also looking for a format for a men’s team tournament for my association in which both balls would count and players of varying abilities could compete fairly. I opted for a Stableford with competitors receiving 80% of their Course Handicap.

My choice was the traditional Stableford described in the Rule Book [Rule 32-1b], which means there will be no negative points, and the Stableford points will be consecutive. I am running this as a net tournament, and am awarding 1 point for a net bogey, 2 for a net par, 3 for a net birdie, 4 for a net eagle, and 5 for a net albatross (double eagle). Since players will receive no points (0) for a double bogey or worse, I am hoping this will help with the pace of play. All players will be instructed to pick up their ball if their gross score on a hole will be three or more over par.

Mine will be a two-man team tournament in which both players’ Stableford points will be added together; it is not a Four-Ball (Better Ball) tournament. Since there are no negative points, if one partner has a bad hole he will not drag down the team score.

Players in your group (and my readers) may be familiar with the Modified Stableford used by the pros. The Modified Stableford gives the pros higher points for birdies and eagles, and severely penalizes poor scores with negative points. Typical amateur golfers are not going to be scoring numerous gross birdies and eagles. Also, it can be discouraging for amateurs to lose points on a bad hole. For these reasons, I would recommend a traditional Stableford for any amateur group.

The difference between giving players 75% or 80% of their Course Handicap is so small as to be insignificant. Whichever reduction you choose should be fine.

If you decide to try this format of a traditional two-man Net Stableford, counting both balls and reducing players’ Course Handicaps to 75% or 80%, please share your statistics and findings with me. This will be a new experiment for both of us, and I will be interested to learn whether the results indicate a fair competition for players of varied skill levels.

Linda  

Copyright © 2011 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda #300-Preferred Lies Procedure

Hi Linda,

I recently played in a tournament where “lift, clean and place” was in effect. Is there a procedure that must be followed when you lift the ball, clean it, and replace it? Some players were just rolling the ball over with their clubhead. Is this permitted, or does the ball have to be marked before it is lifted?

Thank you.

Lou Lou

Dear Lou Lou,

“Lift, clean, and place” is common lingo for the official Local Rule called “Preferred Lies” (also called “Winter Rules”). When Preferred Lies are in effect, the player must mark the position of his ball before lifting and cleaning it. He must then place the ball on a spot that is no closer to the hole and is within the distance specified by the Committee (e.g., six inches, one club-length, etc.). That spot may not be on a putting green or in a hazard. You can find the recommended wording for this Local Rule in the back of the USGA Rules of Golf under Appendix I, Part B: Specimen Local Rules, Section 4, c.

Players are never permitted to roll the ball over with their clubhead. That would be a violation of Rule 18-2a (Ball at Rest Moved by Player), which carries a one-stroke penalty and requires that the ball be replaced.

Linda  

Copyright © 2011 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda# 299-Scores written as words

Hi Linda……Just to be difficult, a marker scored a player’s card by writing the word of the stroke number on his card, e.g., “five” instead of 5.   The card was accepted as OK…..Is there a rule regarding this?

Thanking you……. Lou Lou

PS: What if the scores were recorded in a foreign language?

Dear Lou Lou,

While there is no specific rule requiring scores to be recorded as Arabic numerals, using words is bound to create a headache for the Committee member responsible for totaling the scores. I’m detecting a bit of unsportsmanlike conduct here, and I don’t like it. If I were the Committee member, I would take the marker aside, politely (but sternly) ask him to record the numerals under the words, and caution him against such shenanigans in the future.

Linda 

Copyright © 2011 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda #297-Must search for original?

Linda, here’s a question for you. You hit your tee shot into the woods or some other nasty place where you may not find it. Then you hit a provisional ball. Are you obligated to look for your original ball? I know if you do look for it & find it you must play it.

Lulu

Dear Lulu,

You are not obligated to look for the original ball, but there’s a caveat. If anyone finds your ball before you hit your provisional from the area where your original is likely to be, or from a point closer to the hole than that area, you must abandon the provisional and play the original.

If you decide not to look for your original ball, then it would be in your best interest to tell everyone in your group not to look for it either. If someone disobeys your order and finds it, your only recourse is to try out that glare you’ve been practicing every night. You can check YouTube to see if there is a video of Phil Mickelson’s glare when an official found his ball after he had told everyone to stop looking for it – that would be a good one to try to imitate.

Linda 

Copyright © 2011 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda #296–Fixing pitch marks, ball off green

Dear Linda,

Are you permitted to fix a pitch mark on the green if your ball is not on the green?

Lou Lou

Dear Lou Lou,

Yes. You are permitted to repair any damage to the green that was caused by the impact of a ball, regardless of whether your ball lies on the green [Rule 16-1c].

Please don’t forget that you are not permitted to repair a pitch mark anywhere else if by doing so you will improve your lie, the area of your intended stance or swing, or your line of play. There is an exception to this rule. If the damage occurs after your ball has come to rest, you may repair it. A player is always entitled to the lie that his shot gave him.

Linda 

Copyright © 2011 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda #295-Wind blows ball into hole

Hi Linda,

What happens if you replace your ball on the green, remove your marker, step away to look at your line, and then the wind blows your ball into the hole?

Lulu

Dear Lulu,

Rejoice in your good luck. Your ball is holed. If you were lying 4 on the green, then your score for the hole is 4.

The wind will not always bring good luck to players. If the wind blows your ball further from the hole, you will now have a longer putt.

Whenever your ball is moved by wind or water, you must play it from its new position. That’s because neither wind nor water is considered to be an “outside agency” [Definition of Outside Agency]. If you move your ball back to its original spot, you will incur a one-stroke penalty for moving your ball in play under Rule 18-2a.

Linda 

Copyright © 2011 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.