Ask Linda #368–Stepping behind ball on green

Dear Linda,

I play golf with a lady who does the following on the green:

After replacing her ball on the green and removing her ball marker, she places her right foot directly behind the ball, being very careful not to touch or move the ball.  She then places her foot on the ground behind the ball, moving her weight from her heel to her toe. She then takes her normal putting stance and strikes her putt.

Is this procedure of placing one’s foot behind the ball and stepping down allowed on the green? I questioned this and was told by our golf pro that he could not find anything that would disallow this. I feel it is a breach of Rule 13-2.

I would appreciate your thoughts on this issue.

Thank you,

Lulu

Dear Lulu,

The question that must be answered is whether anything was pressed down that would improve the player’s area of intended swing. If so, then the player has breached Rule 13-2 and will incur a two-stroke (loss of hole) penalty. If not, there is no penalty.

This player’s routine is unnecessarily reckless, in that she is risking a significant penalty. I would recommend that she change it. You can help this player out by explaining the risk she is taking. If she is reluctant to change, then check the green behind her ball for irregularities in the surface before she places her foot there. If she presses anything down, inform her that she has incurred a penalty. There is no stronger motivation to change a bad golf habit than to lose two strokes or a hole (match play).

Linda

Thank you, Linda. I appreciate your explanation. I have one more question. If she uses her footprint or maybe spike mark from her shoe to line up her putts, is that allowed? When I questioned her on this practice, she stated she does it to help line up her putts.

Lulu

Dear Lulu,

This is an entirely different matter, Lulu. A player is not permitted to place a mark anywhere on the green to indicate a line for putting. This is a breach of Rule 8-2b. The penalty is two strokes (loss of hole in match play).

Linda

Copyright © 2011 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda #367–Repairing green

Dear Linda,

I would appreciate your comments with regard to repair of spike marks on the putting green.

I understand spike marks on the putting green are made by spikes (be it metallic or plastic) of the golfers' shoes, when they walk across the putting green. As per rule 16-1, the player is not allowed to repair spike marks.

I am not sure whether the 'spike' mark made by a ball marker with a short pin at the centre, after such ball marker is lifted from the putting green, has the same status of a spike mark made by a golf shoe. In other words, may the player concerned press down the 'spike' mark made by his ball marker, after having it lifted from the putting green? When it happens, such a 'spike' mark would be between the ball and the putter surface, which may affect how the ball would roll on the putting green.

Thank you and best regards,

Lou

Dear Lou,

A spike mark is a tuft of grass raised by the spike on the bottom of the shoe of a golfer who is careless about the way he walks on the putting green. A mark caused by the lifting of a ball-marker might cause similar damage. Both will be treated the same under the Rules.

If a player has raised a tuft of grass on his line prior to putting, whether with his spikes or in the process of lifting his ball-marker, he is not permitted to tamp it down. Any such repair should be done after he holes out as a consideration to following groups.

Players are only permitted to repair old hole plugs and ball marks. If a player repairs any other damage that might assist him in his play of the hole, he will incur a two-stroke penalty in stroke play or loss of hole in match play [Rule 16-1c].

Players who worsen their own line of putt are not permitted to fix the damage. If a player worsens another’s line of putt, that player is, of course, allowed to make repairs.

Linda 

Copyright © 2011 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda #365a–Addendum to #365

Calculating your Course Handicap

The information in this column is in effect only for those players who use the USGA Handicap System.

I have received several e-mails reminding me that there is a formula to calculate your Course Handicap:

Multiply your Handicap Index by the Slope Rating, and divide that number by 113. Round any result that is .5 or higher upward.

Here are two examples:

• Jim’s Handicap Index is 14.9. He is playing the Blue tees at Ramblewood Country Club. The Blue tees have a Slope Rating of 133. 14.9 multiplied by133=1,981.7, divided by 113=17.5. Jim’s Course Handicap from the Blue tees is 18.

• Bernie’s Handicap Index is 18.1. He is playing the White tees at Ramblewood Country Club. The White tees have a Slope Rating of 128. 18.1 multiplied by 128=2,316.8, divided by 113=20.5. Bernie’s Course Handicap from the White tees is 21.

Note that if Jim decides to play from the White tees, his Course Handicap will change. If you do the math, you will find that Jim will have a Course Handicap of 17 from the White tees.

When you are calculating your Course Handicap, you must calculate it from the set of tees you decide to play. Different tees at the same course have different ratings. That is because the Slope Rating becomes more difficult as the length of the course increases.

While we are on the topic of handicaps, there is something else you need to know. Let’s see what happens if Jim and Bernie decide to play a match at full handicap. If they both play from the White tees, where Bernie has a Course Handicap of 21 and Jim has a17, Jim will have to give Bernie 4 strokes. Bernie will get his strokes on the handicap holes listed as #1, 2, 3, and 4.

If Jim plays from the Blue tees and Bernie plays from the White, they will have to do a second calculation based on the different Course Rating for each set of tees. Jim’s Course Handicap from the Blue tees is 18, and Bernie’s from the White tees is 21. The Course Rating from the Blue tees is 72.7, and from the White tees is 71.2. The Course Rating from the White tees is 1.5 shots easier than from the Blue tees (72.7–71.2=1.5). Round the 1.5 up to 2. Jim will only have to give Bernie 1 stroke in their match when he plays from the Blues and Bernie plays from the Whites. (Subtract the 2-stroke difference in the Course Rating from the 3-stroke difference in their respective Course Handicaps.)

The reason for the different Course Ratings for each set of tees is that the longer length from the Blue tees makes that course harder to play than from the White tees. Jim’s total yardage from the Blue tees is 6,883; Bernie’s total yardage from the White tees is 6,498. The difference in yardage from the two sets of tees is 385. Bernie is playing an easier course, so he is not entitled to as many handicap strokes from Jim as he would get if they were playing from the same set of tees.

This is the benefit of the handicap system. Even though two players may not be equally skilled, they can set up a fair match using the difference in their Course Handicaps if they play from the same set of tees. If they do not play from the same tees, they can have a fair match if they subtract the difference in the Course Rating from the difference in their Course Handicaps. This enables women, men, and senior men of differing abilities playing from different tees to compete fairly against one another.

Linda 

Copyright © 2011 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda #366–Removing sand from green

Hi Linda,

If putting from off the green are you able to clear sand that is on the green from the greenside bunker?

Kind regards,

Lou

Dear Lou,

Yes, Lou. You may remove sand from the putting green when your ball does not lie on the green. Sand on the putting green (but not elsewhere) is a loose impediment [Definition of Loose Impediments]. Players are permitted to remove loose impediments without penalty anywhere, except when both the ball and the loose impediment are lying in the same hazard [Rule 23-1].

Be aware that when your ball is not on the green, if your ball moves as a result of moving a loose impediment you will be penalized one stroke and you must replace your ball [Rule 18-2a]. There is no penalty if you accidentally move your ball in the process of removing a loose impediment if your ball is on the green.

Linda 

Copyright © 2011 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda #365–Finding your Course Handicap

Hi Linda,

Can I ask you a question regarding handicaps? Sometimes I play on a par 66 course. Some people say you play to your full handicap; others say it must be reduced by 3. Can you help????

Lulu 

Dear Lulu,

The par designation at a course does not determine your Course Handicap®. Your Course Handicap is determined by your Handicap Index® and the Slope Rating® from that particular set of tees.

Every player who keeps an official handicap has a Handicap Index. This is the number that includes a decimal (e.g., 18.2). It is used to determine your Course Handicap when you play different courses.

Let's use the example of a player with an 18.2 index on a very easy course with a Slope Rating of 102. The Course Handicap Table (every golf course should have one) shows this player to have a Course Handicap of 16. If this player next plays a course with a very difficult Slope Rating of 135, her Course Handicap will now be 22.

You can calculate your Course Handicap online. Go to:

http://www.usga.org/handicapping/course_ratings/Using-a-Course-Ratings/, and click on Course Handicap Calculator.

Players are often confused by the two handicap terms. Again, your Handicap Index is a number with a decimal (e.g., 18.2) that will convert to a Course Handicap (a whole number, e.g. 22) that will vary depending on the slope rating of each course that you play. Your Course Handicap at a course that has a low Slope Rating will be lower than your Course Handicap at a course that has a higher Slope Rating.

Linda 

Copyright © 2011 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda #364-Relief from obstruction near OB fence

Linda, we have a flower bed that is bordered with metal edging on three sides and the out-of-bounds fence on the other side. Would you get a free drop from the metal edging if the OB fence would have interfered with your swing?

Lulu

Dear Lulu,

No. When you are trying to resolve this type of situation, you must ask yourself: If the obstruction the metal edging) weren’t there, would you be able to swing? If the answer is “no,” as it is in your question, then you may not take relief from the obstruction. The real culprit is the fence, and there is no free relief from an OB fence.

Linda 

Copyright © 2011 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda #363-Marking another player’s ball

Linda, this situation occurred on Sat involving our 4-ball in a stroke play event:

                  Earle hits the ball onto the green and starts walking towards the green.

                  Colin is on the green already and finds Earle's ball in his way, so in order to speed up play takes out a marker and marks Earle’s ball. (He did not ask Earle or seek permission nor was he Earle’s marker.)

                  Earle arrives on the green, walks to his ball, lifts Colin’s marker, and places his own down in the exact spot. For a split second (time is irrelevant I am sure) there was no marker on the green.

                  Earle then replaces his marker with his ball and proceeds to putt out.

                  Johnny (my partner) then calls Earle for not marking the spot before lifting Colin’s marker.

                  Johnny penalises him 1 shot.

Please interpret for us what rules were broken, if any, and if so what penalty should be taken.

Regards,

Lou

Dear Lou,

There is no penalty in stroke play if a fellow competitor marks and lifts your ball without your authority [Decision 20-1/4]. This Decision cites Rule 18-4, which states that there is no penalty in stroke play for moving a fellow competitor’s ball.

There is a one-stroke penalty for lifting the marker before replacing it with your own [Rule 20-1]. The correct procedure is to place your ball in front of the marker, lift the marker, replace the marker with your own marker, and then lift your ball. The position of the ball on the green must always be marked.

Linda 

Copyright © 2011 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda #362-Relief from fence in hazard

Linda, I was playing in a tournament recently when the following situation occurred. My ball came to rest on the side of a hill about a foot from a water hazard.  Just inside the line of the hazard was a split-rail fence that interfered with my swing (I guess the fence was there to prevent people from falling into the water).  Since my ball was not in the hazard, was I entitled to relief from the fence?  What if the fence had been just outside the water hazard?

Thanks.  Even my pro can't answer this one.

Lulu

Dear Lulu,

An interior fence is an immovable obstruction. If your ball is not in the hazard, then you are entitled to free relief (stance plus one club-length, no closer to the hole).

If your ball is in the hazard, then there is no relief if an immovable obstruction, such as a fence or a bridge, interferes with your stance or swing.

If the fence is a boundary fence, then there is no free relief. If a boundary fence interferes with your stance or swing, you may deem your ball unplayable and proceed under one of the relief options in Rule 28.

Linda 

Copyright © 2011 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Local Rule for Water Hazards

There are water hazards on some courses where it is difficult, if not impossible, to know whether a ball has entered or cleared the hazard. There is a Local Rule that golf committees may want to consider adopting for such conditions that would help to speed up play and lessen player aggravation. It is a fairly intricate rule, so I am going to copy it in its entirety for you, and then reword it to make it easier to understand.

Here is the rule, which can be found in the back of the Rules of Golf in Appendix I, Part B:

“1. Water Hazards; Ball Played Provisionally Under Rule 26-1

If a water hazard (including a lateral water hazard) is of such size and shape and/or located in such a position that:

(i) it would be impracticable to determine whether the ball is in the hazard or to do so would unduly delay play, and

(ii) if the original ball is not found, it is known or virtually certain that it is in the water hazard,

the Committee may introduce a Local Rule permitting the play of a ball provisionally under Rule 26-1. The ball is played provisionally under any of the applicable options under Rule 26-1 or any applicable Local Rule. In such a case, if a ball is played provisionally and the original ball is in a water hazard, the player may play the original ball as it lies or continue with the ball played provisionally, but he may not proceed under Rule 26-1 with regard to the original ball.

In these circumstances, the following Local Rule is recommended:

“If there is doubt whether a ball is in or is lost in the water hazard (specify location), the player may play another ball provisionally under any of the applicable options in Rule 26-1.

If the original ball is found outside the water hazard, the player must continue play with it.

If the original ball is found in the water hazard, the player may either play the original ball as it lies or continue with the ball played provisionally under Rule 26-1.

If the original ball is not found or identified within the five-minute search period, the player must continue with the ball played provisionally.

PENALTY FOR BREACH OF LOCAL RULE:
Match play - Loss of hole; Stroke play - Two strokes.”

Here is my explanation (translation, if you prefer):

The following conditions are required in order for a Committee to adopt this Local Rule:

1. It is difficult or impossible to know whether a ball hit toward the hazard has entered the hazard.

2. There is no rough area adjacent to the hazard where the ball might be lost. In other words, if you don’t find the ball you can be certain that it is in the hazard.

If these two conditions are met, then under this Local Rule a player would be permitted to hit a provisional ball under any of the relief options under Rule 26-1 for a ball in a water hazard. (Ordinarily, a player is not permitted to use any of these relief options unless it is known or virtually certain that the ball is in the hazard.)

If the player decides to play a provisional ball under this Local Rule, then the next step depends on where or if the original ball is found:

1. If the original ball is found outside the hazard, the player must continue play with the original and abandon the provisional.

2. If the original ball is found in the hazard, the player must either play the original as it lies in the hazard, or continue play with the provisional ball.

3. If the original ball is not found or identified, the player must continue with the provisional ball.

Note that if the player has hit a provisional ball under this Local Rule, he may not drop yet another ball under any of the relief options for a ball in a water hazard if he does not find his original ball or he finds it unplayable in the hazard. He must continue play with the provisional ball.

If the player has to continue with the provisional ball, count the original stroke, one penalty stroke, and all strokes with the provisional, which is now the ball in play.

Under this Local Rule, a player can immediately choose one of the relief options for a ball in a water hazard when he hits his provisional ball. If he does not find his ball in the hazard or on the other side, he will continue play of the hole with his provisional ball. No time will be wasted backtracking across the hazard or back to the spot where he hit his previous ball.

Ask Linda #361-Water hazards and provisionals

Linda,

  

This is a situation that occurred twice this year.

A ball is struck off the tee and goes awry in the direction where there is a known water hazard but a hazard that is obstructed by trees.

The player announces that he will hit a provisional ball and does so. Going forward, he cannot find the first ball and plays the provisional.

Question 1: If the ball cannot be found, should it not be assumed that the ball is lost in the hazard? If so, should not the player abandon the provisional ball and follow the options as though it did in fact enter the water hazard although it wasn’t seen to go into it?

Question 2: Should a provisional ball ever be played in such a situation?    

Lou 

Dear Lou,

A player is permitted to hit a provisional ball for a ball that may be lost outside a water hazard [Rule 27-2a]. If he is unable to find the ball when he arrives at the hazard, then he must proceed as follows:

1. If there is dense undergrowth or serious rough such that a ball that is not found could be either lost somewhere in the vegetation or lost in the hazard, then the ball is officially lost and the player will continue play of the hole with the provisional ball.

2. If the land adjacent to the hazard is smooth (fairway, no dense undergrowth or rough), so that a ball not found can be assumed to be in the hazard, then the player must abandon his provisional. He must drop another ball under one of the relief options in Rule 26-1 for a ball that is in a water hazard.

Linda 

Copyright © 2011 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda #360-Is the ball in the hole?

Hi Linda,

I should like your advice on the following. If a player has holed a putt, or a chip, from off the green and the ball is resting below the level of the hole or at the bottom of the cup, I believe from the definitions it is classed as holed.

If, however, the player then pulls the flagstick out of the hole thereby causing the ball to come out of the hole as well, is this a penalty?

We see many tournament players taking particular care against this happening, but is it actually against the rules?

Thanks,

Lou

Dear Lou,

If the entire ball is below the level of the lip of the hole, then it is holed [Definition of Holed]. There is no penalty if the ball comes out when the flagstick is removed.

If the ball is leaning against the flagstick and part of it is above the level of the lip, it is not holed. This is when you will want to carefully bend the flagstick away from your ball so it falls into the hole. If you are not careful, and the ball pops out when you remove the flagstick, then you must place it on the lip of the hole with no penalty and then putt it in [Rule 17-4].

Linda 

Copyright © 2011 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda #359-Borrowing balls

Hi Linda,

In a recent tournament we had the following discussion. If a player runs out of golf balls during tournament play, may he borrow a ball from another player? We thought that a player that runs out of balls is disqualified. Is this correct?

What if players leave their bags in a forward position and walk to a back tee. One player hits a ball that may be OB or lost. Is that player permitted to borrow a ball from another player on the tee (who was carrying two balls) in order to hit a provisional?

Thank you.

Lou

Dear Lou,

Players are permitted to borrow golf balls from other players. They may also borrow other equipment, such as towels, gloves, tees, etc. If the One Ball Condition is in effect, then a player is limited to borrowing the same brand and type of ball that he is using in the tournament [Decision 5-1/5].

If a player runs out of balls and no one has an extra ball or two to lend him, or no one is carrying his brand and type when the One Ball Condition is in effect, then he has the option to buy balls at the pro shop. This will most likely lead to a two-stroke penalty for undue delay [Rule 6-7]. Disqualification would be the ruling if no golf balls were available from any source, a highly unlikely scenario.

Note that players are not permitted to borrow clubs [Rule 4-4]. Partners may share clubs only if the total number of clubs carried by both partners is not more than 14 (e.g., one player is carrying 8 clubs, and his partner is carrying 6).

Linda 

Copyright © 2011 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda #358-Handicap reduction incorrectly calculated

Linda, cannot find this in the rulebook at all:

Match Play.

In a 4-ball, my partner declared his handicap correctly on the 1^st tee at 17. The opponent was doing the adjustment (3/4) and all agreed to my partner receiving 14 shots.

Playing the number 14 handicap hole, my partner was playing for a 5 (net 4) and strategically played 3 shots onto the green.

On the green, the opposition approached my partner, saying that they had made an error. He did not have 14 shots but 13. (Correct, he did have 13.) All 4 players had made the error and accepted his strokes given as 14 up to that point.

My partner had, by now, strategically played 3 shots. He putted out for a 5 net 4.

Before playing the next hole, our team lodged a complaint; that as the 3 shots had been strategically played, the opposition could not now re-adjust the shot hole, giving our team little chance to win the hole. The opposition noted this, and we agreed to refer to the rulebook. We cannot find this in the rulebook.

Regards,

Lou

Dear Lou,

In a match play competition, players must provide their correct handicap at the start of the match. It is the player’s responsibility to know at which holes he will give or receive a handicap stroke. The fact that your opponent miscalculated the 75% handicap reduction, and that no one caught the error at the beginning of the match, does not relieve the player of his responsibility to insure that his handicap is correct [Rule 6-2a and the Note to Rule 6-2].

The ruling should be that the player was not entitled to receive a 14^th handicap stroke. A claim may not be considered when the facts were previously known to the player [Rule 2-5, penultimate paragraph]. Your partner knew that his handicap was 17. It was his responsibility to figure out that 75% of 17 is 12.75, which rounds to 13, not 14.

Linda 

Copyright © 2011 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda #357a-Question about #357

Linda:

If the area is marked as a hazard (say with red stakes or red stakes with green tips), can't the player drop the ball back adding 1 stroke and play from there and not go back to the original spot?  I was confused with the 2 options you gave. I understand it if the area is not marked.

Lou

Dear Lou,

The reader in Ask Linda #357 was asking about a situation in which it was unknown whether the ball was in the hazard. Unless there is virtual certainty that the ball is lost in the hazard, a player is not entitled to relief under the water hazard rule.

Dropping a ball behind the hazard on the line-of-sight to the hole is a relief option only when it is known or virtually certain that the ball is in the hazard.

Linda 

Copyright © 2012 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda #357-Provisional: Where and When

Linda,

I’m a new subscriber and I have a question about a provisional ball situation.

Assume a player hits a good shot off the tee box on a par 5. His second shot will have to go over an environmental/waste hazard area directly to his front. The player hits his second ball thin, which may or may not have cleared the hazard.

Question: Can that player go forward to the edge of the hazard (maybe 30 yards or more forward) to hit a provisional ball before going forward to see if the first ball cleared the hazard? Or must the provisional ball (if that option is chosen) be hit from the same spot from where it was last struck? It is my understanding that a provisional ball must always be hit from the same place before going forward.

I believe that if the player goes forward to hit a “provisional” second shot he has not truly hit a provisional ball but has put that ball into play.

Can you please clarify this issue?

Thank you very much.

Lou

Dear Lou,

If a player wishes to hit a provisional ball, he must hit that ball from the spot where he hit the original ball [Rule 27-2a]. There is no such thing as walking forward 30 yards to hit a provisional ball.

Since there is no certainty in this situation that the ball is in the hazard, the player has three choices:

1. Play a provisional from where he hit his second shot.

a. If he finds his original outside the hazard, he must abandon the provisional and continue with the original.

b. If he finds his original in the hazard, he must abandon the provisional and choose one of the relief options under Rule 26 [Decision 27-2a/2.2].

c. If he does not find the original, he must continue play with the 

    provisional.

2. Go forward to search for the ball. If he does not find it, he must return and hit another ball from the spot where he hit his original ball, adding a one-stroke penalty to his score.

3. Hit another ball from where he hit his second shot. This is not a provisional ball unless he declares it to be so. It is his ball in play under stroke and distance [Rule 27-1a]. The original ball is now officially “lost;” if he finds it he may not play it.

Linda  

Copyright © 2011 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda #356-Wrong ball on the tee?

Hi Linda,

Love the way you approach rules from different angles…

I have a question about wrong ball procedure in a Stableford format.

If a player playing in an individual bogey Stableford plays a wrong ball on a hole and by going back to find his original ball would incur penalty points causing him to "ring" the hole anyway...

If he then informed his fellow competitors before teeing off that he was playing with a different ball, would he still be disqualified for playing a wrong ball?

Just wondering…

Lou in South Africa

Dear Lou,

A word of explanation to my readers: “Ring the hole” means scoring more than one over the fixed score in a Stableford and consequently receiving no points for the hole.

No, Lou. He would not be disqualified for playing a wrong ball. A player is permitted to begin play of a new hole with a different ball. The rules regarding playing a wrong ball refer to play after you have put a ball into play from the tee. No ball hit from the tee could ever be deemed “wrong.”

Exception: If the “One Ball Condition” is in effect for the tournament, you may only play a found ball if it is the same brand and model that you chose to use in the tournament.

Be sure to tell your fellow competitors that you are now playing a different ball. If it is one you found on the course, pull out your trusty marker and decorate it with your personal identification marks.

Linda

Copyright © 2011 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.