Ask Linda #582-Practice shots on first tee

Dear Linda,

I have struggled with this one for some time:

While waiting to tee off in a competition, a player practices near the first tee. The player pitches away from the right hand side of the first tee about 70 yards and then pitches back towards the first tee maybe 50/60 yards. This is part of the course between the first tee and the fourth green, and is seldom if ever in play for either hole.

The group ahead has teed off and is walking up the first fairway, while his fellow competitors are waiting behind the first tee before commencing their round. The safety aspect is of course questionable, but his fellow competitors are aware of his actions.

Under the Exception for Rule 7-1b, is the player in breach and therefore disqualified? What exactly does “near” mean?

Looking forward to your reply.

Kind regards and thanks,

Lou from Ireland

Dear Lou,

Players may practice putting and chipping on or near the first teeing ground prior to the start of a round [Rule 7-1b, Exception]. However, 70-yard shots do not qualify as “chipping.” Such shots would constitute practicing on the competition course, which is not permitted under Rule 7-1.

The penalty for practicing on the course prior to the round is disqualification. If a player were to hit only one practice shot, the Committee could modify the disqualification penalty to two strokes. However, if the player were to hit more than one practice shot, there would be no escaping disqualification.

The player in your scenario should be disqualified.

Linda

Copyright © 2012 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda #581-Place an alignment mark

Dear Linda,

I'm trying to stop hitting my fairway shots fat and I would like to have an aim mark in front of the ball. Of course, I want to stay within the boundary of the rules but I have no objection to leaning up against them. Please point out (in the rule book) what I would be leaning against.

Thanks,

Lou

Dear Lou,

If you place a mark in front of the ball to assist you in lining up your shot, and you do not remove that mark before you hit, you are in breach of Rule 8-2. The penalty is two strokes (loss of hole in match play).

Try to find a natural mark that is already in place, such as a leaf, a twig, a distant tree, etc. You are always entitled to free alignment assistance from Mother Nature.

Linda

Copyright © 2012 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda #580-Touch sand on backwsing

Linda ..  if you brush the sand with your club on the backswing while in a Bunker is that a penalty shot?  I guess what I am asking is ...  is the backswing considered part of the swing or does the swing not begin until you begin a forward movement?

Thanks,

Lou 

Dear Lou,

If your club touches the sand in the bunker during your backswing you have breached Rule 13-4b [Decision 13-4/31]. You may not touch the ground in a bunker with your club before you take your stroke. The penalty is two strokes (loss of hole in match play).

Lou, the technical term for “swing” is “stroke.” A stroke is defined as the forward movement of the club with the intention to hit the ball. The backswing is not part of the stroke.

Linda

Copyright © 2012 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda #579a-Advice to partner or teammate

Linda, it sounds like to me that Player A and Player B are PARTNERS in the match play; therefore advice could be given. 

Lulu from South Carolina

Dear Lulu,

Players A and B in Ask Linda #579 are teammates, not partners. You may give advice to your partner, but not to a teammate in another group [Rule 8-1a]. 

The Committee may appoint one person (e.g., the team captain) to give advice to all members of the team in a team competition [Note to Rule 8].

Linda

Copyright © 2012 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda #579-Advice to teammate on following hole

Hi Linda,

My question is in match play. Can Player A, who has just finished putting on the 17^th green, relay info about the green to Player B, who is behind him and could have the same putt?

Thanks,

Lou

Dear Lou,

No. 

Rule 8-1 prohibits a player from giving advice to anyone on the course other than his partner. The penalty in match play is loss of hole (two strokes in stroke play).

There are several opportunities to get advice where you do not incur a penalty:

• A player who has not yet begun his round may seek advice from a player who has completed his round.

• A player may seek advice after completing 18 holes before beginning play on the next 18 in a match that consists of 36 holes.

• If play has been temporarily suspended (e.g., waiting out a thunderstorm), players may exchange advice.

• In a team competition, the Committee may authorize one team captain or coach to give advice to team members [Note to Rule 8].

Remember that you incur the loss of hole/two-stroke penalty if you ask for advice, and if the player answers your question, he will also incur the same penalty.

Linda

Copyright © 2012 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda #578-Wrong hole score on card

Hi Linda,

Our WGA had the Club Championship (stroke play) over two days and I have a scorecard question. The official scorecard had two incorrect hole scores for one player. When the players were comparing scorecards, the error was detected. However, the only score corrected on the official scorecard was the total score for both nines, not the two individual hole scores and the totals. Since the total of the scores for both nines was correct, does this eliminate disqualification, or is the player still disqualified because the person keeping the official scorecard did not change the individual hole scores on the scorecard, just the total score? The official scorecard was signed by the players and the actual scores of the two holes was higher than recorded on the card.

Some individuals at our club feel as long as the total score was correct, she should not be disqualified.

The handicap committee is aware of the incorrect scores and will enter the correct score on the handicap reporting system. 

We enjoy reading your blog and look forward to reading the questions and answers.   Thank you. 

Lulu from Texas

Dear Lulu,

Players are responsible for the correct gross score on each hole. If the player turns in a signed scorecard with a score for any hole that is lower than her actual score, she is disqualified [Rule 6-6d].

The fact that the total score is correct is irrelevant. The player is responsible for the correct hole-by-hole score; the Committee is responsible for adding the scores.

Players should be diligent about checking their hole-by-hole scores and correcting any errors before signing and submitting the scorecard. It is always unfortunate when a careless error leads to a disqualification.

Linda

Copyright © 2012 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.