Ask Linda #498-Provisional ball hit multiple times

Linda,

Last week I was playing with a foursome. We came to a long par 4. I hit my drive long, but wrong toward a wooded area with out of bounds. I declared a provisional ball and hit it short. When I reached the provisional ball, it was well short of where my original ball had been hit. I advised my opponents that I intended to hit the provisional again but reserving my right to play my original ball if it was found. They said I could not do that, that once I hit the provisional a second time it was in play and I abandoned my original ball. I disagreed and hit my provisional. I then moved forward and found my original ball just within bounds. I proposed to hit it as my second stroke and did but my foursome voted 3 to 1 that I had played a wrong ball. When I got back to my rulebook, I cited " Rule 27-2 (b) which reads:

" The player may play a provisional ball until he reaches the place where the original ball is likely to be. If he plays a stroke with the provisional ball from the place where the original ball is likely to be or from a point nearer the hole than that place, the original ball is deemed to be lost and the provisional ball becomes the ball in play...." 

I argued that I may hit the provisional ball as many times as I want until I reach the site of the original ball. At that point, if I find the original ball, I hit it as my second shot. If I don't find it, the provisional ball becomes the one in play with as many strokes as it took me to get there.

My group still disagrees and says once I hit the provisional ball a second time, I had elected it. Can you settle the dispute?

Lou

Dear Lou,

The Rules of Golf are not decided by a majority vote. Golf has a rulebook that governs play, and all players must abide by those rules.

Your understanding of the rule regarding provisional balls is correct, Lou. You will continue hitting your provisional ball until you reach the area where your original is likely to be. If you drive your original ball 200 yards, you will hit your provisional as many times as necessary to advance 200 yards. That might turn out to be one drive that goes 250 yards; or a topped drive, a whiff, and three flubbed iron shots. When your feet have traveled 200 yards, you now have five minutes to search for your original ball. If you find it, you must abandon the provisional and continue with the original. You will now be hitting your second shot. None of the strokes with the provisional count if you find your original ball.

You had your rulebook with you, Lou, and you showed your opponents the pertinent rule. I’m surprised you read the rule to them and they still insisted that you were wrong. Did you ask them to show you where it states that a player may only hit a provisional ball one time? They could have stood there looking until the cows came home and still not found any evidence in the rulebook to back their mistaken assertion.

The next time you play with golfers who are ignorant of the rules and unwilling to change their minds in the face of clear evidence, you should play by the rules and confirm the matter with the pro at the end of your round. 

I am puzzled why so many golfers are confused by the rule regarding provisional balls. I put “provisional ball” into the SEARCH box on my blog, and found that I have answered 32 questions about this topic! If you would like more evidence to present to your opponents, skim through the 32 questions and pull out the pertinent information.

Linda

Copyright © 2012 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda #497-Relief from fence and cart path

Dear Linda,

                

I have a question on where to get relief from a fence and cart path.  The split rail fence is not a boundary fence.  It just keeps carts from going on the right side of the cart path, because the hillside is not friendly to carts. The fence parallels the fairway to the left and rough and hillside to the right. The fence is on the right side of the cart path. Ball rolls under the fence, about 12 inches to the right of the cart path.  The cart path is asphalt and 100 inches wide. There is an area of about 8 inches to the left of the fence where you could get relief from the fence. That 8-inch area would put your feet on the cart path, so do I move the ball 124 inches left towards the fairway or right of the fence and cart path which takes 64 inches from original ball position? I am a right-handed golfer.

Lou

Dear Lou,

I have drawn the following diagram to help everyone picture the hole:

                           Rough and hillside

__________________________________________________

/  /  /  /  /  /  /  /  /  /  /  /  /  / Fence  /  /  /  /  /  /  /  /  /  /

                                    Cart path                    

______________________________________________

  O                   Fairway                        Tee

Green

______________________________________________

I was hoping you would say that you were left-handed. The relief for a left-handed player for a ball lying to the right of the fence is very simple. The nearest point of relief (NPR) no closer to the hole would be further to the right in the rough on the hillside.

The right-handed golfer whose ball lies underneath the fence will have a more interesting adventure locating the NPR. The key to figuring this out is to remember that you are taking relief from one problem at a time. The first problem is the fence, which interferes with your swing. Find the NPR on the left side of the fence where you can take a full swing with the club you would ordinarily use to his your next shot. Mark the spot where your ball would lie, and then measure one club-length from that spot. Disregard the fact that the spot will be on the cart path for now; remember that you are taking relief from the fence.

Drop your ball (yes, I know, you will be dropping it on the cart path). If it rolls back toward the fence and the fence once again interferes, if it rolls more than two club-lengths from where it first hit the cart path, or if it rolls closer to the hole, you must re-drop. If the second drop rolls into any of the problems just mentioned, you will place the ball where it hit the cart path on your second drop [Rule 20-2c(v), (vi), (vii)].

If the first or second drop was “good,” and there is no interference from the cart path for your next shot, you’re good to go. However, if you now have interference from the cart path, you are again entitled to free relief.

In all likelihood, you will be hitting your next shot from the fairway. Count your blessings and play on!

Linda

Copyright © 2012 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda #496-Ball moved

Linda …  if a player inadvertently makes contact (a minor tap) with the ball in setting up to hit a short chip shot but the touch is so slight that the ball does not change position, is a penalty incurred?

Thanks  

Lou

Dear Lou,

No. The Definition of “Move or Moved” in the front of the rule book explains that a ball has not officially been moved unless “it leaves its position and comes to rest in any other place.” If you accidentally touch your ball when you address it, and it moves ever so slightly but returns to its original position, there is no penalty [Rule 18-2a(i)].

Linda

Copyright © 2012 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda #495-Ball lost in drain

Linda

There was a situation today where a friend flew a pond on the right & the ball bounced left onto the fairway. All 4 in the group confirmed. However the ball could not be found. There is a drain in the area where the ball landed. The ground area around the drain cover has holes where the ball could disappear.

What would be the ruling? It doesn't seem fair to count it as a lost ball. It seems similar to an animal hole. It has been reported before, but the golf club has done nothing to fix it.

Thanks,

Lulu

Dear Lulu,

If it is known or virtually certain that the ball is lost under the drain, the player is entitled to relief for a ball lost in an immovable obstruction. She may substitute another ball, and drop it within one club-length of the nearest point of relief no closer to the hole [Rule 24-3b].

You must be absolutely certain that the ball is under the drain. If it could be anywhere else, or anyone in the group doubts the ball is there, the player has a lost ball (one stroke penalty and hit the next shot from where the previous ball was hit).

Linda

Copyright © 2012 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda #494-Choice of NPR?

Hi Linda,

My friend drives on a par four and his ball comes to rest on the left hand side of a staked  tree that is the 150 yard indicator.

This is a free drop – no question.

The tree is about one foot off the fairway. The diameter of the bowl of the tree is 3 to 4 feet. He is about 1 foot or a little more on the left hand side of that tree.

He takes his drop, but says he is going to drop on the right hand side of the tree. That puts him on the fairway. If he drops on the left hand side of the tree – as I believe he should – he is in the rough.

He is a left-hander. I told him he must drop on the left side of the tree, which is the nearest point of relief, and if he still has no relief he can take another club-length.

Am I right ?? I feel dropping to the right onto fairway is an unfair advantage. He insists he can drop on either side of that staked tree. My belief is it must be on the left-hand side because that is where his ball is and it is the nearest point of relief not taking into account right- or left-handed!!

What is the answer please??

Lou

Dear Lou,

The fact that one side is fairway and the other side is rough is irrelevant. In seeking relief from an immovable obstruction (I am assuming the course does not want the stakes removed and has made that statement in a Local Rule), the golfer is required to find the nearest point of relief (NPR) that is no closer to the hole. There is no option in the Rules to find the most pleasing point!

The NPR is not the same for right- and left-handed golfers. In the scenario you describe, with the golfer being left-handed and the ball lying to the left of the stake, it is possible that the NPR is to the right of the stake. In order to determine the NPR, he will have to take his stance on both sides of the stake with the club he would use to hit his next shot. Mark the spot on each side where the club-head touches the ground. Measure from the point where the ball lies to each mark. If both measurements are the same, he may drop his ball within one club-length of either side. If one side is closer, he must drop his ball on the closer side. If that puts him in the rough, he must drop his ball in the rough. There is no choice: the nearest point of relief must be the nearest point.

Golfers are cautioned to check out their relief option(s) before lifting the ball. Once lifted, if you decide the original lie is less troublesome than the drop area, and you want to replace it, you cannot avoid the one-stroke penalty for lifting your ball in play.

Lou, your suggestion to your friend that he drop on the left side of the tree and take another club-length if he still doesn’t have relief is not correct. Once he establishes the NPR, he must drop within one club-length of that spot. He is not entitled to a second drop unless the ball, when dropped, rolls back towards the stake and the stake once again interferes with his swing.

  

Linda

Copyright © 2012 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda #493-Status of tree stakes

Dear Linda,

Friends of ours played on a neighboring course. On the side of the fairway, there were mature trees that had, at some much earlier point, been staked to assist in their growing. These stakes had never been removed. One of their shots landed next to one of these stakes, and the player sought relief from the stake, however, she was told that their rule was that there is no relief from them. Is this the proper ruling???

Thanks and best regards,

Lulu

Dear Lulu,

Have the stakes developed a root system and turned into trees? Not likely. Stakes are man-made, and are therefore obstructions. The Committee may write a Local Rule declaring the stakes to be immovable obstructions if it does not want golfers to remove them, but it does not have the power to change them into living things.

Golfers are entitled to free relief from obstructions. If the stakes are movable, they may be removed. If they are immovable (or declared “immovable” by the Committee), golfers must find the nearest point of relief that is no closer to the hole and drop within one club-length of that point.


All of this being said, the Committee is permitted to declare stakes supporting trees to be an integral part of the course. If that is the official policy at the course, and you have been properly informed, then you would not be entitled to free relief from such stakes. The Committee needs to communicate this information to every player in the competition. 

Linda

Copyright © 2012 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda #492-Wrong teeing ground

Linda,

My partner and I were playing a 4-ball match play tournament.  Our opponents went over to the wrong tee box and hit their drives.  When we called them to our tee box after they hit their drives, we didn’t know what the ruling was.  We looked at ruling 30-3 and thought that they violated rule 11-1 which disqualified them for that hole.  Are we correct?

Lou

Dear Lou,

In match play, there is no penalty if a player starts a hole from the wrong teeing ground. The opponent may immediately require the player to cancel the stroke and hit again from the correct teeing ground, or he may allow the stroke to stand [Rule 11-4a].

Obviously, there is a bit of strategy involved here. If your opponents’ tee shots were good, you might require them to replay; if they were poor, it would be to your advantage to let the shots stand.

The Definition of BALL IN PLAY contains an exception for match play. When starting a hole, a ball that is hit from outside the teeing ground is “in play” unless the opponent recalls the stroke. Whether the player hits his tee shot outside the markers or from another teeing ground, he is outside the correct teeing ground.

So, what would happen if the tee shot from the wrong teeing ground went out of bounds? The answer, assuming the opponent does not recall the shot, is that the player must drop a ball on the same wrong teeing ground, add a penalty stroke, and hit again. This ball may not be re-teed, because the player is not on the teeing ground of the hole being played [Decision 11-5/3].

Stroke play is entirely different. If you hit from outside the teeing ground, there is a two-stroke penalty, and you must hit another ball from within the teeing ground. If you do not hit again from the correct area, you are disqualified as soon as you tee off on the next hole. Do not count the first tee shot, since the ball was not in play. Your second tee shot will be your third stroke on the hole.

Linda

Copyright © 2012 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda #491-Correct relief from water hazard?

Hi Linda,

Here is a scenario: a player hits his ball off the tee and landed in a thick grass next to a lateral water hazard. Assuming his ball might be lost in the grass, he played a provisional ball, which ended in the middle of the fairway. He proceeded to look for his original ball, which he found in the water marked with red stakes. He did not choose to drop a ball within two club-lengths from the point where his ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard but instead opted to hit from the tee box. Did he proceed correctly? What happens to the provisional ball?

Thank you for your clarification.

Lou

Dear Lou,

The procedure was absolutely correct, Lou. One of the relief options for a ball in a water hazard is to hit a ball from where you hit your previous shot. If that location is the tee, the ball may be re-teed. The player should pick up his provisional and toss it back in his bag. Don't count any of the shots played with the provisional.

Well done!

Linda

Copyright © 2012 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda #489a-Status of water hazard stakes

Several of my eagle-eyed, rules savvy readers pointed out an error in Ask Linda #489. The first e-mail I received is below, followed by my response. I have amended Ask Linda #489 to reflect this information.  Thank you for pointing out my mistake, Lulus!

Dear Linda,

Can you advise as to where in the Rules it states that stakes indicating or defining a Water Hazard may not be removed if they are movable? I thought that movable obstructions in a WH could be moved.

Yours aye,

Lulu from Holywood (Northern Ireland)

Dear Lulu,

You are absolutely correct. Stakes defining or identifying a water hazard are obstructions [Definition of Water Hazard]. If they can easily be moved, they are movable obstructions, and they may be removed regardless of whether your ball lies in or out of the hazard [Rule 24-1].

The story changes if the stakes are immovable. If stakes cannot be removed with reasonable effort, or removing them might damage the course, they are immovable obstructions. If a player’s ball does not lie in a hazard, he is entitled to free relief from an immovable water hazard stake under Rule 24-2b. However, if his ball lies in the hazard, there is no free relief [Rule 24-2, Note 1]. A player whose ball lies in a hazard who is unable to hit the ball due to interference from an immovable hazard stake must take relief under Rule 26-1 (Relief for Ball in Water Hazard). All of the relief options in 26-1 include a one-stroke penalty

Be aware that Committees are permitted to label all water hazard stakes as “immovable obstructions” [Definition of Obstruction, Note). In that case, players would be prohibited from removing any water hazard stake on the course. Players outside the hazard would be entitled to drop away from the stakes; players inside the hazard would have no free relief option.

Linda

Copyright © 2012 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda #490-Practice shots in bunker

Linda

A golf question:

Player is in a hazard close to the green. He plays his shot and then putts out for a bogey. After all players complete the hole, he goes back to the hazard and practices that shot, dropping two or three balls in the bunker and hitting them out.

My belief is that this okay as the hole is dead – finished – he can do what he likes after the hole is completed. My partner said this guy continues to incur penalty strokes after the hole is complete. He has already putted out. Surely this is incorrect?

Thanks

Lou

Dear Lou,

The rule regarding practice between holes (Rule 7-2) has two restrictions:

1. You may not practice if it would delay anyone’s play, including yours.

2. You may not play a practice stroke from a hazard.

The penalty for either violation is two strokes (loss of hole in match play). Since the violation has occurred between the play of two holes, the penalty is applied to the next hole.

A player is only permitted to practice putting or chipping on or near the green that he last played or the teeing ground of the hole he is about to play.

Linda

Copyright © 2012 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Response to Ask Linda #489

Linda:

In Ask Linda #489 you wrote: "Perhaps a better way to remember this is that a ball is on the golf course (not OB) if any part of the ball touches the course."

Exactly, this alternate wording of the OB definition makes it consistent with the definitions of ball in a hazard, etc. I've always wondered why more instructors at rules seminars didn't point this out. Kudos to you for doing so.

Lou from Athens, Georgia

Ask Linda #489-Where is the ball?

Hi Linda,

If the ball is touching the out of bounds stake, is it not out of bounds?

I have always believed golf is opposite to tennis. In tennis if it is touching the line it is in play. In golf if it is touching the out of bounds line or stake it is out of bounds.

Am I right or wrong?

Thanks for helping us to play better golf by understanding the rules.

Lou

Dear Lou,

Would that golf rules were as simple as tennis rules!

Here is a guide to where your ball lies with respect to different areas on the golf course. If the suspense is killing you, scroll to the bottom to find the answer to your question.

A ball is in a bunker when any part of the ball touches the bunker.

A ball is in casual water when any part of it touches the casual water.

A ball is in ground under repair (GUR) when any part of it touches the GUR. If the GUR is defined by stakes, the stakes are in the GUR. These stakes are obstructions, so you will always get free relief if these stakes interfere with your shot (meaning interference with your stance or the area of your intended swing).

A ball is in a water hazard when any part of it touches the hazard. If the hazard is defined by lines, the lines are in the hazard. Therefore, if any part of your ball touches the line, the ball is in the hazard. When it is defined by stakes only, the stakes are in the hazard, and so is your ball if it touches the stake. When your ball is not in the hazard, the stakes are obstructions. You may remove them if possible and permitted; you get free relief if they are not removable. If your ball is in the hazard, there is no free relief from the stakes if they are immovable, but you may remove them if they are movable [Rule 24-1 and 24-2b, Note 1].

A ball is on the putting green when any part of it touches the putting green.

But…

A ball is out of bounds (OB) when all of it lies out of bounds. If part of your ball is touching the OB line, and part of it is touching the golf course, it is not OB. If it is on the golf course, leaning against a stake, it is not OB. Stakes defining OB are not obstructions. They are what is called “fixed.” You may not remove them. There is no free relief if any object that defines OB interferes with your shot (stakes, fences, walls, etc.).

Perhaps a better way to remember this is that a ball is on the golf course (not OB) if any part of the ball touches the course or any part of it overhangs the golf course.

Linda

Copyright © 2012 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda #488-Match with wrong handicap

A curly one here, Linda.  Last Tuesday 2 of our girls played in a handicap match. On Thursday, our ladies' golf day, the winner of the match discovered she had played off the wrong handicap – played off 24, handicap actually 23. What is the ruling please?

Cheers

Lulu

Dear Lulu,

The match stands. Once the result is official, no late claim can be considered unless it is clear that the winner knew she had given wrong information during the match [Rule 2-5; Decision 6-2a/5].

Linda

Copyright © 2012 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda #483c–Order of play confusion

Linda, now I am a bit more confused. In 483b it is said that partners can play out of turn in stroke or match competitions and frequently do this on the putting green to show their partner the line. However in 483a it is stated that rule 10-2C prohibits partners playing out of turn for the purpose of providing an advantage. Both partners can be disqualified in stroke play.

It seems that these two rules are at odds with each other.

I believe I understand that it is only a problem in match play if a conceded putt is played in order to provide an advantage to the remaining partner.

Lou

Dear Lou,

The rules regarding order of play depend on whether you are playing as an individual competitor or you are playing with a partner.

Rule 10-2c tells us that individual competitors may not agree to play out of turn in stroke play in order to give one of them an advantage. Both players would be disqualified for making such an agreement.

Rule 31-4 tells us that partners in a four-ball (better ball) stroke play competition may play in the order they feel is best for their team.

Partners may (and should) help one another. They may offer advice and play out of turn to help each other.  Individual competitors may not offer advice or play out of turn to assist another player. Any help given to one player would be unfair to the other players in the competition. This is known as “protecting the field.”

Linda

Copyright © 2012 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda #487-Replay shot?

Linda,

Yesterday I pitched my second shot into the cup from about 60 yards. The ball rested against the pin in the cup with about half an inch above the top of it. My partner then played his chip and run. One of our opponents stated that if my partner’s ball had hit the pin with my ball resting against it he would have requested me to take my shot again. Is this correct?

Thanks,

Lou

Dear Lou,

Absolutely not.

When a player’s ball in motion contacts a ball at rest, the player must play his ball as it lies [Rule 19-5a]. If the ball at rest is moved, it must be replaced [Rule 18-5]. Regardless of whether the contact knocked your ball into the hole or away from the hole, you would have to replace it over the hole leaning against the flagstick.

Since you brought up the topic of a ball leaning against the flagstick, I would like to caution everyone to take care when you remove the flagstick. If the ball drops into the hole, it is holed with your last stroke. If removal of the flagstick knocks the ball out of the hole, you must replace it on the lip of the hole and then putt out [Rule 17-4]. This is a case where the savvy golfer will insist on removing the flagstick himself, and will lean it gently away from the ball to allow it to fall into the cup.

Linda

Copyright © 2012 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda #486-Does the shrub or the cart path interfere?

Dear Linda:

My friend’s ball came to rest under thick shrubs 8 inches from a cart path. He cannot take a normal stance since shrubs would be broken trying to take a normal stance. He can stand well in front of the ball with the ball well back in his stance and strike the ball, however he would then be standing on the cart path.

There is no local rule regarding this situation and the area where the ball rests is not a garden. The area where the ball rests is not a hazard.

I think the player must decide to take an unplayable or strike the ball any way he can thereby avoiding the unplayable penalty. My friend thinks he is allowed a free drop in such a situation.

Thank you in advance for your opinion.

Best regards,

Lou

Dear Lou,

This ball is unplayable. The player does not get free relief from the cart path.

A player is not entitled to free relief from an immovable obstruction (the cart path) if it is clear that something else interferes with his stroke (the shrub). Nor is he entitled to free relief if the obstruction interferes only if he takes an abnormal stance [Rule 24-2b, Exception].

In determining whether the cart path is the actual cause of the interference, you have to ask yourself whether the ball would be playable if the cart path were not there. The answer in this case is “no.” This ball is unplayable due to its location under the thick shrubs, not because of the proximity of the cart path.

Linda

Copyright © 2012 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda #483b-Putt out of turn

Linda, in relation to this question [Ask Linda #483-Putt away from hole], are you allowed to putt before your partner to show her the line, even if that means playing out of turn? 

Thanks,

Lulu

Dear Lulu,

Yes. In both match play and stroke play, partners may play in the order they decide is best [Rules 30-3b and 31-4]. If A and B are playing as partners, and it is B’s turn to play, B may choose to allow A to play first.

This comes into play most often on the putting green, where one player might want to show her partner the line, but it is not limited to play on the green. For example, A’s ball is in a bunker 30 yards from the green, and B’s ball is behind the bunker, 50 yards from the green. B asks A to play first. B is thinking that if A hits her ball on the green, B will shoot for the flagstick. However, if A doesn’t get onto the green, B will be more conservative in her shot selection.

Partners may not play out of turn if it will unduly delay play. Using the example above, after B hits her bunker shot, A may not tell B to go forward to hit her next shot before A hits her 50 yard shot.

Linda

Copyright © 2012 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda #483a-Response to #483-Putt away from hole

OMG (as the trendy people say).

I am astonished to hear of such an obsequious, devious and conniving act. (You will appreciate that I have moderated my language.)

Am I right in thinking that a putt conceded cannot be played? (I'm thinking that your correspondent could have done this?)

In match play, I concede putts of any length whatsoever if it's only purpose is to assist the opponent's partner. (I would concede a chip, except that this situation hasn't yet occurred.)

On a related point I have frequently been “encouraged” by an opponent to “come on” (as in onto the green) when my ball is the only one not on the putting surface but not furthest from the hole. (The opponent, if asked, would offer the tenuous excuse that this will obviate replacing the pin.) Rather than risk a debate (and bearing in mind DiMarco's chip onto the 72nd at Augusta in 2005*), I pre-empt the situation by saying loudly, “pin out for me, chaps.”

*Chris DiMarco’s chip for birdie and a win on the last hole of the 2005 Masters hit the flagstick and rebounded 10 feet. Had the flagstick been removed prior to the chip, the consensus is that the ball would have gone in and given DiMarco the green jacket. He subsequently lost to Tiger Woods in a playoff.

I would value your reflections.

Lou

Dear Lou,

There is no penalty if a player holes out in match play after his putt has been conceded. However (and this is a BIG “however”), if this might assist his partner, the partner is disqualified from the hole [Decision 2-4/6].

If your putt has been conceded, and you would like to try the putt, the safest procedure is to lift your ball, wait until everyone has completed play of the hole, and then replace your ball and try the putt.

When a putt has been conceded, anyone may lift that ball. A player may indicate that his opponent’s putt is conceded by telling him, by knocking it away, or by lifting the ball and handing it to him.   

Order of play is more significant in match play than in stroke play. There is no penalty in stroke play for playing out of order unless the players agree to do so to give one of them an advantage. Such an agreement would lead to disqualification for both players [Rule 10-2c]. There is no penalty in match play for playing out of turn. However, if you do so, your opponent has the right to immediately recall your stroke and make you play it in the correct order.

In a match, therefore, if your opponents invite you to hit first because your ball is off the green and theirs is on (even though they are further from the hole), the choice is yours whether to accept their invitation or wait until it is your turn. In most cases you are giving up an advantage if you agree to play first. It can be helpful to observe the break and speed of the green before you hit your ball. I would not want to miss the opportunity to gain some information. If the flagstick must be removed and then replaced, so be it. That’s part of the game.

Linda

Copyright © 2012 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.