Friday, September 28, 2012

Ask Linda #531-Move opponent’s ball


Linda–
While walking on the green, I accidentally moved an opponent's ball, which was also on the green. He replaced it as near as possible to the original position. Should I be penalized?
Thank you for all your previous help,
Lou

Dear Lou,

Since you used the term "opponent," I assume this was match play. You are penalized one stroke for moving your opponent's ball, and he must replace it [Rule 18-3b].

If you move a fellow competitor's ball in stroke play, there is no penalty and the ball must be replaced [Rule 18-4].

Linda
Copyright © 2012 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.


Thursday, September 27, 2012

Ask Linda #530-Provisionals clarified


Linda,

Just discovered your excellent treasure trove of golf rules q&a and thought I'd throw one at you that just happened in my foursome at Spanish Bay. We were playing a stroke play game and one of our foursome hit what looked like an OB ball to the right. Since we were new to the course we thought "maybe" it cleared the junk and might be found. The player then hit a properly identified provisional ball, which ended up on the left side of the course. Here's where the fun begins...

Before going to search for his first ball he hit his provisional a second time, advancing it nicely and safely down the course. Note that that ball was still behind where the first ball was eventually found (or "likely to be"). He declared that ball "still provisional" although it wasn't clear to me that he needed to. Up to this point he had never made it clear whether he intended to then go over and search for his first ball or not. Two others of our group were in the left side as well and hit our second shots. Right at that point our fourth playing partner yelled over that he had found the original, possibly lost ball. I can't really say that anyone was conducting a "search" or not at that point so I don't know how the 5-minute rule applies to our situation.

At this point when his ball was found, the player abandoned his provisional and played the hole to completion and without further incident with his first ball.

Some of us were fuming about this given that we thought that the player was not going to search for his ball but he never really said so.

Here are my questions about this:

1. Once your ball is declared provisional in the first place, do you need to continue to declare it provisional on subsequent hits? (I think the answer is no.)

2. Is it OK to hit a provisional a second time (or more) before searching for your first ball? (Seems like it is as long as you don't hit it from a spot closer to the hole than the likely spot where the first ball was lost, you're ok.)

3. In terms of the "likely spot" part of this equation, where would that be if the person may have hit the ball OB? Is it where it may have crossed into OB terrain, or is it the full distance that the ball is likely to be? (I'm guessing it's the full distance down the course, not the spot where it may have crossed into the OB terrain.)

4. If anyone in the group starts looking for the ball, is that the start time of the search? Even if the player whose ball is being searched for is off hitting their provisional again?

5. Most importantly, how should we be handling the communication in our group in case like this, especially when a player is going to hit his provisional again before conducting (if he is going to conduct) a search? Seems to me like there needs to have been a lot more said/announced among the group of us than was actually done.

Thanks in advance.
Lou

Dear Lou,

I will answer your questions referring to the numbers you used. However, I would like to preface my answers by mentioning that you did everything right. Way to go, Lou!

1. There is no need to continually remind everyone that your provisional ball is, indeed, a provisional ball. The Rule regarding provisional balls tells you when your ball is no longer “provisional” and has become the “ball in play.” While reminders are unnecessary, they are not prohibited. In the scenario you describe, I suspect the golfer made the statement to remind everyone that he was still playing that ball provisionally and was planning on looking for his original.

2. You may hit your provisional as many times as necessary to reach the place where your original is likely to be. If you hit your provisional from that spot, or from a spot nearer the hole, it is now your “ball in play.” Your original is now “lost” under the Rules [Rule 27-2b], and you no longer have the option to play the original.

3. A player hits a provisional ball because he suspects his original might be lost or out of bounds. He cannot gauge where it may have gone OB until he reaches the area where he will begin his search. It would be unfair and unreasonable for the Rules to require you to begin your search where your ball crossed into OB territory, since that area is unknown to you. The “likely spot” where you must stop hitting your provisional and begin searching for your original is the spot where you are likely to find your ball.

4. The five-minute search period begins when the player reaches the area where his ball is likely to be. If a fellow competitor finds the original ball while the player is hitting his provisional, he has saved your group the five-minute delay and has provided a classic example of the usefulness of the provisional ball rule. Its purpose is to save time!

5. The communication in your group was fine. The player properly announced and hit his provisional. He mentioned on his second shot that he was still playing the ball provisionally, since he hadn’t reached the area where he would begin his search. In the meantime, a fellow competitor found the original ball and informed everyone of his discovery. Nothing more needs to be said.

Let’s look at a scenario where the player’s second shot with the provisional advances past the area where he would begin his search, and no one has found his original. At this point, the player has two choices: (1) start searching for his original ball, with a 5-minute limit on the search time; (2) continue playing the provisional ball, which will officially become his ball in play. If the player (or anyone else) finds the original in bounds before the player hits a third shot with his provisional (which is now closer to the hole than where his original is likely to be), the player must abandon the provisional and continue with the original. Should that original turn out to be in an unplayable lie, if the player chooses the unplayable relief option to return to where he hit his previous shot, he may not continue with the provisional, even though it was hit from the very same spot where he has opted to return. Remember that a provisional ball is hit for a ball that may be lost or out of bounds. If the ball is neither lost nor out of bounds, you must abandon the provisional and continue play of the hole with the original [Rule 27-2c].

Linda
Copyright © 2012 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Ask Linda #529-Change brand of ball during round


Linda–
A discussion recently ensued among one of my golf groups regarding using the same ball and using the same brand in a round. Afterward I consulted the 2012 rules of golf and could not find a definitive answer.

Am I correct that the directive to use the same brand & type of ball throughout a round is only something the PGA Tour insists on in their professional tournaments and we weekend warrior amateurs are free to substitute a different brand when needed?

I am aware that a player can, after seeking agreement from his opponent or playing partners, put a new ball into play if his original is damaged and unfit for play and he can put a ball in play to replace a ball that is lost and he can place a provisional in play while determining if an errant shot is lost, but I couldn't find any wording in the rules that specifically indicates that a player can, if he wishes, put a new ball in play on every tee and must play it to completion of that hole only, barring the above mentioned loss or damage.

Am I correct?

Thanks,
Lou

Dear Lou,

Limiting players to one brand and model of golf ball is an optional Condition of the Competition. It is known as the “One Ball Condition,” and it is listed in Appendix I, Part C, in the back of the rulebook. This condition is only recommended for competitions among low handicap players.

Ordinary golfers are limited to any golf balls that conform to the specifications listed in Appendix III [Rule 5-1]. Most golf balls available for purchase in your local sporting goods store conform to these specifications.

Each hole is a new adventure, which may be started with any legal ball. You may not change balls during a hole unless your ball is unfit for play. A ball is unfit if it is visibly cut, cracked, or out of shape [Rule 5-3]. It is not unfit if it has had a close encounter with a tree or a cart path and acquired what is commonly called “tree rash” or “road rash” (a scrape on the surface). Barring any unfortunate incidents (see next paragraph), you must finish each hole with the same ball you hit from the tee.

Any time the Rules tell you that you may drop “a” ball, you may use any legal ball. A sampling of Rules where you may drop “a” ball includes the Rules dealing with balls that are in a water hazard, lost, out of bounds, unplayable, or unrecoverable. When the Rules tell you to drop “the” ball, you must drop your original ball (e.g., embedded ball, wrong putting green, immovable obstructions, abnormal ground conditions, etc.).

Rule 1-1 tells you to play a ball with a club from the teeing ground into the hole. It explains that you must do this in accordance with the Rules. There can be no Rule that insists you use the same ball from start to finish, since so many mishaps may occur to cause you to play with a different ball. The Rules simply tell you when you may or may not substitute a ball or drop a ball that is not your original. Just pay attention to the vocabulary: “a ball” means any ball, “the ball” means you may not substitute another ball.

Linda
Copyright © 2012 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Monday, September 24, 2012

Ask Linda #528-Damage on line of putt


Hi Linda,
I've been hunting for the answer to (a highly debated) question that came up today. I fixed a dent in the hole (cup) that was obviously damaged by a flagstick. It was from previous players. The dent was straight in my putting line. In reading one of your articles you cited rule 16-1a/13. I can't locate it in my 2012-2015 Rules of Golf.

I know that one can repair a cup damaged by a ball, but I have to know specifically about flagstick damage.

Lulu from Austin, Texas

Dear Lulu,

16-1a/13 is a Decision, not a Rule. You will find it in the Decisions on the Rules of Golf book, which can be accessed online at usga.org. (Click on the drop down menu for Rules on the far left, then click on Rules and Decisions.)

Decision 16-1a/13 explains that if another player in your group damages your line of putt after your ball has settled on the green, you may repair it. This is because you are always entitled to the lie and line of putt that you had when your ball came to rest.

This is not the case in the situation you describe. The damage to the hole was caused by previous players (who should have fixed the damage before they left the green!). The damage was already there when your ball came to rest on the green. You are not entitled to fix it.

The penalty for fixing the damage is two strokes (loss of hole in match play). By fixing damage on your line of putt you have breached Rule 16-1a, which prohibits touching the line of putt.

Linda
Copyright © 2012 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.


Saturday, September 22, 2012

Ask Linda #527a-Lift ball without marking


Linda, are you saying you can lift another player's ball in stroke play without marking it?
Thanks,
Lou

Dear Lou,

Excellent question, Lou. This is a good opportunity to clarify the rules regarding lifting another player’s ball.

Lifting without permission
Players are not supposed to arbitrarily lift another player’s ball without express permission. In match play, the penalty for lifting another player’s ball without authority is one stroke, and the ball must be replaced. The penalty is assessed to the player who lifted the ball [Decision 20-1/2]. In stroke play, on the contrary, there is no penalty for this behavior [Decision 20-1/4].

Lifting with permission
When a player gives permission to a fellow competitor (stroke play) or an opponent (match play) to lift his ball, responsibility for any incorrect procedure shifts to the player. The golfer who has been given permission must mark the ball before he lifts it. If the ball is not marked, the player (not the lifter) incurs a one-stroke penalty and the ball must be replaced [Rule 20-1].

Linda
Copyright © 2012 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.



Friday, September 21, 2012

Ask Linda #527-Lifting another player’s ball


Linda, an incident came about yesterday when a player picked up my ball to identify it. I knew it was my ball and asked her what she was doing. She said she could do that to identify it as long as she replaced it exactly as it was. It is my understanding that she should have announced her intention and marked it before lifting it. More specifically since I was 99.99% sure that it was mine, I should have marked and lifted it to identify it.
Lulu from Austin, Texas

Dear Lulu,

In stroke play, if a fellow competitor lifts a competitor’s ball without the competitor’s authority, there is no penalty and the ball must be replaced [Rule 18-4].

In match play, if an opponent lifts your ball without your authority, the opponent incurs a one-stroke penalty and the ball must be replaced [Rule 18-3b].

If you want to avoid endless arguments and frantic searching through the rulebook during your round, leave identification of a ball to the player whose ball it might be.

Linda
Copyright © 2012 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.



Thursday, September 20, 2012

Ask Linda #526-Putt after concession


Linda–
Team Match play: A and B are playing C and D.  A's putt is conceded before his partner, B, holes out. A hits his putt.

Would A (and B) lose the hole for practicing while the hole is active?
Lou

Dear Lou,

No, this would not be considered practice. There is no penalty for putting after the putt has been conceded. However, if the putt would assist the player’s partner, the partner would be disqualified from the hole [Decision 2-4/6].

As I have mentioned before, the safest procedure when someone concedes your putt is to lift the ball, wait until everyone else has completed play of the hole, and then try the putt.

Linda
Copyright © 2012 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Ask Linda #524a-Response to #524


Hi Linda,
This is a good question and I have run into it and gave the player relief but I later found out that the Asian beetles should have been treated as loose impediments. I heard this happened at the US Women's Open this year.
Lou

Dear Lou,

Hmmm… I’m guessing you’re right, since beetles would probably meet the criteria of “insects and the like” under the Definition of Loose Impediments.

Now I’m wondering whether the USGA and R&A would consider a Local Rule for relief from these pests, since they have a defense mechanism that exudes a yellow fluid (called reflex blood) that has an unpleasant acrid smell, and will bite humans if hungry [http://www.harlequin-survey.org]. In the absence of such a Local Rule, I might be inclined to take an unplayable.

Linda
Copyright © 2012 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.


Ask Linda #525a-Unsportsmanlike act


Dear Linda,
I told your answer to Ask Linda #525 to a number of people - we all have come up with the same question:  If there is a 2-stroke penalty to the person who is putting, as in the #525 scenario, and the competitor is only liable for an apology, what prevents a competitor tending the flagstick from putting the stick back into the cup just before the ball holes out (as happened in #525), purposefully, to force the 2-stroke penalty upon their opponent, so that they themselves win a hole or a match??

Thanks for your advice!!

Best regards,
Lulu

Dear Lulu,

Remember "The Spirit of the Game" in the front of the rulebook, where it talks about things like integrity and sportsmanship? Any player who deliberately replaces the flagstick to cause a fellow competitor or an opponent to incur a two-stroke penalty would be violating the spirit of the game and would be disqualified. To me, this is such an unspeakable act that the Committee should consider barring such an individual from all future competitions.

Linda
Copyright © 2012 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Ask Linda #525-Flagstick replaced, putt enters hole


Dear Linda,

I played in a singles competition today where, on the last hole, I was on the green and putting a long putt, and a fellow competitor was tending the flagstick for me.   After I putted, this competitor removed the flagstick from the cup.  When the ball was about one foot or so from the cup, and it was obviously going to go into the cup, this competitor quickly put the flagstick back into the cup. The ball was sunk, never hitting the flagstick.  This all happened so quickly, I had no time to yell at her to remove the stick.  Would the putt still stand??

Thanks for a GREAT column!!!
Lulu

Dear Lulu,

I have no good news for you, dear. There is no such thing as the ball not hitting the flagstick if the flagstick is in the hole. By Definition, a ball is not “holed” until it is at rest in the hole. It is not possible for a ball to be at rest in the hole without touching the flagstick [Decision 17-3/1]. Count your putt plus a two-stroke penalty [Rule 17-3].

Your fellow competitor owes you a mighty big apology.

Linda
Copyright © 2012 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Monday, September 17, 2012

Ask Linda $524-Beetles interfere


Hello Linda,
We live in Southern Ontario. In late June and early July we get an infestation of Asian beetles. While here, they are quite chummy with one another and congregate on the fairways in large clusters. A player's ball settled an inch or two behind a cluster and she wondered if she was entitled to relief. If she did not move the ball, her swing would have struck the cluster, likely killing several of the beetles.
Thank you for all your previous help and guidance.
Lou
p.s...When the beetles arrive, they are closely followed by seagulls who quickly rid us of the problem.

Dear Lou,

I am not familiar with beetle clusters. In my neck of the woods, we have to deal with gaggles of geese, which are easily shooed away. If the beetles cannot be encouraged to disperse with a wave of your magic club, take a free drop away from the little critters [Decision 1-4/9].

Golfers should not be in the business of murdering poor, defenseless beetles. Far better for them to be served up as snacks for the seagulls!

Linda
Copyright © 2012 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Friday, September 14, 2012

Ask Linda #523-Plastic rings in holes


Dear Linda,
Could you please shed some light on the following issue:
Our course Committee has decided to place white plastic rings in the holes on our greens, but we find that the top of these rings are placed in the top part of the hole without leaving even a 1-2 mm gap, in other words this ring nearly sticks out above the hole.
This has meant that we have numerous lip-outs.
I have been led to believe that these rings are illegal as well. 
My question is whether there is a rule that states that there should be something like 25mm between the top of the hole and the cup itself.
Look forward to your reply.
Best regards,
Lou from Malaga, Spain

Dear Lou,

The Definition of “Hole,” in the front of the rulebook, states that if a hole has a lining, “it must be sunk at least 1 inch (25.4 mm) below the putting green surface, unless the nature of the soil makes it impracticable to do so.”

There is also a Decision advising players to notify a member of the Committee if a hole-liner is not sunk at least one inch below the putting surface [Decision 16/4].

There is a very important reason for this requirement. If the liner is too high, putts have a tendency to strike it and pop out of the hole.

If these plastic rings you mention are being placed above the liner, almost flush to the surface, they are not legal. If the course wishes to make the holes more visible, the customary way to do that is to paint the dirt white.

Linda
Copyright © 2012 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.