Dear Linda,
A player inadvertently removes a white out-of-bounds stake
and is then informed by his fellow competitor that the removal of such a stake
is a 2-stroke penalty (Rule 13-2 refers). Having incurred the penalty can
he now play his shot or does he first have to replace the white out-of-bounds
stake? I took the view that having incurred the penalty he is free to
play but my other playing partner disagreed. The rules and decisions books
are not clear.
Thanks,
Lou from the United Kingdom
Dear Lou,
He may leave the stake out before he hits, and replace it
afterward. The key to this ruling is the use of the word “irrelevant” in
Decision 13-2/25.
This Decision talks about a player who removes an
out-of-bounds stake, learns that he is not permitted to do so, and replaces it
before he hits the ball. It explains that the player is assessed the two-stroke
penalty as soon as he removes the stake, and cannot avoid penalty by replacing
it before he hits. It goes on to say that “the replacement of the post before
the next stroke was irrelevant.” Since the replacement is deemed “irrelevant,”
there is no requirement to replace the stake before hitting.
I agree with you that neither the rulebook nor the Decisions
book is clear on this issue. Relying on the correct interpretation of the word
“irrelevant” does not seem to be the best way to communicate that replacement
of the stake before hitting is unnecessary. Nevertheless, that is the USGA
interpretation, and your view of the matter was correct.
The player should replace the stake after he hits the ball,
assuming he has not broken it during removal.
Linda
Copyright © 2012 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
