1. You hit your ball and it lands inbounds, but about 3
inches from one of the out of bound white stakes…the stake interferes with your
next swing or hit, are you allowed to pull that stake out till you make your
shot and put it back in after???
2. Do local rules override the USGA rules? As in
Fairway Local Rules: If you hit a ball out of bounds, you CANNOT re-tee, you
must proceed to the ball, take your two club lengths, from the out of bounds,
where you think it crossed and hit from there.
Can you send me an answer on both of those? Thanks, Lulu from Florida
Dear Lulu,
1. Stakes that identify out of bounds are “fixed”
[Definition of Out of Bounds]. This means that you are not permitted to remove
them. If they interfere with your stroke, you may declare your ball unplayable,
which will give you a one-stroke penalty and a choice of three relief options [Rule
28].
2. The Committee (or golf course official) does not have the right to waive a Rule of
Golf [Rule 33-1]. Under the Rules, players are required to proceed under stroke and distance whenever a ball is
hit out of bounds (hit another shot from where the previous shot was made,
one-stroke penalty). The Local Rule you
describe is contrary to the Rules, and is not permissible.
Local Rules may not be written at the whim of the Committee.
They are limited to those in Appendix I in the back of the rulebook, except
under very unusual circumstances. The Committee must receive special
authorization from the USGA to modify a Rule. Such authorization would be
granted if abnormal conditions at your course interfered with the proper
playing of the game [Rule 33-8].
Linda
Copyright © 2013 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
