Hi Linda,
Thanks for all your help.
A player in our group had trouble keeping his balance
while approaching his ball in a hazard. He used his club to keep from
falling. In doing so, he grounded his club in the hazard. Should he be
penalized?
Thank you,
Lou from Ontario
Dear Lou,
Absolutely not. There is no penalty if a player touches the
ground in a hazard to prevent a fall; nor is there a penalty if he falls [Rule
13-4, Exception 1].
However, if the action improves his lie, or he deliberately
tests the condition of the hazard during the mishap, he cannot avoid the two
stroke/loss of hole penalty.
Linda
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