Ask Linda #1369-Tap conceded putt back to opponent

Linda,

This situation was encountered in the first match of a consolation round of a club individual match play event. Lots of strokes being given and both players playing well.

Higher handicap player (player B) 3 up after 14.

On 15, player B has a short putt to win the hole and the match. Player A putts first and had a short putt remaining.

Before putting out player B advises player A that her putt is good and taps player A's ball back to her. Player B holes the putt.

Player A calls a penalty for "testing the surface of the green" when player B tapped the ball back to A; loss of hole to B.

I now understand that technically this was a rule violation but curious if there is any intent required for a penalty like this to be applied.

Looking forward to your thoughts.

Thank you, 

Lulu from Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Dear Lulu,

This was not a Rule violation (technically or otherwise), and there is no penalty. A player may roll or tap a ball back to her opponent after she concedes the next putt, assuming her reason for doing so is to return the ball. I gather from your narrative that this was a casual act with no intent to test the surface of the putting green [Decision 16-1d/1]. Player B won the match on the 15^th hole.

Linda

Copyright © 2016 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda #1368-Must use Dropping Zone?

Linda,

If your ball ends up in a ground under repair area and there is a designated free drop area, must you use that free drop area or can you use the one club length from the white line of the ground under repair area? This happened today and the free drop area was about 15 yards behind where I could have used the one club length rule. Thank you for explaining this to me.

Lulu from Tupper Lake, New York

Dear Lulu,

It depends on the status of the Dropping Zone (DZ). If the Committee declares it mandatory, you have no choice. If it is provided as an additional relief option, you may choose to use it or proceed under Rule 25-1b.

It is recommended that DZ’s be provided as an additional relief option, as opposed to a requirement.

I would like to correct what may be a misunderstanding regarding where to take relief from ground under repair. You mention “one club-length from the white line.” That is incorrect. Relief is within one club-length of the nearest point of relief, no closer to the hole [Rule 25-1b]. Find the nearest point of relief by taking your stance with the club you plan to use to hit your shot, and drop within one club-length (use any club to measure) of that spot.

Linda

Copyright © 2016 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda #1371-Ball lands in sheep dung

Hi Linda,

Not been in touch for ages as lost access to this email. Just got it back so lots of posts to catch up on.

I’ve searched the blog for an answer to this one. On our course we have sheep. Sometimes a ball may land in sheep dung, and this may be fresh. It’s horrible to have to play the ball and it now also turns out that in fact there is danger of contracting a bacterial infection from the dung. I cannot find a golf rule or decision that covers this. Does it need to be a local rule by our club that players are offered relief when a ball lands in such sheep dung?

Hope you’re keeping very well.

All the best,

Lou from Wales

Dear Lou,

If sheep dung is prevalent on the course, the Committee may declare the dung to be ground under repair [Decision 33-8/32.7]. Players would be entitled to free relief under Rule 25-1b:

• Through the green, the ball would be dropped within one club-length of the nearest point of relief, no closer to the hole.

• In a bunker, free relief would only be available for a drop in the bunker (please read the Rule for more details).

• On the putting green, the ball would be placed at the nearest point of relief (not a club-length away from that point), which could be on or off the putting green.

Without a Local Rule in place, the player is not entitled to free relief. He may declare the ball unplayable, add a one-stroke penalty to his score, and choose any of the relief options provided in Rule 28 for an unplayable ball.

Dung is a loose impediment when it does not adhere to the ball [Definition of “Loose Impediments”]. Dung that lies near your ball may be brushed away in any manner you see fit.

Linda

Copyright © 2016 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda #1370-Hit balls back onto range during play

Hi Linda,

Everyone seems to have a different answer to the following, so I thought I would go to "the source."

We seem to always have a few range balls on a fairway that abuts the driving range at our club.

During a tournament, is a player permitted to hit range balls that are on a fairway without a penalty?  She would be hitting the balls back onto the range.

I look forward to your daily emails.

Thank you,

Lulu from East Setauket, New York

Dear Lulu,

If the player casually flicks a ball or two back onto the range in order to tidy up the course, there is no penalty. If she takes a full swing she will incur a two-stroke/loss-of-hole penalty for a breach of Rule 7-2, which prohibits taking a practice stroke during play of a hole [Decision 7-2/5].

It would be best to pick them up and toss them back. That would avoid any arguments about violations and penalties.

Linda

Copyright © 2016 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda #1369-Rake bunker in alternate shot format

Hi Linda,

Can you clarify the rule re: raking a bunker? In a greensomes competition my partner played from a bunker and left it in the said bunker. Can the bunker be raked before I play and who can rake it? Could it be construed as testing the sand or am I reading too much into it?

Regards,

Lou from Thornhill, Dumfries, Scotland

Dear Lou,

[“Greensomes” is a form of foursomes (alternate shot) where both players drive, select which drive they wish to use, and alternate into the hole.)

If the raking improves the area of your stance or swing or your line of play you will incur a two-stroke/loss-of-hole penalty for a breach of Rule 13-2. You may only rake the sand if the sole reason is to care for the course.

It may help you to understand this if you think of foursomes (alternate shot) as an individual tournament. If you were playing your own ball throughout the round, and you tried and failed to extricate your ball from a bunker, you would not be entitled to improve the bunker with respect to your next shot. The same holds true in alternate shot. Although there are two players, there is only one ball in play. You alternate hitting the same ball until it is holed. After your partner hits the ball, you must take the next shot as if you yourself had hit the previous shot.

If you were playing a four-ball (better-ball) format, and there were two balls in the bunker (yours and your fellow competitor’s), you would be entitled to restore your lie if the other player altered it with his shot. But in foursomes there is only one ball in play for you and your partner; if that ball is in a bunker, your play is governed by Rule 13-4.

Linda

Copyright © 2016 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.