Hi Linda,
I am asking you a lot of questions of late. This is because
I have moved to a new Golf Club and they seem to use some "unusual rules,"
to put it kindly.
My club has just introduced a local rule that "Plugged
balls through the green may be lifted and dropped, but not cleaned.”
My understanding is that the specimen local rule from
Appendix I is: "Through
the green, a ball that is embedded may be lifted, cleaned and
dropped, without penalty, as near as possible to the spot where it lay but not
nearer the hole.
The ball when dropped must first strike a part of the course through
the green."
Is my club allowed to modify the Local Rule to prevent
cleaning of the ball? I don't understand why anyone would want to prevent
cleaning of the ball. The local gossip is that it is to prevent cheating, as
golfers may claim their ball is plugged just to clean it.
My answer is: "If golfers want to cheat they will
always find a way," and we can't cater to cheats.
Looking forward to your opinion.
Best Wishes,
Lou from Yorkshire, England
Dear Lou,
The Local Rule providing relief for embedded balls through
the green permits cleaning the ball [Appendix I, Part A, #3a]. The club does not
have the option to amend this Local Rule.
Rule 25-2, the Rule that explains relief for embedded balls
in closely mown areas through the green, also allows the player to clean the
ball. A club “rule” that prohibits players from cleaning an embedded ball when
taking relief violates a player’s rights under the Rules.
Making up rules that contravene the Rules of Golf to prevent
cheating is a useless and counter-productive measure. How much better would it
be to teach the golfers the basic Rules, and to encourage an atmosphere that
does not tolerate cheating? Golf relies on the honesty and integrity of the
individual golfers. The game is a sham if players are cheating.
Linda
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