Dear readers,
Below is Part I in a series of three columns I have written about the new Definitions for 2019. This is not a review of every Definition; nor is it an explanation of every detail. I’m not trying to rewrite the rulebook, but rather to point out new terminology, old terminology with altered definitions, and whatever new information strikes me as essential.
• Player, Side, Opponent
The term “player” is not defined, but everyone who plays is a player. If a player has a partner (or two or three partners), together they make a side (not a “team,” which is a group of individuals or sides playing against another group of individuals or sides – think Ryder Cup teams).
In match play only, the player (or side) plays against an opponent (or opponents). The term opponent does not exist for stroke play.
In stroke play, the other players in your group (not in your “foursome” – foursomes is the official term for alternate shot) are simply “the other players.” The term “fellow competitor” has been dropped from the golf lexicon.
The term “playing partner” does not exist in the Rules (and never has, to my knowledge). It is a term used mistakenly by TV announcers, who are not known for their thorough knowledge of golf rules and vocabulary. In the future, if you send me a question that refers to your “playing partner,” you will receive a response asking whether this person is another player, your partner, or your opponent (match play).
• Club-Length; Teeing Area
A club-length is now officially the length of the longest club in your bag (other than your putter – players may no longer use a long putter to measure a relief area). If your longest club is your driver, for example, the length of your driver will define the limits of any one- or two-club-length relief area. It will also measure the two-club-length depth of the teeing area (no longer referred to as the “teeing ground”).
• Abnormal Course Condition (ACC)
The old term – “abnormal ground conditions” – is gone. The new term –abnormal course condition, or ACC – refers to an animal hole, ground under repair, an immovable obstruction, and temporary water (formerly “casual water”). There is a bit to unpack here, as each of these terms is defined.
1. Animal Hole: Any hole dug by any animal (except a human being and animals defined as loose impediments, such as worms or insects). You are now entitled to free relief from a hole dug by a dog. The old restriction to holes dug by burrowing animals only is gone, as is the term “burrowing animal.”
2. Ground Under Repair: This is a lengthy, detailed, and very informative Definition; it is a must read for every golfer. You will learn what is included in GUR, the status of a tree whose branches and roots extend beyond the boundary, what is meant by a hole made by the Committee, how to treat material piled for later removal (or not), how the edge is defined, etc. Read it now.
3. Immovable Obstruction: Basically the same it always was, but it is now labeled an ACC.
4. Temporary Water (formerly “casual water”): The Definition has been expanded to let you know that wet, muddy, or soft ground is not considered temporary water unless water is present and visible before or after the player takes his stance. It is not temporary water if a player has to press down excessively with his feet in order to see it. A few reminders: dew and frost are not temporary water; snow and natural ice are either loose impediments (the player may brush them aside) or temporary water (free relief) – player’s choice; manufactured ice (e.g., ice cubes) is an obstruction (presumably movable).
• Areas of the Course
There are five of them, and they are all defined:
1. General Area (formerly “through the green”) – all areas of the course except the other four listed below. The general areaincludes all teeing locations other than the teeing area of the hole being played, and all wrong greens (greens other than the putting green of the hole being played, including practice greens).
2. Teeing Area (formerly “teeing ground”) – where the player starts the hole (a rectangle two club-lengths deep, measured from the outside of the tee markers)
3. Penalty Areas – all bodies of water (formerly “water hazards”) and any other areas of the course the Committee chooses to define as a penalty area (e.g., deserts, jungles, lava rock fields, dense woods, etc.). Note that if a penalty area has not been marked as red or yellow, it is treated by default as a red penalty area. Also, if the edge of a body of water is not marked, it is defined by its natural boundary. And finally, open watercourses that are dry except in the rainy season (e.g., drainage ditches, run-off areas) may be defined by the Committee as part of the general area (meaning it is not a penalty area).
4. Bunkers – read the Definition to learn what is not considered part of the bunker
5. Putting Green (of the hole being played) – In the case of a double green (one used for two different holes), the entire area is the green of the hole being played unless the Committee defines an edge to divide the two greens; in that case, the green used for the other hole is a wrong green.
• No Play Zone (new Definition)
The Committee may prohibit play from certain areas to protect wildlife, environmentally sensitive areas, young trees, flowerbeds, etc. The no play zone must be defined as either an abnormal course condition (free relief) or a penalty area (one-stroke penalty); either way, relief is compulsory if the ball or your stance is in the no play zone.
Copyright © 2018 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2018 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
