Ask Linda 1865-Breaking a tie in stroke play

Hello Linda, 

It is so great to be getting your emails again. Thank you for all the information you have provided especially for the 2019 changes.

My question concerns tie-break for 1^st Low Gross of a two day, two partner, Better Ball Tournament. 1^st Low Gross will be determined by the sum of the Team’s Gross scores from Day 1 and Day 2. There is no opportunity for a play-off, so our rules state:

If there is a tie at the end of competition for Low Gross, then a match of cards per USGA recommendations will determine the winner. That is on the basis of the best score for holes 10-18; 13-18; 16-18; 18 in that order until tie is broken. The losing card of the match will then be considered as part of the Low Net field.”

My Question: In the event of a tie, should I use this method using scores from Day 2 or from both Days?

Thank you.

Lulu from Sun City Center, Florida

Dear Lulu,

Use the scores from Day 2.

The USGA-recommended method for breaking ties when a play-off is not feasible is to determine the winning team based on the score for the last round.  Here is the exact wording from the Official Guide  (page 403 in my edition):

If the tying players have the same score for the last round or if the competition consisted of a single round, determine the winner based on the score for the last nine holes, last six holes, last three holes and finally the 18th hole. If there is still a tie, then the last six holes, three holes and final hole of the first nine holes will be considered in turn.

Linda

Copyright © 2019 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda 1864-Back-on-the-line relief in penalty area

Linda,
If dropping on the line, can the ball be dropped in the penalty area?

Lulu from Hollywood, Florida

Dear Lulu,

No.

When your ball lies in a penalty area, you may either play it as it lies in the penalty area or take penalty relief outside the penalty area under Rule 17.1d or 17.2 [Rule 17.1b]. 

Linda

Copyright © 2019 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda 1863-Place club on ground for alignment

Linda,

A fellow golfer recently stepped up to his tee shot mid-way through a round. While he was getting ready to hit he wondered if he was aiming correctly.

He consequently placed his driver on the ground, alongside his feet and saw that he was aiming too far right.

He picked up the club, realigned himself and then made his tee shot. Oddly enough he hit it out of bounds but that’s nothing to do with my question.

My question is under Rule 10.2 was he allowed to place the club on the ground at all?

Lou from Wellington, New Zealand

Dear Lou,

No.

Rule 10.2b(3) prohibits a player from taking a stance using any object set down to help him line up his feet or body. This player breached the Rule as soon as he set the club down alongside his feet; he cannot avoid penalty by backing away and removing the club. The penalty is loss of hole in match play, two strokes in stroke play.

Linda

Copyright © 2019 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda 1862-Attending the flagstick

Linda,

We can now putt with the pin in or out. To me that is perfectly clear. However, I have several partners that still insist on having the flag attended. Is this still permissible?

Thank you.

Lou from the U.K.

Dear Lou,

Yes.

You are permitted to authorize someone to attend the flagstick for you. This person will hold the flagstick in, above, or next to the hole to help you see it, and is expected to remove the flagstick after you make your stroke [Rule 13.2b(1)].

New for 2019: If your ball in motion accidentally hits the flagstick or the person attending it there is no penalty to anyone and you must play your ball as it lies [Rule 13.2b(2)].

Linda

Copyright © 2019 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda 1859 revisited

Dear readers,

I have received a number of emails from you regarding my column about a penalty for accidental movement of a ball on the teeing area due to inattentiveness. I could argue the question with you until the cows come home, which could be amusing but would not settle the issue. 

I’m writing to let you know that I sent this very same question to the USGA on January 29. Ordinarily, I would receive their answer within ten days, but apparently the officials currently answering questions are so swamped with inquiries about the new Rules that the wait time for a response is considerably longer.

When I eventually receive their answer, I will share it on the blog. That will settle the question once and for all.

Regards,

Linda

Ask Linda 1861- Place object to help align stance

Linda,

The way Rule 10.2b(3) reads to me is that you cannot avoid the penalty the moment you lay anything down that may line up your stroke, whether you take a stance or not.

The explanation as it reads indicates that if you put an object down, do not take your stance, and then remove the object, you will not be penalized.

Please help, as it has been explained to me that the logic is to speed up play as well as use your judgment to line yourself up.

Lou from Bodicote (near London)

Dear Lou,

The Rule states that you “must not take a stance for the stroke using any object that was set down…” And it repeats, “if the player takes a stance in breach of this Rule, he or she cannot avoid penalty by backing away from the stance and removing the object.” Thus there is no penalty if you place an object on the ground and remove it before you take your stance. I posed this question at the USGA Rules workshop; this was the answer I received. 

Linda

Copyright © 2019 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda 1860-Drop area on green side of yellow penalty area

Linda,

We have on our course a very difficult ravine to cross over on a par five hole. It has been proposed to have a drop area if you go into the ravine. If you dropped on the opposite side you would be closer to the green. However every par three on the course has a drop area closer to the green. Why then is allowing a drop area on this hole causing a problem? Since our ladies group is made up of handicaps from 11 to over 36, allowing a drop area on this hole makes sense. What say you Linda Miller? Thank you for your reply.

Lulu from Green Valley, Arizona

Dear Lulu,

I say put the drop area wherever you want and let the ladies enjoy their round! (Just kidding, but it was fun to say that.)

Dropping zones should generally be established to give players an extra relief option when one or more of the relief options under the Rules is not available or practicable. They should (not must) be located where the player would still have to negotiate the penalty area, which means that they should not be established on the green side of a yellow penalty area [2I-Dropping Zones (2), page 392 in my edition of the Official Guide].

However, since the Official Guidesays “should,” and not “must,” it apparently is not against the Rules to locate a dropping zone on the green side of a yellow penalty area. This dropping zone should be optional, and the individual Committees in charge of different leagues should decide whether to permit their members to use such dropping zones.

The game of golf was not meant to be a simple walk in the park. It saddens me to learn of dropping zones located on the green side of obstacles that were meant to be negotiated. It feels like the architect’s design is being disrespected, and the Rules of Golf are being skirted. Consider implementing Maximum Score or Stableford as the format for your league play. That would keep the challenge of crossing the ravine in place for the better golfers, and allow the less-skilled players to remain in the competition.

Linda

Copyright © 2019 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda 1859-Accidentally move ball in play

Linda,

Is there a penalty for moving your ball in play under the following circumstances:

1. The player has initially hit from the tee and his second shot has rebounded from a tree and returned to the teeing area. While walking to the ball’s new position, the player accidentally bumps his ball with the wheel of his pushcart and moves it. 

2. The player’s drive has gone down the middle of the fairway. While walking toward the ball in conversation with a colleague, the player accidentally bumps his ball with the wheel of his pushcart and moves it. The ball lay within an area marked as GUR.

Lou from Canberra, Australia

Dear Lou,

There would be no penalty in the first situation, and a one-stroke penalty in the second. 

1. No penalty for accidental movement of ball on teeing area.

There is no penalty for such accidental movements as inadvertently bumping your ball on the teeing area with the wheel of your pushcart or stepping on your ball. The applicable Rule is 6.2b(6), which allows the player to lift or move his ball in play that lies in the teeing area after a stroke (e.g., a whiff) without penalty. [Note: I have heard from several of you who are appalled that anyone would bring a pushcart onto the teeing area. Please understand that this was a hypothetical question; no-one is advocating wheeling your cart onto the teeing area.]

2. One-stroke penalty for accidental movement of ball in plain sight on fairway.

My understanding of your question is that the ball was in plain sight and the player was aware of its location. This player would be subject to a one-stroke penalty under Rule 9.4b for causing his ball at rest to move. There are exceptions to this Rule (of course), but none of them apply to this situation. Rule 7, which excuses the player from penalty if he accidentally moves his ball while searching for it, is not applicable here – the player was not searching for his ball.

In summary, there is no penalty for accidentally causing your ball to move on the teeing area of the hole you are playing. Elsewhere (with the notable exception of the putting green), the penalty is one stroke and the ball must be replaced, unless another Exception in Rule 9.4b applies, such as the ball is moved during search.

Linda

Copyright © 2019 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda 1858-Relief from dog paw prints in bunker

Linda,

My question concerns animals in bunkers and I am somewhat confused by this one.

One of the bunkers was full of dog paw prints. There were no holes or scrapes, just numerous indentations. A player took relief under Rule 16.1c [Relief for Ball in Bunker]. Were there scrapes and holes I believe that would be correct, but in their absence I don't believe relief is available. No relief is available for isolated prints, but they were certainly not isolated. Could you kindly clarify, and if relief is not possible can we make a local rule to cover all prints in the bunker? This is a frequent occurrence.

Regards,

Lou from France

Dear Lou,

There is no free relief from paw prints in a bunker; they do not meet the Definition of “Abnormal Course Condition.” Nor would it be permissible to declare them ground under repair. There is a Local Rule that may be adopted to deal with damage by animals, but it pertains to damage in the general area, which does not include bunkers [Model Local Rule F-10, page 483 in my edition of the Official Guide]. There is also a Local Rule to deal with animal hoof damage [F-13], but that would not apply to dogs, as they do not have hooves. 

Linda

Copyright © 2019 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda 1857-Penalty for practice

Hi Linda,

It's a busy time at the moment.

A query arose at the weekend regarding Rule 5.2.

Before a stroke play competition at the weekend a group of 3 players practised chipping and putting onto the 18th green whilst awaiting their tee-off time.

Previously this would have meant disqualification. However, currently under Rule 5.2b there would be the general penalty for the first breach and disqualification for a subsequent breach.

Would you please clarify the following:

If a player plays numerous chips and putts, is that one breach?

If, prior to playing his round, a player practices on the course, moves away but then returns to practice again does that then become a separate breach?

Regards,

Lou from France

Dear Lou,

It is my understanding that the two-stroke penalty for practice is for the first breach of the Rule. The first breach would be one single act, such as one practice stroke. The player would be disqualified for a second act, such as a second practice stroke. 

Here is a clarification of Rule 5.2 that was published by the USGA/R&A in December 2018:

Rule 5.2

First Breach Happens When First Stroke Made:

The penalty for the first breach of Rule 5.2 applies when a player commits a single act (such as making a stroke). The disqualification penalty for the second breach applies when that player commits any subsequent act that is not allowed (such as rolling a ball or making another stroke). These are not treated as related acts under Rule 1.3c(4).

Linda

Copyright © 2019 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda 1856-So many misunderstandings!

Hi Linda,

All sorts of things are happening in my area – many golfers assume that the local rule re: lost or out of bounds ball was in affect and proceeded with dropping and taking a 2-stroke penalty; one golfer told his fellow golfers that he was entitled to free relief from a divot because his ball was embedded – his definition was his ball was “below the surface of the ground” therefore his ball was embedded. Don’t know where he got that from. Others have told me they are entitled to ground their club in a bunker. No. One of the courses in our area has turned everything in the general area (bar the fairway, tees, bunkers, and greens) into red penalty areas. Some of the members think they have to take a 2-stroke penalty when dropping from that penalty area. Some members have complained. I suggested to my club that, initially, the least they change the better. 

My question is about holding the flagstick. Previously I could hold the flagstick with one hand (flag out of the hole of course) and putt with the other. Can I hold the flagstick with one hand – leaving the flag in the hole – and putt with the other hand? The reason I ask is – it’s quite a mixed bag with some players wanting the flag left in, some wanting it out, and depending on the distance. I like it left in. I was going to pull the flag out for the next player after my tap-in putt.

Kindest Regards,

Lulu from Queenstown, New Zealand

Dear Lulu,

In case some readers are confused about the same Rules that are confounding players in your area, I will briefly address each of the issues you raise.

• Local Rule E-5 (page 468 in my edition of the Official Guide), which allows players to drop in the vicinity of where their ball was lost or out of bounds for a two-stroke penalty, is a Local Rule. It must be adopted by your Committee to be in effect. Please read the column I wrote explaining this Local Rule: http://lindamillergolf.blogspot.com/2018/12/2019local-rule-e-5-alternative-to.html

• A ball is embedded only if it is partially below the ground in its own pitch mark. Picture your ball flying through the air after a shot and diving into the ground. It is possible for a ball to be embedded in a divot hole if it plunged below the ground in the divot hole. However, a ball lying on the surface of the ground in a divot hole is not an embedded ball; no part of the ball is below the surface of the ground. Please review Rule 16.3a and the accompanying diagram.

• There are new Rules regarding what you may do in a bunker (e.g., remove loose impediments, lean on a club, strike the sand in anger), but grounding your club behind the ball is not one of them. Rule 12.2b (1) states that a player will get the general penalty for touching the sand with a club in the area right in front of or right behind the ball.

• The Committee has basically been given carte blanche to define areas where a ball is often lost or difficult to play from as penalty areas. Labeling every area  outside the fairways, teeing locations, bunkers, and putting greens is a bit absurd; perhaps the Committee will eventually come to its senses. The penalty for taking relief from a penalty area is only one stroke [Rule 17.1d].

Now to your question. You may not hold the flagstick for the purpose of steadying yourself, but you are allowed to make a one-handed stroke while holding the flagstick with the other hand. You may hold the flagstick in or out of the hole. In other words, you may attend your own flagstick. If you hold it in the hole, you may remove the flagstick while making the one-handed stroke. You must not deliberately allow the ball in motion to hit the flagstick [Interpretation 13.2b(1)/2 and Rule 13.2b(2)]. 

Linda

Copyright © 2019 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda 1855-In-again-out-again flagstick

Linda,

The new rule is that the flag can stay in during putting. If I am putting and leave the flag in and the next person wants it out, what is the ruling?

Lulu from Massapequa, New York

Dear Lulu,

Each player has the choice whether to leave the flagstick in the hole, have it attended, or have it removed when it is her turn to putt. So if you putt first and want it in, leave it in. If the next person wants it out, take it out. And if the third player wants it attended, replace and attend. Let me know whether these new permissions save any time…

Linda

Copyright © 2019 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda 1854-Accidentally move ball

Linda,

I know if you move the ball accidentally on the green you may replace it with no penalty. If you take a practice swing on the fairway and accidentally move your ball, do you replace that ball also without a penalty?

Lulu from Green Valley, Arizona

Dear Lulu,

No. You get one penalty stroke for accidentally moving your ball in play when it is not on the putting green, and you must replace it. If you fail to replace it before you hit, your penalty will increase to two strokes [Rule 9.4].

Linda

Copyright © 2019 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda 1853-What is meant by dropping from knee height

Hi Linda,

Welcome back. We've missed you.

This question that arose last week in a monthly medal.

There was a strong discussion about an incorrectly dropped ball. Player A dropped his ball from a penalty area. Player B claimed he had dropped it from an incorrect height because his legs were bent and his knees were lower than the prescribed knee height. Player A claimed that although his legs were bent he had measured knee height before stooping and dropped from that height which was in fact above his stooped knee position. My understanding is that the position of the body is irrelevant and provided the ball is dropped fairly from the correct height (height of knee when standing) then the drop is correct. I gave that ruling. Was that the right decision?

Lou from France

Dear Lou,

Yes. Rule 14.3 states that the player must drop the ball straight down from knee height. “Knee height” is defined as “the height of the player’s knee when in a standing position.” The Rule does not require the player to stand at attention and bend from the waist until his hand reaches the level of his knee before releasing the ball (although this method would eliminate all arguments regarding whether the height were correct). Some more-seasoned players may have back issues precluding bending from the waist. The player may take whatever position is comfortable or necessary to drop the ball from what would be knee height if he were standing straight. 

Linda

Copyright © 2019 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda 1852-Carry partner’s clubs

Hi Linda,

Glad you are back from the workshop. Hope you enjoyed it.

Recently at my club there was a trolley ban because of muddy conditions. Playing in a three-person team event, two players each carried several clubs belonging to the third member of the team who could not carry a bag owing to a bad back. There was no sharing of clubs.

Do you think this arrangement is in breach of Rule 10.3a(1), “Player allowed only one caddie at a time”?

Definition of Caddie: “A person who carries...a player's clubs during play…even if not named as a caddie by the player”.

Thank you.

Kind regards,

Lou from Devon, UK

Dear Lou,

I would like to think that no Committee would penalize a player for having two caddies under such circumstances. Since players on the same side are allowed to advise and assist one another, I would find myself hard-pressed to consider this a violation of the one-caddie Rule. 

Vocabulary clarification: Three golfers playing together as partners are a side, not a team. A team is a group of players playing as individuals or sides against another team or teams (think Ryder Cup or a college match).

Linda

Copyright © 2019 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Response from Lou:

Would you agree that strictly speaking it is a violation?

My response:

Frankly, Lou, I don’t see it as a violation, but this is just my opinion. Why don’t you try asking an R&A official for another opinion? 

Response from Lou:

I have just heard from the R&A Rules Department. They say, “Interpretation 4.1b(2)/1 clarifies that this is permissible. The other two players are not considered caddies.” My opinion is different but there we are.

Ask Linda 1851a-Rub of the green is still with us

Linda,

For what it’s worth, “rub of the green” may no longer be in the Rules but it’s still in the language with a very relevant meaning. Rub of the green means the influence of the grain. 

When Hamlet says “Ay, there’s the rub” he is making a metaphoric reference to the way a ball (he probably meant a lawn-bowling ball) which had been rolling true may be deflected by the grain and “turn awry...”

Thanks so much for your excellent and entertaining information!

Lou from Sarasota, Florida

Ask Linda 1851-Lament loss of “rub of the green”

Linda,

The term "rub of the green" is no longer used.  How do I explain or

what term do I use when a drive on a par 3 hits a tarp used to cover

new greens (temporary obstruction) and goes into a penalty area?

Thank you,

Lulu from South Carolina

Dear Lulu,

Bad luck? C’est la vie? Fate? Unfortunate result? Take your pick. Use your imagination!

Linda

Copyright © 2019 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda 1850-Play music during round

Linda,

I am confused as to whether the 2019 Modernization rules allow music on the golf course or not! Can you please help? I was at a class and the instructor stated it is now OK as long as you don’t disturb other players.

Thanks in advance...

Lou from Avondale, Arizona

Dear Lou,

You are permitted to listen to music, provided your reason for doing so is not to eliminate distractions or help with your swing tempo [Rule 4.3a(4)]. However, the Rules expect you to show consideration to others [Rule 1.2a]. If your music is disturbing anyone, you should turn it off. The Committee has the option to ban music.

My feeling is that playing music quietly (read “using earbuds”) if you happen to be playing by yourself is acceptable; playing music when you have company is just plain rude.

Linda

Copyright © 2019 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda 1849-Player arrives late for match

Linda,

Playing match play, I’m late for the match. My opponent plays two holes. If I have not played the first two holes and catch her and play the rest of the course, am I disqualified or do I just lose the first two holes?

Thanks.

Lulu from Palm Desert, California 

Dear Lulu,

You are disqualified [Rule 5.3a]. If you had arrived within five minutes of your starting time, your penalty would have been loss of the first hole.

Linda

Copyright © 2019 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda 1848-Ball leans against incorrectly replaced flagstick

Linda,

A ball came to rest against a flagstick that was not correctly in the hole. The ball was above ground and no part of it was below the surface of the hole.

When the flagstick was moved (not removed) the ball fell into the hole.

Please let me know if the ball is holed or should it be replaced on the edge of the hole.

Lou from Bodicote (near London)

Dear Lou,

When a ball comes to rest against a flagstick, the ball is treated as holed only if some part of the ball is below the surface of the putting green. The position of the flagstick (whether straight or leaning) has no effect on this ruling.

If no part of the ball dips below the surface, the ball is not holed, and nothing the player subsequently does to the flagstick changes that ruling. If the ball moves when the flagstick is moved (or removed), there is no penalty and the ball must be replaced on the lip of the hole, regardless of whether the ball moves away from the hole or falls into it [Rule 13.2c]. 

Linda

Copyright © 2019 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda 1847-Flagstick issues

Happy New Year Linda,

Love the new rules!

There have been a couple of situations that have come up at my club since the new rules have been implemented.

1) Can the person putting hold the flag while it is in the hole, not for stability but so that the flagstick isn't leaning in their direction, or can they pull the flagstick out of hole, hold the flagstick and putt?

2) If you opt to have the flagstick attended, will you incur any penalty if the ball hits the stick?

Thank you for all you do! I look forward to hearing from you!

Sincerely,

Lulu from South Carolina

Dear Lulu,

1) If the flagstick was not centered by the preceding group, the player may leave it in that position or center it [Rule 13.2a(1), Interpretation 13.2a(1)/1]. She must not deliberately lean the flagstick in a more favorable direction. 

If her ball lies so close to the hole that she would feel comfortable holding the flagstick out of the hole with one hand while she putts with the other, she may do so. 

The player is also permitted to attend her own flagstick, meaning she may hold the flagstick in the hole with one hand while she putts with the other. She may remove the flagstick while her putted ball is in motion, but she must not deliberately allow her putted ball to touch the flagstick [Interpretation 13.2b(1)/2].

I would recommend the player either center the flagstick and putt with two hands (best choice), or hold it out of the hole with one hand while she putts with the other. I foresee unnecessary, time-wasting arguments arising from a player attending her own flagstick and allowing the ball to hit it.

2) There is no penalty to anyone if your ball accidentally hits the flagstick or the person attending it [Rule 13.2b(2)].

Linda

Copyright © 2019 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda 1846a-Vocabulary correction

Dear readers,

I fell into the same trap I told you to avoid (using the old term hazard instead of the new term penalty area). Please revisit the column, where you may now safely read about relief from a yellow penalty area without encountering the forever-banned hazard.

http://lindamillergolf.blogspot.com/2019/02/ask-linda-1846-ball-crosses-yellow.html

Linda

Ask Linda 1846-Ball crosses yellow penalty area and rolls back in

Dear Linda,

My partner hit her ball over a yellow-staked water hazard. The ball landed on the green and rolled back into the water. She said she could drop from the green side of the hazard as it is now referred to as a penalty area, and all penalty areas are treated the same. I thought she still had to keep the water hazard between the flag and her ball. Am I wrong?

Thank you for your help in advance.

Lulu from Burbank, California

Dear Lulu,

Allow me to update your vocabulary to 2019 before I answer your question.

The word “hazard” is no longer used. The new term is “penalty area,” and it applies to any body of water on the course as well as any other part of the course the Committee defines as a penalty area (e.g., deserts, heavily wooded areas).

Penalty areas may be marked by yellow or red stakes or lines. Yellow and red penalty areas are not  treated the same. Yellow penalty areas have two relief options; red penalty areas have three.

In your question, the player’s ball rolled into a yellow-staked penalty area. If she decides to take relief, she must add one penalty stroke to her score and she has two relief choices: (1) play another ball under stroke and distance; or (2) play another ball back on the line. Please review Rule 17.1d and study Diagram #1 17.1d: Relief for Ball in Yellow Penalty Area. The player might be able to drop on the green side of the yellow penalty area if she chooses the back-on-the-line relief option. Depending on the location of the flagstick and the configuration of the hole, there may be a bit of land behind the spot where the ball last crossed the edge of the penalty area. However, in situations where the penalty area crosses the fairway, and you need a bridge to traverse it, back-on-the-line relief will be behind the penalty area (on the tee side).

Linda

Copyright © 2019 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.