January 16, 2008
Permit me to introduce myself. I play in a golf league at Ramblewood Country Club where I serve as the rules consultant. I work for the South Jersey Golf Association (SJGA), where I am the Tournament Director for the men’s tournaments and also serve on the committee that runs the women's interclub team matches. I have studied the rules of golf for several years, and I attended the USGA four-day workshop on golf rules in 2006. I will once again attend this class next month (February, 2008), as there have been some changes to the rules this year.
I started my “Ask Linda” column in 2005 at Ramblewood Country Club in Mount Laurel, New Jersey, and have since expanded my audience to include the captains of the SJGA interclub teams, SJGA tournament players, and other interested golfers I have picked up along the way. Basically, a golfer will call or e-mail me with a rules question. Up until today I e-mailed the question and answer to every reader. I have now joined the 21st century and will post the questions and my answers on my blog. In composing my answer, I change the questioner’s name to “Lulu” (in honor of the smart and sassy comic book character), and also create fictitious names for any person named in the question. I want people to seek answers to their questions without fear of embarrassment.
I have updated the 34 columns I wrote over the past three years to conform with the 2008 Rules of Golf published by the United States Golf Association (USGA). If you have saved these columns, it would be best to toss them out and replace them with the edited versions on my new blog– some of the information in those old columns is now outdated or incorrect, due to the 2008 rules changes.
In the Golf Rules section of my blog, I plan to go into greater detail explaining many of the rules of golf. Eventually I would like to address all of them, but for now I will begin with those rules that are most commonly misunderstood and misinterpreted. If there is a particular rule you would like me to explain, please let me know and I will make it a top priority.
If you wish to subscribe to my blog, click on "Subscribe to Ask Linda: Golf Rules You Can Understand by E-mail" in the upper right-hand corner of my blog and follow the simple directions. If you subscribe, then every time I write a new column, you will receive it via e-mail. You may unsubscribe at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of each e-mail.
I sincerely hope you enjoy reading my columns. Please send me your questions via e-mail or phone so that we may all continue to learn together and share an occasional chuckle about the persnickety rules of golf.
Linda Miller
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Ask Linda #35 - wrong place; impediments in bunker
Linda, a couple of questions for you and also, what would the etiquette be?
On the putting green, Player A asks Player B to mark his ball to the left so that it is not in the way of Player A's putt. When it is Player B’s turn to putt, he forgets to replace the ball in the correct spot. Player B takes two strokes to hole out. Does player B also incur a one-stroke penalty for not replacing in the proper spot? And if this is a Better Ball two-man team event, when is the proper time to tell player B of his mistake? Should he be told right after he putts? If his partner hasn't putted yet, should the proper etiquette be to wait until after his partner putts out?
Also, if a player lands in a fairway bunker and proceeds to remove leaves near his ball before he strikes the ball, when is the proper time to tell that player of this infraction? I was told you cannot remove anything (divots, leaves, etc.) from a bunker before you hit your ball. If this is a penalty, should you tell him right then and there, or after everyone has holed out?
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
To answer your first question, when a player putts from what is known as a “wrong place,” that player incurs a two-stroke penalty (Rule 20-7a, c). The same infraction in match play would result in the player losing the hole. The proper time to inform a player of an infraction is when it happens.
That being said, if you notice a player about to commit an infraction, then in the interest of good sportsmanship you should warn him, thereby saving him the penalty and winning a new friend for yourself. If it is not possible to issue a warning in time, then you have no choice but to advise him of the infraction and the penalty. If neither of you is certain of the penalty, that issue can be resolved at the end of the round by referring the question to the Committee (in this case, that would be the Tournament Director).
With regard to your second question, Rule 13-4c tells us that a player may not touch or move any loose impediments lying in a hazard. If he does so, then the penalty is two strokes (loss of hole in match play). The only exception to this is if a player is searching for his ball in a hazard. In that case, when he finds his ball he must recover his ball with the loose impediments, leaving only a part of his ball visible (Rule 12-1). As with your first question, the player should be told of the infraction when he commits it. If there is any chance to warn that player before he touches the loose impediments, please do so.
Lulu, a word about etiquette. When I say that you should inform the player when he commits his infraction, I am assuming that you understand that if someone else is in the process of making a stroke (or in their routine prior to making a stroke), that you should wait for that second player to hit the ball before informing the first player that he incurred a penalty. Players should never be talking or moving when another player is preparing to hit a ball.
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
On the putting green, Player A asks Player B to mark his ball to the left so that it is not in the way of Player A's putt. When it is Player B’s turn to putt, he forgets to replace the ball in the correct spot. Player B takes two strokes to hole out. Does player B also incur a one-stroke penalty for not replacing in the proper spot? And if this is a Better Ball two-man team event, when is the proper time to tell player B of his mistake? Should he be told right after he putts? If his partner hasn't putted yet, should the proper etiquette be to wait until after his partner putts out?
Also, if a player lands in a fairway bunker and proceeds to remove leaves near his ball before he strikes the ball, when is the proper time to tell that player of this infraction? I was told you cannot remove anything (divots, leaves, etc.) from a bunker before you hit your ball. If this is a penalty, should you tell him right then and there, or after everyone has holed out?
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
To answer your first question, when a player putts from what is known as a “wrong place,” that player incurs a two-stroke penalty (Rule 20-7a, c). The same infraction in match play would result in the player losing the hole. The proper time to inform a player of an infraction is when it happens.
That being said, if you notice a player about to commit an infraction, then in the interest of good sportsmanship you should warn him, thereby saving him the penalty and winning a new friend for yourself. If it is not possible to issue a warning in time, then you have no choice but to advise him of the infraction and the penalty. If neither of you is certain of the penalty, that issue can be resolved at the end of the round by referring the question to the Committee (in this case, that would be the Tournament Director).
With regard to your second question, Rule 13-4c tells us that a player may not touch or move any loose impediments lying in a hazard. If he does so, then the penalty is two strokes (loss of hole in match play). The only exception to this is if a player is searching for his ball in a hazard. In that case, when he finds his ball he must recover his ball with the loose impediments, leaving only a part of his ball visible (Rule 12-1). As with your first question, the player should be told of the infraction when he commits it. If there is any chance to warn that player before he touches the loose impediments, please do so.
Lulu, a word about etiquette. When I say that you should inform the player when he commits his infraction, I am assuming that you understand that if someone else is in the process of making a stroke (or in their routine prior to making a stroke), that you should wait for that second player to hit the ball before informing the first player that he incurred a penalty. Players should never be talking or moving when another player is preparing to hit a ball.
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
Ask Linda #34 - new 2008 handicap changes
Dear Linda,
I have heard that there will be some changes to the golf rules in 2008. Is this true? Can you tell me what they will be?
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
Your sources are correct, Lulu. The USGA changes, modifies, and does some subtle tweaking to the Rules of Golf every four years, and 2008 is one of those years of change. I would strongly recommend that you and all my readers purchase a new USGA Rules of Golf Book soon, as your old one is now obsolete.
There are a few important changes this year. I will explain them to you early in March. Since I am attending a USGA Rules of Golf Workshop at the end of February, I thought it best to wait until after that class so that I can let you know all the new rules as well as their correct interpretations.
However, I don’t want you to have to leave this communication empty-handed, so I will explain two new changes to the handicap system in 2008 that you will notice as soon as you visit the GHIN.com website.
Prior to January 1, when you visited GHIN.com looking for a fellow golfer’s handicap and scoring information, you would find the date and course on which each round was played. Now you will only see the month and the score, with no reference to the course or the particular day. The USGA made this change because it was concerned with privacy issues. However, the Handicap Committee at your club, fellow club members, and officials in charge of any outside tournaments in which you compete will be able to access your complete record. (You can do this from your computer only if you know the golfer’s GHIN number.)
The other major change to handicap procedures is that GAP and the NJSGA are now set up to accept scores if you are playing winter golf in a state where golf is in an “active” season” (such as Florida). If you winter in the warm and sunny South, you no longer have to keep a record of your scores and post them all at once when you return home. You may post those scores at the club, if it has a GHIN computer, or you may post them online at GHIN.com. Your Handicap Index will be revised once a month from now until April 1, which is the date when golf once again becomes “active” in New Jersey.
So go out and purchase a new rule book, look over the principal changes (located in the front of the book), consider reviewing all the rules in the book (you spent good money on the book – might as well read it), and I promise to explain the changes to you in March.
Happy New Year, everyone!
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
I have heard that there will be some changes to the golf rules in 2008. Is this true? Can you tell me what they will be?
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
Your sources are correct, Lulu. The USGA changes, modifies, and does some subtle tweaking to the Rules of Golf every four years, and 2008 is one of those years of change. I would strongly recommend that you and all my readers purchase a new USGA Rules of Golf Book soon, as your old one is now obsolete.
There are a few important changes this year. I will explain them to you early in March. Since I am attending a USGA Rules of Golf Workshop at the end of February, I thought it best to wait until after that class so that I can let you know all the new rules as well as their correct interpretations.
However, I don’t want you to have to leave this communication empty-handed, so I will explain two new changes to the handicap system in 2008 that you will notice as soon as you visit the GHIN.com website.
Prior to January 1, when you visited GHIN.com looking for a fellow golfer’s handicap and scoring information, you would find the date and course on which each round was played. Now you will only see the month and the score, with no reference to the course or the particular day. The USGA made this change because it was concerned with privacy issues. However, the Handicap Committee at your club, fellow club members, and officials in charge of any outside tournaments in which you compete will be able to access your complete record. (You can do this from your computer only if you know the golfer’s GHIN number.)
The other major change to handicap procedures is that GAP and the NJSGA are now set up to accept scores if you are playing winter golf in a state where golf is in an “active” season” (such as Florida). If you winter in the warm and sunny South, you no longer have to keep a record of your scores and post them all at once when you return home. You may post those scores at the club, if it has a GHIN computer, or you may post them online at GHIN.com. Your Handicap Index will be revised once a month from now until April 1, which is the date when golf once again becomes “active” in New Jersey.
So go out and purchase a new rule book, look over the principal changes (located in the front of the book), consider reviewing all the rules in the book (you spent good money on the book – might as well read it), and I promise to explain the changes to you in March.
Happy New Year, everyone!
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
Ask Linda #33 - lost ball; provisional ball
Dear Linda,
While trying to cut the corner of a dogleg, my ball nicked a branch and it was thought to have deflected off the branch, across the fairway, and into a wooded area. After searching for 3 minutes or 5 minutes I decided to hit a provisional ball. The search concluded and the provisional ball was played. As we advanced toward the green my original ball was spotted right in the middle of the fairway. It was 50 yards past the area we had searched and 50 yards beyond the location of my provisional tee shot. At this point which ball is in play?
Lou Lou
Dear Lou Lou,
First, allow me to compliment you on your creative spelling of “Lulu.” This is a wonderful solution to my dilemma of wondering whether men would be uncomfortable being referred to as “Lulu.” Henceforth, women questioners will be Lulu and men will be Lou Lou.
Your question raises several issues, so please be patient while I address them all. Let’s begin with a look into what exactly is a provisional ball (Rule 27-2). You may hit a provisional ball for a ball that may be lost or out of bounds. However, if you are going to hit a provisional ball, you must hit it before you go forward and search for your possibly lost or out of bounds ball. Once you move ahead and start searching, you may not go back to hit a provisional. In your case, since you did not hit a provisional right away, then when you could not find your ball and you went back to the spot where you had hit the previous ball and you hit another ball, that ball became the ball in play, and you must add a one stroke penalty to your score (Rule 27-2a). The fact that you later found your original ball is irrelevant. The new ball you hit is the ball that now counts; the old (original) ball that you found gets tossed into your golf bag.
Now let’s take a look at this searching business. It makes a big difference whether you were searching for 3 minutes or 5, so we will have to look at both situations. I’ll start with the easy one. Once you have searched for 5 minutes, your ball is officially lost (Definition of Lost Ball). If it is found after 5 minutes have elapsed, you may not play it ¬– you must return to where you hit your previous shot and hit another ball (adding a one stroke penalty).
If you search for your ball for 3 minutes, give up, start walking back to put another ball into play, and your friends find your ball before 5 minutes have elapsed, and before you have put another ball into play, then you must go forward and play your original ball. You must always play your original ball if it is found within 5 minutes and it is not out of bounds.
To sum up, (1) if you think your ball might be lost or out of bounds, hit a second ball as a provisional before you go forward to search. (2) If you search for a ball for 5 minutes and do not find it, it is a lost ball regardless of whether someone finds it later. Hit another ball from where you hit your previous shot and add a one stroke penalty to your score (this is commonly referred to as “stroke and distance”).
Suppose for a moment that you had correctly hit a provisional ball from the tee because you thought you would have trouble finding your first shot (and you should always do this, as it saves both time and aggravation). Here is the new scenario in proper sequence: First shot may be lost. Hit a provisional immediately (don’t forget to announce that it is a provisional). Go forward to search. Search for 3 minutes and give up (remember it’s officially lost after 5 minutes). Hit a second shot with your provisional. Find your original ball 50 yards ahead (always a pleasant surprise). Now you must abandon your provisional and play the hole with your original ball. Do not count any strokes or penalties incurred while you were playing the provisional ball. There are two reasons why you are now permitted to continue with the original ball: (1) you did not search for more than 5 minutes; and (2) you did not hit the provisional ball from a place that was nearer the hole than your original ball (Rule 27-2b).
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
While trying to cut the corner of a dogleg, my ball nicked a branch and it was thought to have deflected off the branch, across the fairway, and into a wooded area. After searching for 3 minutes or 5 minutes I decided to hit a provisional ball. The search concluded and the provisional ball was played. As we advanced toward the green my original ball was spotted right in the middle of the fairway. It was 50 yards past the area we had searched and 50 yards beyond the location of my provisional tee shot. At this point which ball is in play?
Lou Lou
Dear Lou Lou,
First, allow me to compliment you on your creative spelling of “Lulu.” This is a wonderful solution to my dilemma of wondering whether men would be uncomfortable being referred to as “Lulu.” Henceforth, women questioners will be Lulu and men will be Lou Lou.
Your question raises several issues, so please be patient while I address them all. Let’s begin with a look into what exactly is a provisional ball (Rule 27-2). You may hit a provisional ball for a ball that may be lost or out of bounds. However, if you are going to hit a provisional ball, you must hit it before you go forward and search for your possibly lost or out of bounds ball. Once you move ahead and start searching, you may not go back to hit a provisional. In your case, since you did not hit a provisional right away, then when you could not find your ball and you went back to the spot where you had hit the previous ball and you hit another ball, that ball became the ball in play, and you must add a one stroke penalty to your score (Rule 27-2a). The fact that you later found your original ball is irrelevant. The new ball you hit is the ball that now counts; the old (original) ball that you found gets tossed into your golf bag.
Now let’s take a look at this searching business. It makes a big difference whether you were searching for 3 minutes or 5, so we will have to look at both situations. I’ll start with the easy one. Once you have searched for 5 minutes, your ball is officially lost (Definition of Lost Ball). If it is found after 5 minutes have elapsed, you may not play it ¬– you must return to where you hit your previous shot and hit another ball (adding a one stroke penalty).
If you search for your ball for 3 minutes, give up, start walking back to put another ball into play, and your friends find your ball before 5 minutes have elapsed, and before you have put another ball into play, then you must go forward and play your original ball. You must always play your original ball if it is found within 5 minutes and it is not out of bounds.
To sum up, (1) if you think your ball might be lost or out of bounds, hit a second ball as a provisional before you go forward to search. (2) If you search for a ball for 5 minutes and do not find it, it is a lost ball regardless of whether someone finds it later. Hit another ball from where you hit your previous shot and add a one stroke penalty to your score (this is commonly referred to as “stroke and distance”).
Suppose for a moment that you had correctly hit a provisional ball from the tee because you thought you would have trouble finding your first shot (and you should always do this, as it saves both time and aggravation). Here is the new scenario in proper sequence: First shot may be lost. Hit a provisional immediately (don’t forget to announce that it is a provisional). Go forward to search. Search for 3 minutes and give up (remember it’s officially lost after 5 minutes). Hit a second shot with your provisional. Find your original ball 50 yards ahead (always a pleasant surprise). Now you must abandon your provisional and play the hole with your original ball. Do not count any strokes or penalties incurred while you were playing the provisional ball. There are two reasons why you are now permitted to continue with the original ball: (1) you did not search for more than 5 minutes; and (2) you did not hit the provisional ball from a place that was nearer the hole than your original ball (Rule 27-2b).
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
Ask Linda #32 - posting scores
Dear Linda,
Most of the golf I play is in a 2-person scramble format. Should I be posting a score for these rounds?
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
While the USGA would like you to post all your scores, it does not want you to post scores that are not played under the Rules of Golf. In such formats as scrambles, alternate shot, Scotch Chapman, Ryder Cup, etc., you are not playing your own ball and consequently not observing the rules. You do not post these scores.
Since you have raised the topic of posting scores, I would like to remind my readers to post 9-hole scores when you play at least 7 holes, and post 18-hole scores when you play at least 13 holes. The score you record for the holes you do not play is par plus any additional strokes you would receive based on your Course Handicap. For example, let’s say you are playing a course where your Course Handicap is 13. The hour is growing late, and you and your friends decide to call it a day and not play the last 2 holes. The 17th hole (par 5) is the #3 handicap hole, and the 18th hole (par 4) is the #14 handicap hole. For handicap purposes, you would record a 6 on the 17th hole (par plus 1, according to your Course Handicap of 13, which would entitle you to a stroke on the #3 handicap hole), and a 4 on the 18th hole (with a Course Handicap of 13 you would not be entitled to a stroke on the #14 handicap hole).
Also, please remember that when you pick up on a hole you should record your most likely score, which is not the most likely score you would like to have! For example, if you are lying 4 on the green facing a 30-foot putt, you would record a 6 (come on, Lulu, even you know that a 30-footer is not a gimme!).
For those of you hardy souls that remain up north and play winter golf, you will not be posting any scores until the season reopens on April 1. This is your chance to shed the shackles of course management and play with complete abandon. For those of you who escape to warmer climes, please be aware that you can now post them at the club (if it has a GHIN computer) or you can post them online at GHIN.com. If neither of these options are available to you, please remember to keep a record of all your golf rounds (date, name of course, course and slope rating, ESC score), and post them at your home club after April 1.
“ESC” refers to Equitable Stroke Control. If you have an unusually bad hole, you must lower that score before you total your score and post it. If your Course Handicap is 9 or less, the maximum number you are allowed to post for any hole is double bogey; from 10 to 19, your maximum is 7; from 20 to 29, your maximum is 8; from 30 to 39, your maximum is 9; and for 40 or more, your maximum is 10.
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
Most of the golf I play is in a 2-person scramble format. Should I be posting a score for these rounds?
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
While the USGA would like you to post all your scores, it does not want you to post scores that are not played under the Rules of Golf. In such formats as scrambles, alternate shot, Scotch Chapman, Ryder Cup, etc., you are not playing your own ball and consequently not observing the rules. You do not post these scores.
Since you have raised the topic of posting scores, I would like to remind my readers to post 9-hole scores when you play at least 7 holes, and post 18-hole scores when you play at least 13 holes. The score you record for the holes you do not play is par plus any additional strokes you would receive based on your Course Handicap. For example, let’s say you are playing a course where your Course Handicap is 13. The hour is growing late, and you and your friends decide to call it a day and not play the last 2 holes. The 17th hole (par 5) is the #3 handicap hole, and the 18th hole (par 4) is the #14 handicap hole. For handicap purposes, you would record a 6 on the 17th hole (par plus 1, according to your Course Handicap of 13, which would entitle you to a stroke on the #3 handicap hole), and a 4 on the 18th hole (with a Course Handicap of 13 you would not be entitled to a stroke on the #14 handicap hole).
Also, please remember that when you pick up on a hole you should record your most likely score, which is not the most likely score you would like to have! For example, if you are lying 4 on the green facing a 30-foot putt, you would record a 6 (come on, Lulu, even you know that a 30-footer is not a gimme!).
For those of you hardy souls that remain up north and play winter golf, you will not be posting any scores until the season reopens on April 1. This is your chance to shed the shackles of course management and play with complete abandon. For those of you who escape to warmer climes, please be aware that you can now post them at the club (if it has a GHIN computer) or you can post them online at GHIN.com. If neither of these options are available to you, please remember to keep a record of all your golf rounds (date, name of course, course and slope rating, ESC score), and post them at your home club after April 1.
“ESC” refers to Equitable Stroke Control. If you have an unusually bad hole, you must lower that score before you total your score and post it. If your Course Handicap is 9 or less, the maximum number you are allowed to post for any hole is double bogey; from 10 to 19, your maximum is 7; from 20 to 29, your maximum is 8; from 30 to 39, your maximum is 9; and for 40 or more, your maximum is 10.
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
Ask Linda #31 - relief from immovable obstructions
Dear Linda,
Several members have told me that a player is entitled to line of sight relief at my club. I have found nothing to support this. Swing relief is not an issue. More specifically, the issue arises when permanent obstructions such as those interior post fences, water cooler holders, sprinkler boxes, etc., interfere with a player’s line of sight or line of play.
I'd appreciate your input.
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
All of these obstructions you mentioned are immovable obstructions. Rule 24-2 will tell you that you are entitled to relief if these obstructions interfere with your stance or the area of your intended swing. The USGA is not so cruel as to expect you to hit a ball with one foot propped on a fence, and they certainly don’t want you to break your club when your follow-through connects with a water cooler!
If there were an immovable obstruction on the putting green that interfered with your line of putt (I have never encountered one, but the USGA has to cover all bases), you would be entitled to move your ball to get a clear line to the hole. However, other than on the green (and I’m quoting from the rule book now, 242a), “intervention on the line of play is not, of itself, interference under this Rule.” In other words, you are entitled to full relief for your stance and swing, but you are not entitled to free line of sight to the hole.
In seeking relief from these immovable obstructions, you must find the point NEAREST to where your ball lay and no closer to the hole that gives you full relief. If your feet are now planted firmly on the ground, and your swing is not interfered with by the obstruction, you have found that point. You may now drop your ball within one club-length of that point. Remember to hold the ball at arm’s length and shoulder height when you drop it. Complete instructions on how to drop a ball can be found in Rule 20-2.
Warning: Before you lift your ball, check to see where you will have to drop it to find relief. Sometimes the relief area may pose an even more insurmountable problem than your original dilemma, and once you lift your ball you are obligated to find full relief and drop it there. For example, your ball may be lying on a paved cart path with a clear line of sight to the hole, and the nearest relief may put a towering oak in your backswing, or cause you to drop in a clump of fescue or other undesirable location. It might be in your best interests to hit the ball off the cart path.
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
Several members have told me that a player is entitled to line of sight relief at my club. I have found nothing to support this. Swing relief is not an issue. More specifically, the issue arises when permanent obstructions such as those interior post fences, water cooler holders, sprinkler boxes, etc., interfere with a player’s line of sight or line of play.
I'd appreciate your input.
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
All of these obstructions you mentioned are immovable obstructions. Rule 24-2 will tell you that you are entitled to relief if these obstructions interfere with your stance or the area of your intended swing. The USGA is not so cruel as to expect you to hit a ball with one foot propped on a fence, and they certainly don’t want you to break your club when your follow-through connects with a water cooler!
If there were an immovable obstruction on the putting green that interfered with your line of putt (I have never encountered one, but the USGA has to cover all bases), you would be entitled to move your ball to get a clear line to the hole. However, other than on the green (and I’m quoting from the rule book now, 242a), “intervention on the line of play is not, of itself, interference under this Rule.” In other words, you are entitled to full relief for your stance and swing, but you are not entitled to free line of sight to the hole.
In seeking relief from these immovable obstructions, you must find the point NEAREST to where your ball lay and no closer to the hole that gives you full relief. If your feet are now planted firmly on the ground, and your swing is not interfered with by the obstruction, you have found that point. You may now drop your ball within one club-length of that point. Remember to hold the ball at arm’s length and shoulder height when you drop it. Complete instructions on how to drop a ball can be found in Rule 20-2.
Warning: Before you lift your ball, check to see where you will have to drop it to find relief. Sometimes the relief area may pose an even more insurmountable problem than your original dilemma, and once you lift your ball you are obligated to find full relief and drop it there. For example, your ball may be lying on a paved cart path with a clear line of sight to the hole, and the nearest relief may put a towering oak in your backswing, or cause you to drop in a clump of fescue or other undesirable location. It might be in your best interests to hit the ball off the cart path.
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
Ask Linda #30 - crater repair
Dear Linda,
Here is a question for you. If my ball lands in the fairway and in doing so leaves a crater and then bounces away from the crater but the crater is in your line of play, can you repair that crater before you hit your shot from the fairway? I was taken aback when my opponent said you cannot repair that until you have played your shot. Doesn't make sense to me because you can repair a ball mark on the green before you putt. Just wondering.
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
What a great question! Golf rules don't always make sense, Lulu. (You've surely been around long enough to know that!) Your opponent was correct - you may not repair the crater until after you have played your shot. This comes under Rule 13-2 which prohibits a player from improving his line of play by eliminating an irregularity of surface. (If your ball had remained in the crater, generally referred to as a pitch mark, then this would come under the embedded ball rule. A ball embedded in its own pitch mark in the fairway may be lifted, cleaned, and dropped as near as possible to where it lay but not nearer the hole. This is a free drop under Rule 25-2.)
I am going to give you an interesting offshoot of this rule. What are your options if the crater that is disturbing you was made by someone else in your group? The answer is a two-parter. If the crater was there BEFORE your ball came to rest, then you would NOT be entitled to relief without penalty. If your ball had already come to rest, and another player subsequently hit a shot that created a disturbing crater on your line of play, then you would be allowed to repair it. The rationale is that you are always entitled to the lie that your stroke gave you (Decision 13-2/8).
Similarly, let’s say your ball is lying on the apron between a sand bunker and the green. Another player, whose ball lies in that bunker, hits her ball out of the bunker and deposits sand all over your ball. You would be entitled to lift and clean your ball and also remove the newly-deposited sand. You are always entitled to the lie and line of play you had when your ball came to rest.
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
Here is a question for you. If my ball lands in the fairway and in doing so leaves a crater and then bounces away from the crater but the crater is in your line of play, can you repair that crater before you hit your shot from the fairway? I was taken aback when my opponent said you cannot repair that until you have played your shot. Doesn't make sense to me because you can repair a ball mark on the green before you putt. Just wondering.
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
What a great question! Golf rules don't always make sense, Lulu. (You've surely been around long enough to know that!) Your opponent was correct - you may not repair the crater until after you have played your shot. This comes under Rule 13-2 which prohibits a player from improving his line of play by eliminating an irregularity of surface. (If your ball had remained in the crater, generally referred to as a pitch mark, then this would come under the embedded ball rule. A ball embedded in its own pitch mark in the fairway may be lifted, cleaned, and dropped as near as possible to where it lay but not nearer the hole. This is a free drop under Rule 25-2.)
I am going to give you an interesting offshoot of this rule. What are your options if the crater that is disturbing you was made by someone else in your group? The answer is a two-parter. If the crater was there BEFORE your ball came to rest, then you would NOT be entitled to relief without penalty. If your ball had already come to rest, and another player subsequently hit a shot that created a disturbing crater on your line of play, then you would be allowed to repair it. The rationale is that you are always entitled to the lie that your stroke gave you (Decision 13-2/8).
Similarly, let’s say your ball is lying on the apron between a sand bunker and the green. Another player, whose ball lies in that bunker, hits her ball out of the bunker and deposits sand all over your ball. You would be entitled to lift and clean your ball and also remove the newly-deposited sand. You are always entitled to the lie and line of play you had when your ball came to rest.
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
Ask Linda #29 - repairing damage to hole
Good morning Linda:
I have a question that occurred at the ladies’ Amateur Championship.
All three ladies are on the green to putt. One gal was tending the pin for a gal to putt. Now it is my turn to putt and the gal that was tending the pin took it out of the hole. As she took it out she made a dent in the back of the cup with the pin. Question, can she fix it? Did I have to putt with that dent in the hole?
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
Your line of putt includes the hole. You are entitled to the lie and line of putt you had when your ball came to rest. You (or anyone) may fix the damage to the hole prior to putting. If someone were to accidentally step on your line of putt and damage it, you may fix that too (Decision 16-1a/13).
Linda
I sent out my response to Lulu, and she had a follow-up question:
Linda, one other thought. If the cup is damaged prior to anyone getting on the green, can it be fixed before or during the putting?
Lulu, if the damage is from a ball mark, you may repair it. If the dimensions of the hole have not been changed, you should leave things as they are and report the damage to the club. If the dimensions of the hole have changed, and no club official is readily available to repair it, then you may repair the damage (Decision 16-1a/6).
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
I have a question that occurred at the ladies’ Amateur Championship.
All three ladies are on the green to putt. One gal was tending the pin for a gal to putt. Now it is my turn to putt and the gal that was tending the pin took it out of the hole. As she took it out she made a dent in the back of the cup with the pin. Question, can she fix it? Did I have to putt with that dent in the hole?
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
Your line of putt includes the hole. You are entitled to the lie and line of putt you had when your ball came to rest. You (or anyone) may fix the damage to the hole prior to putting. If someone were to accidentally step on your line of putt and damage it, you may fix that too (Decision 16-1a/13).
Linda
I sent out my response to Lulu, and she had a follow-up question:
Linda, one other thought. If the cup is damaged prior to anyone getting on the green, can it be fixed before or during the putting?
Lulu, if the damage is from a ball mark, you may repair it. If the dimensions of the hole have not been changed, you should leave things as they are and report the damage to the club. If the dimensions of the hole have changed, and no club official is readily available to repair it, then you may repair the damage (Decision 16-1a/6).
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
Ask Linda #28 - relief from lateral hazard
Dear Linda,
I want to make sure I understand lateral hazards correctly. If your ball goes into the lateral hazard (marked with red stakes) you take a drop from the point where the ball went in 2 club lengths, no closer to the hole. Do you start your measuring from the edge (of water) or from the red stakes or from the red line if you're lucky enough to have one?
Thanks,
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
Let's not make things any worse for you than they already are. It's bad enough to have landed in the hazard. When you drop your ball, you are paying for your faux pas with a penalty stroke. It would be cruel and unusual punishment to make you take your drop in the hazard. Those red stakes or lines mark the edge of the hazard. When you drop, you will start measuring your two club-lengths from those red stakes or lines.
You mention being lucky to have red lines. At some clubs, you may be lucky to have stakes! In the case where you have no hazard markers, and your ball is clearly in a hazard, then look for the spot where the ground starts breaking down to form a hazard, pretend you're a USGA official and plant your imaginary red stakes along that break, then drop your ball within two club-lengths no closer to the hole. During a match or a tournament, you would seek the approval of your opponent or fellow competitors before dropping; in casual, everyday play I'm sure your friends will trust your judgment as to where to drop.
Best advice? Keep it in the short grass.
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
I want to make sure I understand lateral hazards correctly. If your ball goes into the lateral hazard (marked with red stakes) you take a drop from the point where the ball went in 2 club lengths, no closer to the hole. Do you start your measuring from the edge (of water) or from the red stakes or from the red line if you're lucky enough to have one?
Thanks,
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
Let's not make things any worse for you than they already are. It's bad enough to have landed in the hazard. When you drop your ball, you are paying for your faux pas with a penalty stroke. It would be cruel and unusual punishment to make you take your drop in the hazard. Those red stakes or lines mark the edge of the hazard. When you drop, you will start measuring your two club-lengths from those red stakes or lines.
You mention being lucky to have red lines. At some clubs, you may be lucky to have stakes! In the case where you have no hazard markers, and your ball is clearly in a hazard, then look for the spot where the ground starts breaking down to form a hazard, pretend you're a USGA official and plant your imaginary red stakes along that break, then drop your ball within two club-lengths no closer to the hole. During a match or a tournament, you would seek the approval of your opponent or fellow competitors before dropping; in casual, everyday play I'm sure your friends will trust your judgment as to where to drop.
Best advice? Keep it in the short grass.
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
Ask Linda #27 - ball moves before hit
Hi Linda,
I was just about to putt my ball when it moved a little bit. I know I’m supposed to move it back. Do I also have to take a penalty? I didn’t touch the ball!
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
How nice to hear from you! It’s been so long that I thought perhaps you had given up golf and taken up needlepoint!
Let’s look at your question. I’m going to assume that when you say you were about to putt that you had addressed the ball. Addressing the ball means you have taken your stance and grounded your club (except in a hazard, where you have addressed the ball as soon as you take your stance, since you are not permitted to ground your club in a hazard).
Once you have taken your stance and grounded your club, if the ball moves you are deemed responsible for the movement of the ball. You must replace the ball and assess yourself a one-stroke penalty. The rule for this is 18-2b.
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
I was just about to putt my ball when it moved a little bit. I know I’m supposed to move it back. Do I also have to take a penalty? I didn’t touch the ball!
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
How nice to hear from you! It’s been so long that I thought perhaps you had given up golf and taken up needlepoint!
Let’s look at your question. I’m going to assume that when you say you were about to putt that you had addressed the ball. Addressing the ball means you have taken your stance and grounded your club (except in a hazard, where you have addressed the ball as soon as you take your stance, since you are not permitted to ground your club in a hazard).
Once you have taken your stance and grounded your club, if the ball moves you are deemed responsible for the movement of the ball. You must replace the ball and assess yourself a one-stroke penalty. The rule for this is 18-2b.
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
Ask Linda #26 - hitting your opponent's ball
Dear Linda,
What happens in match play if I hit my opponent’s ball, and then she hits mine?
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
The penalty for playing a wrong ball in match play is loss of hole. If the wrong ball belongs to your opponent, and she subsequently hits a wrong ball (most likely yours), it has no effect on the outcome of the hole, since you lost the hole as soon as you hit the wrong ball. On the other hand, if both you and your opponent happen to exchange balls in the course of playing a hole, and you cannot agree on who hit the wrong ball first, then you simply finish the hole with the balls exchanged.
In stroke play, there would be a two-stroke penalty imposed on each player who hits a wrong ball.
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
What happens in match play if I hit my opponent’s ball, and then she hits mine?
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
The penalty for playing a wrong ball in match play is loss of hole. If the wrong ball belongs to your opponent, and she subsequently hits a wrong ball (most likely yours), it has no effect on the outcome of the hole, since you lost the hole as soon as you hit the wrong ball. On the other hand, if both you and your opponent happen to exchange balls in the course of playing a hole, and you cannot agree on who hit the wrong ball first, then you simply finish the hole with the balls exchanged.
In stroke play, there would be a two-stroke penalty imposed on each player who hits a wrong ball.
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
Ask Linda #25 - marking your ball on green
Hi Linda,
When you mark your ball aren't you allowed to mark with anything and it
doesn't necessarily have to be a flat object? Had this come up in a match where one girl marked her ball with a divot repair tool. Couldn't find a reference to anything except using a daisy as a mark in the rule book.
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
When you mark your ball with a daisy (where did you see that?) do you earmark a petal so you will know where to replace the ball? Very unusual to carry around a pocketful of daisies!
Okay, I'll get serious now. The reference in the Note to Rule 20-1 to using a ball-marker, small coin, or other similar object is a recommendation, not a requirement. Technically, you may mark your ball with just about anything--the toe of a club at the side of the ball, a tee, a divot repair tool, a loose impediment, even a daisy! The only real requirement is that you use some physical object to mark the ball, meaning you cannot, for example, refer to a blemish on the green. If you have a Decisions book, the reference is 20-1/16.
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
When you mark your ball aren't you allowed to mark with anything and it
doesn't necessarily have to be a flat object? Had this come up in a match where one girl marked her ball with a divot repair tool. Couldn't find a reference to anything except using a daisy as a mark in the rule book.
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
When you mark your ball with a daisy (where did you see that?) do you earmark a petal so you will know where to replace the ball? Very unusual to carry around a pocketful of daisies!
Okay, I'll get serious now. The reference in the Note to Rule 20-1 to using a ball-marker, small coin, or other similar object is a recommendation, not a requirement. Technically, you may mark your ball with just about anything--the toe of a club at the side of the ball, a tee, a divot repair tool, a loose impediment, even a daisy! The only real requirement is that you use some physical object to mark the ball, meaning you cannot, for example, refer to a blemish on the green. If you have a Decisions book, the reference is 20-1/16.
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
Ask Linda #24 - repairing a damaged hole
Dear Linda,
I was lining up my putt when I noticed that there was some damage around the hole. I think someone in a prior group may have accidentally raised a chunk of turf at the edge of the hole, perhaps caused by removing a ball with a putter. I patted the turf back down before I putted. My partner told me after the round I am not allowed to do that. Was she right?
Lulu
Hi Lulu,
Your partner was absolutely correct, dear. The hole is considered to be on your line of putt, and you are not allowed to repair anything on that line except for ball marks and old hole plugs. The penalty for doing so is two strokes in stroke play or loss of hole in match play (Rule 16-1a).
Let me elaborate just a bit. If the damage to the hole is clearly identifiable as a ball mark, you may repair it. If it is not obviously a ball mark, then there are two scenarios:
1. If the damage has not changed the dimensions of the hole, you may not repair it and you will incur the two-stroke/loss of hole penalty if you do.
2. If the dimensions of the hole have been changed, and no one authorized to repair such damage is available to do so, you may repair the damage yourself without penalty.
Now, suppose you notice a ragged edge on the hole AFTER you putt but BEFORE your opponent putts. If you now smooth out the edge of the hole as a courtesy to your opponent that is perfectly fine (and considerate). If you are playing with a partner, then I would advise you not to fix anything until after both you and your partner have completed the hole. If you repair the damage before your partner putts, then she would incur the two-stroke/loss of hole penalty (and she might be inclined to express her displeasure with your faux pas).
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
I was lining up my putt when I noticed that there was some damage around the hole. I think someone in a prior group may have accidentally raised a chunk of turf at the edge of the hole, perhaps caused by removing a ball with a putter. I patted the turf back down before I putted. My partner told me after the round I am not allowed to do that. Was she right?
Lulu
Hi Lulu,
Your partner was absolutely correct, dear. The hole is considered to be on your line of putt, and you are not allowed to repair anything on that line except for ball marks and old hole plugs. The penalty for doing so is two strokes in stroke play or loss of hole in match play (Rule 16-1a).
Let me elaborate just a bit. If the damage to the hole is clearly identifiable as a ball mark, you may repair it. If it is not obviously a ball mark, then there are two scenarios:
1. If the damage has not changed the dimensions of the hole, you may not repair it and you will incur the two-stroke/loss of hole penalty if you do.
2. If the dimensions of the hole have been changed, and no one authorized to repair such damage is available to do so, you may repair the damage yourself without penalty.
Now, suppose you notice a ragged edge on the hole AFTER you putt but BEFORE your opponent putts. If you now smooth out the edge of the hole as a courtesy to your opponent that is perfectly fine (and considerate). If you are playing with a partner, then I would advise you not to fix anything until after both you and your partner have completed the hole. If you repair the damage before your partner putts, then she would incur the two-stroke/loss of hole penalty (and she might be inclined to express her displeasure with your faux pas).
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
Ask Linda #23 - cleaning the ball
Dear Linda,
I’m a little confused about cleaning the ball when I am playing preferred lies (“winter rules”). Could you clarify when you are allowed to clean a ball and when you are penalized for doing so? I was surprised when someone told me I could not clean the mud off the ball when I was taking a drop for relief from an interior fence in the rough.
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
When you are playing “preferred lies,” you may mark, lift, and clean your ball wherever your Committee permits doing so. Generally, most Committees allow “preferred lies” in closely mown areas of the golf course only, which would mean the fairways, the apron around the green, and dew paths (if your course has such things—Ramblewood does not).
You are always permitted to clean your ball on the putting green. You may clean a ball that has been lifted at any other time except in the following three circumstances:
1. determining whether the ball is unfit for play;
2. identifying the ball (you may only wipe off the least amount of debris necessary to see your markings);
3. lifting a ball because it is assisting or interfering with play.
The penalty for cleaning the ball under the circumstances listed above is one stroke.
You are permitted to clean the mud off your ball when taking relief from an interior fence in the rough, which is an immovable obstruction [Rule 24-2b, iv].
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
I’m a little confused about cleaning the ball when I am playing preferred lies (“winter rules”). Could you clarify when you are allowed to clean a ball and when you are penalized for doing so? I was surprised when someone told me I could not clean the mud off the ball when I was taking a drop for relief from an interior fence in the rough.
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
When you are playing “preferred lies,” you may mark, lift, and clean your ball wherever your Committee permits doing so. Generally, most Committees allow “preferred lies” in closely mown areas of the golf course only, which would mean the fairways, the apron around the green, and dew paths (if your course has such things—Ramblewood does not).
You are always permitted to clean your ball on the putting green. You may clean a ball that has been lifted at any other time except in the following three circumstances:
1. determining whether the ball is unfit for play;
2. identifying the ball (you may only wipe off the least amount of debris necessary to see your markings);
3. lifting a ball because it is assisting or interfering with play.
The penalty for cleaning the ball under the circumstances listed above is one stroke.
You are permitted to clean the mud off your ball when taking relief from an interior fence in the rough, which is an immovable obstruction [Rule 24-2b, iv].
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
Ask Linda #22 - nearest point of relief from cart path
Hi Linda–
When the conversation comes up about when the ball stops on the cart path parallel with the
fairway, I get all different answers. So why not go right to the top. :-) In your own time can you explain that rule? Sorry for being a pest but I would like to put this to rest.: I've heard it matters what side of the path it is on--- where the ball stops on the path--- where it entered --- drop it one or two club-lengths or take it back as far as you want and so on. It seems I heard a lot of mixed rules or different rules. Please respond and thank you for your patience.
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
You're not being a pest, Lulu. While I have answered this question before, apparently there are many people out there who are still confused about this issue.
Here's your answer. When your ball comes to rest on a cart path (I'm assuming a paved cart path, since you would not get free relief off a dirt path), it is lying on an immovable obstruction. Rule 24 will tell you that you may "lift the ball and drop it without penalty within one club-length of and not nearer the hole than the nearest point of relief."
The rulebook is very specific about "nearest point of relief." You are entitled to complete relief from the cart path, but you may not choose on which side of the path you will take your relief, unless your ball has come to rest precisely in the middle of the cart path. Let's say, for example, your ball is on the left side of the path and you are a right-handed player. You will move off the left side of the path onto whatever is there (rough, trees, fairway, anything but a bunker or a green). Now, take your stance WITH THE CLUB YOU WOULD HAVE USED had the ball not been lying on the cart path. Place a tee in the ground where your ball would lie. Now, using any club (most golfers select their driver), lay the club on the ground with one end
at the tee and the other on a slight angle away from the hole. Place another tee at the end of your club. You must now drop the ball between the two tees. If the ball rolls forward (closer to the hole than an imaginary line drawn between the two tees) you must re-drop. The ball, when dropped, is allowed to roll no further than two club-lengths, so it can actually come to a stop outside your two tees and still be a good drop.
Something you might tell your friends, who are confusing various rules, is that when your relief is free, it is always taken within one club-length of the nearest point of relief. Situations where you are taking the ball back as far as you want or taking two club-lengths relief have to do with water hazards and lateral water hazards (Rule 26), and unplayable balls (Rule 28), all of which incur a penalty when you take relief.
If you're still confused, you know how to reach me.
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
When the conversation comes up about when the ball stops on the cart path parallel with the
fairway, I get all different answers. So why not go right to the top. :-) In your own time can you explain that rule? Sorry for being a pest but I would like to put this to rest.: I've heard it matters what side of the path it is on--- where the ball stops on the path--- where it entered --- drop it one or two club-lengths or take it back as far as you want and so on. It seems I heard a lot of mixed rules or different rules. Please respond and thank you for your patience.
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
You're not being a pest, Lulu. While I have answered this question before, apparently there are many people out there who are still confused about this issue.
Here's your answer. When your ball comes to rest on a cart path (I'm assuming a paved cart path, since you would not get free relief off a dirt path), it is lying on an immovable obstruction. Rule 24 will tell you that you may "lift the ball and drop it without penalty within one club-length of and not nearer the hole than the nearest point of relief."
The rulebook is very specific about "nearest point of relief." You are entitled to complete relief from the cart path, but you may not choose on which side of the path you will take your relief, unless your ball has come to rest precisely in the middle of the cart path. Let's say, for example, your ball is on the left side of the path and you are a right-handed player. You will move off the left side of the path onto whatever is there (rough, trees, fairway, anything but a bunker or a green). Now, take your stance WITH THE CLUB YOU WOULD HAVE USED had the ball not been lying on the cart path. Place a tee in the ground where your ball would lie. Now, using any club (most golfers select their driver), lay the club on the ground with one end
at the tee and the other on a slight angle away from the hole. Place another tee at the end of your club. You must now drop the ball between the two tees. If the ball rolls forward (closer to the hole than an imaginary line drawn between the two tees) you must re-drop. The ball, when dropped, is allowed to roll no further than two club-lengths, so it can actually come to a stop outside your two tees and still be a good drop.
Something you might tell your friends, who are confusing various rules, is that when your relief is free, it is always taken within one club-length of the nearest point of relief. Situations where you are taking the ball back as far as you want or taking two club-lengths relief have to do with water hazards and lateral water hazards (Rule 26), and unplayable balls (Rule 28), all of which incur a penalty when you take relief.
If you're still confused, you know how to reach me.
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
Ask Linda #21 - cart path relief
Hi Lulu,
In my last tournament I had two knowledgeable ladies with conflicting ideas. One said you get a free drop from any cart path and the other said you only get relief from a macadam cart path. I have looked in the rule book & can't find an answer. Can you help???
Signed,
Blond and bewildered....
Hi B and B—
First of all, I’m Linda and you’re Lulu. Let’s try to stay in character, shall we?
I’m going to take you on a short tour of the rule book to answer your question. If you look in Section II, Definitions, Obstructions, (the definitions precede the actual rules, and may be the most important part of the rule book), the book will tell you that “an ‘obstruction’ is anything artificial, including the artificial surfaces and sides of roads and paths…” Macadam is artificial; dirt is not.
Next I’d like you to flip over to Rule 24, Obstructions. Rule 24-2 will tell you that if your ball lies on the immovable obstruction (macadam cart paths come under the heading of “immovable”), or if the obstruction interferes with your stance or the area of your intended swing, you get free relief. Sticking to the topic of relief from a cart path, you may drop your ball without penalty within one club-length of and not nearer the hole than the nearest point of relief (NPR). This NPR cannot be in a hazard or on a putting green.
The way to find this NPR is to take your stance with the club you most likely would use for your next shot. Position yourself so that you have full relief from the cart path, being careful not to place yourself closer to the hole. Next put a tee in the ground where your ball would lie. Now you may select any club in your bag and place it on the ground with one end touching the tee and the other end angled slightly away from the hole. Put a second tee in the ground next to the end that does not have a tee. Remove the measuring club and replace it in your bag. Drop the ball in the area between the two tees. If it rolls closer to the hole than a line between the two tees, you must re-drop. (Re-dropping is a story for another day, but if you would like a sneak preview read Rule 20-2C.) Something very few golfers seem to know is that this dropped ball may roll as far as two club-lengths from where you dropped it, taking it out of the area between the two tees. As long as it does not roll closer to the hole, or more than two club-lengths, it is a good drop.
To answer your question, the second lady was correct. You get relief from a paved cart path; you do not get free relief from an unpaved path. You should also be aware that if a path is covered with gravel, it is considered an artificially-surfaced road and therefore an obstruction from which you would get free relief. If you’re afraid to hit it off the dirt you may declare your ball unplayable and apply Rule 28 (“Ball Unplayable”), which will add one penalty stroke to your score.
Hope you’re still blonde but no longer bewildered.
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
In my last tournament I had two knowledgeable ladies with conflicting ideas. One said you get a free drop from any cart path and the other said you only get relief from a macadam cart path. I have looked in the rule book & can't find an answer. Can you help???
Signed,
Blond and bewildered....
Hi B and B—
First of all, I’m Linda and you’re Lulu. Let’s try to stay in character, shall we?
I’m going to take you on a short tour of the rule book to answer your question. If you look in Section II, Definitions, Obstructions, (the definitions precede the actual rules, and may be the most important part of the rule book), the book will tell you that “an ‘obstruction’ is anything artificial, including the artificial surfaces and sides of roads and paths…” Macadam is artificial; dirt is not.
Next I’d like you to flip over to Rule 24, Obstructions. Rule 24-2 will tell you that if your ball lies on the immovable obstruction (macadam cart paths come under the heading of “immovable”), or if the obstruction interferes with your stance or the area of your intended swing, you get free relief. Sticking to the topic of relief from a cart path, you may drop your ball without penalty within one club-length of and not nearer the hole than the nearest point of relief (NPR). This NPR cannot be in a hazard or on a putting green.
The way to find this NPR is to take your stance with the club you most likely would use for your next shot. Position yourself so that you have full relief from the cart path, being careful not to place yourself closer to the hole. Next put a tee in the ground where your ball would lie. Now you may select any club in your bag and place it on the ground with one end touching the tee and the other end angled slightly away from the hole. Put a second tee in the ground next to the end that does not have a tee. Remove the measuring club and replace it in your bag. Drop the ball in the area between the two tees. If it rolls closer to the hole than a line between the two tees, you must re-drop. (Re-dropping is a story for another day, but if you would like a sneak preview read Rule 20-2C.) Something very few golfers seem to know is that this dropped ball may roll as far as two club-lengths from where you dropped it, taking it out of the area between the two tees. As long as it does not roll closer to the hole, or more than two club-lengths, it is a good drop.
To answer your question, the second lady was correct. You get relief from a paved cart path; you do not get free relief from an unpaved path. You should also be aware that if a path is covered with gravel, it is considered an artificially-surfaced road and therefore an obstruction from which you would get free relief. If you’re afraid to hit it off the dirt you may declare your ball unplayable and apply Rule 28 (“Ball Unplayable”), which will add one penalty stroke to your score.
Hope you’re still blonde but no longer bewildered.
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
Ask Linda #20 - ball unfit for play
Dear Linda,
I know that you have to play the same ball tee to green and if it gets a slice in it, you can change it, but what if it gets scuffed (as in hitting a tree or something else)? Can you change balls in the middle of a hole?
Thanks,
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
A ball is considered unfit for play only if it is visibly cut, cracked, or out of shape (Rule 5-3). If you suspect your ball is unfit, you have to tell your opponent, who should then observe you mark and lift your ball. You and your opponent can then inspect it, and if it is cut, cracked, or out of shape, you may substitute a new ball, placing it on the spot where you marked your original ball.
A ball is not considered unfit for play simply because mud or other materials are adhering to it, or the surface is scratched or scraped (what golfers commonly call “road rash”), or the paint is damaged or discolored. You may not take such a ball out of play until you have completed play of the hole.
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
I know that you have to play the same ball tee to green and if it gets a slice in it, you can change it, but what if it gets scuffed (as in hitting a tree or something else)? Can you change balls in the middle of a hole?
Thanks,
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
A ball is considered unfit for play only if it is visibly cut, cracked, or out of shape (Rule 5-3). If you suspect your ball is unfit, you have to tell your opponent, who should then observe you mark and lift your ball. You and your opponent can then inspect it, and if it is cut, cracked, or out of shape, you may substitute a new ball, placing it on the spot where you marked your original ball.
A ball is not considered unfit for play simply because mud or other materials are adhering to it, or the surface is scratched or scraped (what golfers commonly call “road rash”), or the paint is damaged or discolored. You may not take such a ball out of play until you have completed play of the hole.
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
Ask Linda #19-unplayable ball
Dear Linda,
At the tournament at Town & Country we had the following happen:
A player on the other team hit a tee shot 25 yards dead straight into a grassy area that was between the tee box and the fairway. The grass was that spindly stuff. She found her ball right away but did not want to hit it. She declared it unplayable and took a penalty, but went back to the tee to hit #3.
My partner and I thought that since it was a tee shot and it was found that it must be the unplayable rule that is a club length.
They insisted it was OK to go back to the tee. We said OK.
It ended up not mattering-- since it was better ball, the person who got the penalty was the higher score of the two.
We asked the tournament director about the rule after the tournament - she thought the other player was correct when she returned to the tee.
Please clarify.
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
The tournament director and the other team were both correct. When a golfer declares her ball unplayable--which she may do any place on the golf course except for a ball in a water hazard--she must assess herself one penalty stroke, and she ALWAYS has the following three options:
1. Play a ball from the spot where she previously hit the ball.
2. Drop a ball anywhere on the line-of-sight to the hole (remember, this is where you draw a straight line from the flagstick through your ball--you may drop anywhere on this line for as far back as you wish to go).
3. Drop a ball within two club-lengths of the spot where the unplayable ball lay, no closer to the hole.
In the case of the player in question, she was permitted to return to the tee, and she was also allowed to re-tee the ball. She proceeded correctly.
If I may elaborate a bit on this topic, note that if the unplayable ball is in a bunker, the player still has all three options. HOWEVER, if she chooses option #2 or #3, the ball must be dropped in the bunker.
Thanks for another great question, Lulu.
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
At the tournament at Town & Country we had the following happen:
A player on the other team hit a tee shot 25 yards dead straight into a grassy area that was between the tee box and the fairway. The grass was that spindly stuff. She found her ball right away but did not want to hit it. She declared it unplayable and took a penalty, but went back to the tee to hit #3.
My partner and I thought that since it was a tee shot and it was found that it must be the unplayable rule that is a club length.
They insisted it was OK to go back to the tee. We said OK.
It ended up not mattering-- since it was better ball, the person who got the penalty was the higher score of the two.
We asked the tournament director about the rule after the tournament - she thought the other player was correct when she returned to the tee.
Please clarify.
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
The tournament director and the other team were both correct. When a golfer declares her ball unplayable--which she may do any place on the golf course except for a ball in a water hazard--she must assess herself one penalty stroke, and she ALWAYS has the following three options:
1. Play a ball from the spot where she previously hit the ball.
2. Drop a ball anywhere on the line-of-sight to the hole (remember, this is where you draw a straight line from the flagstick through your ball--you may drop anywhere on this line for as far back as you wish to go).
3. Drop a ball within two club-lengths of the spot where the unplayable ball lay, no closer to the hole.
In the case of the player in question, she was permitted to return to the tee, and she was also allowed to re-tee the ball. She proceeded correctly.
If I may elaborate a bit on this topic, note that if the unplayable ball is in a bunker, the player still has all three options. HOWEVER, if she chooses option #2 or #3, the ball must be dropped in the bunker.
Thanks for another great question, Lulu.
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
Ask Linda #18-repair hole damage
Dear Linda,
I have a question about repairing the green:
4 golfers are playing a match with A and B playing against C and D. They are all on the green.
A is 40 feet away and is the first player to putt. She sinks a 40 footer for birdie and while removing her ball discovers that the area around the cup has somehow been damaged, although the damage is not a ball mark. Can she make the necessary repairs before B attempts an eagle putt that just happens to pass through the damaged area?
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
Since the damage has not been caused by a ball mark, neither A nor B may repair the damage. Either player would incur a two-stroke penalty in stroke play or loss of hole in match play for a breach of Rule 16-1. Prior to putting, players may only repair an old hole plug or damage to the green caused by the impact of a ball. Any other repairs they might wish to make must be done after everyone has finished putting.
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
I have a question about repairing the green:
4 golfers are playing a match with A and B playing against C and D. They are all on the green.
A is 40 feet away and is the first player to putt. She sinks a 40 footer for birdie and while removing her ball discovers that the area around the cup has somehow been damaged, although the damage is not a ball mark. Can she make the necessary repairs before B attempts an eagle putt that just happens to pass through the damaged area?
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
Since the damage has not been caused by a ball mark, neither A nor B may repair the damage. Either player would incur a two-stroke penalty in stroke play or loss of hole in match play for a breach of Rule 16-1. Prior to putting, players may only repair an old hole plug or damage to the green caused by the impact of a ball. Any other repairs they might wish to make must be done after everyone has finished putting.
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
Ask Linda #17-grounding club in bunker
Dear Linda,
My playing partners noticed that on my backswing in a bunker some sand came flying off my club. Is there a penalty for this?
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
In order for your backswing to have dislodged some sand, your club must have been touching the sand when you addressed the ball. This “touching” is called “grounding your club.” You are not permitted to ground your club in a bunker or a water hazard. When the sand came flying off your club you incurred a two-stroke penalty in stroke play or loss of hole in match play for grounding your club under Rule 13–4. Sorry I don’t have better news for you.
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
My playing partners noticed that on my backswing in a bunker some sand came flying off my club. Is there a penalty for this?
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
In order for your backswing to have dislodged some sand, your club must have been touching the sand when you addressed the ball. This “touching” is called “grounding your club.” You are not permitted to ground your club in a bunker or a water hazard. When the sand came flying off your club you incurred a two-stroke penalty in stroke play or loss of hole in match play for grounding your club under Rule 13–4. Sorry I don’t have better news for you.
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Ask Linda #16 - attend flagstick, ball off green
Dear Linda,
Is there a special Tuesday league rule about attending the flagstick when your ball is not on the green?
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
Actually, Lulu, the Rules of Golf allow you to have the flagstick attended no matter where your ball lies on the golf course. In fact, if you have gotten yourself into a predicament where you can’t see the flagstick (e.g., your ball is lying on the wrong side of a particularly large mogul), you may even ask the person attending it to hold it way up in the air. Just be aware that once the flagstick is attended, it is considered attended until your ball comes to rest, which means that if your ball hits the flagstick or whomever is attending it, you will incur a two-stroke penalty in stroke play, loss of hole in match play.
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
Is there a special Tuesday league rule about attending the flagstick when your ball is not on the green?
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
Actually, Lulu, the Rules of Golf allow you to have the flagstick attended no matter where your ball lies on the golf course. In fact, if you have gotten yourself into a predicament where you can’t see the flagstick (e.g., your ball is lying on the wrong side of a particularly large mogul), you may even ask the person attending it to hold it way up in the air. Just be aware that once the flagstick is attended, it is considered attended until your ball comes to rest, which means that if your ball hits the flagstick or whomever is attending it, you will incur a two-stroke penalty in stroke play, loss of hole in match play.
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
Ask Linda #15 - posting winter scores
Dear Linda,
I have a handicap posting question or questions. I don't know what an "active" course means. Does this mean that we do not post any scores played on say, NJ courses from October 31st to April 1st? Does it mean that we do post scores played on NJ courses, but post via computer all the winter scores and our handicaps are not adjusted till spring? Does it mean you can play all you want in the off season in NJ and toss out the scorecards, but if you go to Las Vegas or Florida, etc. you must post those either via computer or save them and post them at your home course after April lst??
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
This is a great question, and will certainly impact all you snowbirds.
You can play all you want in the off season in NJ and toss out the scorecards, but if you go to Las Vegas or Florida (or anywhere else golf is considered “active”) you may now post the scores at the club (if the club has a GHIN computer) or you may post them online at GHIN.com. (This is new for 2008.)
Courses in New Jersey are only considered "active" from April 1 to October 31. Any rounds you play up here from November to March are strictly for fun--no posting permitted. The reason for this is that courses up here simply don't play the same in the winter months. The grass doesn't grow; the rough is sparse; the hard ground allows your ball to roll unusually far; many courses establish winter tees that are not on the customary tee boxes.
All you lucky gals who get to spend part of your winter in Florida, Arizona, Texas, New Mexico, California, Louisiana, Mississippi, or other warm locations are playing golf in places that are "active" year round. All of those scores should be posted. You should be able to post them at the club or on the GHIN.com site, but if you encounter any difficulties, just save your cards (so you'll have the correct dates, slope, and rating) and post all your winter scores on April 1. If you're uncertain as to whether the state you're playing in is "active," go to the GHIN.com site, click on "Revision Schedule," and scroll down to your state. It will either say "year round" or "seasonal." If it says "seasonal" it will indicate which months are "active."
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
I have a handicap posting question or questions. I don't know what an "active" course means. Does this mean that we do not post any scores played on say, NJ courses from October 31st to April 1st? Does it mean that we do post scores played on NJ courses, but post via computer all the winter scores and our handicaps are not adjusted till spring? Does it mean you can play all you want in the off season in NJ and toss out the scorecards, but if you go to Las Vegas or Florida, etc. you must post those either via computer or save them and post them at your home course after April lst??
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
This is a great question, and will certainly impact all you snowbirds.
You can play all you want in the off season in NJ and toss out the scorecards, but if you go to Las Vegas or Florida (or anywhere else golf is considered “active”) you may now post the scores at the club (if the club has a GHIN computer) or you may post them online at GHIN.com. (This is new for 2008.)
Courses in New Jersey are only considered "active" from April 1 to October 31. Any rounds you play up here from November to March are strictly for fun--no posting permitted. The reason for this is that courses up here simply don't play the same in the winter months. The grass doesn't grow; the rough is sparse; the hard ground allows your ball to roll unusually far; many courses establish winter tees that are not on the customary tee boxes.
All you lucky gals who get to spend part of your winter in Florida, Arizona, Texas, New Mexico, California, Louisiana, Mississippi, or other warm locations are playing golf in places that are "active" year round. All of those scores should be posted. You should be able to post them at the club or on the GHIN.com site, but if you encounter any difficulties, just save your cards (so you'll have the correct dates, slope, and rating) and post all your winter scores on April 1. If you're uncertain as to whether the state you're playing in is "active," go to the GHIN.com site, click on "Revision Schedule," and scroll down to your state. It will either say "year round" or "seasonal." If it says "seasonal" it will indicate which months are "active."
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
Ask Linda #14 - relief from fences
Dear Linda,
How do I take relief from fences?
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
There are different types of fences you may encounter on a golf course, and the relief procedure is not always the same.
If the fence is a boundary fence, there is no free relief. You may proceed under the unplayable ball rule (see Ask Linda #13).
If the fence is protecting a young tree or marking off ground under repair, you are entitled to free relief, commonly referred to as “stance plus a club-length.” Choosing the club you would most likely use to hit your next shot if the fence weren’t there, take your stance at the place closest to where your ball lies where you could freely swing. Put a tee in the ground where the ball would lie. Now, using any club, place one end at the tee and lay the club on the ground at an angle slightly away from the hole. Place a second tee in the ground at the end of your club. You now have two tees in the ground delineating the area in which you may drop the ball. If you drop it and it rolls closer to the hole than a straight line between the two tees, you must re-drop. Watch where your ball hits the ground on this second drop, because if the ball again rolls too far forward, you must then place it where it hit the ground when you dropped it the second time.
If the fence is an internal fence (e.g., along a cart path to prevent the cart from wandering off the path and tumbling into a ravine), you get free relief (stance plus a club-length, see previous paragraph).
Offhand, I can’t think of any other types of fences. If you know of any others where you can’t figure out how to take relief based on the above explanations, Lulu, send me a P.S. In the meantime, hit ‘em straight and stay out of trouble!
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
How do I take relief from fences?
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
There are different types of fences you may encounter on a golf course, and the relief procedure is not always the same.
If the fence is a boundary fence, there is no free relief. You may proceed under the unplayable ball rule (see Ask Linda #13).
If the fence is protecting a young tree or marking off ground under repair, you are entitled to free relief, commonly referred to as “stance plus a club-length.” Choosing the club you would most likely use to hit your next shot if the fence weren’t there, take your stance at the place closest to where your ball lies where you could freely swing. Put a tee in the ground where the ball would lie. Now, using any club, place one end at the tee and lay the club on the ground at an angle slightly away from the hole. Place a second tee in the ground at the end of your club. You now have two tees in the ground delineating the area in which you may drop the ball. If you drop it and it rolls closer to the hole than a straight line between the two tees, you must re-drop. Watch where your ball hits the ground on this second drop, because if the ball again rolls too far forward, you must then place it where it hit the ground when you dropped it the second time.
If the fence is an internal fence (e.g., along a cart path to prevent the cart from wandering off the path and tumbling into a ravine), you get free relief (stance plus a club-length, see previous paragraph).
Offhand, I can’t think of any other types of fences. If you know of any others where you can’t figure out how to take relief based on the above explanations, Lulu, send me a P.S. In the meantime, hit ‘em straight and stay out of trouble!
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
Ask Linda #13 - unplayable ball
Dear Linda,
Please explain what to do when you want to declare your ball “unplayable.”
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
You may declare your ball to be unplayable anywhere on the golf course except in a water hazard. Water hazards have their own special set of rules (Rule 26).
Under Rule 28, if you decide to declare your ball “unplayable,” you must assess yourself one penalty stroke, and then (your choice):
a, Play a ball at the spot from which the original ball was last played (your best guess as to the exact spot); or
b. Drop a ball behind the point where the ball lay, anywhere on the line-of-sight to the hole; or
c. Drop a ball within two club-lengths of the spot where the ball lay, but not nearer the hole.
If the unplayable ball is in a bunker, you may proceed under a, b, or c above, except that if you proceed under b or c you must drop the ball in the bunker. What this boils down to is if you want to take the ball out of the bunker, you will have to take it all the way back to the point where you hit your previous shot. Otherwise it must remain in the bunker.
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
Please explain what to do when you want to declare your ball “unplayable.”
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
You may declare your ball to be unplayable anywhere on the golf course except in a water hazard. Water hazards have their own special set of rules (Rule 26).
Under Rule 28, if you decide to declare your ball “unplayable,” you must assess yourself one penalty stroke, and then (your choice):
a, Play a ball at the spot from which the original ball was last played (your best guess as to the exact spot); or
b. Drop a ball behind the point where the ball lay, anywhere on the line-of-sight to the hole; or
c. Drop a ball within two club-lengths of the spot where the ball lay, but not nearer the hole.
If the unplayable ball is in a bunker, you may proceed under a, b, or c above, except that if you proceed under b or c you must drop the ball in the bunker. What this boils down to is if you want to take the ball out of the bunker, you will have to take it all the way back to the point where you hit your previous shot. Otherwise it must remain in the bunker.
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
Ask Linda #12 - relief from water hazards
Dear Linda,
Could you explain rules governing how to take relief for a ball lost in a water hazard or a lateral water hazard?
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
First I must tell you that the wording is changed in the rule book this year (2008). For you to claim that your ball is lost in a water hazard, that fact must be “known or virtually certain.” Otherwise, you will have to consider it a lost ball (Rule 27-1 will explain lost ball procedures.)
1. If your ball is lost in a water hazard (yellow stakes) you must assess yourself one penalty stroke, and then (your choice):
a. Play a ball at the spot from which the original ball was last played (your best guess as to the exact spot); or
b. Drop a ball behind the water hazard anywhere on the line-of-sight to the hole. Remember, “line-of-sight” means you locate (again, your best guess) where your ball crossed the margin of the hazard, stand behind this point, look directly at the pin, imagine a straight line from you to the pin, and drop your ball anywhere on an extension of this line, going as far back as you wish. Stare straight at the pin and walk backwards. Got it?
2. If your ball is lost in a lateral water hazard (red stakes), you must assess yourself one penalty stroke, and then (your choice):
a. same as above; or
b. same as above; or
c. Drop a ball outside the lateral hazard within two club-lengths and not nearer the hole than (i) the point where the original ball last crossed the margin of the hazard or (ii) a point on the opposite margin of the water hazard equidistant from the hole. Note: When you are taking your two club-length relief, you measure from the margin of the hazard. If the margin is defined by a line on the ground, that’s where you start measuring. If the margin is defined by stakes only, visualize a line connecting the stakes and measure from that imaginary line.
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
Could you explain rules governing how to take relief for a ball lost in a water hazard or a lateral water hazard?
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
First I must tell you that the wording is changed in the rule book this year (2008). For you to claim that your ball is lost in a water hazard, that fact must be “known or virtually certain.” Otherwise, you will have to consider it a lost ball (Rule 27-1 will explain lost ball procedures.)
1. If your ball is lost in a water hazard (yellow stakes) you must assess yourself one penalty stroke, and then (your choice):
a. Play a ball at the spot from which the original ball was last played (your best guess as to the exact spot); or
b. Drop a ball behind the water hazard anywhere on the line-of-sight to the hole. Remember, “line-of-sight” means you locate (again, your best guess) where your ball crossed the margin of the hazard, stand behind this point, look directly at the pin, imagine a straight line from you to the pin, and drop your ball anywhere on an extension of this line, going as far back as you wish. Stare straight at the pin and walk backwards. Got it?
2. If your ball is lost in a lateral water hazard (red stakes), you must assess yourself one penalty stroke, and then (your choice):
a. same as above; or
b. same as above; or
c. Drop a ball outside the lateral hazard within two club-lengths and not nearer the hole than (i) the point where the original ball last crossed the margin of the hazard or (ii) a point on the opposite margin of the water hazard equidistant from the hole. Note: When you are taking your two club-length relief, you measure from the margin of the hazard. If the margin is defined by a line on the ground, that’s where you start measuring. If the margin is defined by stakes only, visualize a line connecting the stakes and measure from that imaginary line.
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
Ask Linda #11 - post unfinished round
Dear Linda,
I played in the mixed better ball tournament on Thursday at Little Mill that was cancelled and re-scheduled. I only finished 15 holes. What do I do about posting my score?
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
Everyone who played in the tournament and finished at least 13 holes should post a score. Do you remember how to calculate your score for the holes you did not play? Here’s a quick review. Suppose you have a course handicap at Little Mill of 22. That means you would get a stroke a hole, plus two strokes on the number 1, 2, 3, and 4 handicap holes. You played 15 holes at Little Mill. A look at the scorecard reveals that hole #16 is the #4 handicap hole, #17 is the #6 handicap hole, and #18 is the #18 handicap hole. With a course handicap of 22, you would pencil in a 7 on hole #16 (par plus your two allotted handicap strokes), a 5 on #17 (par plus 1), and a 4 on #18 (par plus 1). Add these numbers to your score for the 15 holes you played and post your score. Don’t forget to make your ESC (Equitable Stroke Control) adjustments: the maximum score you may take on a hole if your handicap is 9 or less is a double bogey, between 10 and 19 is 7, between 20 and 29 is 8, and between 30 and 39 is 9.
Isn’t it cool that we’ll all get to play Little Mill a second time?
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
I played in the mixed better ball tournament on Thursday at Little Mill that was cancelled and re-scheduled. I only finished 15 holes. What do I do about posting my score?
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
Everyone who played in the tournament and finished at least 13 holes should post a score. Do you remember how to calculate your score for the holes you did not play? Here’s a quick review. Suppose you have a course handicap at Little Mill of 22. That means you would get a stroke a hole, plus two strokes on the number 1, 2, 3, and 4 handicap holes. You played 15 holes at Little Mill. A look at the scorecard reveals that hole #16 is the #4 handicap hole, #17 is the #6 handicap hole, and #18 is the #18 handicap hole. With a course handicap of 22, you would pencil in a 7 on hole #16 (par plus your two allotted handicap strokes), a 5 on #17 (par plus 1), and a 4 on #18 (par plus 1). Add these numbers to your score for the 15 holes you played and post your score. Don’t forget to make your ESC (Equitable Stroke Control) adjustments: the maximum score you may take on a hole if your handicap is 9 or less is a double bogey, between 10 and 19 is 7, between 20 and 29 is 8, and between 30 and 39 is 9.
Isn’t it cool that we’ll all get to play Little Mill a second time?
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
Ask Linda #10 - water in bunker
Dear Linda,
I hit a shot into a bunker that was completely full of water. My friends and I raked the water and found several golf balls, none of which were mine. What are my options?
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
This is what the rulebook calls “ball lost in abnormal ground conditions.” Ordinarily you would get free relief, but the rules get a little more complicated when bunkers are involved. Here are your choices:
1. If you can find a spot in the bunker to drop your ball that is not nearer the hole, you may do so without penalty. Should this dropped ball roll into the water, try the drop again. If it rolls into the water a second time you may now place the ball on the spot where it first hit the sand when you re-dropped. When you place the ball, if it too rolls into the water you may not push the ball into the sand to keep it from rolling. Your luck has run out and you will have to proceed with option #2.
2. Under penalty of one stroke, you may drop the ball outside the bunker on the line-of-sight to the hole. There is no limit to how far behind the bunker the ball may be dropped.
3. Under penalty of one stroke, you may hit another ball from where you hit your previous shot.
Save those balls you raked out of the trap. After your round, you can practice hitting shots that will keep you out of trouble!
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
I hit a shot into a bunker that was completely full of water. My friends and I raked the water and found several golf balls, none of which were mine. What are my options?
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
This is what the rulebook calls “ball lost in abnormal ground conditions.” Ordinarily you would get free relief, but the rules get a little more complicated when bunkers are involved. Here are your choices:
1. If you can find a spot in the bunker to drop your ball that is not nearer the hole, you may do so without penalty. Should this dropped ball roll into the water, try the drop again. If it rolls into the water a second time you may now place the ball on the spot where it first hit the sand when you re-dropped. When you place the ball, if it too rolls into the water you may not push the ball into the sand to keep it from rolling. Your luck has run out and you will have to proceed with option #2.
2. Under penalty of one stroke, you may drop the ball outside the bunker on the line-of-sight to the hole. There is no limit to how far behind the bunker the ball may be dropped.
3. Under penalty of one stroke, you may hit another ball from where you hit your previous shot.
Save those balls you raked out of the trap. After your round, you can practice hitting shots that will keep you out of trouble!
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
Ask Linda #9 - post scores, match play or better ball
Dear Linda,
I’m confused about recording my scores when I’m playing in a match play tournament. Don’t I have to complete every hole to post an acceptable score? How can I record a score for a hole on which I have been told to pick up the ball?
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
The USGA requires you to post scores in all types of competitions, including match play, stroke play, and even team competitions (such as better-ball) when you are asked to pick up. So what’s a fella (or gal) to do? It’s really quite simple. Any time you pick up before a hole is completed, you record the score you most likely would have had for the hole had you finished it. For example, if you are off the green within chipping distance, add three strokes to your score (you can always assume one chip and two putts). If you are on the green facing a sizable putt, add two strokes to your score. And if you are close to the hole (we’ll trust your judgment on this), add one stroke. No problema.
If you don’t play all 18 holes, but play at least 13, then the score you will record for those holes that you did not play will be par plus any handicap strokes you would receive on those holes. For example, if your course handicap is 12, and you don’t play the par 5 #18 hole that is described on the score card as the sixth hardest hole, your score for that hole would be 6.
Linda
P.S. Just a little reminder from Uncle Snoopy the handicap hound that you should be posting your scores at the club immediately after your round. If this is not practical, then you need to let your fingers do the walking on your computer and post your score on the GHIN.com website when you get home. Handicaps are revised every two weeks on the GHIN system, and your numbers will not accurately reflect your present skill level if you delay posting.
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
I’m confused about recording my scores when I’m playing in a match play tournament. Don’t I have to complete every hole to post an acceptable score? How can I record a score for a hole on which I have been told to pick up the ball?
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
The USGA requires you to post scores in all types of competitions, including match play, stroke play, and even team competitions (such as better-ball) when you are asked to pick up. So what’s a fella (or gal) to do? It’s really quite simple. Any time you pick up before a hole is completed, you record the score you most likely would have had for the hole had you finished it. For example, if you are off the green within chipping distance, add three strokes to your score (you can always assume one chip and two putts). If you are on the green facing a sizable putt, add two strokes to your score. And if you are close to the hole (we’ll trust your judgment on this), add one stroke. No problema.
If you don’t play all 18 holes, but play at least 13, then the score you will record for those holes that you did not play will be par plus any handicap strokes you would receive on those holes. For example, if your course handicap is 12, and you don’t play the par 5 #18 hole that is described on the score card as the sixth hardest hole, your score for that hole would be 6.
Linda
P.S. Just a little reminder from Uncle Snoopy the handicap hound that you should be posting your scores at the club immediately after your round. If this is not practical, then you need to let your fingers do the walking on your computer and post your score on the GHIN.com website when you get home. Handicaps are revised every two weeks on the GHIN system, and your numbers will not accurately reflect your present skill level if you delay posting.
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
Ask Linda #8 - putter suction device
Dear Linda,
Are you allowed to attach that little suction device to the handle end of your putter to remove the ball from the hole? It’s a real back saver for me.
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
Save your back, use the device, it’s perfectly legal.
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
Are you allowed to attach that little suction device to the handle end of your putter to remove the ball from the hole? It’s a real back saver for me.
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
Save your back, use the device, it’s perfectly legal.
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
Ask Linda #7 - post nine-hole score
Dear Linda,
Can you tell me how I can post a nine hole score on an away course? It's 18-hole rating was 68.7 and slope 118. Do I just cut these in half?
Thanks,
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
To be acceptable for handicap purposes, nine-hole scores must meet the following conditions:
1. The course must have a nine-hole USGA Course Rating and USGA Slope Rating;
2. At least seven holes must be played.
You will need to check in the pro shop and ask if there is a 9-hole rating for the holes you played. Often the score card will not show a 9-hole rating, but the course will have that information in its records. Alternately, you may be able to find a 9-hole rating in the GHIN system. There is a look-up feature for course ratings. A third possibility, if you are really ambitious, is to inquire as to what organization is responsible for rating the course you played – a call to that organization should yield a 9-hole rating for you.
If you play nine holes on that course often, you will need to find the nine-hole rating, as you are required to post all your acceptable scores in order to have a USGA Handicap. If this was just a one-time experience, and an accurate rating is nowhere to be found, enjoy the day and we will forgive you this one time for not posting your score.
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
Can you tell me how I can post a nine hole score on an away course? It's 18-hole rating was 68.7 and slope 118. Do I just cut these in half?
Thanks,
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
To be acceptable for handicap purposes, nine-hole scores must meet the following conditions:
1. The course must have a nine-hole USGA Course Rating and USGA Slope Rating;
2. At least seven holes must be played.
You will need to check in the pro shop and ask if there is a 9-hole rating for the holes you played. Often the score card will not show a 9-hole rating, but the course will have that information in its records. Alternately, you may be able to find a 9-hole rating in the GHIN system. There is a look-up feature for course ratings. A third possibility, if you are really ambitious, is to inquire as to what organization is responsible for rating the course you played – a call to that organization should yield a 9-hole rating for you.
If you play nine holes on that course often, you will need to find the nine-hole rating, as you are required to post all your acceptable scores in order to have a USGA Handicap. If this was just a one-time experience, and an accurate rating is nowhere to be found, enjoy the day and we will forgive you this one time for not posting your score.
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
Ask Linda #6 - hit by own shot
Dear Linda,
I tried to hit a sand shot, and the ball ricocheted off the lip and hit me before I could move out of the way. Is there a penalty?
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
Unfortunately, in addition to your embarrassment, there is a one-stroke penalty if you accidentally deflect or stop your own ball. After it hits you, you must play the ball as it lies. Of course, you might have a problem doing that if the ball were to land in your pocket. In that case you would have to drop the ball. Wish I had better news for you, Lulu.
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
I tried to hit a sand shot, and the ball ricocheted off the lip and hit me before I could move out of the way. Is there a penalty?
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
Unfortunately, in addition to your embarrassment, there is a one-stroke penalty if you accidentally deflect or stop your own ball. After it hits you, you must play the ball as it lies. Of course, you might have a problem doing that if the ball were to land in your pocket. In that case you would have to drop the ball. Wish I had better news for you, Lulu.
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
Ask Linda #5 - time for search
Dear Linda,
Willy hits his drive into heavy rough to the right of the fairway and also hits his provisional ball into the right rough. Is he allowed five minutes to search for his original ball and five minutes to search for the provisional, or just a total of five minutes?
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
Maybe I should call this column “Stump the Chump” instead of “Ask Linda!”
Actually, this exact problem is addressed in the Decisions book (27/4), and I will quote the answer for you here: “If the two balls are so close together that, in effect, both balls would be searched for simultaneously, a total of five minutes for search is allowed. Otherwise, the player is allowed to search five minutes for each ball.”
But please remember your golf etiquette, Lulu. Tell Willy that he should signal the folks playing in the group behind him to play through.
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
Willy hits his drive into heavy rough to the right of the fairway and also hits his provisional ball into the right rough. Is he allowed five minutes to search for his original ball and five minutes to search for the provisional, or just a total of five minutes?
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
Maybe I should call this column “Stump the Chump” instead of “Ask Linda!”
Actually, this exact problem is addressed in the Decisions book (27/4), and I will quote the answer for you here: “If the two balls are so close together that, in effect, both balls would be searched for simultaneously, a total of five minutes for search is allowed. Otherwise, the player is allowed to search five minutes for each ball.”
But please remember your golf etiquette, Lulu. Tell Willy that he should signal the folks playing in the group behind him to play through.
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
Ask Linda #4 - ball holed
Dear Linda,
I putted my ball into the hole, and before I had a chance to retrieve it, Annie putted her ball into the hole right on top of mine! Is there a penalty?
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
The rulebook says that “a ball is ‘holed’ when it is at rest within the circumference of the hole and all of it is below the level of the lip of the hole.” As there is enough room in a golf hole for two balls to be at rest below lip level, the answer to your question is “no”–there is no penalty. Both balls would be considered holed. However, it is traditional to remove your ball from the hole before anyone else putts.
Linda
Dear Linda,
Is a ball considered holed when it is wedged between the pin and the hole?
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
If the ball is at rest and all of it is below the level of the lip of the hole, it is holed. If it is above the lip, it’s time for some creative flag removal. If you pull the flagstick out and the ball pops out with it, you will need at least one more putt to finish the hole. So what you want to do here is gently push the flagstick away from your ball, creating enough space for the ball to fall into the hole. Once the ball has fallen down into the hole, you can remove both the flagstick and the ball, and the ball is considered holed by the stroke that put it into that cozy position leaning against the flagstick.
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
I putted my ball into the hole, and before I had a chance to retrieve it, Annie putted her ball into the hole right on top of mine! Is there a penalty?
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
The rulebook says that “a ball is ‘holed’ when it is at rest within the circumference of the hole and all of it is below the level of the lip of the hole.” As there is enough room in a golf hole for two balls to be at rest below lip level, the answer to your question is “no”–there is no penalty. Both balls would be considered holed. However, it is traditional to remove your ball from the hole before anyone else putts.
Linda
Dear Linda,
Is a ball considered holed when it is wedged between the pin and the hole?
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
If the ball is at rest and all of it is below the level of the lip of the hole, it is holed. If it is above the lip, it’s time for some creative flag removal. If you pull the flagstick out and the ball pops out with it, you will need at least one more putt to finish the hole. So what you want to do here is gently push the flagstick away from your ball, creating enough space for the ball to fall into the hole. Once the ball has fallen down into the hole, you can remove both the flagstick and the ball, and the ball is considered holed by the stroke that put it into that cozy position leaning against the flagstick.
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
Ask Linda #3 - relief from interior fence
Dear Linda,
While playing the other day on Blue #3 I hit a ball toward the green from about 150 yards out. I pulled my shot left, it took a bad bounce and rolled across the cart path and came to rest on grass under the split rail fence. No shot. If the fence was not there, in my view I would have had a shot at least to punch it out. I took it back on the correct side of the cart path, 2 club lengths, and dropped it in the rough and hit from there. I didn't charge myself a penalty because of the fence. Right or wrong?
Thanks,
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
I checked out the fence in question during today's round. This is the fence near the green just before the cart path curves to the left. The purpose of this fence is to prevent carts with distracted drivers from plunging over the side and into the creek. As such, you were correct in assuming you get free relief. This fence is called an "immovable obstruction." You should lift the ball and drop it without penalty within one club-length and not nearer the hole than the nearest point of relief. Since your nearest point of relief would put you on the cart path, you would also be entitled to free relief from the cart path, which means you would again find the nearest point of relief from the cart path and drop the ball within one club-length of that point. This whole relief process should put some green grass under your feet and give you a fighting chance to pitch the ball onto the green. Sometimes golf is kind.
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
While playing the other day on Blue #3 I hit a ball toward the green from about 150 yards out. I pulled my shot left, it took a bad bounce and rolled across the cart path and came to rest on grass under the split rail fence. No shot. If the fence was not there, in my view I would have had a shot at least to punch it out. I took it back on the correct side of the cart path, 2 club lengths, and dropped it in the rough and hit from there. I didn't charge myself a penalty because of the fence. Right or wrong?
Thanks,
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
I checked out the fence in question during today's round. This is the fence near the green just before the cart path curves to the left. The purpose of this fence is to prevent carts with distracted drivers from plunging over the side and into the creek. As such, you were correct in assuming you get free relief. This fence is called an "immovable obstruction." You should lift the ball and drop it without penalty within one club-length and not nearer the hole than the nearest point of relief. Since your nearest point of relief would put you on the cart path, you would also be entitled to free relief from the cart path, which means you would again find the nearest point of relief from the cart path and drop the ball within one club-length of that point. This whole relief process should put some green grass under your feet and give you a fighting chance to pitch the ball onto the green. Sometimes golf is kind.
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
Ask Linda #2 - ball unplayable in bunker
Dear Linda,
Two weeks ago at Ramblewood Daisy hit her ball into a bunker. The ball was lodged under a very steep lip. Contemplating her difficult situation, she wisely concluded that she should bite the bullet and declare the ball unplayable. What are her options?
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
Daisy has three choices, and then she has special limitations because the ball is in a bunker. Here are her choices:
Under penalty of one stroke, she may:
1. Play a ball from the spot where the original ball was last played.
2. Drop a ball on the line of sight to the hole.
3. Drop a ball within two club-lengths, not nearer the hole.
Now remember I said Daisy has additional limitations because she is declaring her ball unplayable in a bunker. If she chooses #2 or #3, SHE MUST DROP THE BALL IN THE BUNKER. Bummer, huh?
While we’re dealing with bunker problems, let’s consider the case of a bunker that is partially filled with water. If your ball lands in the water in the bunker, it is now lying in an “abnormal ground condition.” You are entitled to (1) fish your ball out and drop it--WITH NO PENALTY--at the nearest point of relief IN THE BUNKER, NOT NEARER THE HOLE. You also may, if you wish, (2) take it out of the bunker and drop it on the line of sight to the hole, with no limit to how far you may go back, but if you choose this option you must assess yourself ONE PENALTY STROKE. Now we get to the part where golf is so much fun: if there is so much water in the bunker that there is no place you can drop your ball without landing back in the water or landing closer to the hole, then you must go with choice (2). “UNFAIR,” you cry. “If I can’t find relief in the bunker, why must I be assessed one penalty stroke when I take it out?” “Ha, ha,” chuckle the golf rules meisters. “No one is forcing you to take the ball out of the bunker. You may drop the ball in the bunker where the water is more shallow (not nearer the hole, of course), and try to hit it out from there, with no penalty.” Good luck if you choose that option!
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
Two weeks ago at Ramblewood Daisy hit her ball into a bunker. The ball was lodged under a very steep lip. Contemplating her difficult situation, she wisely concluded that she should bite the bullet and declare the ball unplayable. What are her options?
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
Daisy has three choices, and then she has special limitations because the ball is in a bunker. Here are her choices:
Under penalty of one stroke, she may:
1. Play a ball from the spot where the original ball was last played.
2. Drop a ball on the line of sight to the hole.
3. Drop a ball within two club-lengths, not nearer the hole.
Now remember I said Daisy has additional limitations because she is declaring her ball unplayable in a bunker. If she chooses #2 or #3, SHE MUST DROP THE BALL IN THE BUNKER. Bummer, huh?
While we’re dealing with bunker problems, let’s consider the case of a bunker that is partially filled with water. If your ball lands in the water in the bunker, it is now lying in an “abnormal ground condition.” You are entitled to (1) fish your ball out and drop it--WITH NO PENALTY--at the nearest point of relief IN THE BUNKER, NOT NEARER THE HOLE. You also may, if you wish, (2) take it out of the bunker and drop it on the line of sight to the hole, with no limit to how far you may go back, but if you choose this option you must assess yourself ONE PENALTY STROKE. Now we get to the part where golf is so much fun: if there is so much water in the bunker that there is no place you can drop your ball without landing back in the water or landing closer to the hole, then you must go with choice (2). “UNFAIR,” you cry. “If I can’t find relief in the bunker, why must I be assessed one penalty stroke when I take it out?” “Ha, ha,” chuckle the golf rules meisters. “No one is forcing you to take the ball out of the bunker. You may drop the ball in the bunker where the water is more shallow (not nearer the hole, of course), and try to hit it out from there, with no penalty.” Good luck if you choose that option!
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
Ask Linda #1 - water hazards
Dear Linda,
I'm interested in your new rules column and I think this is great. Played today at Ramblewood with Susie and Daisy (names changed to protect the innocent) and they asked about these two situations:
Red 6, Susie hit her second ball into the creek that crosses the fairway. She found her ball and deemed it unplayable. She asked me what her options were. I told her she could take the ball back as far as she wanted on line with where she went in. She placed the ball which I then told her it should be a drop ball and you play it where it lies after you drop it.
Next on red 8, Daisy hit her second shot off the toe and the ball went into the creek to her right which is marked with red stakes. Susie asked if because the ball was lost could Daisy play her penalty shot from the original spot where she hit from as it was a more desirable place to get over the creek from. I told them that because we knew where her ball was, and that it was marked a red hazard that she had 2 club lengths from the top of the hazard from where her ball entered the hazard to drop.
And both situations incurred a penalty.
Please let me know if I misinformed them.
Thanks,
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
Let’s start with Susie’s shot into the creek. When a player’s ball is in a water hazard, she has several choices. She may opt to try to hit it out of the hazard, in which case she may not ground her club. Joyce preferred to take relief. In that case, she had two choices. Under penalty of one stroke she may either (1) play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played (in other words, go back to the spot where she hit the ball that went into the water and play it again), or (2) she may drop a ball behind the water hazard on a line of sight to the hole (I’ll explain this), with no limit to how far behind the water hazard the ball may be dropped.
“Line of sight” is a very important concept, and often misunderstood, so allow me a moment to explain it here. When a rule allows you to take relief with no limit as to how far back you can go, this is what you do. Stand behind where your ball entered (in this case) the water hazard, and look directly at the pin. Visualize a line from the ball to the pin, and extend this line straight back. You may drop the ball anywhere on this line. Your ball will be directly on a “line of sight” to the pin.
So you were correct in telling her that the ball must be dropped and played as it lies, and you were also correct in telling her she could take the ball back as far as she wanted. If you brought her back on the “line of sight” to the pin, then you were also correct there and you can have my job!
Now let’s look at Daisy’s predicament. Since the creek is marked with red stakes, this is considered a lateral hazard. Daisy had three options. The first two are the same as for any water hazard. Under penalty of one stroke, she may (1) play the ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played, or (2) she may drop a ball behind the water hazard on a line of sight to the hole (not really an option on Red 8). These are the same two choices that Joyce had. However, since Barb was in a lateral hazard, she has an additional option. Under penalty of one stroke, she may drop a ball outside the water hazard within two club-lengths and not nearer the hole than the point where the original ball crossed the margin of the water hazard.
The rule reference for this information is Rule 26–1.
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
I'm interested in your new rules column and I think this is great. Played today at Ramblewood with Susie and Daisy (names changed to protect the innocent) and they asked about these two situations:
Red 6, Susie hit her second ball into the creek that crosses the fairway. She found her ball and deemed it unplayable. She asked me what her options were. I told her she could take the ball back as far as she wanted on line with where she went in. She placed the ball which I then told her it should be a drop ball and you play it where it lies after you drop it.
Next on red 8, Daisy hit her second shot off the toe and the ball went into the creek to her right which is marked with red stakes. Susie asked if because the ball was lost could Daisy play her penalty shot from the original spot where she hit from as it was a more desirable place to get over the creek from. I told them that because we knew where her ball was, and that it was marked a red hazard that she had 2 club lengths from the top of the hazard from where her ball entered the hazard to drop.
And both situations incurred a penalty.
Please let me know if I misinformed them.
Thanks,
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
Let’s start with Susie’s shot into the creek. When a player’s ball is in a water hazard, she has several choices. She may opt to try to hit it out of the hazard, in which case she may not ground her club. Joyce preferred to take relief. In that case, she had two choices. Under penalty of one stroke she may either (1) play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played (in other words, go back to the spot where she hit the ball that went into the water and play it again), or (2) she may drop a ball behind the water hazard on a line of sight to the hole (I’ll explain this), with no limit to how far behind the water hazard the ball may be dropped.
“Line of sight” is a very important concept, and often misunderstood, so allow me a moment to explain it here. When a rule allows you to take relief with no limit as to how far back you can go, this is what you do. Stand behind where your ball entered (in this case) the water hazard, and look directly at the pin. Visualize a line from the ball to the pin, and extend this line straight back. You may drop the ball anywhere on this line. Your ball will be directly on a “line of sight” to the pin.
So you were correct in telling her that the ball must be dropped and played as it lies, and you were also correct in telling her she could take the ball back as far as she wanted. If you brought her back on the “line of sight” to the pin, then you were also correct there and you can have my job!
Now let’s look at Daisy’s predicament. Since the creek is marked with red stakes, this is considered a lateral hazard. Daisy had three options. The first two are the same as for any water hazard. Under penalty of one stroke, she may (1) play the ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played, or (2) she may drop a ball behind the water hazard on a line of sight to the hole (not really an option on Red 8). These are the same two choices that Joyce had. However, since Barb was in a lateral hazard, she has an additional option. Under penalty of one stroke, she may drop a ball outside the water hazard within two club-lengths and not nearer the hole than the point where the original ball crossed the margin of the water hazard.
The rule reference for this information is Rule 26–1.
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
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