Ask Linda #453-Alignment aid

Linda, on the tee, can any object, such as another tee, be placed anywhere behind the ball to aid as a reminder to control the path of the club during the backswing?

Also, can any object, such as a leaf, be moved in front of the teed up ball to be used in aligning your feet at address?

Lou

Dear Lou,

The answer to both questions is “no.” If the player places an object on the ground to assist him with his alignment or his line of play, or someone else does so with the player’s knowledge, the player must remove that object before he makes his stroke [Rule 8-2a; Decisions 8-2a/1, 2]. If the object is not removed, the penalty is two strokes (loss of hole in match play).

However, there is no Rule that prohibits a player from using some object that is already lying on the ground as an aid. Pebbles, blades of grass, twigs, leaves, discarded tees, and the like can serve to assist the player in lining up his shot. He has broken no rule if the object has not been placed and left to assist him.

Linda

Copyright © 2012 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda #451-Sharing a rangefinder

Linda,

Would it be considered "sharing equipment" if I let my competitor/friend have my rangefinder in the middle of a monthly tournament when hers went dead? The person riding in my cart had one as well, so we had one to spare. I didn't want to take any chances, so I told her no but I would be glad to give her yardages from her ball.

What's the rule on that?

Thanks,

Lulu 

Dear Lulu,

There is nothing in the Rules to prohibit you from lending your rangefinder to another player. It would actually be a sportsmanlike gesture and would help with the pace of play.

You may share just about anything but your clubs, including tees, balls, towels, sunscreen, and your lunch!

Linda

Copyright © 2012 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda #452-Ball falls into hole

Dear Linda,

While playing, the opponent had an excellent putt, but it did not drop into the cup. It was just on the edge. She stood over it for a few seconds, giving shade, and surprise, it fell into the cup, Is this correct? 

Thanks,

Lulu

Dear Lulu,

Yes. When a ball is overhanging the lip of the hole, a player is permitted a reasonable amount of time to walk up to her ball, plus an additional 10 seconds to determine whether her ball is at rest. If the ball falls into the hole within that time frame, it is considered holed with her last stroke. If it falls into the hole after 10 seconds have elapsed, she must add one penalty stroke to her score [Rule 16-2].

There is no Rule prohibiting the player from casting her shadow over the ball while she waits 10 seconds. I would recommend that those 10 seconds be counted aloud so as to avoid any dispute over how many seconds have elapsed should the ball fall into the hole.

Linda

Copyright © 2012 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda #450a-Different halfway house customs

Here are four comments from around the world in response to Ask Linda #450-Stop at halfway house:

Here in South Africa the half-way house is the norm – just a quick 10 to 12 minute break for a sandwich and cool drink (some courses take orders by phone from 9th tee).

If the four-ball decides not to stop it normally works out like playing through the four ball in front who have stopped.

Nice little break - works for us.

Keep up the Rules blogging.

Regards,

Lou in South Africa

_____________________

Imagine playing in Japan.  I took this excerpt from a CNN golf guide to Tokyo (http://www.cnngo.com/tokyo/play/best-japan/playing-round-ultimate-japan-golf-guide-367648)

"Depending on the club, you can expect a 2.5-hour front nine followed by a mandatory lunch break (40 minutes to an hour) then the second half. So, we’re at six hours now, plus travel."

Golf is more elitist over there and it is an all day activity!

Lou in New Jersey

_____________________

Linda,

Your reply was "spot on"! Come on! This is GOLF for crying out loud. I want to play with the guy who tees off in correct order - not the guy who is worried about the temperature of his “bacon roll.”

Sorry about the vent but pace of play is one of my pet peeves. It is the bane of American golf. Hit the ball damn it.

Sorry again,

Lou from Atlanta

_____________________

On the other hand…my club has a RULE that on Sunday mornings the 4-balls MUST stop for breakfast - which I happen to think is wonderfully civilised!

Lou from the UK

Ask Linda #450-Stop at halfway house

Linda,

We have a halfway house at the 10th hole on our course. What is the situation where one of the four players insists on not using the facilities and tees off in correct order, whilst others are having a coffee and bacon roll. He does not use the facilities as he feels it interrupts the flow of his round.

Thanks,

Lou

Dear Lou,

Players who linger over lunch in the middle of a round are one of my pet peeves. Not only may it disrupt the rhythm of other players in the group, it affects the pace of play of golfers making the turn who suddenly find an extra group in front of them when the group decides to resume play.

I have no objection to anyone’s stopping to pick up some nourishment. Order it “to go” and eat it on the course. The time for a sit-down meal is at the end of your round.

Linda

Copyright © 2012 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda #449-Handicap on score card

Hi Linda,

Handicap query. Now that we're on Golf Link and our scores get entered in the computer as soon as we come in and come up straight away on the screen, can a player be penalised for having the wrong handicap on the card, given that Golf Link automatically matches the score with the Golf Link handicap - in other words, the computer checks the scores but does the match committee go by what is on the card?

Cheers,

Lulu from South Australia

Dear Lulu,

The responsibility for recording the correct handicap on the scorecard belongs to the player. The player records his full handicap; the Committee is responsible for any adjustments (e.g., calculating 90% of handicap in a men’s four-ball).

You must be diligent. If you’re using a computer program to print your scorecards, and it prints an incorrect handicap, the player must correct it. The problem is that if the recorded handicap is higher than the player’s actual handicap, and it affects the number of strokes he receives, he will be disqualified from the competition [Rule 6-2].

The Rules forgive a Committee if it calculates your tournament handicap incorrectly, and allows it to make a correction [Decision 6-2b/3]. They are not forgiving at all of a player who errs in recording his handicap. Know your current handicap, and check your card.

Linda

Copyright © 2012 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda #448-Ground club outside hazard

Good morning Linda,

My understanding of the rules is that if any part of my ball is touching a hazard line, my ball is in the hazard.

If the front half of the ball is touching the line, and the back of the ball is not touching the line, can I ground my club "outside" the hazard when addressing the ball without penalty?

Thank you for all you do for us. I stop by your website every morning to see if there are any updates.

Lou

Dear Lou,

Your understanding is correct. A ball that touches a hazard line is in the hazard. If the back of the ball is outside the hazard, you may ground your club behind the ball, since you are not grounding your club in the hazard [Decision 13-4/29].

Linda

Copyright © 2012 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda #447-Leave ball unmarked on green

Hi Linda

I've been trying to get a definitive answer to a question re: marking of ball on the green. Specifically as per the situation described here. I've tried reading the official rules and they are specific about stroke play but don't seem to cover match play.

I am playing in a 4-ball match. There are 3 balls on the green, a couple of them close to the hole. One of my opponents, about to chip on from 10 metres off the green tells us he wants those balls left there as they are acting as a back stop. I'm fairly confident I am entitled to mark and remove my ball if I think it's going to assist him. I have a friend I play with who is adamant he can have the balls left. I have a feeling that rule used to apply years ago, specifically in match play, and particularly if it was your partner’s ball that was assisting.

Your help clarifying this would be greatly appreciated.

Lou from Great Barrier Island, Auckland

Dear Lou,

Any time a player feels that a ball will assist another player, he is entitled to lift the ball if it is his own, or have it lifted if it belongs to another player. This is the essence of Rule 22-1, and applies to both match play and stroke play.

There is a difference in stroke play – if you are asked to lift your ball, you may choose to play first instead. That option is not available in match play because you must observe the correct order of play.

When your partner’s ball is in a position on the green that might assist you in your play, he is not required to lift it unless your opponents ask that he do so. If he were to refuse that request, he would be disqualified from the hole [Decision 30-3f/11].

Linda

Copyright © 2012 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda #446-Where to drop ball

Hi Linda,

I have a question involving where to drop the ball. We have a par-4 hole with a large pond in front of it defined by yellow stakes. Usually the ladies are hitting to the green in two, but the second shot may overshoot the green. Depending on where the ball lands, the green is sloped toward the water. When we chip back to the green, an aggressive chip (or putt) will send the ball back into the water.

The green is surrounded by a bulkhead with a two-foot drop. Rules indicate you cannot drop the ball closer to the hole, which with the bulkhead we would be. There is a designated drop area to the left of the green. In this situation do we (1) take the shot from the designated drop area, (2) drop from where the ball went in two club-lengths left or right of the entry, or (3) go back to the yellow stakes defining the hazard and hit the ball to the green (over the water) again? Or is there another ruling we should be following? Your assistance is greatly appreciated. 

Lulu from Texas

Dear Lulu,

I will explain the Rule, and then offer you a solution.

The pond is marked by yellow stakes. It is, therefore, a water hazard. There is no two-club-length relief option from a water hazard – that is a lateral water hazard relief option (red stakes). Whether your ball enters the hazard from the tee side or the green side, the bottom line is that your ball is in the water hazard. Your relief options, under penalty of one stroke, are to return to where you hit your previous shot or drop a ball behind the hazard (on the tee side) on the line-of-sight to the hole. You must choose between trying that dangerous chip once again or hitting over the water.

I suspect the reason the drop area is provided is to speed up play. Unfortunately, it is not a legal drop area under the Rules. Here is my suggestion to make the drop area legal and speed up play: Ask your course management to mark the green side of the hazard with red stakes. If your ball enters the hazard from the green side, you would have the additional options of using the drop area or dropping a ball within two club-lengths of where it last crossed the margin of the hazard, no closer to the hole.

Linda

Copyright © 2012 Linda Miller. All rights reserved. 

Ask Linda #445-When you nearly break a rule…

Strictly speaking (and I imagine you are VERY strict haha!) is there any penalty for a situation where you "nearly" break a rule?

For example: if you move an out-of-bounds marker but replace it before making a shot, on ascertaining the rule

For another example: you replace your marked ball on the green, remove the marker and then remember that you had moved your marker from the line of another competitor's putt

And again: you inadvertently place you ball ahead of the tee marker and perhaps even take a practice swing and/or begin to settle into the shot ... but after an ostentatious but completely coincidental (!) esophageal explosion from a fellow competitor you rectify the position

Clearly there are some mistakes you CAN'T rectify but if no material change has occurred, are you technically in breach?

On occasions when this has happened in my company, no penalty shot was advocated or taken - which in equity I think is fair enough but ... what do the rules say?

Lou

P.S. Are you allowed to point out an impending error to a fellow competitor?

Dear Lou,

Your first example incurs a penalty; the other examples do not.

Out-of-bounds stake: As soon as a player removes an out-of-bounds stake that is in his line of play he is in breach of Rule 13-2 (Improving Line of Play). The fact that he replaces the stake before hitting his shot does not exempt him from the two stroke/loss of hole penalty [Decision 13-2/25].

Ball replaced on wrong spot on green: Whenever you place or replace a ball in a wrong place, there is no penalty unless you play the ball. Mark it, lift it, locate the correct place, and replace it [Rule 20-6].

Ball teed ahead of tee markers: Your ball is not in play until you hit it from the teeing ground [Definition of Ball in Play]. If you discover that you have teed it ahead of the markers, correct your mistake – no penalty.

Not only are you “allowed” to point out an impending error to a fellow competitor, you are morally obligated (I feel) to do so. This is good sportsmanship, and should always be encouraged.

Linda

Copyright © 2012 Linda Miller. All rights reserved. 

Ask Linda #444-Penalty for moving ball in hazard

Dear Linda,

It has been my understanding that while searching for your ball in a hazard (yellow stakes) there was no penalty if the ball was caused to move. Did the rule change for 2012 and is it now a penalty if the ball moves while searching for it or have I been mistaken all these years? One stroke or two? 

Curious Lou

Dear Lou,

If you move your own ball during a search, you incur a one-stroke penalty and you must replace the ball before you hit it [Rule 18-2a]. This was the case in 2011, and is still the case in 2012.

There are two exceptions to this Rule:

1) If you believe your ball may be lying in water in a water hazard [Rule 12-1c], you may probe for your ball with a club. If you accidentally move the ball, there is no penalty. You must replace it if you plan to hit it out of the water. There is no need to replace it if you proceed under any of the relief options in Rule 26-1.

2) If you believe your ball may be buried in sand, there is no penalty if you move the ball during search. If you find the ball, you must re-create the lie [Rule 12-1a].

The answer to your question depends on where the ball was lying in the water hazard. If it was on dry land, the penalty is one stroke; if you were probing for it in the water, there is no penalty.

Linda

Copyright © 2012 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda #443-Opponent’s shot deposits sand on your ball

Dear Linda,

While playing golf today the following occurred in normal stroke play.

Each of our balls entered the sand trap within about 1 foot of each other.

Opponent played first, never asked me to mark my ball, and when hitting his shot a lump of wet sand landed on my ball, disimproving my lie. He said I was not entitled to relief but I think I was. Please help me prove him wrong. Lou from Ireland

Dear Lou,

A player is entitled to the lie that his stroke gave him. This is one of the basic tenets of golf, and is repeated several times throughout the Decisions book. It is the key to understanding why you were entitled to remove that lump of wet sand from your ball, even though your ball was lying in a bunker.

Once your ball has come to rest in a bunker:

1) If you worsen your lie, you may not restore it.

2) If nature worsens your lie (e.g., a pine cone falls off a tree and settles behind your ball), you may not remove it.

3) If another player worsens your lie, you may restore it.

Let’s take a look at a few related Decisions, all of which are based on the principle that a player is entitled to the lie that his stroke gave him:

Decision 13-4/18 states that if a player’s ball is at rest in a bunker, and a subsequent shot by another player dislodges a divot that lands near the ball in the bunker, the player may remove the divot without penalty.

Decision 13-4/19 discusses your exact situation, Lou. Two balls are lying in a bunker. Player A hits first, and his shot alters the lie of Player B’s ball. Player B is entitled to restore the bunker to its original condition.

Decision 13-2/8.5 talks about Player A’s ball that is lying on the apron between a bunker and the green. Player B hits his ball out of the bunker and deposits sand on and around Player A’s ball. Player A is entitled to brush the sand away and clean his ball.

Decision 20-3b/2 talks about two balls lying in a bunker. In taking his stance, Player B pushes up a mound of sand behind Player A’s ball. Player A is entitled to remove the mound of sand.

This is a logical and fair rule. There are enough obstacles to overcome on a golf course without having to contend with additional debris that another player might deposit on your ball in the course of making a stroke.

Memorize the principle: “A player is entitled to the lie that his stroke gave him.” Your friends will be so impressed by how official you sound that they will trust that your information is correct.

Linda

Copyright © 2012 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda #442-Marking ball too far away?

Dear Linda,

Recently I asked my partner to move his ball marker off my line of putt, expecting him to simply move it a putter head. Instead, he moved it the length of his putter. I had never seen this done before and wondered just how accurately he would be able to replace his ball in its original position. Would appreciate your view on this.

Thanks,

Lou

Dear Lou,

The recommended distance for moving your ball marker out of another player’s line of putt is one or two club-head lengths. However, there is nothing in the Rules to prohibit a player from moving his marker a club-length away. He must be very careful to reverse the procedure exactly when he replaces his ball or marker.

If the player were my partner, I would ask him to announce what fixed object (such as the base of a tree or a ball washer) he is using to line up his club – there would be no question later on where the ball should be replaced. I would also suggest afterwards that moving the ball one or two club-head lengths is sufficient, and makes it easier to replace the ball on the correct spot.

Linda

Copyright © 2012 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Rules videos

The USGA has published three excellent videos explaining the Rules of Golf regarding loose impediments, water hazards, and immovable obstructions. I highly recommend that you take a few minutes to watch them.

Here is the link: http://www.usga-rules.com/index_return.html 

After you get there, click on the topic, and then click on Introduction.

There are six other videos that are still in the works. I'll let you know when they become available.

Linda

Ask Linda #441-Two handicaps?

Dear Linda,

I am pleased to inform you that my son aged 14 years old is playing fantastic golf and has a certified handicap of 6 from the Boys tee (or Ladies tee).

In some invitation or club tournaments there is no category of Boys and thus then he plays from championship tees and finishing the game at or about 9 or so . I feel to be fair to him he needs to have a Handicap certificate certifying his handicap from Boys Tee off and similarly a handicap certificate from Championship Tee off .

Request please advise if this is possible (and logical)? For men to have two certificates is not possible but what about the situation in which a boy tees off from two different tees, which surely changes his certified handicap by a couple of strokes and he should be given the advantage accordingly?

Kind regards,

Lou from India

Dear Lou,

I’m happy to hear that your son is doing so well.

Unlike the Rules of Golf, which are the same for everyone, the rules governing handicaps are different from country to country. I am unfamiliar with the handicap rules in India, so I’m sorry to say that I am unable to answer your question.

If your son lived in the United States, the answer would be “no.” A player in the U.S. has what is known as a Handicap Index. This is a number that is taken to one decimal place (e.g., 12.7) and represents a player’s potential ability (based on a percentage of the average of the best ten scores of the last 20 in relation to the difficulty of each course). The Handicap Index converts to a Course Handicap at each course. The Course Handicap will be higher or lower than the player’s Handicap Index, depending on the difficulty of the course from the set of tees that the player uses.

For example, if your son’s Handicap Index were 6.5, his Course Handicap from the forward (boys’) tees on a particular course might be 6. If he were to play from the standard (men’s) tees on the same course, his Course Handicap might be 9. Since the course is judged to be more difficult from the longer distances, his Course Handicap would increase accordingly. (There are tables and formulas to calculate these numbers.)

It would surprise me to learn that a player’s handicap is not adjusted in some way for play from different tees. My suggestion would be to talk to your club professional, a member of your club’s handicap committee, or an official from the governing body for handicaps in your corner of the world. I would be interested to know what you learn.

Linda

Copyright © 2012 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.