A special thank you

Dear readers,

A heartfelt thank you to Stewart Jones, an Australian Rules Official who voluntarily and painstakingly reviewed and edited the ten columns I wrote reviewing the new 2019 Rules of Golf. Stewart is an enthusiastic golfer, Rules student, and referee; his help suggesting changes and additions to this project was invaluable. This was not an easy task. We are all lucky to have such a conscientious, generous and supportive member in our Ask Linda blog family.  I sincerely hope, as does Stewart, that this project assists many people to transition more comfortably to the 2019 Rules of Golf.

Happy Holidays!

Linda

Rules Clarifications

Dear readers,

An R&A/USGA document titled “Clarifications of the 2019 Rules of Golf” was released publicly on December 18. Consequently, I have updated my ten-part series about the 2019 changes in the places where these clarifications have an impact on my columns. If you revisit these columns, you will notice that the new clarifications are highlighted in yellow and are identified by this reference: December 2018 Clarification.

To save you having to scroll through the ten columns seeking the new information, I have printed the specific parts of my columns with the clarifications below for you. Please review the appropriate columns to understand the clarifications in their proper context. Please also note the Rule references below are the original references from my columns, not necessarily the specific Rule where the clarifications apply.

R. 4.1b(4):  When you are permitted to add or replace a club (e.g., if you started your round with less than 14 clubs, or your club was damaged while out of your control), you must not unreasonably delay play, add or borrow a club from anyone else playing on the course, or build a club from parts carried by anyone for you. December 2018 Clarification: Any club that has been taken out of play may not be used during that round, even if a situation arises subsequently that enables a club to be replaced.

R. 9.4b:  December 2018 Clarification: If you accidentally cause your ball in play and at rest to move, you get one penalty stroke (but there are Exceptions – see my original column) and must replace the ball. If you fail to replace the ball and play from its new location, you have played from a wrong place. In this situation, the penalty becomes the general penalty.

R. 10.3b(2):  Your caddie must have authorization from you (each time) to restore conditions that were worsened after your ball came to rest, and to lift your ball (except on the putting green) under a Rule that requires the ball to be replaced. December 2018 Clarification: However, so long as it is reasonable to conclude that you are taking relief under a Rule, your caddie is treated as being given authorization to lift the ball and may do so without penalty.

R. 11.1b(2):  Ball played from on the green:  December 2018 Clarification: If there is knowledge or conclusive evidence that your ball played from the putting green accidentally hits any person, animal, or movable obstruction (including a hole liner that comes out when the flagstick is removed), cancel the stroke and replay the shot. But there are two exceptions:  Play the ball as it lies if it (i) hits another ball in play and at rest or a ball-marker on the green [the stroke counts, and you need to check R. 11.1a (above) to assess if a penalty applies in stroke play], or (ii) if it accidentally hits the flagstick or the person attending it (more on this when I address Rule 13).

R. 13.1c:  Regardless of whether your ball lies on or off the green, you may remove sand and loose soil on the putting green. You may also repair all sorts of damage by using your hand, foot, ball-mark repair tool, tee, club, or other normal equipment. Examples of damage you may repair:  ball marks, spike marks, indentations caused by equipment or a flagstick or maintenance tools or vehicles or hail (December 2018 Clarification), animal tracks, hoof indentations, embedded objects (e.g., stones, acorns). You may not repair  aeration holes, grooves from vertical mowing, damage caused by natural forces, natural surface imperfections (e.g., weeds, areas of bare, diseased, or uneven growth), or natural wear of the hole. 

R. 14.3a, b, c:  Whenever you must drop a ball to take relief, you may use the original ball or another ball. You must drop the ball in what the Rules are now calling the “right way,” which means:  You must drop your ball; no one else may do so (in individual forms of play). You must drop it straight down from knee height (the height of your knee when you are standing straight). The ball may not touch your body or equipment before it hits the ground. (If it touches your body or equipment before it hits the ground, you must drop again, and this drop does not count as one of the two you are allowed before you must place the ball.) You must drop the ball in the relief area (see Diagram 14.3c).If you breach any of these requirements, you have dropped a ball in a “wrong way.” If you play a ball dropped in a wrong way from within  the relief area, the penalty is one stroke; from outside  the relief area, you get the general penalty. You will also get the general penalty if you place it when you should have dropped it. If you have dropped a ball in the right way, and it comes to rest in the relief area, you must play the ball as it lies, even if it hit any person (including you), equipment, or outside influence after  it hit the ground (no penalty). December 2018 Clarification:  The ball is in the relief area when any part of the ball is within the one or two club-length measurement. If the ball comes to rest outside the relief area, you must drop a second time. After that you will have to place the ball on the spot where it hit the ground after the second drop. If it still will not stay on the spot, you must place it on the nearest spot where it will remain at rest that is not nearer the hole and in the same area of the course. This spot may be outside the relief area.

R. 24.4:  The Committee may adopt a Local Rule allowing each team to appoint one or two “Advice Givers.” This person may give advice to team players, and the players may ask him for advice. If the advice giver plays on the team, he may not give advice to team members other than his own partner while he is playing.

December 2018 Clarification:  The restriction on the caddie from standing behind the player in R. 10.2b(4) applies similarly to the advice giver.

IX. Other Forms of Play (Rules 21–24)

Rule 21:  Other Forms of Individual Stroke Play and Match Play

Rule 21.2: This Rule introduces a new format called “Maximum Score.” This is a form of stroke play where the score for each hole is capped at a maximum number set by the Committee, such as two times par, a fixed number, or net double bogey. A player who reaches the maximum score is permitted and encouraged to pick up. This format is designed to improve pace of play. If you decide to implement Maximum Score for your league or group, you will need to read all of Rule 21.2 (don’t panic, it’s only two pages). Since this is a new format, you should become familiar with all of its Rules if you plan to use it.

Rule 21.5:  The Rules can be adapted for other forms of play, such as scrambles and greensomes. Variations of scrambles include Texas Scramble, Florida Scramble (also known as Dropout Scramble, Step Aside), and One-Person Scramble. 

Greensomes – also called Canadian Foursomes or American Foursomes in some parts of the world – is an alternate shot format where both players hit tee shots. Variations of greensomes include Pinehurst Foursomes and Chinese or St. Andrews Greensomes. 

Rule 22: Foursomes (Also Known as Alternate Shot)

Reminder:  The term foursomes does not apply to a group of four people playing together, which should be called a group. Foursomes  means “alternate shot.” 

Int. 22.1/1:  In a handicap competition, if each player does not individually record his handicap on the scorecard before turning it in, the side is disqualified.

R. 22.2:  Either partner may take any allowed action for the side, such as mark, lift, replace, drop, and place the ball, regardless of whose turn it is to hit.

R. 22.3:  One partner plays first from the odd-numbered holes, the other plays first from the even-numbered holes, and on each hole the players alternate hitting the ball until it is holed. Penalty strokes do not change the order of play. If the side decides to play a provisional ball, it must be hit by the partner whose turn it is to hit the next stroke. 

Playing out of order: In match play, the side loses the hole. In stroke play, the side gets the general penalty and the mistake must be corrected before making a stroke to begin the next hole. If the mistake is not corrected, the side is disqualified.

Int. 22.3/1:  In mixed foursomes, if the man tees off and hits the ball out of bounds, the woman must play the next shot from the man’s teeing area. Just remember that stroke and distance means stroke (one penalty stroke) and distance (playing a ball from where the previous stroke was made).

 Int. 22.3/2:  If both you and your partner mistakenly tee off from the same teeing area and it was your turn to hit first, your partner has technically played under stroke and distance. His ball is the third shot on the hole, and it is your turn to play. If it was your partner’s turn to play, you played in the wrong order when you hit first. Your side loses the hole in match play. In stroke play, your side gets two penalty strokes. Counting your partner’s tee shot, your side has made three strokes and it is your turn to play.

Int. 22.3/3:  You may not intentionally miss the ball so that your partner will get to hit the next shot. A “stroke” requires an intention to hit the ball. If you did not intend to hit the ball, you have not made a stroke, and it is still your turn.

R. 22.4a:  You and your partner may decide who plays first from the first teeing ground, unless the Committee tells you who must play first.

R. 22.4b:  If you are the player who will hit the tee shot on the first hole, you must be ready to play on time at the first teeing area of your round. Your partner must also be on time, but he may be either at the teeing area or further down the hole where he expects to play the second shot.

R. 22.5:  You and your partner may share clubs, provided the total number of clubs carried by your side does not exceed 14 (e.g., you carry six, your partner carries eight).

Rule 23: Four-Ball (common term: Better Ball)

R. 23.2b:  The score that counts for the side must be clearly identified as to which partner made that score. The penalty is disqualification.

R. 23.4:  The side may be represented by one partner for all or part of the round. In other words, you may compete without your partner. If your partner shows up late, he may start play only between the play of two holes, but he may give you advice and do other things a partner is allowed as soon as he joins you.

R. 23.5a:  Your partner may take any action concerning your ball that you are allowed to take, such as mark, lift, replace, and drop your ball.

R. 23.5a/1:  When you and your partner share a caddie, if the caddie’s breach of a Rule cannot be assigned to one of you, you are both penalized. For example, if your caddie moves your opponent’s ball other than during search, and neither you nor your partner directed him to do that, both you and your partner get one penalty stroke.

R. 23.5b:  If your partner (or his caddie) does anything to breach a Rule with regard to your ball or equipment, you get the penalty.

Rule 23.6:  You and your partner may play in the order you two consider best. In other words, if your partner is away, either of you may hit first. However, if your stroke is conceded, and your next stroke might help your partner, you must pick up. If you go ahead and hit your ball in this situation, your score for the hole stands (the hole ended for you as soon as your next stroke was conceded), but your partner’s score on the hole will not count.

Int. 23.6/3:  If both players of a side play from outside the teeing area, the only stroke that may be cancelled (formerly “recalled”) by the opponents is the stroke of the second player to hit.

Rule 23.8a:  Normally, when you get a penalty, your partner does not also get the penalty. There are three notable exceptions where you both get the penalty for a breach of a Rule by only one partner: (1) a breach of Rule 4.1 (14 club limit, no sharing of clubs, no replacing lost or damaged clubs; (2) your breach of a Rule helps your partner’s play; (3) in match play, your breach of a Rule hurts your opponent’s play. [See Int. 23.8a(2)/1 and 23.8a(2)/2 for several examples of (2) and (3).]

R. 23.8b:  See this Rule for a list of Rules where the side will be disqualified for a breach by one partner, and for a list of Rules where the side is disqualified if both players breach the Rule.

Rule 24: Team Competitions

R. 24.1:  A team is a group of players who compete against another team or teams. (Remember: a side is two or more partners competing as a single unit. A team consists of multiple individuals or multiple sides.)

R. 24.3:  Each team may name a captain. The captain may play in the competition.

R. 24.4:  The Committee may adopt a Local Rule allowing each team to appoint one or two “Advice Givers.” This person may give advice to team players, and the players may ask him for advice. If the advice giver plays on the team, he may not give advice to team members other than his own partner while he is playing.

December 2018 Clarification:  The restriction on the caddie from standing behind the player in R.10.2b(4) applies similarly to the advice giver.

R. 24.4c:  Players from the same team may not give or get advice from other teammates playing on the course or in their group, unless that teammate is his partner.

Copyright © 2018 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

VIII. Procedures for Players and Committee When Issues Arise in Applying the Rules (Rule 20)

Rule 20:  Resolving Rules Issues During Round; Rulings by Referee and Committee

R. 20.1b:  In match play, players may agree how to decide a Rules issue, even if they are wrong, provided they do not deliberately agree to ignore a Rule or penalty that they know applied. A player uncertain of a Rule may protect his rights by asking for a ruling in a timely manner [generally before either player makes a stroke to begin the next hole – see R. 20.1b(2)] and resolving the issue with a referee or the Committee at the earliest opportunity. If the outcome of the ruling affects the match score, the players need to continue the match alert to the existence of more than one possible match score.

Int. 20.1b(4)/1:  Playing out a hole with two balls when you are uncertain of the correct procedure is not allowed in match play. If you do so, the score with your original ball will always count, assuming your opponent did not object to your playing two balls. If your opponent objected, and requested a ruling in time (generally before either player makes a stroke to begin the next hole), you would lose the hole for playing a wrong ball.

R. 20.1c(2):  In stroke play, if you know or believe another player has breached a Rule, and that other player is not aware or is ignoring his breach, you should tell the other player, his marker, a referee, or the Committee as soon as possible. If you fail to do so, you may be subject to disqualification.

R. 20.1c(3) and Int. 20.1c(3)/4:  In stroke play, when you are not sure how to proceed, you may play two balls. This is basically the same Rule as the old 3–3, with one notable change: If you do not choose which ball to count in time (i.e., before you make a stroke), the ball you play first will be treated as the ball you chose to count. You are not required to play the original ball first, followed by the second ball. You may play the two balls in the order you choose. If you play two balls, you must report the facts to the Committee or you are disqualified.

R. 20.2c:  Use of video evidence is limited to the “naked eye” standard. Video evidence of a breach will be disregarded if the incident could not reasonably have been seen with the naked eye. However, if you are aware of the breach, even though it could not be seen, the breach will count (e.g., you feel your club dislodge sand on your backswing in a bunker).

R. 20.2d:  If you breach a Rule because of a reasonable misunderstanding of a referee’s or a Committee’s instruction, there is no penalty.

Int. 20.2d/2:  There is no time limit on correcting administrative mistakes, such as the Committee miscalculating one player’s handicap that results in another player winning the competition, or giving a prize to the wrong player because the Committee failed to post the winner’s score.

R. 20.2e(1):  In match play, there is no time limit on disqualifying a player for serious misconduct, for deliberately ignoring a penalty he knew about, or for agreeing with another player to ignore any Rule or penalty they both know applies.

R. 20.2e(2):  In stroke play, a player must be disqualified after the competition is closed if he recorded a score for any hole lower than actually taken (unless he failed to include a penalty he was unaware of); if his scorecard showed a handicap higher than his actual handicap and this affected the adjustment of his score; if he knew before the competition closed that he had breached a Rule that had a disqualification penalty; or if he deliberately agreed with another player to ignore a Rule or penalty they both knew about. A player may also be disqualified for serious misconduct.

Copyright © 2018 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

VII. Penalty Areas (Rules 17–19)

Rule 17: Penalty Areas

R. 17.1d:  If your ball lies in a yellow or red penalty area, or if you have not found it but it is known or virtually certain that it lies in the penalty area, you have the following two relief options, both under penalty of one stroke:

(1) Stroke and distance (use any ball)

(2) Back-on-the-line relief (use any ball). The reference line begins at the hole and goes straight back through the estimated point where your original ball last crossed the edge of the penalty area. Your reference point (which you should mark with an object like a tee) is anywhere on that line behind the estimated point. The relief area will be within one club-length of the reference point, no closer to the hole, and in any area of the course except the same penalty area. If your relief area spans two areas of the course, your ball must come to rest in the same area of the course that it hits when you drop it. See Diagram #1 17.1d.

R. 17.1d(3):  If your ball lies in a red penalty area, you have one additional lateral relief option (one-stroke penalty). Your reference point will be the estimated spot where your ball last crossed the edge of the red penalty area. You may drop a ball within two club-lengths of that point, not nearer the hole, in any area on the course except the same penalty area. If your relief area spans two areas of the course, your ball must come to rest in the same area of the course that it hits when you drop it. See Diagram #2 17.1d.

You are no longer permitted to drop on the opposite side of a red penalty area (unless a Local Rule enables such an option). However, if the penalty area is very narrow, the two club-lengths relief area from the reference point might conceivably get you to the opposite side. Should that situation exist, you may drop in the relief area on either side, but you may not drop the ball in the penalty area (Int. 17.1d(3)/1).

R. 17.1e:  You must not play a ball that lies in a no play zone in a penalty area,  or outside a no play zone in a penalty area where the no play zone interferes with your stance or area of intended swing. You must take relief as follows: (1) for a ball within the no play zone, penalty relief under R. 17.1d or R. 17.2; (2) for a ball in the penalty area where the no play zone interferes with stance or swing, either penalty relief outside the penalty area under R. 17.1d or 17.2 or free relief by dropping a ball in this relief area (if it exists) in the penalty area: reference point is the nearest point of complete relief from the no play zone, and the relief area is within one club-length of and not nearer the hole than the reference point and must be in the same penalty area where the ball lies. Finally, if the ball lies outside the penalty area but a no play zone in the penalty area interferes with the stance or swing, relief must be taken under the process described above in R.16.1f.

R. 17.2:  The Rules regarding how to proceed when you play a ball from a penalty area that remains in the same or another penalty area are basically the same as last year. There are two excellent diagrams that make your relief options easy to understand: Diagram #1 17.2a and Diagram#2 17.2a.

R. 17.3:  When your ball is in a penalty area, there is no relief for interference by an ACC or an embedded ball. If your ball is unplayable, relief is only available under Rule 17.

Rule 18:  Stroke-and-Distance Relief; Ball Lost of Out of Bounds; Provisional Ball

R. 18.1:  You may play another ball under penalty of stroke and distance at any time. (This is not new, but is important to remember.)

Int. 18.1/1:  When you return to the teeing area to play another ball under stroke and distance because you have not found your ball, if you have teed up another ball but have not yet hit it, and your original is found within the three-minute search time, you may either play the original or hit the teed ball under stroke and distance (includes a one-stroke penalty). If you hit the teed ball it is now your ball in play. A ball played again from the teeing area under stroke and distance is not in play until you make a stroke. However, if your original ball was not played from the teeing area, and you play another ball under stroke and distance, your second ball is in play as soon as you drop it.

R. 18.2a:  Your ball is lost if it is not found within three minutes of you or your caddie beginning search. However, if someone finds it while you are elsewhere, you are allowed reasonable time to return to identify the ball, even if that puts you over the three-minute time limit.

Int. 18.2a(2)/1:  Water is a natural force. If water carries your ball out of bounds, your ball is out of bounds and you must take stroke-and-distance relief.

Int. 18.3a/2:  You are allowed to play a provisional ball after going forward to search, but you are still limited to the three-minute search time. Practically speaking, if you are not fleet of foot this permission will not come into play often.

R. 18.3b and Int. 18.3b/2: You must announce you are going to play a provisional ball before you make the stroke. If there is no announcement, that second ball is your ball in play. If you forget the word “provisional,” it is acceptable to say: “I’m going to play another just in case.” It is not acceptable to say: “I’m going to re-load” or “I’m going to play another.”

R. 18.3c(2):  When you play a provisional ball from a spot nearer the hole than where the original is estimated to be, the provisional becomes your ball in play, even if you subsequently find your original before the end of your three-minute search time or if you find it closer to the hole than you had estimated. If you hit the original ball, which is lost by Definition under the Rules, you have played a wrong ball. See Diagram 18.3c.

R. 18.3c(2):  If you hit your provisional into the same area as your original, and you cannot distinguish between the two balls, if you only find one ball you must treat it as the provisional; if you find both balls, you must pick one and treat it as the provisional. 

Rule 19:  Unplayable Ball

R. 19.1:  You are the only person who may decide whether your ball is unplayable. You may take unplayable relief anywhere on the course except in a penalty area.

R. 19.2:  The three relief options for an unplayable ball (all under penalty of one stroke) are stroke and distance, back on the line (one club-length from the reference point), and lateral (two club-lengths from the spot of the original ball). Please review Diagram 19.2. You may only use back-on-the-line relief or lateral relief if you know the spot of the original ball.

Int. 19.2/1:  If your dropped ball comes to rest in its original location, you must accept that outcome. If the ball is still unplayable, it will cost you a second penalty stroke to take a second drop.

Int. 19.2/2:  When you take unplayable relief, you may drop on any area of the course, including into bunkers and onto putting greens. 

R. 19.3b:  If your ball is unplayable in a bunker, you may take back-on-the-line relief outside the bunker for a penalty of two strokes. Diagram 19.3 shows you the four relief options for a ball unplayable in a bunker.

Copyright © 2018 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

VI. Free Relief (Rules 15–16)

Rule 15:  Relief from Loose Impediments and Movable Obstructions (Including Ball or Ball-Marker Helping or Interfering with Play)

R. 15.1a:   You may remove a loose impediment anywhere on or off the golf course, and may do so in any way (e.g., using your hand, foot, club, etc.). This means you may now remove loose impediments from bunkers and penalty areas. 

R. 15.1a, Exception: Before replacing a ball that was lifted or moved from anywhere except the putting green, you must not deliberately remove a loose impediment that, if moved when the ball was at rest, would have been likely to cause the ball to move. If you do so, you get one penalty stroke, but you do not have to replace the loose impediment. 

Int. 15.1a/3:  When you drop a ball, you may remove loose impediments before the drop. This is because the ball is not being put back on a specific spot. You may also remove loose impediments if you have to place the ball after a second drop that rolls out of the relief area.

R. 15.1b:  Except on the putting green or the teeing area, if you cause your ball to move when you remove a loose impediment you will get one penalty stroke and you must replace the ball. However, there is no penalty when the exceptions to R. 9.4b apply. For example, if you are taking relief from GUR and the ball is against a loose impediment, there is no penalty if the ball is moved due to the loose impediment being removed first.

R. 15.2a(2):  When your ball lies in or on a movable obstruction, you may lift the ball, remove the obstruction, and drop any ball within one club-length of the reference point (which will be the estimated point directly under where the ball lay on the obstruction), no closer to the hole, and in the same area of the course as the reference point. See Diagrams #1 15.2a and #2 15.2a.

R. 15.2b:  When you take relief for a ball that has not been found but is known or virtually certain to be in or on a movable obstruction, once you have put another ball in play you must not play the original ball even if you find it within the three-minute search time.

R. 15.3a and Int. 15.3a/1:  In stroke play, if two or more players agree to leave a ball in place on the putting green to help any player, each player who agreed gets the general penalty if the stroke is made with the helping ball in place. If the players know  they are not permitted to make such an agreement, they are disqualified for deliberately ignoring the Rule. (This narrows the scope of the 2018 Rule, which applied anywhere on the course.)

R. 15.3b: If you reasonably believe that another player’s ball on the course may interfere with your own play, you may require the other player to mark and lift the ball. The other player must comply with this request or, in stroke play only, may play first instead. If the other player fails to comply with your valid request, he gets the general penalty. You may not lift your ball under this Rule based only on your own belief that the ball might interfere with another player’s play. If you lift your ball when not required to do so (except on the putting green), you get a one-stroke penalty.

R. 15.3c:  If a ball-marker might help or interfere with play, you may move the ball-marker if it is yours, or require the player to whom it belongs to move his ball-marker. If the other player fails to comply with your valid request, he gets the general penalty.

Note: The general penalty also applies under Rules 15.3b and 15.3c if you (1) make a stroke without waiting for a helping ball or ball-marker to be lifted or moved after becoming aware that another player intends to lift it or has required someone to lift it; or (2) refuse to lift or move your ball or ball-marker when required to do so and a stroke is then made by the other player whose play might have been helped or interfered with.

Rule 16:  Relief from Abnormal Course Conditions (Including Immovable Obstructions), Dangerous Animal Condition, Embedded Ball

R. 16.1a(2):  You are allowed free relief from interference from an Abnormal Course Condition (ACC) provided the ACC is on the course (not out of bounds) and the ball is anywhere on the course except in a penalty area. Animal holes, ground under repair, immovable obstructions, and temporary water are all ACCs. See Diagram 16.1a.

Note: Relief is not available from an ACC if interference is only on the line of play (except for a ball on the putting green), if something other than the ACC prevents a stroke being made, or if the interference only results from a manner of play that is clearly unreasonable.

R. 16.1b:  Relief from an ACC if your ball is in the general area.  The relief area is within one club-length of and not nearer the hole than the nearest point of complete relief in the general area. This is free relief. See Diagram 16.1b.

Reminder: The nearest point of complete relief is the nearest point to the original spot that is not nearer the hole, in the required area, and where you could play the shot you would have played in the absence of the ACC.

R. 16.1c:  Relief from an ACC if your ball is in a bunker. You have two choices: 

(1) For free  relief, you must drop the ball inthe bunker.  The relief area is within one club-length of and not nearer the hole than the nearest point of complete relief in the bunker.  If complete relief is not available, the reference point in the bunker will be the nearest point of maximum available relief.

(2) For relief with one penalty stroke, you may drop a ball outside  the bunker, back on the line. Your relief area will be within one club-length of the reference point you choose back on the line. The relief area must not be nearer the hole than the reference point, and may be in any area of the course. If your relief area spans two areas of the course, your ball must come to rest in the same area of the course that it hits when you drop it. The Rules recommend that you always mark your reference point by using an object such as a tee [Int. 17.1d(2)1].  See Diagram 16.1c.

R. 16.1d:  Free relief from an ACC if your ball is on the putting green.  Place a ball on the nearest point of complete relief, which may be on the putting green or in the general area. If complete relief is unavailable, you may place your ball on the point of maximum available relief on the green or in the general area. See Diagram 16.1d. This relief is available even if the ACC is off the putting green but is on your line of play when your ball is on the putting green.

R. 16.1e:  You may take free relief if you cannot find your ball that is known or virtually certain to be lost in an ACC. Once you put another ball in play,  your original ball is no longer in play and you may not play it, even if you find it within three minutes.

R. 16.1f:  You must not play a ball that lies in a no play zone in an ACC,  or outside a no play zone where the no play zone interferes with your stance or area of intended swing. You must take relief as described above in R.16.1b, c, or d,  or you may take unplayable relief (which includes a penalty stroke). 

Int. 16.1/4:  If your ball lies on a bridge over a deep hollow, the nearest point of complete relief is on the ground directly under the bridge (Point X). If there is interference from some part of the bridge at Point X, you may take relief under R. 16.1b, using Point X as a reference to find the nearest point of complete relief.

R. 16.2b:  When your ball is in a penalty area near a dangerous animal, you must drop a ball in the penalty area (a safe distance away) for free relief. If you take the ball out of the penalty area, the penalty is one stroke. Note: There is no free relief from dangerous plants such as poison ivy or cactus.

R. 16.3:  You get free relief if your ball is embedded anywhere in the general area except:  (1) if the ball is embedded in sand in part of the general area that is not cut to fairway height or less; and (2) if something other than the embedded ball makes the stroke clearly unreasonable (e.g., ball lies under a bush). Note: Your ball is not embedded if someone steps on it, if it is driven straight into the ground (never airborne), or you dropped it taking relief under a Rule. The reference point for taking free relief is the spot right behind where the ball is embedded. The relief area must be within one club-length of this spot, in the general area, and not nearer the hole than the reference point. See Diagrams 16.3a and 16.3b.

Copyright © 2018 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

V. Lifting and Returning a Ball to Play (Rule 14)

Rule 14: Procedures for Ball: Marking, Lifting and Cleaning; Replacing on Spot; Dropping in Relief Area; Playing from Wrong Place

R. 14.1a:  Be aware that a loose impediment may not be used to mark your ball.  You may remember that the Definition of “Ball-Marker” states it is an artificial object,  such as a tee, a coin, or an object designed to be a ball-marker. If you use a ball-marker to mark your ball, you must remove it after you replace your ball, before you make a stroke. You may mark the ball on any side, as long as it is right next to it. You may also mark a ball by holding a club on the ground right next to the ball, but be aware this may be risky. For example, if you mark and lift a ball in the fairway under a rule that requires the ball to be replaced and the contact between the club and the ground is broken before the ball is replaced, you will likely get a penalty stroke under R. 9.7. You must mark a ball when a Rule requires it to be replaced on its original spot; you do not have to mark a ball when you are taking relief under a Rule.

R. 14.1b:  Only you and someone you authorize may lift your ball. Such authorization must be given each time the ball is lifted. Your caddie may lift your ball without authorization on the putting green, but not elsewhere.

R. 14.2a:  When you are required to replace your ball, you must use the original ball unless: (1) the original ball can’t be recovered easily and quickly or is cut or cracked; (2) play resumes after it was stopped; or (3) another player played your ball.

R. 14.2b:  Only you or the person who lifted or moved your ball are allowed to replace your ball. When you replace your ball, you must place it in the “right way,” which means setting it down on the required spot and letting it go so that it stays on that spot. If the ball is replaced on the required spot in any other way, such as by rolling by hand or with a club, the player gets one penalty stroke. If the ball does not stay on the required spot, see R.14.2e below.

R. 14.2c and Int. 14.2c/1:  You must replace your ball on its original spot, including its vertical location. If that spot was on, under, or against any immovable obstruction, integral object, boundary object, or growing or attached natural object, replace the ball on that spot on, under or against those objects.You may align your ball in any way (e.g., line up the trademark), but if there is mud attached you may not set the ball so it rests on the mud, unless that was its original position.

R. 14.2d:  If your original lie was altered, you must re-create the original lie if your ball was in sand anywhere  on the course. If you do not, you have played from a wrong place and you get the general penalty. Anywhere except sand, you must replace your ball by placing it on the nearest spot with a lie most similar to the original lie within one club-length, not nearer the hole, and in the same area of the course as your original spot. If you know your original lie was altered, but you don’t know what the lie was, you must estimate the original lie.

R. 14.2e:  If your replaced ball will not stay on its original spot after two tries, you must replace it at the nearest spot where it will remain at rest that is not nearer the hole and is in the same area as the original spot (i.e., general area, bunker, penalty area). On the putting green, the nearest spot must be on the green or in the general area. If the original spot is in a bunker or penalty area, and there is no spot within that area where the ball will remain at rest that is not nearer the hole, you must take penalty relief outside the area. For example, if your ball is trapped by a rake in the back of a bunker on the downslope, your two choices are stroke and distance (for one penalty stroke) or back-on-the-line relief outside the bunker (for two penalty strokes).

Note: The back-on-the-line two-stroke penalty relief outside the bunker is specific to a ball that is on or against a movable obstruction at the back of the bunker on the downslope where there is no spot that a replaced ball will come to rest that is not nearer the hole. When you take back-on-the-line relief outside a bunker from an abnormal course condition, the penalty is only one stroke under R. 16.1c(2).

R. 14.3a, b, c:  Whenever you must drop a ball to take relief, you may use the original ball or another ball. You must drop the ball in what the Rules are now calling the “right way,” which means:  You must drop your ball; no one else may do so (in individual forms of play). You must drop it straight down from knee height (the height of your knee when you are standing straight). The ball may not touch your body or equipment before  it hits the ground. (If it touches your body or equipment before it hits the ground, you must drop again, and this drop does not count as one of the two you are allowed before you must place the ball.) You must drop the ball in the relief area (see Diagram 14.3c).If you breach any of these requirements, you have dropped a ball in a “wrong way.” If you play a ball dropped in a wrong way from within  the relief area, the penalty is one stroke; from outside  the relief area, you get the general penalty. You will also get the general penalty if you place it when you should have dropped it. If you have dropped a ball in the right way, and it comes to rest in the relief area, you must play the ball as it lies, even if it hit any person (including you), equipment, or outside influence after it hit the ground (no penalty). December 2018 Clarification:  The ball is in the relief area when any part of the ball is within the one or two club-length measurement. If the ball comes to rest outside the relief area, you must drop a second time. After that you will have to place the ball on the spot where it hit the ground after the second drop. If it still will not stay on the spot, you must place it on the nearest spot where it will remain at rest that is not nearer the hole and in the same area of the course. This spot may be outside the relief area.

R. 14.5: This is known as the “eraser rule.” If you substitute another ball for the original when not permitted, or your ball was replaced, dropped, or placed in a wrong place (or came to rest in a wrong place), in a wrong way, or by using a procedure that did not apply, you may lift your ball without penalty and correct (or “erase”) the mistake, but only if you do it before you play the ball.

Int. 14.5b(3)/1: If you take back-on-the-line relief and your ball dropped in the right way rolls out of the relief area, you may choose a different reference point that is closer to or further from the hole for your second drop. One reason you may want to do this is if you inadvertently choose a reference point where the ground slopes down towards the hole; you may want to look for a flatter spot on the line to choose as your new reference point for the second drop.

R. 14.6:  When you play a ball under stroke and distance, and your previous shot was from:

(1) the teeing area, you may play from anywhere within the teeing area, and you may tee the ball;

(2) the general area, penalty area, or bunker, you must drop in this relief area:  the reference point is the spot (or estimated spot) where you hit your previous shot, the size is within one club-length of the reference point, the relief area is in the same area as the reference point and not nearer the hole;

(3) the putting green, you must place a ball on the original spot (estimated, if not known). See Diagram 14.6.

Copyright © 2018 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

IV. Specific Rules for Bunkers and Putting Greens (Rules 12–13)

Rule 12:  Bunkers

R. 12.1:  The definition of when a ball is in a bunker has changed to exclude areas where sand is not normally placed, e.g., on a dirt face. See Diagram 12.1. Consequently, if a ball is in a relief situation in such an area, e.g., embedded in a dirt face, then relief would be available under R.16.3 by following the relief processes identified in R.14.

R. 12.2a:  You may remove loose impediments and movable obstructions from a bunker  before you play your ball. There is no penalty if you touch or move sand in this process through reasonable actions. For example, it would be unreasonable if you were to drag a pine cone out of a bunker, knocking down a mound of sand near your ball when you could lift it straight up.

R. 12.2b(1):  Before playing a stroke from a bunker, you will get the general penalty if you (1) test the condition of the sand, or (2) if you touch the sand (i) with a club right in front of or behind the ball, (ii) in making a practice swing, or (iii) in the backswing for a stroke.

R. 12.2b(2):  There is no penalty for placing your clubs in the bunker, leaning on a club in the bunker, or striking the sand in anger, unless this improves the conditions affecting the stroke.

R. 12.2b(3):  After you play your ball and it is outside the bunker, you may touch or smooth the sand, even if you will subsequently return to the bunker to play a ball under stroke and distance or if the sand is on your line of play for your next shot from outside the bunker.

Int. 12.2b(3)/1:  If you decide your ball in a bunker is unplayable, and you take back-on-the-line relief outside the bunker, there is no penalty for smoothing the sand in the bunker on your line of play before or after you drop your ball. (“Back on the line” is what I used to refer to as “on the flagline.” It is a line that begins at the hole, passes straight through where your ball lies, and continues back with no limit.)

Rule 13: Putting Greens

R. 13.1c:  Regardless of whether your ball lies on or off the green, you may remove sand and loose soil on the putting green. You may also repair all sorts of damage by using your hand, foot, ball-mark repair tool, tee, club, or other normal equipment. Examples of damage you may repair:  ball marks, spike marks, indentations caused by equipment or a flagstick or maintenance tools or vehicles or hail (December 2018 Clarification), animal tracks, hoof indentations, embedded objects (e.g., stones, acorns). You may not repair aeration holes, grooves from vertical mowing, damage caused by natural forces, natural surface imperfections (e.g., weeds, areas of bare, diseased, or uneven growth), or natural wear of the hole.

R. 13.1d(1):  There is no penalty if you or any other player accidentally moves your ball or ball-marker on the putting green. You must replace your ball or ball-marker. When you replace your ball, you must place it in the “right way,” which means setting it down on the required spot and letting it go so that it stays on that spot [R. 14.2b(2)]. If the ball is replaced on the required spot in any other way, such as by rolling it along the green by hand or with a club, the player gets one penalty stroke.

R. 13.1d(2):  If your ball lies on the putting green and is moved by natural forces, you must replace it if the ball was already lifted and replaced. If you have not  lifted and replaced your ball, you must play it from its new spot.

Int.13.1e/1:  The following actions are not considered testing the putting green and are not penalized: (1) conceding your opponent’s putt and casually knocking his ball back to him on the same line as your putt; (2) touching the green with your palm to find out if it is wet; (3) rubbing your ball on the green to clean off mud.

R. 13.1f:  If your ball touches a wrong green, or a wrong green interferes with your stance or swing, you must take relief. Your reference point, which is the nearest point of complete relief, must be in the same area of the course where the original ball came to rest. (For example, if your ball lies in a bunker, your reference point and relief area are in the bunker.) The relief area must be within one club-length of the reference point, in the same area as and not nearer the hole than the reference point. You must get complete relief. See Diagram 13.1f.

R. 13.2a(1):  You may leave the flagstick in the hole. If it is not centered, you may leave it as is or you may center it, but you may not tilt it in another direction. You must make the decision to leave the flagstick in the hole before you make your stroke. Simply leaving the flagstick in and playing is equivalent to choosing to leave it in.

R. 13.2a(2):  There is no penalty if your ball hits the flagstick you chose to leave in the hole. You must play the ball as it lies.

R. 13.2a(3):  If you have chosen to leave the flagstick in the hole, you will get the general penalty if you or your caddie deliberately removes the flagstick after you have made a stroke to avoid having the ball hit it. If it appears that the ball will not hit the flagstick, there is no penalty for removing it.

R. 13.2a(4):  If you have chosen to leave the flagstick in the hole and another player or his caddie deliberately removes the flagstick to affect where the ball might come to rest, the other player will get the general penalty. There is no penalty if the other player or his caddie reasonably believes that your ball will not hit the flagstick or was not aware that you were about to play or that your ball was in motion. 

R. 13.2b(1):  If you want the flagstick removed or attended, you must make that decision before you make your stroke.

R. 13.2b(2):  If your ball accidentally  hits the removed or attended flagstick, or the person attending it, there is no penalty and you must play the ball as it lies. If the player (or his caddie) attending the flagstick deliberately deflects or stops your ball, the player gets the general penalty, and you must cancel the stroke and replay the shot.

R. 13.2c:  If your ball comes to rest leaning against the flagstick, it is treated as holed if any part of the ball is below the surface of the putting green (no need to jiggle the flagstick to allow the ball to drop in). If no part of the ball is below the surface, the ball is not holed. If it falls into the hole or moves away when you remove the flagstick, you must replace the ball on the lip of the hole.

R. 13.3b:  If another player deliberately lifts or moves your ball when it overhangs the hole and the ten-second waiting time has not expired, in match play the ball is treated as holed and the opponent does not get a penalty. In stroke play, the player who deliberately lifted or moved your ball gets the general penalty and your ball must be replaced on its original spot.

Copyright © 2018 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

III. Playing the Ball (Rules 7–11). Part II: Rules 9–11

Rule 9:  Ball Played as It Lies; Ball at Rest Lifted or Moved

R. 9.1b:  If your ball starts to move after you begin your backswing, and you make the stroke, you must play the ball from where it comes to rest after you hit it. There is no penalty unless you caused the ball to move.

R. 9.2b(2): If it is not known or virtually certain that you, your opponent, or an outside influence caused your ball to move, you will treat the ball as if it were moved by natural forces. (“Known or virtually certain” means 95 per cent probability or above.)

R. 9.3: There is no penalty if your ball is moved by natural forces; you must play the ball from its new spot. There is an Exception for a ball on the putting green that was marked and replaced  [see R. 13.1d(2)]. 

Int. 9.4a/1:  If your ball may be lodged in a tree, you may do whatever is reasonable to identify it. You will not be penalized for moving your ball in play if it falls out of the tree, provided you had no intention to play it. If the ball is yours, you may replace it or directly use a relief Rule.

R. 9.4b:  December 2018 Clarification:  If you accidentally cause your ball in play and at rest to move, you get one penalty stroke (but there are Exceptions – see below) and must replace the ball. If you fail to replace the ball and play from its new location, you have played from a wrong place. In this situation, the penalty becomes the general penalty.

R. 9.4b, Exceptions: There are four exceptions. Here are two of them:

• There is no penalty if you accidentally move your ball during a search or while trying to identify it.

• There is no penalty if you accidentally move your ball on the putting green.

Int. 9.4b/1:  You will incur a penalty stroke if you deliberately touch your ball in play, even if the ball does not move. Examples: (1) You rotate the ball on the putting green without marking it; (2) You rotate the ball anywhere on the course to identify it without marking it; (3) You deliberately touch your ball with a club in preparing to hit the ball; (4) You hold the ball steady to keep it from moving while you remove loose impediments.

R. 9.5b, Exception:  There is no penalty to your opponent in match play if he marks and lifts your ball on the putting green, mistakenly thinking it is his.

Int. 9.5b/1:  If you find a ball during search and state (in error) that it is yours, and your opponent (match play) subsequently finds another ball and picks it up, and that ball turns out to be yours, your opponent will not get a penalty for moving your ball in play. Since your ball was not actually found at the time you hit the wrong ball, your opponent technically moved your ball during search, for which there is no penalty. You or your opponent must replace the ball.

R. 9.6:  If it is known or virtually certain that your ball was moved by an outside influence, there is no penalty and you must replace the ball (or another ball) on the original spot (which you estimate if not known).

R. 9.7a:  If your ball-marker is moved in any way before you replace the ball, you must replace the ball or the ball-marker on the original spot (estimate if not known). 

R. 9.7b:  If you, or your opponent in match play lift your ball-marker or cause it to move, you or your opponent get a one-stroke penalty. There are exceptions – see R. 9.4b and R. 9.5b.

Rule 10:  Preparing for and Making a Stroke; Advice and Help; Caddies

R. 10.1a:  If your club accidentally hits the ball more than once, there is no penalty. One swing = one stroke. 

Int. 10.1a/2:  You may strike the ball with any part of the clubhead, including the toe, heel, and back.

R. 10.1c:  Making a stroke while standing across or on the line of play, or on an extension of that line behind the ball, is not permitted. (Previously, this restriction only applied on the putting green.)

R. 10.2a:  

• You may not touch another player’s equipment (e.g., bag or clubs) to find out what club he used. You may peer into the bag, but you must not lift anything covering the clubs (e.g., a towel).

• You may ask for or give advice before a round, while play is stopped (see R. 5.7a), and between rounds.

Int. 10.2a/2:  If a player is receiving unsolicited advice from a spectator, there is no penalty but the player must try to put a stop to it.

R. 10.2b(2):  Pointing out line of play on putting green

• The player or caddie may touch the line of play but must not improve conditions.

• The player or caddie is not permitted to place an object on or off the putting green to show the line of play, even if the object is removed before the stroke.

R. 10.2b(3):  You may not set an object down on the ground to help line up your feet or body (such as a club). If you take your stance while that object is on the ground, you cannot avoid penalty by backing away and removing it.

R. 10.2b(4):  Once you begin taking a stance for your stroke and until you hit the ball, your caddie may not stand behind the ball on an extension of your line of play. If you take a stance with your caddie lined up behind the ball, you cannot avoid penalty by backing away. (Exception: On the putting green, there is no penalty if the player backs off and waits for the caddie to move away.) See Diagram 10.2b.

Int. 10.2b(5)/2:  If your ball lies next to a cactus, you may not place a towel on the cactus to protect yourself. However, you may wrap a towel around yourself. You are allowed to wear protective clothing.

R. 10.3a(1):  You may not have more than one caddie at any one time. The penalty is the general penalty, and it is assessed for each hole where more than one caddie helps you. 

R. 10.3b(1):  On the putting green, your caddie may mark, lift, and replace your ball, remove sand and loose soil, and repair damage.

R. 10.3b(2):  Your caddie must have authorization from you (each time) to restore conditions that were worsened after your ball came to rest, and to lift your ball (except on the putting green) under a Rule that requires the ball to be replaced. December 2018 Clarification: However, so long as it is reasonable to conclude that you are taking relief under a Rule, your caddie is treated as being given authorization to lift the ball and may do so without penalty.

R. 10.3b(3): Your caddie may not: replace a ball, unless he lifted or moved it; drop or place a ball in a relief area; or make the decision to take relief. 

R. 10.3c:  You are responsible for your caddie’s actions during a round and while a round is stopped, but not before or after a round.

Rule 11:  Ball in Motion Accidentally Hits Person, Animal or Object; Deliberate Actions to Affect Ball in Motion

Rule 11.1a:  There is no penalty if your ball in motion accidentally hits any person, animal, or natural or artificial object, including you, your opponent, any other player, any player’s caddie, or anyone’s equipment. Exception:  In stroke play only, there is a two-stroke penalty if your putt from on the green strikes another player’s stationary ball that is in play  on the green and both balls were on the putting green before your stroke.

Rule 11.1b: After the accidental hit in R. 11.1a  (above), the ball must be played as it lies, with two exceptions:

(1) Ball played from off the green:  If your ball comes to rest on  a person, animal, or moving outside influence:  (i) off the green  – you drop any ball in a one-club-length relief area that is not nearer the hole than the reference point (which will be the estimated point right under where the ball came to rest) and in the same area of the course; or (ii) on the green  – you place any ball on the estimated spot right under where the ball came to rest.

Note: Whenever you measure the size of a relief area, the actual relief area is the length of your longest club (except a long putter), no matter what club you use tomeasure.

(2) Ball played from on the green:  December 2018 Clarification:  If there is knowledge or conclusive evidence that your ball played from the putting green accidentally hits any person, animal, or movable obstruction (including a hole liner that comes out when the flagstick is removed), cancel the stroke and replay the shot. But there are two exceptions:  Play the ball as it lies if it (i) hits another ball in play and at rest or a ball-marker on the green [the stroke counts, and you need to check R. 11.1a (above) to assess if a penalty applies in stroke play], or (ii) if it accidentally hits the flagstick or the person attending it (more on this when I address Rule 13).

R. 11.2:  

• When a ball that has been hit from anywhere except the putting green  is deliberately stopped or deflected by a player, or by equipment that was deliberately positioned to deflect or stop the ball, the player gets the general penalty. In match play, the hole is now over. In stroke play, the ball must not be played as it lies. Off the green, you will drop any ball in a one-club-length relief area that is not nearer the hole than the reference point (which will be the estimated point where the ball would have come to rest) and in the same area of the course. On the green, you will place any ball on the estimated point where the ball would have come to rest.

• When the ball is deliberately stopped or deflected after a stroke made from the putting green, the stroke is cancelled and must be replayed, using any ball.

R. 11.3: When a ball is in motion, you will get the general penalty if you deliberately move things out of the way (e.g., loose impediments, movable obstructions) or alter physical conditions (e.g., replace a divot, press the turf down). However, you may move a removed flagstick, a ball in play and at rest on the putting green, or other player equipment. Note: You will get the general penalty even if your deliberate action to affect the ball in motion does not affect where the ball comes to rest. 

Copyright © 2018 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.