2000 Rules Archives

December 26, 2000

In match play, a player's errant pitch shot is deflected by his opponent's golf bag. The ball comes to rest inches from the hole. What is the ruling?:

a.	The player loses the hole.
b.	The player may play the ball as it lies without penalty.
c.	The player must cancel the stroke and replay it without penalty.
d.	The opponent may choose to let the player's stroke stand as played or he may require the player to replay the stroke without penalty.

The answer is b - Rule 19-3. The player may play the ball as it lies or, before another stroke is played by either side, cancel the stroke and play a ball without penalty as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played (see rule 20-5). In this situation, where the ball stopped inches from the hole, the player would more than likely choose the option of playing the ball where it lies!

December 3, 2000

In dropping the ball, the player

a.	must face the hole, stand erect, hold the ball at shoulder height and arm's length to the side and drop it.
b.	must face the hole, stand erect, hold the ball at shoulder height and arm's length and drop it.
c.	may face any direction, but must stand erect, hold the ball at shoulder height and arm's length and drop it.
d.	may face any direction, but must stand erect, hold the ball at shoulder height and arm's length to the side and drop it.

The answer is c - Rule 20-2a. The player may face any direction, must stand erect and hold the ball at shoulder height before dropping. The player does not have to hold the ball at arm's length to the side. The player may hold the ball out in front of him, behind him or to the side as long as he drops it from shoulder height.

November 13, 2000

A player rotates his ball on the putting green to line up the trademark with the hole. He did not lift the ball, mark its position or change its position. Is there a penalty?

a.	No, since the ball was not lifted and did not leave its original position.
b.	Yes, two strokes - one for touching the ball and one for not marking the ball.
c.	Yes, one stroke for touching the ball other than as provided for in the Rules.
d.	No, but Bob receives a warning. If he does it again, he is assessed a one stroke penalty

The answer is c - Decision 18-2a/33. Yes, one stroke for touching the ball other than as provided in the Rules - 18-2a. Under Rules 16-1b and 20-1, a ball on the putting surface may be lifted (or touched or rotated) after its position has been marked. If the player had marked the position of the ball before rotating it, there would have been no penalty.

November 6, 2000

In a four-ball match, a player asks his partner to show him the line for a chip shot from just off the green. The partner indicates the line by touching the green with his club. Which of the following is the appropriate ruling?

a.	The player incurs no penalty.
b.	The player is disqualified from the hole.
c.	The partner is disqualified from the hole.
d.	The player and his partner are disqualified from the hole

The answer is a - Rule 8-2a. A player may have the line of play indicated to him by anyone and the line of play may be touched. The prohibition against touching the putting green applies only to the line of putt (i.e. the ball lies on the putting green). See also Definitions of line of play and line of putt.

October 30, 2000

An obstruction is movable

a.	only if it can be moved by the player himself
b.	if the Committee deems it to be a movable obstruction
c.	if it may be moved without unreasonable effort and without causing damage to the course
d.	only if an opponent or fellow-competitor agrees with the player that it is movable

The answer is c - Definition of "Obstructions."

October 23, 2000

Which one of the following is not an obstruction?

a.	A stake defining the margin of a lateral water hazard
b.	Manufactured ice
c.	A stake defining the margin of an area of ground under repair
d.	A stake defining out of bounds

The answer is d - Definition of "Obstructions."

October 16, 2000

Which one of the following is not an outside agency?

a.	A forecaddie
b.	A spectator
c.	An opponent
d.	A fellow-competitor

The answer is c - Definition of "Outside Agency."

October 9, 2000

A player must take relief as provided in the Rules for which one of the following situations?

a.	A ball that lies on a wrong putting green
b.	A ball embedded in its own pitch mark
c.	A ball that lies on a paved cart path
d.	A ball that lies in casual water

The answer is a - Rule 25-3.

October 2, 2000

Which one of the following is true?

a.	In match play, a player who plays out of turn loses the hole.
b.	In stroke play, a competitor who plays out of turn incurs a penalty of two strokes.
c.	In stroke play, a competitor who plays out of turn must cancel and replay the stroke, with a penalty of two strokes.
d.	If a player plays a provisional ball from the teeing ground, he should do so after his fellow-competitors have played their first strokes.

The answer is d - Rule 10-3.

September 25, 2000

A player's ball comes to rest in the middle of a cart path. When taking relief from the obstruction under Rule 24-2b, the player must:

a.	mark the spot where the ball originally lay on the cart path.
b.	drop the original ball rather than a substituted ball.
c.	get a club he has selected for the round and measure one club-length from the "point on the course nearest to where the ball lies."
d.	mark (with a tee or otherwise) the "point on the course nearest to where the ball lies."

The answer is b - Rule 24-2b. The Rule states that the player shall lift the ball and drop it. Note 2 does state that if the ball is not immediately recoverable, another ball may be substituted. In this situation, the ball lay in the middle of the cart path, thus it was easily recoverable and the player would not be allowed to substitute another ball. The player would measure one club-length from the nearest point of relief - not from the point on the course nearest to where the ball lies.

September 18, 2000

On the putting green, a competitor addressed his ball. He stepped away from the ball, marked its position, lifted it, and replaced it. Before he addressed the ball again, it moved. He played the ball from its new position. What penalty, if any, does the competitor incur?

a.	None
b.	One stroke, and he must replace the ball
c.	Two strokes, and he must place the ball as it lies
d.	Two strokes, and he must replace the ball

The answer is a - None - Decision 18-2b/8. Even though the competitor had addressed the ball initially, once he marked the ball again and lifted it, the ball was out of play. Once the ball has been lifted, the presumption inherent in the Rule that the act of addressing the ball caused the ball to move is no longer valid. Since the ball moved before the player addressed the ball a second time, the ball must be played as it lies.

September 11, 2000

Dropping the ball without penalty, within one club-length of the nearest point of relief, no nearer the hole and not in a hazard or on a putting green is the correct relief procedure from all but which one of the following situations when the ball lies in:

a.	casual water through the green
b.	an immovable obstruction through the green
c.	a burrowing animal hole through the green
d.	its own pitch-mark on the fairway

The answer is d (Rule 25-2). A ball embedded in its own pitch-mark in any closely-mown area through the green may be lifted, cleaned and dropped, without penalty, as near as possible to the spot where it lay but not nearer the hole. You do not get nearest point plus one club-length for a ball embedded in its own pitch-mark in any closely-mown area through the green.

September 4, 2000

There is a bunker between a player's ball and the hole. The player walks through the bunker to remove a rake on his line of play, to measure the distance to the hole or for any other reason. On his way back to his ball, he smoothes the footprints he made, restoring the line to its original condition. Is such smoothing permissible?

No - If a player worsens his line of play, he is not entitled to restore the line to its original condition. If he does so, he has improved the line in breach of Rule 13-2 and incurs a penalty of loss of hole in match play or two strokes in stroke play. Decision 13-2/29

August 28, 2000

The player may declare his ball unplayable anywhere on the course except when it lies:

a.	In a bunker
b.	On a putting green
c.	In a lateral water hazard
d.	In a tree which overhangs a putting green

The answer is c - in a lateral water hazard (Rule 28).

August 21, 2000

A and B are playing together. B, without A's authority, marked the position of, and lifted, A's ball on the putting green. Is B subject to penalty?

The answer depends on the form of play:

In Match Play, under rule 20-1, a player's ball may be lifted by his opponent only with the authority of the player. Since B was not entitled to lift A's ball, B incurred a penalty stroke -- Rule 18-3b.
In Stroke Play, there is no penalty, but the competitor must replace the ball -- Rule 18-4.

August 14, 2000

Steve plays a stroke in a bunker but he hit too far behind the ball and fails to get the ball out of the bunker. Before he tries again, he smoothes out the sand in the area where he played his stroke. The smoothing does not improve the new lie of his ball. He:

a.	Incurs a two-stroke penalty for testing the condition of the sand.
b.	Incurs a two-stroke penalty for improving the area of his old lie.
c.	Incurs no penalty.
d.	Incurs a two-stroke penalty touching the ground in a hazard.

The answer is c - Decision 13-4/36. Exception 2 to Rule 13-4 permits smoothing provided that the lie of the ball is not improved and the player is not assisted in his subsequent play of the hole. Steve was able to test the consistency of the sand during his first stroke in the bunker, and he would gain no additional information by smoothing the sand at the place where the stroke was played. No claim that Steve's smoothing of the sand assisted him in his subsequent play of the hole would be valid unless, as a result of a subsequent stroke in the bunker, Steve's ball rolled back into the smoothed area.

July 31, 2000

Which one of the following is false?

a.	A player may press down irregularities of surface behind his ball on the teeing ground.
b.	A player may repair spike marks just beyond the hole for a stroke from off the putting green.
c.	A player may remove sand on his line of play on the putting green for a stroke from off the the putting green.
d.	A player may repair a ball mark on his line of play on the putting green even if his ball lies off the putting green.

The answer is b - (Rule 13-2)

July 24, 2000

Which one of the following is false regarding out of bounds?

a.	When a line is used to define out of bounds, the line itself is out of bounds.
b.	A player may stand out of bounds to play a ball lying within bounds.
c.	A ball is out of bounds when any part of it is out of bounds.
d.	A Committee may establish an internal out of bounds.

The answer is c - Definitions of "Out of Bounds"

July 3, 2000

In which one of the following situations may a player not touch his line of putt?

a.	To remove a soft drink can.
b.	To remove dew.
c.	To measure who is farther from the hole.
d.	To repair an old hole plug.

The answer is b (Rule 16-1a)

June 26, 2000

In which one of the following is there no penalty for any player?

a.	A player's caddie accidentally moves the player's ball in play during search in the rough.
b.	A player makes a practice swing and accidentally moves his ball in play with his club.
c.	An opponent's caddie accidentally moves the player's ball on the putting green.
d.	A fellow-competitor's caddie lifts the competitor's ball without authority on the putting green.

The answer is d (Rule 18-4)

June 12, 2000

Bill's second stroke at the 12th comes to rest in a bunker. He removes a twig that is outside the bunker but within one club-length of his ball. Before Bill addresses his ball, it moves several inches down the slope of the bunker. His next stroke is played from there to the fringe of the green, where he marked, lifted, cleaned and replaced his ball. Bill then holes out with one putt. Before his opponent putts, he asks for Bill's score. Bill replies that he had a 4. Bill:

a.	Gave wrong information, scored 6 on the hole and needed to correct his mistake before either he or his opponent plays from the next teeing ground.
b.	Gave wrong information, scored 7 on the hole and incurred a loss of hole penalty.
c.	Scored a 4 on the hole.
d.	Gave wrong information, scored a 5 on the hole and needed to correct his mistake before his opponent played another stroke.

The answer is d - Bill incurred no penalty for the ball moving as a result of removing the twig outside the bunker. He did, however incur a penalty stroke under Rule 18-2a when he lifted his ball lying on the fringe, but there is no additional penalty for having cleaned the lifted ball. Thus he scored a 5. When Bill replied that he had a 4, he gave wrong information and was required to correct the mistake before his opponent played another stroke (Rule 9-2). If he failed to correct the mistake before his opponent played another stroke, then Bill would lose the hole.

June 5, 2000

In stroke play, a player announces that he will play a second ball under the Rules and selects the second ball to count. Then, he plays both balls from a wrong place but there is not a serious breach involved. What is the ruling?

a.
The score with the original ball counts and the player incurs a two stroke penalty.

b.
he score with the second ball counts and the player incurs a two stroke penalty.

c.
The committee must decide.

The answer is a - the score with the original ball counts, with a two-stroke penalty added. Rule 3-3a. See decision 3-3/0.5

May 29, 2000

Which one of the following constitutes advice?

a.	The length of a par-3 hole.
b.	Information on the Rules.
c.	The distance from the ball to the hole for a second stroke to a par-4 hole.
d.	Stating that a distance marker is not accurate.

The answer is c - Decision 8 -1/2.

May 22, 2000

Which one of the following is false regarding the marking of the position of the ball on the green?

a.	If the player marks and lifts his ball, only he or his partner may replace it.
b.	A tee may be used to mark the position of the ball.
c.	The ball-marker must be placed immediately behind the ball.
d.	It is permissible to mark the position of the ball on the putting green by using the toe of the club.

The answer is c - Decision 20-1/19 states that there is no restriction as to where the ball marker must be placed in marking the position of the ball on the putting green. However, if a player positions the ball marker in front of the ball and in the process does something to the green which might influence the movement of the ball when played, e.g. presses down a raised tuft of grass, he is in breach of Rule 1-2. Rule 20-3a states that if a ball is to be replaced, the player, his partner or the person who lifted or moved it shall place it on the spot from which it was lifted or moved. The Note to Rule 20-1 states the the position of a ball to be lifted should be marked by placing a ball-marker, a small coin or other similar object immediately behind the ball. The key word is should - this means strongly recommended but not mandatory. Therefore it is ok to mark the position of the ball with a tee. Decision 20-1/12 states that a player may mark the position of the ball on the putting green by placing the toe of a club at the side of , or behind, the ball.

May 15, 2000

Which of the following is false with regard to out of bounds?

a.	A ball is out of bounds when any part of it is out of bounds.
b.	If a line defines the boundary, the line itself is out of bounds.
c.	The out of bounds lines extends vertically upwards and downwards.
d.	Stakes defining out of bounds are not obstructions.

The answer is a - see Definition of "Out of Bounds."

May 8, 2000

Which one of the following is not a wrong ball?

a.	The player's original ball after he has put another ball into play in accordance with the Rules.
b.	A ball substituted for a ball that was not unfit for play.
c.	The player's ball lying out of bounds.
d.	A ball which has been lifted and set aside.

The answer is b - see Definition of "Wrong Ball."

May 1, 2000

In playing his second stroke, a player's club strikes the ball twice. What is the ruling?

a.	He must cancel and replay the stroke, incurring a penalty stroke.
b.	He now lies three.
c.	He now lies four.
d.	He now lies five.

The answer is b - he lies 3. (Rule 14-4) If a player's club strikes the ball more than once in the course of making a stroke, the player shall count the stroke and add a penalty stroke, making two strokes in all. Even if his club strikes the ball three or more times in the course of making a single stroke, he only adds one penalty stroke.

April 24, 2000

Which one of the following is true with respect to the flagstick?

a.	A player may have the flagstick attended for a bunker shot.
b.	A flagstick may be square in cross-section.
c.	If a ball played from the putting green in stroke play strikes an unattended flagstick, the player incurs a penalty of two strokes and must replay the stroke.
d.	There is no penalty for striking an attended flagstick if the stroke was played from off the putting green.

The answer here is a (Rule 17-1). The flagstick may be attended at anytime.

April 17, 2000

Through the green, a player may improve the area in which he is to drop a ball by which one of the following actions?

a.	By pressing down the grass.
b.	By repairing a pitch mark.
c.	By removing loose sand with his hand.
d.	By removing fallen leaves.

The answer is d - (Rules 13-2 and 23-1).

April 10, 2000

In which case would the player not be penalized?

a.	If he carries a non-conforming club, but does not use it.
b.	If he carries a fifteenth club he had declared out of play before the round started.
c.	If he adds lead tape to a club during a round.
d.	If he replaces a 5-iron which became unfit for play during the normal course of play with a sand wedge.

The answer is d (Rule 4-3a).

April 3, 2000

Which one of the following is true?

a.	A player may declare his ball lost.
b.	A player doubtful of his rights may play a second ball in match play.
c.	Casual water does not exist out of bounds.
d.	Partners may share clubs if each carries twelve clubs.

The answer is c - see Definition of "Casual Water". A player cannot render a ball lost by a declaration - see Definition of "Lost Ball." (Decision 27/16) A player doubtful of his rights may play a second ball in stroke play only - Rule 3-3a. Partners may share clubs, provided that the total number of clubs carried by the partners so sharing does not exceed fourteen - Rule 4-4b.

March 27, 2000

In Stroke Play, a player plays his tee shot on a par-3 from outside the teeing ground. His error is pointed out to him after he holes out for a 3. He returns to the tee, plays from within the teeing ground and scores a 2. What is his true score for the hole?

a.
2

b.
3

c.
4

d.
5

The answer is c - his score for the hole is 4. Once the player played the hole from outside the teeing ground, it would not matter if he scored a one or a 10 on the hole with that ball. Rule 11-4b requires the player (in stroke play) to return to the teeing ground and put a ball into play from within the teeing ground, adding a two stroke penalty to his score. So his score of 2 made with the ball played from within the teeing ground plus the two stroke penalty gives him a 4 for the hole. Fortunately, the player discovered his error before teeing off on the next hole -- had he discovered the error later, it would have been too late and he would have been disqualified. The same ruling applies if a person plays from the wrong teeing ground (in stroke play).

March 13, 2000

Do you know ..... That a "sand trap" does not exist in the Rules of Golf?

You will not find a "sand trap" mentioned anywhere in the Rules of Golf - the correct term is a "bunker". Golfers "in the know" will never use the term "sand trap" or "trap". Get used to using the proper term "bunker" and you will impress those "in the know" with your golf savvy!!!