A player records the correct hole-by-hole score for each hole on his scorecard;  however, when he adds the score up, he puts down a total score 2 strokes lower than actually taken.  Both he and his marker sign the card.  What is the Ruling?

The answer is D - Rule 6-6d: see Note 1.  The competitor is responsible for the correctness of the score recorded for each hole on his card.  The Committee  is responsible for the addition of the scores and application of the handicap recorded on the card.  No penalty - total score adjusted to correct total.

What is the correct procedure when a player accidentally moves his ball in play with his practice swing?

The answer is D - Rule 18-2a / Decision 18-2a/20.  Although the player had no intention of moving the ball (see Definition of "Stroke"), he incurs a penalty stroke under Rule 18-2a for moving his ball in play and the ball must be replaced.

If this happened on the teeing ground, there would be no penalty, since the ball was not in play yet (unless he had whiffed!)

Which of the following is not true of a provisional ball?

The answer is D - Rule 27-2c.  Once the original ball is found, the provisional ball must be abandoned.

Which of the following is not an option when taking an unplayable lie?

The answer is C - Rule 28.  There is no such thing as "line of flight" in the Rules of Golf. 

A player inquires of another player as to the accuracy of a 150 yard marker.
What is the ruling?

The answer is A - Decision 8-1/3 - There is no penalty. 

In stroke play, a competitor's ball in a hazard moves due to his removal of a loose impediment in the hazard.  What is the ruling?

The answer is D - Decision 13-4/15 - The player is penalized under Rule 13-4c for moving a loose impediment in a hazard (2 strokes) and under Rule 18-2a because the ball moved.  The ball must be replaced (Rule 18-2a). 

A player makes a practice swing and accidentally moves his ball in play with his club.  Has the player made a stroke?

The answer is C - Decision 18-2a/20 - The player has not played a stroke - he had no intention of moving the ball.  However, he incurs 1 penalty stroke under Rule 18-2a for moving his ball in play, and the ball must be replaced. 

On a very windy day, Player A who is about to start his round, asks Player B, who has just finished his round, what club he used on a tricky par 3 hole over water.  Player B tells him.  What is the ruling?

The answer is A - Decision 8-1/18 - There is no penalty!  Rule 8- 1 (Advice) applies only during the play of a round.  Therefore, since player A had not yet started his round and player B had completed his round, neither one was in violation of giving advice.

Player B used a wooden tee to mark the position of his ball on the green.   A putted and his ball was deflected by the tee.  What is the ruling?

The answer is D - Decision 20-1/17 - neither player receives a penalty.  The tee was not B's equipment - see Definition of "Equipment".  There is no penalty and A must play his ball as it lies.

A should have requested B to move the tee one or more club head lengths to the side or to mark the position of his ball with a ball-marker, a small coin or other similar object - see Note under Rule 20-1.

A player damaged his ball at a certain hole, declared it unfit for play and substituted another ball.  He followed the proper procedure in doing so.  At a subsequent hole, he played the damaged ball.  What is the ruling?

The answer is A - Decision 5-3/2 - there is no penalty.  However, the player may not again declare the ball (in the same condition) unfit for play.

A 54-hole stroke-play competition was scheduled over consecutive days.  After completing his first round, a competitor who was a member of the club at which the event was being held played several more holes.  What is the penalty, if any?

The answer is B - Rule 7-1b - the player is disqualified.  On any day of a stroke play competition or play-off or when two or more rounds are to be played over consecutive days, a competitor is not allowed to practice on any competition course not yet played or remaining to be played, or test the putting surface of any putting green on such course.   Exception:  Practice putting or chipping on or near the teeing ground before starting a round or play-off is permitted.  

During a round, a player is not allowed to play a practice stroke during the play of a hole or between the play of two holes, except that, between the play of two holes, the player may practice putting or chipping on or near the putting green of the hole last played, any practice putting green or the teeing ground of the next hole to be played in the round, provided the practice stroke is not played from a hazard and does not unduly delay play (Rule 6-7).

A player played a poor shot and his ball came to rest through the green near a lake.  In anger, the player lifted his ball and threw it into the lake from where it could not be retrieved.  The player placed another ball on the spot from which the original ball was lifted and holed out with the other ball.  What is the ruling?

The answer is D - Decision 18-2a/13.5.  Although Note 1 to Rule 18 states "If a ball to be replaced under this Rule is not immediately recoverable, another ball may be substituted,"  since the player's ball became irrecoverable only due to the fact that the player threw the ball into the lake after his breach of Rule 18-2a (when he picked up his ball), the Note is not applicable.

The player lost the hole in match play - Rule 15-1.

In stroke play, the player incurred a penalty of three (3) strokes - one under Rule 18-2a for lifting his ball without authority under the Rules and two under Rule 15-1 for substituting a ball when not permitted!

A player plays his tee shot and approach shots to the green.  He marks his ball on the putting green, cleans the ball and sticks it in his pocket while waiting for others to putt.  When it is his turn to putt, he accidentally pulls a different ball out of his pocket, putts and holes out with this ball.  He realizes that he putted with a ball other than the one he teed off with as he pulls the ball out of the hole.  What is the ruling?

The answer is B - Decision 15-1/8.  The player has incorrectly  substituted a ball for his ball taken out of play after marking it on the putting green.  He incurs a two stroke penalty and the score stands.  Rule 15-1.  A ball that is substituted when not so permitted is not a wrong ball; it becomes the ball in play and if it is not corrected as provided in Rule 20-6, the player incurs a two-stroke penalty in stroke play, or loss of hole in match play.  (This actually happened at the Futures event at Green Mountain last week!)

A player marked the position of his ball with a coin, lifted the ball and pressed down the coin with the sole of his putter.  He walked to the edge of the green and then noticed that the coin had stuck to the sole of the putter.  What is the ruling?

The answer is D - Decision 20-1/6.  In this case, the movement of the ball-marker was directly attributable to the specific act of marking the position of the ball.

Accordingly, no penalty is incurred and the ball or the ball-marker must be replaced.  If the spot where the ball or ball-marker lay is not known, it must be placed as near as possible to where it lay but not nearer the hole.  (Rule 20-3c)

A player marks the position of his ball on the putting green and the ball-marker is so located that it might be of assistance to the opponent or fellow-competitor in lining up his putt.  Accordingly, the player prepares to move his ball marker one or two club head lengths to the side, but the opponent or fellow-competitor says he wants the ball-marker left where it is.  What is the ruling?

The answer is B - Decision 20-1/1.  The player is entitled to move his ball-marker to the side.  The opponent or fellow-competitor may not insist on its being left where it is in view of the purposes of Rules 8-2b and 22a.

In Stroke Play, a competitor's ball strikes his golf bag lying on the ground and then bounces off it and hits his caddie.  What is the penalty?

The answer is A - two strokes - Decision 19-2/7 - Rule 19-2b.

In match play, Player B , without Player A's authority, marked the position of, and lifted, A's ball on the putting green.  Is B subject to penalty?

The answer is C - Player B receives a 1 stroke penalty.  Under Rule 20-1, a player's ball may be lifted by his opponent (match play) 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.  Had this been a stroke play event, then B would not receive a penalty - Rule 18-4; however, Player A must replace the ball.

In a stroke play event, a player is on the putting green preparing to putt.  His caddie touches the putting green with a club to show the player how much break to play and where to aim.  What is the ruling?

The answer is B - Rule 8-2b. 

In a stroke play event, while playing a tee shot, A misses the ball.  Before playing his next stroke, A presses down turf behind the ball.  What is the ruling?

The answer is D - there is no penalty.  Decision 13-2/2.  Rule 13-2 permits eliminating irregularities of the surface on the teeing ground, whether or not the ball is in play.  It is also permissible to break off or pull out grass growing behind a ball on the teeing ground! (Decision 13-2/3).

Did You Know .... ?

Rule 4-4b

A player marks the position of his ball on the putting green, lifts the ball and sets it aside.  By mistake, he putts the ball from the spot at which he set it aside.  What is the ruling?

The answer is B - Decision 15/4.  When a ball is lifted under Rule 20-1, it is out of play - see Definition of "Ball in Play."  When the player played a stroke with his ball while it was out of play, he played a wrong ball. (Rule 15).

In match play, the player lost the hole - Rule 15-2.

In stroke play, he incurred a penalty of two strokes and was required to correct the error before playing from the next tee; otherwise he would be disqualified - Rule 15-3.

A player makes a practice swing and accidentally moves his ball in play with his club.
What is the ruling?

The answer is D - Decision 18-2a/20.  The player had no intention of moving the ball - see Definition of "Stroke".  However, he incurs a penalty stroke under Rule 18-2a for moving his ball in play, and the ball must be replaced. 

Before the start of a round, a player discovers that there are 15 clubs in his golf bag.  He declares one of the clubs out of play, removes it from his bag, places it on the floor of his golf cart and begins the round.  What is the ruling?

The answer is B - Decision 4-4c/1.  The player is penalized for starting the round with more than 14 clubs.  Rule 4-4c which talks about declaring an excess club out of play only applies once the round has started.  There is nothing in the Rules to permit carrying, during a round, an excess club declared out of play before the round.  This might sound contradictory, but if you stop and think about it for a minute, it makes perfect sense.  Rule 4-4c exists to address the situation when a player discovers he has more than 14 clubs after play has begun.  The only thing he can do at this point is declare the club out of play and turn it upside down in his bag or put it on the floor of his golf cart.  However, if the player knows that he has more than 14 clubs before he begins his round, then there is no reason for him to carry the club with him.  If this every happens to you and you discover on the first tee that you have more than 14 clubs, you should leave the excess club with the starter or in the pro shop.  

A player played his 2nd shot to a blind green and putted what he thought was his ball.  He then discovered that his own ball was in the hole and that the ball that he had putted was a wrong ball.  What is the ruling?

The answer is D - Decision 1-1/4.  Since the play of the hole was completed when the ball was holed (Rule 1-1), the player was not in breach of Rule 15 for subsequently playing a wrong ball.

In a match, player B marks the position of player A's ball on the putting green 
and lifts it without A's authority.  B holes out for a 4.  Player A replaces his ball,
holes out for a 4 also, but claims the hole.  What is the ruling?

The answer is B - Rule 20-1 and 20-3a.  In Match Play,  a ball that is to be lifted under the Rules, may be lifted by the player, his partner or any other person authorized by the player.  In this case, player B lifted player A's ball without authority.  The penalty in this situation is one-stroke (not loss of hole); therefore player B actually scored a 5 on the hole.  (Rule 18-3b).  Player A incurred no penalty for replacing his ball, even though it was lifted by player B (Rule 20-3a - 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).  Decision 20-1/2 covers this exact situation.  Therefore, A won the hole with a 4.

Now, if this had happened in Stroke Play,  there would have been no penalty and the ball would have to be replaced by either player A or B.  Rule 18-4 and Decision 20-1/4.  

A player in a stroke play competition is assigned by the Committee to a group with a 9 a.m. starting time.  He arrives at the first tee at 9:06 a.m. but for whatever reason (e.g.,  weather, slow play or a ruling)  the starting time has been delayed until after he arrives (e.g., 9:10 a.m.).  What is the ruling?

The answer is D - Decision 6-3a/4.  As the group was unable to start at the time originally established by the Committee and the player arrived before it could do so, the player is not in breach of Rule 6-3a.   (New decision for 2002-2003).

In a match between A and B, A putts and his ball comes to rest near the hole.  B concedes A's next stroke.  A says:  "No.  I haven't holed out yet."  B says:  "OK.  Go ahead and putt."  A putts and misses.  What is the ruling? 

The answer is A - Decision 2-4/7.  When B conceded A's next stroke, A had completed the hole.  Concession of a stroke may not be declined or withdrawn -- see Rule 2-4.  Since  Rule 2-4 does not cover the question of whether a player may putt out after his next stroke has been conceded, A incurs no penalty for attempting to hole out in this case.   However, if the act would be of assistance to a partner in a four-ball or best-ball match, the partner would be, in equity (Rule 1-4), disqualified for the hole.

In stroke play, a competitor, in ignorance of the Rules, moved some twigs around his ball that was lying in a hazard, and took 2 practice swings in the hazard, touching the ground each time.  What is the penalty, if any?

The answer is C  -  Rule 13-4b and Rule 13-4c.  
The player breached two different rules in this instance.  When the player took the 2 practice swings in the hazard and grounded his club each time, he breached Rule 13-4b - however, he receives only a maximum of two penalty strokes even though he grounded his club twice (Decision 13-4/3).  The player also breached Rule 13-4c by removing loose impediments in the hazard, so he receives an additional two stroke penalty, making a total of 4 penalty strokes in all.